FretPet Crosses Over

FretPet uses a custom file format (called a 'BANK') for storing your compositions. The 'BANK' file isn't of much use to other applications and sequencers. If you want to use your compositions in other sequencers you need to export them to a different format.

The File >> Export Movie… command is a key that opens many doors. This option writes a Music Movie from your sequence. Applications like MoviePlayer (or QuickTime Player) can load Music Movies and convert them to other formats, including AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) and SMF (Standard MIDI Format).

The File >> Export MIDI… command saves your composition as a MIDI file. You can determine whether to write Midi files in Verbose Format (standard) or in the shorter format known as "Running Mode" by checking the appropriate option in the Preferences dialog.

Using Music Movies

Using a converter like Norman Franke's SoundApp you can convert AIFF into System 7 Sounds, WAV files for use on Wintel, or MPEG audio. Use Stefano Daino's D-SoundPro to upload your sound to a digital sampler for use as a musical instrument.

Most sequencers can import SMF format. SMFs exported by MoviePlayer are very good, but might require some minor tweaking in your sequencer. (For example, they include an Instrument Change command at the start that may override your sequencer's settings).

The Music Movie File itself is extremely useful. With MoviePlayer (or QuickTime Player) you can simply cut and paste video, still images, music, sound, and MIDI. With a few quick clicks of the mouse you can build an impressive movie complete with a soundtrack.

Music Movies can be placed right into a web page using the <EMBED> tag. Anyone visiting the site can hear your creations if they have the QuickTime Plugin.

Bugs In QuickTime

As of QuickTime 4.0b22 there are still some bugs in the Music Architecture that can cause glitches to appear in your exported movies when you play them in MoviePlayer or use MoviePlayer to export them.

Some notes may sound shortened. Other notes may not play at all. If your piece includes drum sounds these may not play at all or may be substituted by a different instrument. If you set the music to loop you may notice a pause at the end before the music starts over.

The QuickTime team has been made aware of these issues but they have not addressed them as of the current release, 4.0 beta 22. A workaround is provided below....

Direct to MIDI Export

As of version 2.0.2 FretPet can export directly to MIDI. These files can be read by any MIDI sequencer, such as MIDIGraphy, Cubase, or CakeWalk Pro.

Direct to MIDI Export provides a workaround for the unaddressed bugs in QuickTime. After you export your composition as a MIDI file you can then import the file into MoviePlayer (or QuickTime Player) and convert it into a music movie. The resulting file will sound identical to the original.

MIDI can be placed directly into a web page using the <EMBED> tag. Visitors will hear your music if they have a MIDI-capable plugin such as LiveAudio or QuickTime Plugin (version 4 or later).

The MIDIGraphy Sequencer

I recommend a sequencer called MIDIGraphy by TONTATA. This shareware sequencer is easy to use and contains features usually seen only in high-end commercial sequencing software that costs hundreds of dollars. It can play through MIDI or QuickTime music, and makes a wonderful companion to FretPet for users who want to do more in-depth sequencing work.

BACK NEXT • INTRODUCTION • REQUIREMENTS • QUICKSTART • INTERFACE • • BANK • ANALYSIS • PREFERENCES • EXPORTING • HINTS & TIPS • • VERSION INFO •