README.md

Midi interpreter

A midi file interpreter, written in just over 1000 lines of MIPS assembly.

Because Mars has a syscall to play midi notes, I figured it would be interesting to create a midi file interpreter in assembly that implements most¹ of the midi file specification.

These resources proved immensely useful in my implementation:

• list of syscalls
• full midi file spec
• mips green sheet
• an assortment of midi files to test with

Warning

The sound quality is not good in the slightest. I unfortunately can't do anything about this since I am limited to the midi player MIPS uses internally.

There are many pops and crackles, and the instruments are poor quality. This is especially noticable in the videos below.

Nonetheless, I think it sounds pretty good for the limitations it has.

Video Demos (turn on sound)

mario.mp4

pirates.mp4

Usage

• Clone this repository.

• Download the Mars Mips simulator.

• Edit main.asm in your editor of choice and change Filename to a path to a midi file, relative to the root directory.

- FileName: .asciiz "./examples/mario.mid"
+ FileName: .asciiz "./path/to/file.mid"

• Open Mars in the directory you cloned the repository into.

• Make sure these settings are turned on.

  

• Open src/main.asm using File > Open.

• Run the program using the run button at the top of the screen.

  

Footnotes

1. Currently only format 1 files are supported, but in the future format 0 will also be supported. ↩