Garage Band has a feature hidden deep inside that I’ve discovered. It can import Standard Midi Files through drag and drop (that is something many people know) but did you know it recognizes General Midi Program Changes?

General Midi is a compatibility system for MIDI sound playback devices (sound modules/keyboards/tone generators) The standard includes a list of 128 instruments and sound effects (one bank), a standardized drum map and channel, along with a couple of other concepts. It was meant as a stamp of approval for the consumer. It allowed someone to create a performance for one MIDI device, and then be able to move that sequenced music to another MIDI sound module or keyboard, for playback. It would insure the playback of the correct instruments and drums, instead of getting the typical circus music that occurs when the wrong programs are selected for playback on the keyboard or sound module.

Unfortunately most people have avoided using GM sounds for their MIDI sequences because the manufacturers have relegated them to the lamest, leftover sounds in the sound bank. Shame on Yamaha/Roland/Korg/Alesis and others for making GM, a very good idea for compatibility, instead sound as bad as it has.

Well now all that has changed.

Garage Band will understand the same programs that a keyboard would for GM, and its built in instruments are great.

There is one suggestion in order for this to work completely. You need to purchase the Orchestral Jam Pack. If you don’t have this already, and are a regular Garage Band or Logic user, you are truly missing out. This is a STEAL. For $99 you get 2 DVD’s of instruments and loops, weighing in somewhere around 8-9 Gigabytes. These are some of the more playable orchestral sounds I have ever used. The mapping of changes for articulation of string instruments, such as Cello and Violin, to the modulation wheel is genius. Do yourself a favor and get this upgrade right away.

Here’s how to try it out. You need a Standard Midi File (file extension .mid) that conforms to the General Midi patch list.
So let’s say you need some orchestral music for a movie you are doing, maybe its a StarWars fan film. Well you can’t use John Williams music or their lawyers will track you down quickly. How about using the same source of inspiration for Williams himself. Locate some standard midi files of Gustav Holst’s ‘The Planets’. This music will seem very familiar for many science fiction and space epic movie fans. And here is the beautiful thing; this material is currently public domain, so no copyright issues. And you are creating your own mix / arrangement so no sound recording copyright issues either.

Most classical music is in the Public Domain, that’s why its featured in so many movies and TV shows and cartoons. So search the net and you might be pleasantly surprised.

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