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I have a bunch of old midi files I created (.mid), some as far back as the mid 1990's. The vast majority were created on Macs (prior to OSX). Some were later used on Windows machines, some have been used for CD-ROM applications, etc. At some point - and I'm not exactly sure when or how, most of them began to show as "Unix Executable File" after transferring them back onto my Mac. Many do not have the .mid file name extension now. But even when I add .mid to the file names, most are still not recognizable by any midi software I've tried; it seems that a few of them DID become recognizable and able to be opened, but not most.
The file sizes do seem to roughly match what I would expect to see of each tune, so I believe the data is still contained within these files. But what's the solution? Does it have something to do with headers/resource forks, etc.?
I'll try to link to one of the files as an example. I'd appreciate any input or solutions.
Thanks in advance!
Posted : 19/02/2025 8:52 am
Alex Petrenko reacted
I'd be happy to have a look at the file, and try to do something with it, but I cannot do anything with the DropBox link, which does not seem to directly link to any file.
Could you try to just attach the file to a normal message. If the forum does not like the filename (or the extension) just rename it to some that is accepted (i.e. a .zip) but detail in the message what you've done.
Otherwise, it would be a help to give some details about the file, i.e. the size) and/or use a hex/binary editor and list the first few bytes of the data. Is there an initial MThd segment?
Geoff
Posted : 23/02/2025 9:23 am
Topic starter
Thank you very much for the reply. I'm not sure why it's not linking to the file for you. I tried it just now, clicking the link above, and it takes me to Dropbox (without logging in to Dropbox or anything special), and I was able to download the correct file. The file is called "Pop Block 04". It's about 28k in size. Just an old standard midi file with a few tracks.
I'm new to this forum, so forgive me, I don't see a way to simply attach a file to this message. In the meantime, I'll try putting the Pop Block 04 file in Google Drive and provide a link to it that way? Thanks in advance!
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Posted : 23/02/2025 10:18 am
That is not a MIDI file but a Digital Perfomer project file.
Posted : 24/02/2025 12:03 am
Sorry, but I don't know anything about Digital Performer project files. Such a file MIGHT contain some midi data, but there may be problems extracting such data from the other data there.
28k sounds like much more than a 'standard midi file with a few tracks'.
Geoff
Posted : 04/03/2025 11:36 am
If the files are for Digital Performer, then you should try to load them into DP and see what that makes of them. If you specifically want them as midi files, then maybe DP can export the files as midi?
Geoff
Posted : 04/03/2025 11:50 am
Topic starter
Hmmm... perhaps you're on to something there. It is true that the files I'm referring to were originally created in Performer (pre-Digital Performer), I thought that these had all been exported as general midi .mid files. I no longer have a copy of Performer, so if anyone who DOES have Performer could possibly open this file, I'd really appreciate it if you could let me know if you have success.
Posted : 04/03/2025 12:26 pm
