Convert PDF to Midi file...

[kano]

Anybody ever done this? There is this rather nice piece of "hold" music, which I can't find a high quality version of. But I got the sheet music from a site online, its free. Apparently there are ways for a computer to convert the sheet music into a midi file.

 

I'm obviously not expecting perfection. It would probably turn out something like what happens when you make a computer translate Russian to English.

Edited May 17, 2017 by kano

[chakkman]

Not sure if that works really. PDF isn't in any way related to anything music/MIDI. How would the content of the PDF file be converted if there isn't even any reference to MIDI notes in it?

 

See this also: https://musescore.org/en/node/12750

Edited May 17, 2017 by chakkman

[Destined]

Well, it might be possible that some more data is stored than meets the eye. In most pdf files you can nowadays copy and paste the text, if the pdf was created from a word document. So it might be possible that in this case the stave and info where the notes sit is also stored. However, I also cannot help you, kano. I would try to use some freeware music make software and copy the score into that by hand...

[jaxa]

An AI artilect could do this.

[chakkman]

I think the best bet would be a dedicated OCR software, which also can convert it into MIDI notes afterwards. But, i'm not aware if something like that exists.

 

Would it be a major effort to just program the notes from the sheet in a score program, or a DAW? Think you can save that as a MIDI file then.

[teh_saccade]

This is something known as "OMR (optical music recognition)".

OMeR used to be the thing - it was shareware: http://www.myriad-online.com/en/products/pdftomusicpro.htm

It seems that the same people have an improved version that isn't from several years ago, but it costs 200e (but has a free trial): http://www.myriad-online.com/en/products/harmony.htm
and a free version of a simple melody OMR here: http://www.myriad-online.com/en/products/melodyplayer.htm

 

// of course, it might be less expensive to simply transcribe the notation yourself with some free software that reads the music, such as: http://scorecloud.com/

Edited May 17, 2017 by teh_saccade

[freyk]

All greate sollutions above.

But didnt you find these answers yourself, if you used the topictitle as keywords, kano?

Edited May 18, 2017 by freyk

[teh_saccade]

I was gonna reply, www.lmgtfy.com, freyk

Thanks for saying what I was thinking))

[kano]

Here's the midi file. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4Ujne3RkyZBeGZVNExjWV83V1E/view

 

And here's a crappy 8Khz telephone version. https://soundcloud.com/drbalt/cvs-pharmacy-hold-music

 

I want a CD quality version!

 

unfortunately this doesn't start at the beginning of the song, but it loops around. I think you'll agree that this is a great tune

Edited May 18, 2017 by kano

[teh_saccade]

Unfortunately, most telephones only have a frequency range of around 400 to 4000hz - which is why most phone holding music sounds of a poor quality.

What is at 8000hz is actually heard at <4000hz due to Nyquist-Shannon theorum and telephone restriction. You get what you pay for - at least it sounds like authentic telephone holding music

It's a good conversation starter when you've been on hold for 20 minutes, listening to Phil Collins and it's a good way to soften up a secretary by making lame jokes about their holding music, in order for them to admit that "they just stepped back to their desk - I'll put you right through".

A long time since I read music... Every Good Boy Deserves Apples, FACE. Ok... Common time, 6/4, key C.

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/7cj0a0m1m5y7t91/CVS%20pharmacy%20hold%20music_01.ogg?dl=0 <--- complete with the synth strings.

[teh_saccade]

It took a little over 38 mins to take the pdf and do everything required to make this video and midi.

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ignnf3r5f5vnob6/MUZAK.ogg?dl=0

Google is a good friend, but your brain is like, you know... BFFs. Edited May 18, 2017 by teh_saccade

[kano]

Pretty cool. Apparently this tune is mis-credited. Some people call it "Golden Dragon by Karl King", but it was actually written by another guy named James Romeo.

[teh_saccade]

So I was just reading - It is a catchy tune, you're right.

I tried to variate the tempo a little, as it was difficult to define any emphasis or expression using the OMR and it couldn't reach the +1 octave for the last chord before the time-change, so was best-can-do before dinner is cooked - it also missed a few semi-brieves and the da capo that had to be manually placed.

You can use any number of freeware editors to speed up or slow down the ogg's, as I didn't take time to match.

But the one of the real instrument with the strings is probably the best for the walkman. On repeat. Forever. In pharmacist hell.

 

That OMR might come in handy in future. Free trial probably means there's probably a key in the reg that can be goofed for it to expire in -1 days or something.

 

It was a fun exercise and diversion - thanks for bringing it up, Kano.

 

//tbh, it was the first time I touched a keyboard other than this ps/2 from the 90s' since... xmas 2008. Still can't play.

Edited May 18, 2017 by teh_saccade