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Exporting Sequences |
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PAGE INDEX 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 all doors. This option writes a Music Movie from your sequence. Applications like MoviePlayer can load Music Movies and convert them to other formats, including AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) and SMF (Standard MIDI Format).
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 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.
As of QuickTime 3.0.2 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 will notice an ugly pause at the end before the music starts over. The QuickTime team is aware of these issues and they will hopefully be fixed in the next release.
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.
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