6.1 Creating MIDI files

To create a MIDI from a music piece of music, add a \midi block to a score, for example,

\score {
  ...music...
  \midi { \tempo 4=72 }
}

The tempo is specified using the \tempo command. In this case the tempo of quarter notes is set to 72 beats per minute.

If there is a \midi command in a \score, only MIDI will be produced. When notation is needed too, a \layout block must be added

\score {
  ...music...
  \midi { \tempo 4=72 }
  \layout { }
}

Ties, dynamics and tempo changes are interpreted. Dynamic marks, crescendi and decrescendi translate into MIDI volume levels. Dynamic marks translate to a fixed fraction of the available MIDI volume range, crescendi and decrescendi make the volume vary linearly between their two extremities. The fractions can be adjusted by dynamicAbsoluteVolumeFunction in Voice (lilypond-internals) context. For each type of MIDI instrument, a volume range can be defined. This gives a basic equalizer control, which can enhance the quality of the MIDI output remarkably. The equalizer can be controlled by setting instrumentEqualizer.