The VideoLAN Forums

Perhaps nobody is reading this any more, because of that spam there, but will the VLC for Windows 8 be able to play midi files? In the past, VLC hasn't supported them and I'd have to download a separate midi codec, because that would apparently make VLC "too big" (the midi codec is about 20 MB).

I'd have to download a separate midi codec, because that would apparently make VLC "too big" (the midi codec is about 20 MB).

VLC is actually using FluidSynth for MIDI playback through the libfluidsynth_plugin.dll which is 257 kB large.
However what is required for the playback is a .SF2 SoundFont sounds bank file which doesn't come with VLC and which must be downloaded separately:
http://wiki.videolan.org/Midi

I see no reason why it wouldn't work on Windows 8.

So, seeing as separate downloads like that won't work with Windows 8 Metro programs (the only way to get Metro programs will be through the Windows store: http://techcrunch.com/2012/09/29/window ... ading-psa/ are there any plans to include this sounds bank file with VLC this time around? Under Windows 8, as far as I know, you can't just go to a website and download whatever to add on to a program. You can't even do in-app downloads unless you crack the app. Will the new app be specifically built to go look for some other app? Will this sounds bank file be rewritten to be an app that'll work with VLC? Can you just include the darn thing and save us all a headache?

A .SF2 SoundFont is just and only a sounds bank file, this is not an app and will never be. You can download any SoundFont file with any browser to any location you want on your HDD (where you have writing rights), and then set the correct path to it through the Browse button from the Menu Tools -> Preferences (Show Settings = ALL) -> Input/Codecs -> Audio Codecs -> FluidSynth

Can you just include the darn thing and save us all a headache?

No, AFAIK this is not possible for legal reasons.

Good sound fonts are very large. Since most users will never ever play MIDI files, it would suck to increase the VLC download size by 50% solely to MIDIs out-of-the-box. On the other hand, a small and low-quality font would not satisfy users playing MIDI files...

And then, finding a font that fits the open-source license of VLC might not be easy.