One of Over 700 Sites
	with Guide Steve Allen Bio | Contact

Subjects

Hot New Sites MP3 File Search Free MP3 Sites MP3 Newsgroups MP3 Software Portable Players Buy MP3 Music Bands & Composers Find MIDI Files MIDI Karaoke MIDI Newsgroups MIDI Software Guitar MIDI Sites Tips & Tricks Equipment Shop Online MIDI's - Rock/Pop MIDI's - Country MIDI's - TV & Film MIDI's - Jazz MIDI's - Classical MIDI's - Christian MIDI's - Blues MIDI's - Latin Am. MIDI's - Brazilian MIDI's - World MIDI's - Original MP3 Files for Sale Buy MIDI Files Subject Library  All articles on this topic

More Sites on this Topic

ExtremeAudioNet Look4MP3 Music Robot Smash Hit Titanium MP3

Post to the Bulletin Board

If you have a question or comment about MP3 or MIDI, whether it concerns hardware, software, or using music on the Net, it is best to post this to the Bulletin Board  There are probably many other people who have your same question, would like to hear your comment, or have experience in this area.  I check this regularly. Post your questions or comments and you'll get input from a variety of voices.

Email Your Guide

Like all the Guides at About.com, I'm a real person. You can email me at mp3.guide@About.com.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. I am looking for a particular MP3 or MIDI file. Do you have it?
2. Can MIDI files be copyrighted? How do I do this?
3. I see lots of MP3 and MIDI files on Web sites. Can I use these without violating copyright laws?
4. How can I make my own MIDI files?
5. How can I add MIDI to my Web page?
6. How can I convert MP3, WAV, CD or other audio files to MIDI?
7. I am having trouble with my computer, sound card, MIDI equipment, etc. Can you help?

Q: I am looking for a particular MP3 or MIDI file. Do you have it?

A: I don't maintain a very big archive of files. The best way to find a specific MP3 file is to use one of the search engines listed on this site. MIDI search engines are listed at the top of the MIDI Files: All Styles page. Of course, you may also wish to consult the Net Links list for sites that carry sound files.

Q: Can MIDI files be copyrighted? How do I do this?

A: When this site began, copyright was one of the first issues I addressed in my feature columns. You can read the complete article here, but to put it simply, copyright is granted automatically when a work is created. You don't have to register it with the copyright office, though this registration can serve as proof of your authorship in case someone uses it without your permission.

Q: I see lots of MP3 and MIDI files on Web sites. Can I use these without violating copyright laws?

A: Copyright is routinely violated on Web sites, but that does not make it legal. Copyright applies both to the author of the music and the sequencer of the MIDI file. It is extremely rare for anyone to be prosecuted for posting MIDI files, but you could be forced to remove them. Non-commercial sites are usually ignored. However, in the case of a commercial site such as mine, I only use MIDI files that are in the public domain or original files that the author has given me permission to use.

Q: How can I make my own MIDI files?

A: You need a software program called a sequencer (or a piece of hardware that is also called a sequencer). I wrote an in-depth article about this. You can also consult the Net Links list of MIDI Software Companies.

Q. How can I add MIDI to my Web page?

A: This question is asked so frequently that I always post a link to my explanatory article on the front page of this site. To summarize, do not use the <bgsound> tag because this works only in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Use only the <embed> tag because this is supported by Explorer, Netscape, and other popular browsers. Using both tags will make the file play twice in Internet Explorer. If you don't know what I am talking about, I highly recommend learning some basic HTML before building a Web site. Web authoring tools such as FrontPage and AOLpress make it very easy to build a site without knowing code, but you can get into trouble if you don't know what you are doing.

Q: How can I convert MP3, WAV, CD or other audio files to MIDI?

A: This is one of the most frequently-asked questions on the Net, and I wrote a feature article about converting WAV or other audio to MIDI. However, the short answer is that you really can't do it unless the audio file is of just one instrument. Since MIDI must be entered one instrument at a time, you can't take a WAV, MP3 or CD file of a band and convert it to MIDI.

Q. I am having trouble with my computer, sound card, MIDI equipment, etc. Can you help?

A: My job as MP3/MIDI Music Guide is to point you to the best places on the Net. I make every effort to respond to the e-mail and other requests I receive, but I am not a technical support person and my time is very limited. It is usually best to contact technical support for the product you own. You may wish to consult my list of Hardware Manufacturers, MP3 Software Makers and MIDI Software Companies.