Some notes on JavaTuner's MIDI input.

To use this feature requires that JavaTuner be able to read
files on the local machine. So it won't typically run from
within a browser environment unless you give the applet extra
permissions. Best is to run it directly under a Java run-time
(I use Sun's JRE).

I have tested that JavaTuner's MIDI parser on a few dozen MIDI
files from various sources on the Web with no obvious problems.
I'm sure the MIDI parser in JavaTuner is still fragile, but Java
being Java, it should break in polite ways (with a message on the
Java console) if it must.

Most MIDI files found on the Web are not suitable for hearing
temperament differences for various reasons (eg. too fast, too
busy, too wide range, too long, &c). Scoring programs would be
the more typical source of MIDI files here I would think (since
it allows to prepare fragments specifically for that purpose).

Restrictions and notes on MIDI as supported by JavaTuner.

o  All music must be in a single track, ie. MIDI file must be
   format 0. If a format 1 file is read, only the 1st track
   containing music will be considered. No message will be
   printed in this case, but it will of course be immediately
   audible. Most MIDI files I find on the Web are format 1,
   unfortunately.

   But there are utilities for converting between formats, for
   example Günter Nagler's midi1to0.exe which can be found on
   http://www.gnmidi.com/ (along with other utilities -- thanks
   to Fred Nachbaur for this pointer and other help with this new
   feature).

o  Four simultaneous notes maximum. If there are more, they will
   be lost. To avoid aliasing problems, the music should not go
   higher than the highest F on the treble clef. If it does,
   JavaTuner will reduce the (already limited) harmonic content
   of the generated sounds, hence making the temperament
   differences less audible.

   A message will be printed on the Java console if there are
   more than four notes or if anti-aliasing measures are taken.

o  Tempo will be picked up from the start of the MIDI file.
   Tempo changes will not be picked up.

   I haven't found any such MIDI files, but I have written code
   to handle the ?? formats (ie. files with -ve ? in the header
   chunk). If you have such files, I'm interested in seeing a
   few and getting your feedback on any known problem

o  Instrumentation, pitch bending, and other parms ignored.

o  Duration shouldn't exceed a few minutes (ideally, should stay
   under a minute). Each minute requires about 500K. A message on
   the Java console will give the duration.

Some sources of MIDI files:

o  On this web site:
   - fillesE.mid
   - puceEH.mid
   - paroleEH.mid
   - bachVL.mid  (has too many notes)

o  http://www.jsbach.net/bcs/link-midi.html  (Bach MIDI files)

If you have problems with a MIDI file that you think should work,
feel free to send it to me. I will certainly have a look at it
and give you some feedback (and possibly a fix).

Security

   For MIDI support, the applet requires extra permissions above those
   normally granted to the applet sandbox, the following needs to be done.

 Netscape

   With netscape not running, modify (using, for example, NotePad)
   the prefs.js or preferences.js file (WinNT: in /users/settings/netscape/
   and Unix: in $HOME/.netscape): add the following line

       user_pref("signed.applets.codebase_principal_support", true);

   Then restart netscape. What this does is to allow granting of priviledges
   based on "file:" and "http:" URLs instead of only signed applets. This
   means you should, when navigating, always carefully inspect authorization
   requests before granting them. At a few points during the execution of the
   Java tuner, an authorization menu will be presented. After checking it
   carefully, grant the request (you should check the "Remember this
   decision" box to remember the grant). The authorizations required by the
   applet are:
      + UniversalFileWrite: not currently needed but probably in the future
      + UniversalFileRead:  to load MIDI files

   Where to place the MIDI file: by default, netscape will try to read files
   from its home directory:
   - WinNT: in /Program Files/netscape/Communicator/Program
   - Unix: in the directory from which netscape was started, typically $HOME
   Note: I plan to use a standard file-selection popup soon...

 Internet Explorer

   No clue!

 Stand alone

   No special actions required. Stand-alone applications have the necessary
   priviledges by default.


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Add two more MIDI files on my site:
sarab.mid
tritone.mid