MIDI Files Don't Play in Windows Mail

M

mutefan

I've read and tried several solutions after Googling this problem. I
thought I'd post here. Windows Mail will either 1) not allow MIDI
files to be inserted into a new message, or 2) not allow MIDI files to
be PLAYED. I don't know which it is. If anyone can tell me why, I'd
appreciate hearing. Thanks.
 
S

Steve Cochran

Very often the volume gets set to a very low number (-9640 or somesuch).
Compose a new HTML message and then go to Insert | Background | Sound. Then
insert the midi. Then, prior to sending the message, go to View | Source
Edit and then click on the Source tab at the bottom. Then look through the
source and look for <BGSOUND volume=-9640 src="mymidi.mid"> and change the
volume to zero (the maximum). See if that works then. If it does, then go
to Control Panel | Sounds and find out which device is muted or has its
volume control set to zero and then fix that and in the future the midi
should work.

steve
 
M

mutefan

Very often the volume gets set to a very low number (-9640 or somesuch).
Compose a new HTML message and then go to Insert | Background | Sound.  Then
insert the midi.  Then, prior to sending the message, go to View | Source
Edit and then click on the Source tab at the bottom.  Then look throughthe
source and look for <BGSOUND volume=-9640 src="mymidi.mid"> and change the
volume to zero (the maximum).  See if that works then.  If it does, then go
to Control Panel | Sounds and find out which device is muted or has its
volume control set to zero and then fix that and in the future the midi
should work.
Click to expand...

Wow. Thanks, I'll try that. The only problem is that in Vista, the
Control Panel | Sounds window doesn't seem to offer a variety of
"devices." Maybe I'm wrong.

Another answer on another forum suggested tinkering with Default
Programs in the Start Menu. I found out that .MID and .MIDI files both
*could* open with QuickTime (an Apple player I downloaded to watch
shows on PBS). Do you think changing the default program would help--
IF your suggestion doesn't? (I'm going to compose a sample message now
and send it to myself.)

Thanks again.
 
M

mutefan

I did what you suggested. A weird thing happened. First, here's the
source information about the MIDI:<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD
HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.6001.18203" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff><BGSOUND
src="C:\Users\*********\Music\baby-elephant-walk.mid" loop=infinite>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

First, I notice that after "BGSOUND src=" there's nothing at all, and
the midi was silent.

Second, when I went to Preview, the MIDI was almost blasting. Brother,
does this worry me, because I attempted to embed a Catholic hymn in
some emails to "big wigs" at our local diocese, and when they failed
to be audible, I added others, then sent the emails just assuming
there'd be silence when the email recipient opened it. Oh brother.

Anyway, I'd appreciate if you have any explanation for why the Preview
would have suddenly kick-started the volume. Thanks again.
 
S

Steve Cochran

Go back and look at the source code after the Preview and see if the volume
is set then. Control Panel | Sounds | Recording | Device Properties | Level
will indicate the sound level set for a device.

Also make sure you have "Send Pictures with messages" set under Tools |
Options | Send | Mail | HTML settings.

You can also go to File | Work offline and send the message to the outbox
and preview it there to check what the volume level is. You can also check
the file size of the message then to ensure the sound was embedded in the
message. You can also check that by moving the sound file off its original
location on the hard drive and then opening the message. If the sound does
not play, then its still trying to reference the file on your hard drive
instead of from within the message itself.

The actual program that opens the midi doesn't matter, but I'm not a fan of
QT.

steve


I did what you suggested. A weird thing happened. First, here's the
source information about the MIDI:<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD
HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.6001.18203" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff><BGSOUND
src="C:\Users\*********\Music\baby-elephant-walk.mid" loop=infinite>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

First, I notice that after "BGSOUND src=" there's nothing at all, and
the midi was silent.

Second, when I went to Preview, the MIDI was almost blasting. Brother,
does this worry me, because I attempted to embed a Catholic hymn in
some emails to "big wigs" at our local diocese, and when they failed
to be audible, I added others, then sent the emails just assuming
there'd be silence when the email recipient opened it. Oh brother.

Anyway, I'd appreciate if you have any explanation for why the Preview
would have suddenly kick-started the volume. Thanks again.
 
M

mutefan

Go back and look at the source code after the Preview and see if the volume
is set then.  Control Panel | Sounds | Recording | Device Properties | Level
will indicate the sound level set for a device.
Click to expand...

When I do this, I get a choice of Microphone or an output device (I
suppose for earphones?). Which should I amp up the volume for--the
earphones? (I'm using Vista, of course.)
Also make sure you have "Send Pictures with messages" set under Tools |
Options | Send | Mail | HTML settings.
Click to expand...

Why "Pictures?" Is the sound file written in the same mark-up as a
graphic file?
You can also go to File | Work offline and send the message to the outbox
and preview it there to check what the volume level is.  You can also check
the file size of the message then to ensure the sound was embedded in the
message.  You can also check that by moving the sound file off its original
location on the hard drive and then opening the message.  If the sound does
not play, then its still trying to reference the file on your hard drive
instead of from within the message itself.
Click to expand...

The last two sentences are interesting to me as someone who has never
gotten too involved in computer audio capaiblities. Why would moving
it from its original location (my Music folder, if it matter)
determine whether or not Windows Mail embedded it in the message?
The actual program that opens the midi doesn't matter, but I'm not a fan of
QT.
Click to expand...

I don't like it either, but PBS insists you use it for certain
programs. BTW, could you explain how I could change the default
setting from "=" *nothing* to equals whatever the BGSound should be
set to? Thanks again!
 

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