NAME

       csvmidi - encode CSV file as MIDI

SYNOPSIS

       csvmidi [ -u -v -x -z ] [ infile [ outfile ] ]

DESCRIPTION

       csvmidi  reads  a  CSV  (Comma-Separated  Value) file in the format written by midicsv and
       creates the equivalent standard MIDI file.

OPTIONS

       -u        Print how-to-call information.

       -v        Print verbose debugging information on standard error.  The MIDI file header  is
                 dumped, along with the length of each track in the file.

       -x        MIDI  streams  support  a  rudimentary  form  of compression in which successive
                 events with the same ``status'' (event type and channel)  may  omit  the  status
                 byte.   By  default csvmidi avails itself of this compression.  If the -x option
                 is specified, the status byte is emitted for all events-it is  never  compressed
                 even when the MIDI standard permits it to be.

       -z        Most  errors  detected in CSV records cause a warning message to be displayed on
                 standard error and  the  record  ignored.   The  -z  option  causes  csvmidi  to
                 immediately terminate processing when the first error is detected.

EXIT STATUS

       If  no  errors  or warnings are detected csvmidi exits with status 0.  A status of of 1 is
       returned if one or more errors were detected in the CSV input file, while a  status  of  2
       indicates  a  syntax  error  on  the command line or inability to open the input or output
       file.

FILES

       If no infile is specified or infile is ``-'', csvmidi reads its input from standard input;
       if  no  outfile  is given or outfile is ``-'', MIDI output is written  to standard output.
       The input and output are processed in a strictly serial manner; consequently  csvmidi  may
       be used in pipelines without restrictions.

BUGS

       csvmidi  assumes  its  input  is in the format written by midicsv.  If supplied a CSV file
       with well-formed records which nonetheless makes no semantic sense as  a  MIDI  file,  the
       results  will,  in  all likelihood, simply perplex any program or instrument to which it's
       sent.  csvmidi checks for missing fields and range checks all numeric values, but does not
       perform  higher-level  consistency  checking  (for example, making sure that every note on
       event is paired with a subsequent note off).  That level  of  verification,  if  required,
       should be done on the CSV file before it is processed by csvmidi.

       Exporting  a file to CSV with midicsv and then importing it with csvmidi is not guaranteed
       to create an identical MIDI file.  MIDI files support  compression  modes  which  are  not
       obligatory.   A  MIDI  file  exported  to  CSV  and  then  re-imported should, however, be
       equivalent to the original file and should, if exported to CSV, be identical  to  the  CSV
       exported from the original file.

       Please report problems to bugs@fourmilab.ch.

SEE ALSO

       midicsv(1), midicsv(5)

AUTHOR

                                              John Walker
                                        http://www.fourmilab.ch/

       This  software  is  in the public domain.  Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute
       this software and its documentation for any purpose and without  fee  is  hereby  granted,
       without  any  conditions  or  restrictions.   This  software is provided ``as is'' without
       express or implied warranty.