Win10/64 Computer: A Couple Music Players Don't Work, Most Other Sound Do

This is for VLC https://www.videoconverterfactory.com/tips/vlc-midi.html

 

Reading here https://wiki.videolan.org/MIDI I went to the first link
https://www.schristiancollins.com/generaluser.php but didn't see a download link.

The 2nd link has older files https://sourceforge.net/projects/fluidsynth/files/

Since the article says, VLC activated midi support with v 3.0.0, perhaps you have it and just never set it.
Instructions to set it:
You need to open VLC's preferences. The preferences window has two display modes called Simple and All. Choose the display mode called All, then go to Input/Codecs > Audio codecs > FluidSynth. Then select the .sf2 file with Browse button and save the preferences with Save button.

1. Open VLC, click on Tools, then Preferences.
Mine is set on simple but I see no way in Win 7 to select All.
Here is a picture in Win 8
https://wiki.videolan.org/File:Preferences-Windows_8.png/
clearly showing a choice at the bottom. I don't have this on my computer.
I can't go any further on my laptop.
I just checked and my desktop, also running Win 7 offers the choice. I'll finish this thread later when I switch to that computer.

 

I got further on the desktop computer.
https://i.postimg.cc/K8MPZvn2/VLC-synthgif.gif

 

I followed all the steps, have changing Preferences to all.
Click on Input/Codecs, Audio Codecs and Fluid Synth.

Unfortunately, when I try to play a mid file, it says I lack the codec. I don't have time now to download and fiddle with this. Perhaps later in the day I can do it.

 

I have not had success finding a source to download the sf2 file but I know I played midi files on the desktop computer so I did some digging.

IrfanView plays my midi files! I found my notes and that's what I used. I was shocked to re-discover this. I then searched through the IrfanView program to see if it had fs2 file but I didn't find it. I have an old version 4.53.
I looked through the plugins and found this
IV_PLAYER.EXE - This PlugIn allows IrfanView to play video/sound/audio-cd files using MS Media Player interface.
(AVI, MPG, WAV, MIDI, CDA, WMA, ASF, AIF, SND, WMA/WMV)
so that's why it can play midi files.

I also converted my midi files to mp3 files.
Here's a site that does it https://www.freeconvert.com/midi-to-mp3

I tried it and it took a short amount of time to convert.
1. You have to click Choose File because there are 4 choices: Device, Dropbox, GoogleDrive and OneDrive.
2. Click the convert button.
3. Click the Download Button.

I'll see if I am able to find a decent download for the fs2 file.

 

I'm giving up on finding a download with the needed file.
1. This site has no download links which a lot of sites point to.
https://schristiancollins.com/generaluser.php
https://schristiancollins.com/generaluser
2. This site doesn't have a download link for GeneralUser GS (other files but not what I want)
https://github.com/mrbumpy409/GeneralUser-GS
3. I downloaded the zip file from here
https://www.musical-artifacts.com/artifacts/663
When unzipping, I got 2 errors at the beginning and said skip this.
I then browsed through the unzipped download to see if I could find the file. It wasn't there.
I then fired up AgentRansack and told it to search for *.fs2. No such file on the computer.

You have 3 choices:
1. Give up on midi files.
2. Download and install IrfanView AND the plugin so it will play midi files.
3. Convert midi files to something else.

Good luck.

 

That page has the plugin for 32 bit, which my 32 bit Win 7 computer uses.
As mentioned, IV_Player is the one that plays midi files.

You can download the (32-bit) PlugIns as 4 separate ZIP files (for experienced users!):

1. iv_mmedia.zip. Contains these PlugIns: IV_Player, Med, Mp3, Burning, Nero, Quicktime, Real Audio, SoundPlayer.