To understand how to animate from a MIDI file, it can be useful to visually find the tracks and notes in those tracks. This is the purpose of this article. Here you can find the sample blend file :
https://github.com/Patochun/Samples/blob/main/MIDI-STD-GRID.blend
The Node tree is simple to use. Three nodes are usefull :
| Node | Usage |
| Read MIDI File | Pickup your own MIDI file |
| NoteCount | Number of notes you will see in X axis |
| LowerNote | First note (this is the same number for all tracks) |
With NoteCount and LowerNote you have control of a window on the notes on the x axis. Tracks 0 to track n of your MIDI file are in the Y axis. Track 0 is the one at the bottom when viewed from above (7)
So from here you have a view of your MIDI music, tracks and notes used. You also have a model of using MIDI nodes using a loop.
Thank you for your attention and think of me when you create your first animation.
One of my last animation :
Patochun - Art Computing 
The midi of Animation Nodes is A HUGE disappointment to me.
I tried to make a midi animation from a file that contained significant tempo changes.
The Midi Nodes of Animation Nodes ARE NOT ABLE TO DEAL WITH THAT!
For somebody like me, who wants to make animations from midi performing classical music, the Midi Nodes of Animation NodeS ARE COMPLETELY WORTHLESS!
No SIGNIFICANT animations can be made with the Midi Nodes of Animation Nodes!
The Midi Nodes of Animation Nodes CAN ONLY BE USED if the Midi File contains only a single tempo!
I didn’t know this limitation of Animation Midi Nodes, when I made the following animations with Animation Midi Nodes:
and
My project to make animations with Animation Midi Nodes has now come to a grinding halt!
I do not know yet how I shall proceed. There do not seem to exist ANY python libraries that can deal with tempi in Midi Files. So I am afraid that I am forced to solve this problem by my own programming skills.
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Hello, sorry to hear of your disappointment. Can you send me an example of a problematic MIDI file? Regards.
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Hello,
I think I think I have met the same issue as Konrad Swart.
Animation Node fails to read my midi file and output ‘list – length: 0’ instead.
Here’s a screenshot :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R9zIWnDkA-7EwBwQ6X0khIg8QUOeRf1u/view
You can download the midi file here :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/168iNqoMeAaJ8LC01PpSoCyRpAST0m2P-/view?usp=sharing
I tried with another midi file, which worked without issue, and the problematic midi file works in other midi software. I’ve also found this thread which highlights the limitations of the animation node addon for MIDI driven animation: https://blenderartists.org/t/were-in-the-midi-audio-daw-real-time/1142160/78
The author of this thread is currently working on an add-on of his own: https://github.com/Clockmender/Clockworx-Music, so in the meantime, I will try to use his solution instead.
Please let me know if I’m wrong, animation node looks like an awesome addon and I’d really like to use it!
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