midi files on media player

[t0by41]

My Media Player 10 won't play midi files. It indicates they are playing, but there's no sound.
I can play wma, wav and mp3 OK, and the midi has been checked in file types. I know nothing about my sound card. Can you help ? I'm running XP.

 

[cwwozniak]

Hi t0by41, and welcome to TSG.

You need to open the Advanced Volume or Mixer Control panel in Windows task bar and see if any control with the word "Synthesizer" or "Synth" is turned down or muted. Exact control panel name, task bar icon and control name may vary between the software used with a given sound controller.

Midi files usually need a software synthesizer to play through speakers connected the computer and that synthesizer output is treated as a separate input to the sound controller.

 

[t0by41]

There is no Volume Control or similar icon on my task bar, although it has been checked in audio control. I also get the message sndvol32.exe is missing. I can't locate it anywhere.

 

[cwwozniak]

Here is an old thread where some other TSG members helped out someone with a missing sndvol32.exe file:

SndVol32.exe Missing
http://forums.techguy.org/multimedia/517401-sndvol32-exe-missing.html

 

[t0by41]

I found the synth. setting in audio control (I'm using AC97 Realtek), but it is set to maximum, not muted. I also located sndvol32.
Anywhere else I can go ?
I appreciate the time you spend helping.

 

[cwwozniak]

I also located sndvol32.

If SndVol32.exe is in the correct sub-directory as mentioned in the old thread and the Synth setting is on at full volume, then I am sorry to say I am out of ideas as to what else could be wrong.

 

[t0by41]

Thanks anyway.

 

[t bone]

do you still get the message "sndvol32.exe is missing"

try playing the midi files with that accursed "quicktime player" just to see if the midi's are ok.

or has the prob. has been solved?

 

[t0by41]

I seem to have sndvol32 in C:\system32, although I can't verify that in Explorer. I can't display system folder at all. Various midi files play in Quicktime, so I assume it's not the files. I uninstalled AC97 Realtek, and re-installed it, and "normal" audio files play in Media Player. All file types have been "checked" to default to Media Player.

 

[t bone]

hi
do a search for "gm.dls"
it should be in the C\WINDOWS\system32\drivers

you say you can't "verify the sndvol32. with explorer" that sounds like you've got some other issues there if you can't navigate to the
c\windows\system32 folder
(you may want to think about a reinstall of xp if sorts of other things are screwed up as well)

were you ever able to play midi in wmp, did this start happening after an update or installation of some software?

 

[t0by41]

I searched for that file, but got the message that c:\windows\system32\drivers is not a valid folder. I agree I seem to have other problems, and may have to re-install, but my O System came pre-installed.
Yes, I used to be able to run midi files in wmp.

 

[t bone]

see if you can do a system restore to before the problem.

if the search function can't find the "c:\windows\system32\drivers" folder then you do have some other things messed up.

i would start making backups of your important info in prep. for an os reinstall.

other than that i don't know how much i can help....these things usually turn into "a dog chasing his tail" situation and the easiest remedy is usually a os reinstall.

 

[t0by41]

Sorry, I have located the windows\system32 folder, containing sndvol32, so that's all right.
Quicktime will play midi. Wmp and winamp won't. Hope that clarifies things.

 

[t bone]

ok...so in c\windows\system32\drivers is there a file called "gm.dls"

either do "start>search" for it or navigate there and look for it.

 

[t0by41]

No, I can't find "gm.dls". From what I've read, it should be in c:\windows\system32\drivers. Trouble is, all I have in c:\windows\system32 is sndvol32.