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.TH MIDI2ABC 1
.SH NAME
midi2abc \- Convert MIDI file to abc
.SH SYNOPSIS
\fBmidi2abc\fP
.SH "DESCRIPTION"
.B midi2abc
takes a MIDI format file and converts it to something as close as possible
to abc text format.
The user then has to add text fields not present in the MIDI header
and possibly tidy up the abc note output.
.PP
Here is a list of
.B midi2abc
features:
.IP
The key is chosen so as to minimize the number of accidentals.
Alternatively, the user can specify the key numerically
(a positive number is the number of sharps, a negative number is minus
the number of flats).
.IP
Note length can be set by specifiying the total number of bars or the
tempo of the piece. Alternatively the note length can be read from the file.
However, by default it is deduced in a heuristic manner from the inter-note
distances. This means that you do not have to use the MIDI clock as a
metronome when playing in a tune from a keyboard.
.IP
Barlines are automatically inserted. The user specifies the number of
beats in the anacrusis (pick-up note(s))
before the first barline and the time signature.
.IP
The program can guess how many beats there should be in the anacrusis,
either by looking for the first strong note or minimizing the number
of notes split by a tie across a barline.
.IP
Where a note extends beyond a bar break, it is split into two tied notes.
.IP
The output has 4 bars per line.
.IP
Enough accidental signs are put in the music to ensure that no pitch
errors occur if a barline is added or deleted.
.IP
The program attempts to group notes sensibly in each bar.
.IP
Triplets and broken rhythm (\fBa>b\fP) are supported.
.IP
Chords are identified.
.IP
Text information from the original MIDI file is included as comments.
.IP
The \fB-c\fP option can be used to select only one MIDI channel. Events
on other channels are ignored.
.PP
What
.B midi2abc
does not do:
.IP
Supply tune title, composer or any other field apart from \fBX:\fR,
\fBK:\fR, \fBQ:\fR, \fBM:\fR, and \fBL:\fR \-
these must be added by hand afterwards, though they may have been
included in the text of the MIDI file.
.IP
Support duplets, quadruplets, other esoteric features.
.IP
Support mid-tune key or meter changes.
.IP
Deduce repeats. The output is just the notes in the input file.
.IP
Recover an abc tune as supplied to abc2midi. However, if you want to do
this, \fBmidi2abc -xm -xl -xa -f file.mid\fR comes close.
.PP
The output of
.B midi2abc
goes to the standard output.
Use redirection to save it to a file.
.PP
If the MIDI file is computer-generated,
you may be able to extract the time signature from it using the
.B -xm
option.
Otherwise you should specify it with
.BR -m .
Allowable time signatures are \fBC\fP, \fB4/4\fP, \fB3/8\fP, \fB2/4\fP
and so on.
.PP
If the tune has an anacrusis (pickup notes),
you should specify the number of notes in it using the \fB-a\fP option.
.SH OPTIONS
.TP
.BI \-a " count"
Anacrusis (pickup notes) consists of \fIcount\fP beats.
.TP
.B \-xa
Extract anacrusis from file (find first strong note)
.TP
.B \-ga
Guess anacrusis (minimize ties across bars)
.TP
.BI \-m " time-sig"
Time signature is \fItime-sig\fP.
.TP
.B \-xm
Extract time signature from file.
.TP
.B \-xl
Extract absolute note lengths from file.
Conflicts with \fB-b\fP and \fB-Q\fP.
.TP
.BI \-b " bars"
Output should consist of \fIbars\fP bars.
Conflicts with \fB-xl\fP and \fB-Q\fP.
.TP
.BI \-Q " notes"
Tempo is \fInotes\fP quarter-notes per minute.
Conflicts with \fB-xl\fP and \fB-b\fP.
.TP
.BI \-k " signature"
Set key signature from -6 to 6 sharps.
.TP
.BI \-c " channel"
Only consider channel \fIchannel\fP.
.TP
.BI \-f " file"
Take input from file \fIfile\fP.
.PP
If none of the \fB-xl\fP, \fB-b\fP, or \fB-Q\fP options are present,
the program attempts to guess a suitable note length.
.SH "SEE ALSO"
.PP
.IR abcmtex "(1), " abc2abc "(1), " abc2midi "(1), " mftext "(1)"
.SH AUTHOR
This manual page was written by Anselm Lingnau <lingnau@tm.informatik.uni-frankfurt.de>,
for the Debian GNU/Linux system.
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