Free Midi File Editor

[Jacqui]

Hi There
I am looking for ideas on what to recommend to a friend for basic PC midi editing, I started him off with Vanbasco just to play midis through, but he now wants to transpose files and mute instruments and be able to save them, he tried it in Vanbasco to send some tracks back to me to convert to MP3, but after several hours of work, he realized that Vanbasco does not save the changes, I only want to recommend something very easy to use, as he is not that up on PC's or Music Editing.
I remember way back some people used to use Anvil, but I also remember there were some problems with it, I can't recall what they were though.
Any ideas appreciated
Also he's working with a laptop, only recently bought so I'd imagine it's a Windows 7 operating system
Jacqui

[frank]

Must be one among this lot.
www.windows7download.com/free-win7-midi-sequencer/

[geraint]

Jazz Midi sequencer always used to be a good free editor

[JohnG]

Hi Jackie,

Anvil Studio has undergone a considerable upgrade and is just fine for making alterations to MIDI files. It now uses the standard Cakewalk Instrument File definitions which makes it a bit easier to use with most instruments out there. I was never entirely convinced with Jazz Sequencer, it altered things I hadn't asked it to and moved commands around unnecessarily. But it does work. Anvil is also a freebie for the basic stuff. And you can buy add-ons for extra capability.

As usual my 2d worth!
JohnG

[shanless]

I use Anvil and standard Cakewalk too...and both seem fine to me
Kev

[Jacqui]

Thanks Guys

Just the info I needed, I think I will recommend the Anvil one to him as it seems to be Ok with all here, and I can always call on some advise from you guys if it's one you understand

Thanks for the help

Jacqui

[steveb]

I used Anvil a long long time ago before I had Cakewalk. It was good program then. I shall give it another go...thanks JohnG

[JohnG]

No probs,

The latest version '2011' has some good improvements. One excellent one being that it checks the file on loading, and strips out redundant controller messages. e.g. modulation wheel=0 repeated 300 times gets reduced to one occurance,

JohnG.

[steveb]

GGRRRR.......I think I will have to go back to Cakewalk...I would have to go through he whole learning process again to get a handle on it's operation. Maybe i'll return to it some other time.

[JohnG]

Yes Steve,

I agree, it's one of the things that keeps me from using it as my main sequencer. But it's the trouble with swapping to anything new, the GUI changes, and initially the creation process slows right down. It took me some while to get into CWPA9 when I first got it after XGworks, and the same with Cubase and Sonar. I still go back to XGworks for all my creative work then move the created MIDI into, these days usually Sonar 7 PE, to create the final audio file.

But for those starting out, Anvil works, it does most things pretty well and it's free.

Just my 2d ...
JohnG.