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Hi,

I can't play .MID files, despite having set up a soundfont in the preferences. I am stuck with this error:



Why?

My version of VLC is 2.0.5, under WIndows 7 64-bit.

Hi,

I can't play .MID files, despite having set up a soundfont in the preferences. I am stuck with this error:



Why?

My version of VLC is 2.0.5, under WIndows 7 64-bit.

Is the .SF2 soundfont accessible? If it is, please pastebin messages log:

Here's the full log when I try to open a .MID file (Do not laugh at the filename!) :
The lines "fluidsynth debug: loading sound fonts file D:\Son\MySF2.sf2" and "fluidsynth error: cannot load sound fonts file D:\Son\MySF2.sf2" are quite surprising, as the path I provided is correct:

Did you try to set it from the preferences GUI ?

Like file:///D:\Son\MySF2.sf2 ?

I just tried, by writing "file:///D:/Son/MySF2.sf2" then "file:///D:\Son\MySF2.sf2".
Still the same errors.

Don't type the path but browse to the SF2 file from the Preferences.

I set the soundfont by browsing first from the Preferences menu....

So either your soundfont or your MIDI file is damaged.
Try with another soundfont and upload your MIDI file to either http://streams.videolan.org/upload/ or to EmbedUpload.com, the latter will upload the file for you to several other hosts and then post the link to the file here, so we can test it.

I found the above 'answer stream' to be a bit unhelpful... for getting MIDI files to play on VLC.

I fear no one started with the more fundamental question: "Where do you find a .SF2 file" to have VLC attach. Turns out the answer is almost simple for an XP machine -- the WINDOZE driver archives (CAB) at C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386\driver.cab\ has the .sf2 file '2gmgsmt.sf2' [XP machine]. It just needs expanded and put where VLC can find it:
[XP machine]
1- Just Paste C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386\driver.cab\ into the 'Start -->Run' applet pane THEN when the folder opens, find 2gmgsmt.sf2 (view details, sort alphabetically on names, read, right click it, expand to...!)

2- Just Open that (expand) by right clicking it, tell it to save to 'where' [Suggest my solution, '\WIndows\Media' folder] which is conveniently nearby in the folder tree.

3- Then return to the VLC's Tools --> preferences -->(ALL) and navigate by browsing from that horribly designed 'All' applet's dropdown (No consideration for LARGE FONTS needed by we visually impaired users there, VLC geeks! UGGGH!) Despite my editorializing about insensitive programmers and their supervisors... Expand that drop down pane's width so can be read in extra large fonts!) TO CONNECT THE .SF2.

4-When I did that, my 'error filled' list of MIDIs came alive in the VLC I'd had open and immediately started playing.
[Windows 7 machines]
Afraid I Can't help you with finding a SAFE-TO-DOWNLOAD or WINDOWS 7 *.sf2 file for Windows 7 boxes -- my various quick and dirty WINDOWS 7 searches all failed to locate any, which makes little sense. Backwards compatible design criteria suggests I missed them somewhere/somehow. (Importing the forgoing XP file cross machines will likely work fine. OTOH,You're on your own on the internet. If you don't pays your nickles, youse definitely taking your chances!

5- Perhaps the VLC officials will suggest a safe and tested *.sf2 here in this thread and bundle it going further in their installs, complete with having it already hooked up and revving its' engines when one installs a newer version!

@fabartus:
Confirmed! Thanks for the tip. I am the lucky user of XP
C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386\driver.cab/2gmgsmt.sf2
VLC can play all various formats but *.mid by default.