The Song Fight Bulletin Board

A rather serious situation at work has arisen over the following MIDI file and I am hoping one of you may be able to identify it. I am guessing it may have come from a video game. Do you recognize it?

http://www.mtwp.net/~frank_caravella/postulo.mid

Quick replies would be especially appreciated. Thanks.

I don't recognize it, but I have put out requests to the PBC and Screwattack forums. Both forums are filled with video game aficionados that will probably have an answer for you shortly.

ROCK!

Glenn Case

Sounds vaguely like something from Mega Man.

If it's from a video game, it's definitely from 8-bit era. Who named the file? It sounds similar to a tune from Crystalis that was reworked when it was ported for GBC, but I can't identify it for sure.

The Sober Irishman wrote:If it's from a video game, it's definitely from 8-bit era. Who named the file? It sounds similar to a tune from Crystalis that was reworked when it was ported for GBC, but I can't identify it for sure.

The piece was submitted to me as a Finale Notepad file with the name Postulos (Requiem). I thought it might be from a video game because the student who submitted it seems like a video game type of kid and it ends in such a way that it could loop seemlessly. This is a plagiarism issue. It is clear to me (and all others who saw the "composition") that the student did not write the piece, but it would be easier to prove if I could find the file (obviously).

The PBC boards have proven to be most helpful.

<a href="http://www.pbc-productions.com/messageb ... b3#2296</a>

ROCK!

Glenn Case

Oh snap. That kid is so screwed.

Some kid at my school got screwed over by a similar thing. For an AP music theory class they turned in a song, and one of the melodies was taken straight from some 'obscure' Beethoven piece.

the moral here is don't fuck with frankie big face.*

*said in my best james cagney voice......

If I were in a composition class I'd plagiarize FBF.

The Sober Irishman wrote:If I were in a composition class I'd plagiarize FBF.

Sober, that's so sweet!

Guys, thank you so much for your help and your witty sidechat. You should see the fucking nasty letter this girl's parents sent to me, copied to my principal, superintendent and school board president. Now, instead of writing a lengthy reply that lists evidence of her plagiarism, I can just send this file and tell them to suck it. This is a most excellent setart to my day.

And yes, jack, that really is the moral. I have friends in high/low places and I will get you in the end. Bwahahahahahaa. Ha.

I'm looking at the file in Cubase right now, and it at least doesn't appear to be a straight copy-and-paste. It is unquantized and the attacks are uncompressed (on second thought, both quantize and midi compression may have been applied very lightly, as the timing is very close and the attack is generally between 60 and 75). There is also some aftertouch on the violin, and the tracks have been panned.

I've put patches from my XS through it and it sounds just like the link Glenn provided. If you like, I can mix it down and send it to you in case the straight midi isn't convincing enough (I'd go ahead and post a link here, but my webspace is gone).

NOW POST THE EMAIL.

Okay, first of all---SOBER, DO YOU EVER SLEEP?

And secondly, the aftertouch, etc. is most likely the result of the "Human Playback" feature of Finale. I exported the MIDI file from the Finale file that was provided to me. The assignment was to write a violin etude over the course of a semester--guided composition in four steps (conceive, write 4-8 measures, expand to 24-36 measures, polish final project). Each step is followed by specific feedback from me. This girl didn't do any of the early steps and showed me a piano version of this piece, to which I replied "what's this? you're supposed to be writing a violin etude?" She then went and "wrote" the violin part and submitted the file I uploaded.

Bottom line: the file Glenn sent me and the dozen or so MIDI files I found online and .pdfs of the score ought to be enough to prove this case. Thanks for your interest.

I don't know if I'll post the e-mail. I may be crossing a line. It would be fun for you to read however.

frankie big face wrote:Okay, first of all---SOBER, DO YOU EVER SLEEP?

Yesterday I watched the last quarter of season 1 and all of season 2 of 24. Yes, I did that.

It is kind of funny to read my timestamps. Yours aren't much better though.

Glad you're being so thorough in your case.

DELETED

frankie big face wrote: Bottom line: the file Glenn sent me and the dozen or so MIDI files I found online and .pdfs of the score ought to be enough to prove this case. Thanks for your interest.

Give credit where it is due, though. I e-mailed the file for your convenience, but it is Zeiram from the PBC boards that identified the track and provided the file to begin with.

ROCK!

Glenn Case

GlennCase wrote:

frankie big face wrote: Bottom line: the file Glenn sent me and the dozen or so MIDI files I found online and .pdfs of the score ought to be enough to prove this case. Thanks for your interest.

Give credit where it is due, though. I e-mailed the file for your convenience, but it is Zeiram from the PBC boards that identified the track and provided the file to begin with.

ROCK!

Glenn Case

That is pretty amazing that you could get the word out and find someone that knew the answer so quickly. Rock on Zeiram.

I think this whole silly interweb thing might just catch on.

Zeiram wrote:Let me know if you will need an MP3 of the song for the email instead of an OGG, I can look for the CD and re-rip it later tonight.

Thanks but the OGG worked fine. I really appreciate your help. I had a very good day today.

Dang it, Frankie, you had to go and tell us that it was a girl. I had my own personal visualization of the asshole who would have tried a scam like this, but I guess we live in the modern world, eh?

jack wrote:the moral here is don't fuck with frankie big face.

(just found this thread)...Yes indeed! Nice detective work. And to think I was harassing FBF in another thread for not submitting a Nur Ein song.

My apologies Mr Big Face - you should have mentioned you had a sting going down. Fighting crime should always take top priority.

But what about fighting GRIME!!!?

Spud wrote:Dang it, Frankie, you had to go and tell us that it was a girl. I had my own personal visualization of the asshole who would have tried a scam like this, but I guess we live in the modern world, eh?

Yes, I knew that would be a shocker for many.