Standard MIDI File Format Converters

The Need for Format Converters
The PianoDisc PDS-128 and PDS-128Plus control units allow direct playback of several file formats.  This means instead of loading an entire song from floppy disk into memory and then playing it, the PianoDisc unit loads a small part of the song into memory and begins playing it immediately.  As the song plays, the PianoDisc unit continually reads the disk, loading parts of the song into memory until the song is finished.   This direct method of playback eliminates the wait time involved in loading entire songs into memory and allows continuous playback of an entire disk without having to load each song by hand. 

In 1997, the release of Operating System 3.0 and 3.1 enabled the PDS-128 and PDS-128Plus to read Standard MIDI Files Format 0.  At this time, Format 0 is the only Standard MIDI File format that will allow direct playback.  The ability to read Standard MIDI Files gives PianoDisc owners more files to choose from, including music from commercial MIDI companies and downloads from the Internet.

After the release of OS 3.1, we began to receive numerous requests for a utility program to convert Standard MIDI Files Format 1, which are prevalent on the Internet, to Standard MIDI File Format 0, for use on direct playback MIDI devices like the PDS-128Plus.  Resources for public domain utility programs were very scarce and, although many MIDI sequencing programs are able to convert Format 1 to Format 0, many customers could not justify the purchase of an entire sequencing software package just to perform this simple conversion.

Download midi converter

These format converters allow Format 1 to 0 and Format 0 to 1 conversion and are downloaded together in one self-expanding PC file along with a "readme" file that has been field tested for ease of use and contains straightforward instructions on how to use the converters.  The converters are written in DOS; they can be used in DOS, Windows 3.1x and Windows 95/98.