Window Reference
Export RMF from Multiple Instruments dialog box
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Note: This command produces a single RMF file containing all the selected Instruments, not one RMF file per selected Instrument.

Note: If you have more than 15 Instruments selected, only the first 15 will be used in the exported RMF file. This is because MIDI channel 10 is reserved for percussion, leaving only 15 available MIDI channels for triggering the Instruments.

When exporting from one or more Instruments, all selected Instruments are combined into a single RMF file. The only question to answer is whether you want the Beatnik Editor to generate a Song and include it in the RMF file.
The Export RMF from Multiple Instruments dialog box asks for your answer to this question:

Working with the Export RMF from Instrument dialog box

This dialog box gives you a two-way choice:
  • The Include song data in file (creates playable song file) option automatically generates a Song that plays one note on the selected Instrument, and adds it to the exported RMF file. If you're exporting a single Instrument, and you want to hear the Instrument's default Sample when the RMF file is played, then you should select this option.

An RMF file with a Song is considered a `normal' playable file - in a Web page it can be `autostarted,' and will respond to Music Object JavaScript commands like play() and stop(). If you have multiple Instruments selected, you get a chord with one note for each Instrument, with each note on a separate MIDI file track.

  • The Do not include song data option creates an RMF file without any Song - what we call an RMFX file, because one of its main uses is for sound FX. If you're exporting multiple Instruments, you should probably select this option. (The Song that the Beatnik Editor would generate for you would cause all the Instruments to play at once - which in most cases won't be what you want.)

Note: You can't `autostart' an RMFX file in a Web page because there's no Song data to play, and it won't respond to Music Object JavaScript commands like play() and stop(). However, you can trigger specific sounds at any time by selecting Instruments with the command setProgramBank() and then using noteOn() and noteOff(), or playNote().

Note: The filename of an RMFX file will end in .rmf, not .rmfx.

When you're happy with your selection, click on the OK button to close the dialog box. Finally, use the Save RMF File dialog box to pick a folder and provide a filename for your exported RMF file:

Notes for Mac OS Users:

  • In some versions of Mac OS, an erroneous item may appear in the Format: menu. Be sure not to select the option `Beatnik Editor document'.
  • The Beatnik Editor will automatically add .rmf to the filename.
  • The Mac OS file creator code will be `MPL2'.

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