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Koepf's Editions – Computer Projects – The MSQ Project

The MSQ Project

Siegfried Koepf, 2000

1. Introduction

The MSQ Project was originally created in 1998 by Siegfried Koepf and Bernd Haerpfer needing a MIDI compatible computer system for algorithmic composition and score synthesis. It was carried on to the current level MSQ 2.0 by Siegfried Koepf. The idea was to have a platform independent, easily readable and editable file format qualified for algorithmic manipulation and composition as well as for real time controlling MIDI instruments.
The MSQ file format, a plain ASCII text file format, represents sequences of MIDI commands in strictly chronological order even when multiple MIDI tracks are present. It does not only allow the translation of MIDI files to some readable text (and vice versa) but is a well defined and MIDI compatible file format itself.
Programmers, composers and musicians are invited to develop their own tools to process MSQ files or just to download the MSQ package and use the existing tools.

2. MSQ 2.0 specification

The MSQ 2.0 standard supports the MIDI file formats 0 and 1. It is compatible with what is known as 'The MIDI Standard' as described in many resources on the web. Not supported by now is anything related to SMPTE.

2.1. MSQ file format

MSQ files are plain ASCII text files. To simplify their identification, MSQ files usually have the extension .MSQ. The first line of a MSQ file must contain a MIDI TICKS setting as:

TICKS = 120

where the tokens may be separated by white spaces (not tabulators). The TICKS value sets the maximal number of subdivisions of a quarter note. About limits of the TICKS value see Ranges and conditions. Each further line consists of a complete MIDI message with an absolute time value in ticks, followed by a track number, a MSQ symbol (see MSQ symbols), channel number in case of a Channel Message and appropriate further data. For a detailed description of the line syntax, see General form of a MSQ line. The tokens must be separated by one or more white spaces (not tabulators). There is no limit for the overall size of an MSQ file but the maximum number of characters in a line is 256 (this value has been increased from 128 to 256 in 2007 – only MSQ tools with version 0.5.0 and higher will accept this new limit). For visual reasons, empty lines are allowed.

2.2. General form of a MSQ line

Basically, a MSQ line consists of three or more tokens separated by white spaces:

xxx xxx xxx xx xxx xxx etc...

where the first token represents a time value of the event in ticks,
followd by a track number,
followd by a MSQ symbol,
followd by a channel number (in Channel Messages only),
followd by optional data bytes.

Here are some examples of valid MSQ lines:

Channel Messages
0 1 NOF 0 64 100
0 1 NON 0 64 100
0 1 PCH 0 2

System Messages
0 1 SEX 67 16 53 13 0 0 17 0 64
0 1 ASE

Meta Events
0 0 _CR some text
0 0 _ST 500000
0 0 _TS 3 2 24 8

Here is an example of a complete MSQ 2.0 file: gloter2.msq. The file represents Glockenterror II, one of my piano pieces, written in 1997.

2.3. MSQ symbols

This table shows a list of all MSQ symbols with corresponding MIDI messages and expected data in each case.

2.4. Ranges and conditions

This table shows lower and upper limits of MSQ values.

3. MSQ tools

Five MSQ tools are currently available. All programs are console applications, written by Siegfried Koepf.

4. Feedback

Your feedback is welcome here.

5. Download and terms

The MSQ package may be used for non-commercial purposes and freely distributed in the format originally released. It is provided "as is", you get no guarantees because all standard disclaimers apply! All programs and documentation are copyrighted © 2000-2010 by Siegfried Koepf. They can be downloaded here:
Download MSQ tools for WINDOWS
Download MSQ tools for LINUX