"Mini Guide": Tips for getting great sheets from "found" MIDI files

[dj]

Thanks, Sherry. May I also add:

• Re-order the staves in accepted order.

For some reason, Band-In-A-Box and other programs, as well as a lot of "found" midi files, order the instruments upside-down, starting with drums and moving down through melodies and soloists. An "accepted" (because nothing is carved in stone) order for orchestral work is:

• Woodwinds: flutes, then reeds starting with English horn and oboe down through bassoons.
• Brass: French horns, then trumpets through tubas
• Pitched Percussion: bells down through tympani
• Unpitched Percussion: claves through bass drum
• Vocals: SATB
• Keyboards: Piano/harpsichord, organ, celeste
• Harp
• Strings: violins through double bass

For stage (jazz) bands:

• Woodwinds: flutes, then reeds down by size
• Saxophones: by size
• Brass: French horns, if needed, then trumpets, etc. down by size
• Vocals: SATB
• Rhythm section: piano, organ, guitar, string/electric bass
• Pitched percussion
• Unpitched percussion (trap set here)

For musique concrete, ambient, trip-hop, trance, dance, etc:

• You're on your own.

David

(And maybe that's all a little long for placing in your "concise" tips thread.)

[Sherry C]

Hi David,


I guess I wasn't thinking of the Conductor's score, just the individual instrument sheets. However, someone in your shoes (and costume) would need that nicely laid out Conductor's Score, and of course it's good to have it set up consistently.


Thanks for adding briefly to the "mini guide"


ttfn,
Sherry