[linux-audio-user] MIDI Test Phrase for Auditioning Patches and Synths

[davidrclark at earthlink.net]

Summary: 

Test MIDI phrase #1 for auditioning patches or synths:

http://home.earthlink.net/~davidrclark/linux_audio_users/mmp1.mid

Demo of audition MIDI phrase for eight very different patches from a 
Roland XV-3080 is at:

http://home.earthlink.net/~davidrclark/latest.mp3

-----------------------------

MIDI Test Phrase 1 is a modified arpeggiated phrase that ranges over 
five octaves with velocities from 64 to 127, contains both long and 
short notes, some overlapping, some not (to provide some idea of both 
chord and solo performance), which I have now tested using three 
hardware synths, several software synths including Nasca O. Paul's 
ZynAddSubFX and Fluidsynth, using hundreds of patches and soundfonts.  
This phrase does *not* have modulation, aftertouch, pitchbending or 
other variations of this sort.  This first phrase is anticipated to be 
the basis of a set of phrases.  I have already found this test phrase 
to be much more useful than I had anticipated in revealing strengths 
and weaknesses of patches and synths as well as for exploring large 
synths which offer hundreds or thousands of patches.

The MIDI file is completely clean of any controller, including volume, 
panning, patch selection, etc. so you should be able to just use it to 
play the same patch as previously chosen or the patch you manually 
choose on an external synth.  I stripped out all of the FF 7F 
sequencer- and system-specific messages by hand, so please do let me 
know if you see any problems along those lines or errors I may have 
introduced into the MIDI file.

This MIDI file is being released as "software" under GPL-2 so you can 
use it in the manner described in that license.  This is an original 
work, so is unencumbered by royalties, etc.  Please feel free to 
exchange samples with colleagues or use this in any way prescribed by 
GPL-2.

The demo uses my binaural image audio software rather than the stock 
reverb on the Roland XV-3080, so it's intended primarily for 
headphones.  This demo is also released as "software" under GPL-2.  
Each audio section is a single patch, not performances, but some have 
multiple tones.

Sections (please do listen to these with headphones for much better 
results):

1) 128 Voice Piano, preset A-001

2) Upright Piano, D-002 (degraded piano)

3) Computer Clavinet, A-033

4) Bluesy OD Guitar, D-037

5) Big BPF, C-103 

6) Symphonique, C-044 (sounds a little dark to me)

7) Ice Blasts, F-126

8) Forest Moon, F-115


Hope you enjoy and Regards to all,
Dave.