TiMidity
Encyclopedia
TiMidity++, originally and still frequently informally called TiMidity, is a software synthesizer
that can play MIDI
files without a hardware synthesizer. It can either render to the sound card in real time, or it can save the result to a file, such as a PCM
.wav
file.
TiMidity++ primarily runs under Linux
and Unix-like
operating systems, but it also runs under Microsoft Windows
and AmigaOS
. Distributed under the GNU General Public License
, TiMidity++ is free software
.
lyrics), Recomposer files, and module file
s. It is one of the few programs that can read MIDI .mid files using the MIDI Tuning Standard
. TiMidity++ also has support for SoundFont
s, rendering the synthesized MIDI sounds into their recorded SoundFont equivalents and directing the output to the soundcard. Files can be fetched from standard input, files, archive files, or from the network (over HTTP, FTP
or NNTP).
The program has various interfaces, including but not limited to bare text, ncurses
, X11 (Motif
, Xaw
, GTK+
and Tk) and even an Emacs
interface that shows played notes in real time.
TiMidity++ has some support for microtonal music.
head.
Software synthesizer
A software synthesizer, also known as a softsynth is a computer program or plug-in for digital audio generation. Computer software which can create sounds or music is not new, but advances in processing speed are allowing softsynths to accomplish the same tasks that previously required dedicated...
that can play MIDI
Musical Instrument Digital Interface
MIDI is an industry-standard protocol, first defined in 1982 by Gordon Hall, that enables electronic musical instruments , computers and other electronic equipment to communicate and synchronize with each other...
files without a hardware synthesizer. It can either render to the sound card in real time, or it can save the result to a file, such as a PCM
Pulse-code modulation
Pulse-code modulation is a method used to digitally represent sampled analog signals. It is the standard form for digital audio in computers and various Blu-ray, Compact Disc and DVD formats, as well as other uses such as digital telephone systems...
.wav
WAV
Waveform Audio File Format , is a Microsoft and IBM audio file format standard for storing an audio bitstream on PCs...
file.
TiMidity++ primarily runs under Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
and Unix-like
Unix-like
A Unix-like operating system is one that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification....
operating systems, but it also runs under Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
and AmigaOS
AmigaOS
AmigaOS is the default native operating system of the Amiga personal computer. It was developed first by Commodore International, and initially introduced in 1985 with the Amiga 1000...
. Distributed under the GNU General Public License
GNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
, TiMidity++ is free software
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
.
Features
TiMidity++ can read a number of file types and devices, primarily the ordinary .mid files, but also .kar (MIDI with KaraokeKaraoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
lyrics), Recomposer files, and module file
Module file
Module files are a family of music file formats originating from the MOD file format on Amiga systems used in late 1980s...
s. It is one of the few programs that can read MIDI .mid files using the MIDI Tuning Standard
MIDI Tuning Standard
MIDI Tuning Standard is a specification of precise musical pitch agreed to by the MIDI Manufacturers Association in the MIDI protocol. MTS allows for both a bulk tuning dump message, giving a tuning for each of 128 notes, and a tuning message for individual notes as they are played.-Frequency...
. TiMidity++ also has support for SoundFont
SoundFont
SoundFont is a brand name that collectively refers to a file format and associated technology designed to bridge the gap between recorded and synthesized audio, especially for the purposes of computer music composition...
s, rendering the synthesized MIDI sounds into their recorded SoundFont equivalents and directing the output to the soundcard. Files can be fetched from standard input, files, archive files, or from the network (over HTTP, FTP
File Transfer Protocol
File Transfer Protocol is a standard network protocol used to transfer files from one host to another host over a TCP-based network, such as the Internet. FTP is built on a client-server architecture and utilizes separate control and data connections between the client and server...
or NNTP).
The program has various interfaces, including but not limited to bare text, ncurses
Ncurses
ncurses is a programming library that provides an API which allows the programmer to write text user interfaces in a terminal-independent manner. It is a toolkit for developing "GUI-like" application software that runs under a terminal emulator...
, X11 (Motif
Motif (widget toolkit)
In computing, Motif refers to both a graphical user interface specification and the widget toolkit for building applications that follow that specification under the X Window System on Unix and other POSIX-compliant systems. It emerged in the 1980s as Unix workstations were on the rise, as a...
, Xaw
Xaw
Xaw is short for the X Window System Athena widget set, which is a set of widgets to implement simple user interfaces based upon the X Toolkit Intrinsics...
, GTK+
GTK+
GTK+ is a cross-platform widget toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces. It is licensed under the terms of the GNU LGPL, allowing both free and proprietary software to use it. It is one of the most popular toolkits for the X Window System, along with Qt.The name GTK+ originates from GTK;...
and Tk) and even an Emacs
Emacs
Emacs is a class of text editors, usually characterized by their extensibility. GNU Emacs has over 1,000 commands. It also allows the user to combine these commands into macros to automate work.Development began in the mid-1970s and continues actively...
interface that shows played notes in real time.
TiMidity++ has some support for microtonal music.
History
The original version of TiMidity was written in 1995 by Tuukka Toivonen. After he stopped updating the program, Masanao Izumo and other contributors started to work on the program, renaming it to TiMidity++. The TiMidity++ project has not been actively maintained since 2004, though code is still being committed every once in a while to the CVSConcurrent Versions System
The Concurrent Versions System , also known as the Concurrent Versioning System, is a client-server free software revision control system in the field of software development. Version control system software keeps track of all work and all changes in a set of files, and allows several developers ...
head.