Add to Track Four!

In most MIDI programs you attach the lyrics to the melody line.... then as the melody notes turn on and off the words appear appropriately. As does Gandalf, I use Cakewalk with the lyrics and Staff windows open to attach text

How can you make the lyrics move with the midi?

I have recently learned lots about MIDI file format and can explain some background to the excellent recommendations from P.M.

A MIDI File consists of lots and lots of 'Events'. Every note in a sequence occupies a 'Note Event' (actually it's two events; Note ON and Note OFF, but all good Editor/Sequencer software treats them as one). 'Note Events' always relate to one of 16 possible 'Channels' (sometimes called Tracks).

The notes which comprise the melody should contain the melody only. This is very important and fortunately, this is normally the case.

The melody should be on channel 4, however this is not mandatory, but some MIDI editor/sequencer software get confused if another channel is used.

You should use a Editor/Qequencer program, like CakeWalk, to enter your lyrics. You highlight the track containing the melody and select view lyrics. You get a blank screen. Then you paste or type in the lyrics.

The software matches each 'Note Event' to a syllable, however, it is NOT smart. It does not really know what a syllable is. Every group of spaces between words and also the end-of-line is assumed to syllables. This means that it assumes, each word is a syllable.

A 'Lyric Event' is created to match each 'Note Event'.

BUT... as P.M. indicated, many words comprise several syllables. According the the MIDI Manufacturers Association, Recommended Practice RP-017, the hyphen ('-') should be used to separate syllables of a word. It also says, punctuation, e.g. full stop, question mark, and comma etc should not be placed anwhere but at the end of a word or line.

The recommendation does not address the problem of bad lyric writing, i.e. condensing two of more syllables or words into one note. Use of the underline character ('_') appears to be in widespread use for this purpose.

To clarify:- A word with an embedded hyphen is treat as two syllables spanning two notes. A word with an embedded underline is treat as one word spanning a single note, even if the underline separates two syllables.

One final point. With CakeWalk I find it useful to have the lyric window open and visible at the same time as the Staff window. The Staff window shows the notes on the staff plus the lyrics below, which are shown against the appropriate notes. This allows me to type in the lyrics easily and see the effects on the staff window in relation to the notes.

It's a lot easier and accurate. Even so.... sometimes it's a pain in the ass!.

Good Luck!

Some karaoke players like KaraWin has their own built-in lyrics synchronizers. All you have to is to select your midi file, enter the lyrics editor, and type (copy-paste...) the lyrics. But you have to follow some structure if you want the karaoke player to be able to synchonize perfectly the misic and the lyrics.
Examples:

a) Use - to seperate syllables
b) Use _ to unite to words pronounced during the same note.
....

Excellent wilkinsonde!
Thanks for the lesson

Well... I've added lyrics to only one of my MIDI files, so I am no expert here.

However, I'll tell you what I know and I'll try not to be as verbose as I normally am.

Firstly, there are a few programs around which are designed for the purpose of adding a karoke feature to existing MIDI files.

Try searching the net for 'karaoke creator program' in Yahoo etc.

But watch out...

One such program (GasMan Karaoke Editor) can be found at http://gasman.future.easyspace.com/Information.htm

This program, however, seems to synchronise text files (containing lyrics) with MIDI or MP3 files. It does not actually put the lyrics into your MIDI files. I don't think this is what you are after.

Or look at http://www.stylediskwarehouse.com/program.htm. This is basically a cheap sequencer program.

Or you could try a freebie... WinKaroke Creator... at... http://www.sonic.net/~fli/wink/default.htm
If you try this, please post your findings... I have not tried it but would like to know about it.

Also... checkout the following site (MidiKaraoke) before you start work on adding lyrics..... you don't want to re-invent the wheel do you? http://216.87.215.55/songdir/

Finally, you might be wondering how I added lyrics to one of my MIDI files....

I used Cakewalk. Select a track (preferably the melody line) and then use option "View", Lyrics" and enter the lyrics at the appropriate spot. It's not the easiest piece of software to use though. It adds 'Lyric' events to the chosen track (not 'Text'). I don't know whether the resultant file will display lyrics in WinAmp, but it sure does in vanBasco Karaoke player.

I guess the other popular sequencer programs have something similar. Maybe our other members can comment on the feature in other programs... Cubase, MidiSoft studio etc etc.

Cheers

That's a good question -
I don't know the answer -

Anyone?

I'm talking about midis that have graphical lyrics. I.e. when I play some midis in winamp theres a lyrics windows. How do I attach lyrics to my other midi files that don't have that feature? Sorry for the mix up.

Are you talking about midis that have graphical lyrics (like a karaoke CD) or audio multi-tracking where you would add your own voice track to a midi?

The easy way is to just use sound recorder (Start -> programs -> accessories -> entertainment) hit "play" on the misi file and record on sound recorder and sing. you need a microphone attached and working, of course

Whats the easiest way to add lyrics to an existing midi file? What software is generally recommeded?
Thxs