4 @chapter Converting to LilyPond format.
18 Midi2ly translates a MIDI input file to a LilyPond source file. MIDI
19 (Music Instrument Digital Interface) is a standard for digital
20 instruments: it specifies cabling, a serial protocol and a file format.
22 It is possible to record a MIDI file using a digital keyboard, and then
23 convert it to @file{.ly}. However, human players can not rhythmically
24 exact enough to make a MIDI to .ly conversion trivial. midi2ly tries to
25 compensate for these timing errors, but is not very good at this. It is
26 therefore not recommended to use midi2ly for human-generated midi
27 files. Correcting the quantization mistakes of the human player takes a
30 Hackers who know about signal processing are invited to write a more
33 MIDI is also a de facto standard format for exporting music from other
34 programs, so this capability may come in useful when you want to import
35 files from a program that has no convertor for its native format.
37 @subsection Invoking midi2ly
40 midi2ly [options] midi-file
43 @unnumberedsec Options
46 @item -b, --no-quantify,
47 Write exact durations, e.g.: `a4*385/384'.
49 Print lots of debugging stuff.
51 Show a summary of usage.
52 @item -I, --include=@file{DIR},
53 Add DIR to search path.
54 @item -k, --key=ACC[:MINOR],
55 Set default key. ACC > 0 sets number of sharps; ACC < 0 sets number
56 of flats. A minor key is indicated by ":1".
58 Assume no plets or double dots, assume smallest (reciprocal) duration 16.
59 @item -o, --output=@file{FILE},
60 Set @file{FILE} as default output.
65 @item -s, --smallest=N,
66 Assume no shorter (reciprocal) durations than N.
70 Show the warranty with which midi2ly comes. (It comes with @strong{NO WARRANTY}!)
71 @item -x, --no-double-dots,
72 Assume no double dotted notes.
79 ETF (Enigma Transport Format) is a format used by Coda Music
80 Technology's Finale product. This program will convert part of an ETF
81 file to a ready-to-use lilypond file.
83 @subsection Invoking etf2ly
87 etf2ly [OPTION]... ETF-FILE
90 Convert ETF to LilyPond.
96 @item -o,--output=FILE
97 set output filename to FILE
103 Written by @email{Han-Wen Nienhuys,hanwen@@cs.uu.nl}.
108 Known: articulation scripts are buggy. Empty measures confuse etf2ly.
109 Report bugs to @email{bug-gnu-music@@gnu.org}.
114 ABC is a fairly simple ASCII based format. It is described at
115 @uref{http://www.gre.ac.uk/~c.walshaw/abc2mtex/abc.txt}.
119 abc2ly [OPTION]... ABC-FILE
122 Convert ABC to LilyPond.
128 @item -o,--output=FILE
129 set output filename to FILE
136 The ABC standard is not very "standard". For extended features
137 (eg. polyphonic music) different conventions exist.
139 [TODO: describe limitations]
145 PMX is a Musixtex preprocessor written by Don Simons, see
146 @uref{http://www.gmd.de/Misc/Music/musixtex/software/pmx/}.
148 Report bugs to @email{bug-gnu-music@@gnu.org}.
151 pmx2ly [OPTION]... PMX-FILE
154 Convert PMX to LilyPond.
160 @item -o,--output=FILE
161 set output filename to FILE
170 PMX is a Musixtex preprocessor written by Don Simons, see
171 @uref{http://www.gmd.de/Misc/Music/musixtex/software/pmx/}.
173 Report bugs to @email{bug-gnu-music@@gnu.org}.
176 musedata2ly [OPTION]... MUSEDATA-FILE
179 Convert Musedata to LilyPond. Musedata (@uref{http://www.musedata.org/})
180 is an electronic library of classical music scores, currently comprising
181 about 800 composition dating from 1700 to 1825. The music is encoded in
182 so-called Musedata format
183 (@uref{http://www.ccarh.org/publications/books/beyondmidi/online/musedata}).
184 musedata2ly converts a set of musedata files to one .ly file, and will
185 include a \header field if a .ref file is supplied
187 Report bugs to @email{bug-gnu-music@@gnu.org}.
189 Written by @email{Han-Wen Nienhuys,hanwen@@cs.uu.nl}.
196 @item -o,--output=@var{file}
197 set output filename to @var{file}
200 @item -r,--ref=@var{reffile}
201 read background information from ref-file