[X3D-Public] X3D for Web Authors Examples Archive, plus audio test scene of different sound formats

[GLG]

Greetings to Michalis. Going further with Len's comments, and trying to
think forward, several Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) also include the
ability to sync videos. Since MIDI encoding is already an integral part of
these apps, it is not a far stretch to think that the same MIDI encoding
could potentially be used to drive events in 3D worlds as well. For example,
there is a project that I am working on that involves a virtual rock band.
In this case, what better way would there be to synchronize the drummer to
the beat, and most of the other instrument players? 

Another type of applications is the networking of musicians working across
long distances through virtual worlds. Sooner than we realize, computer
monitors will span entire walls, entire rooms even, somewhat like Star
Trek's Holodeck. In this type of context MIDI power is evident, but there is
so much more that can be done in multitudes of other industries. Not only
would I not leave MIDI behind, to the contrary, I would re-enforce its
integration with X3D which could become the ideal interface to tons of
applications and processes. 

We still largely think of MIDI as something related to music because it
proved so useful. But MIDI is so good at synchronizing events across complex
software applications and hardware devices, that I believe we have only seen
the beginning. When it comes to true 3D virtual life and augmented reality,
I simply cannot imagine these things very far into the future without proper
synchronization standards.  

I recommend "MIDI Power!" second edition (Thomson 2006) by Robert Guerin
which include the MIDI 1.0 specification and much details. There is possibly
more recent work (re. HD-MIDI) but the above is an excellent primer.

Lauren
3DNetProductions.com


-----Original Message-----
From: cbullard at hiwaay.net [mailto:cbullard at hiwaay.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2013 3:22 PM
To: info at 3dnetproductions.com
Cc: 'Michalis Kamburelis'; 'Don Brutzman'; x3d-courses at movesInstitute.org;
'X3D Graphics public mailing list'
Subject: Re: [X3D-Public] X3D for Web Authors Examples Archive, plus audio
test scene of different sound formats

MIDI is still widely used in music production.  As a delivery format  
not so much for music (we exchange midis like docHeads exchange XML:  
as input).

The URL below is an example of a midi-based production (the orchestra)  
with wav file overdubs (voice and guitar) (A youtube video but the  
process is the same) which is then rendered out as an mp4.  This is  
just to refute the idea that midi is an "old format" not in much use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVeAuKoemNo&feature=c4-overview&list=UUQvOiEo
12qnnekOauzmXY_Q

That and "Softly As I Leave You" are both heavily midi-derived but  
rendered.  Just as with graphics, it all comes down to the rendering  
engines.

Supporting midi doesn't cost much I would think.  Would one used in a  
mixed set of file types for a 3D real-time world?  I have but I  
discourage it because midi rendering varies horribly by platform.   
It's a cheap way to get sounds but it sounds cheap unless as with the  
production above a professional synth is used and then the mixing  
takes care of equalization, effects, compression, expansion, etc.

The bad news is wav files while preferred for production aren't pushed  
much.  MP3s are.  Ogg doesn't exist outside the small groups that use  
it.  MP3s are.

Sad but so.  And as an aside, mp3 reproduction from browser to browser  
has the same problems as other formats: uneven performance in the  
equalization (what would be for graphics folks, a color palette map  
per renderer.

No free lunch.  I'd keep midi and wav and make mp3s a "strongly  
advised" option to get around the ip encumbrance problems.  Midi can  
be optional but Lauren is right about automation, robotics, etc.  
although I don't know if that is used as much as it once was.

len

Quoting GLG <info at 3dnetproductions.com>:

> Another vote for keeping MIDI. The standard is not only widely used for
> music production, but it also has applications in automation, robotic,
etc.
>
> Lauren
> 3DNetProductions.com
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: X3D-Public [mailto:x3d-public-bounces at web3d.org] On Behalf Of
Michalis
> Kamburelis
> Sent: Saturday, December 07, 2013 7:03 PM
> To: Don Brutzman
> Cc: x3d-courses at movesInstitute.org; X3D Graphics public mailing list
> Subject: Re: [X3D-Public] X3D for Web Authors Examples Archive, plus audio
> test scene of different sound formats
>
> Don Brutzman wrote:
>>> Browsers shall support at least the wavefile format in uncompressed PCM
> format (see [WAV]).
>>> It is recommended that browsers also support the MIDI file type 1 sound
> format (see 2.[MIDI])
>>> and the MP3 compressed format (see 2.[I11172-1]). MIDI files are
presumed
> to use the General MIDI patch set.
>>
>> Wondering what other file formats ought to be listed?
>
> Ogg Vorbis, please. It is an open format, offering good lossy
> compression, beats MP3 IMHO (is not encumbered in any patents), and is
> widely accepted (at least in game gev, with both open- and closed-source
> engines).
>
> view3dscene and Castle Game Engine support only Wav and OggVorbis
> formats and so far everyone seems happy with it :)
>
> And I would think about removing MIDI from the list of advised formats.
> MIDI is a rather old format (and idea). At least for a modern game
> engine, MIDI support seems rather useless.
>
> Michalis
>
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