View Full Version : converting songs to another format
John Bertotti
Aug-30-2004, 12:59pm
So how do you convert a cd or mp3 to another format? Any available programs? I run a mac and use itunes but all I can do there is change between cd and mp3. Thanks all john http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
None of the file formats you mention (MIDI, ABC, ASCII) are actually sound files, per se, as is the CD or MP3 format that you can listen to.
MIDI is a computer instruction set that tells a MIDI converter (like perhaps on your sound card) what notes to play and for how long, etc.. Although there are WAV to MIDI converters, they work barely well, and even then only if the original sound file (WAV) is very simple.
And ABC or ASCII formats are text files, representing musical notation or tablature. To go from a sound file to ABC format or ASCII you will have to transcribe the score note for note yourself.
But...what is it you are trying to do exactly?
John Bertotti
Aug-30-2004, 8:03pm
Asha,Thanks for the reply. I have an mp3 from another board member that I wanted to try and get into tabledit and send back to him in standard notation and tab. I have never tried to write a song down just by listening to it. I will of course now be trying to do that. Unless I record it onto my minidisc or cd and play back in through a line in input. Maybe I can get it in as a midi then. Not sure.
I started another post trying to get some of the archived tab here onto my mac in a format tabledit could import. The three forms mentioned above. I have been only able to get them as text files or .com or html files. Oh well. Thanks for your help John
ootee1
Aug-30-2004, 8:28pm
If you're going to be transcribing by ear you might want to try an application called "the amazing X" which can be found here http://www.ronimusic.com. It'll slow down any mp3 file without changing pitch. I've used it to figure out how to play songs but I imagine it would be equally useful in transcribing.
John Bertotti
Aug-30-2004, 9:24pm
ootee1 I just downloaded the trial version. Thanks John
Dolamon
Aug-31-2004, 5:47am
With TablEdit (at least for PC) you can import, or export MIDI, ASCII, ABC or even Clipboard versions of tunes and get a reasonible representation. Midi is the most complicated as you need to ascertain which of the tracks is the pertinent one. I've done some pipe tunes and they came out okay but it took a little time to figure out which track was the desireable one.
Converting MP3 or WAV files to MIDI ... well that's another thing entirely. I haven't done it but I think the Amazing Slow Downer or other similar programs will help.
What tune were you trying to transcribe?
Take a look at Transkriber also: Transkriber software. (http://www.reedkotlermusic.com/rkm/transkriber.htm)
John Bertotti
Aug-31-2004, 3:23pm
Alec who is another board member sent me an mp3 of a song he played on a Gelas mandolin. I was curious how they sounded. I loved the tune and it happened to be one he created. So I was going to put it in writing and send it to him. Thanks everyone I'll keep plugging away. John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif