what are multi tracks wrt a MIDI file

Archived from groups: cakewalk.audio,rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Hi All,

I have just started reading the basics of MIDI and as of now would
like to know more about tracks.
What is single track file format and what is multi track file format?
Is the advantage of a multi track file format over single track file
format is during editing of the composition alone? Are there any other
advantages?

When I open any midi file, I usually see many 'MTrk' Track Chunk
headers, does it mean that the file is in multi track format? If the
file format is single track, will it imply that the file would show
only one 'MTrk' Track Chunk header?

Thanks in advance,
Regards,
Anoop Deoras
Sasken Communication Technologies
India

Archived from groups: cakewalk.audio,rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Of course none of this is important unless you want to export MIDI data from
one application to another - or if you need to make a "generic" file to be
loaded many different applications (ie sequencers).

Apologies if you already knew this...

--
John Braner

jbraner@NOblueyonderSPAM.co.uk
http://www.soundclick.com/johnbranermusic.htm


"GruvMaker" <bigoh33@juno.com> wrote in message
news:rirbe15gm5st81icfdim26440kakol6kfi@4ax.com...
> On 26 Jul 2005 00:13:23 -0700, akd_ecc@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>>Hi All,
>>
>> I have just started reading the basics of MIDI and as of now would
>>like to know more about tracks.
>>What is single track file format and what is multi track file format?
>>Is the advantage of a multi track file format over single track file
>>format is during editing of the composition alone? Are there any other
>>advantages?
>>
>>When I open any midi file, I usually see many 'MTrk' Track Chunk
>>headers, does it mean that the file is in multi track format? If the
>>file format is single track, will it imply that the file would show
>>only one 'MTrk' Track Chunk header?
>>
>>Thanks in advance,
>>Regards,
>>Anoop Deoras
>>Sasken Communication Technologies
>>India
>
> A single track file format is just that it takes all MIDI tracks and
> saves it to one track this also known as a Type 0 MIDI File this good
> for media players with MIDI playback capability
>
>
> A multi track file also known as a Type 1 MIDI file takes the same
> MIDI file and splits all the parts to its own channel across 16 MIDI
> channels with channel 10 usually being the drum track. This wuold be
> preferred method if you wanted to edit the parts, use a different
> sound etc.