MIDI ringtones once ruled the cellphone market. People would create new melodies on their in-phone composers and then share them with the world. It was like glimpsing into somebody#s mind even if just until the time they answered the pone. But now this jungle of different feelings and melodies has been reduced to a dull urban grey of the same songs we hear all the time on the radio and on TV. But what has replaced the MIDI?
The most notable replacement is the true tone ringtones such as MP3 and AAC. These new files have replaced MIDI ringtones by offering the cellphone user the ability to play songs exactly as they should sound at any time, including as a ringtone. For users who want to be at the ‘cutting edge’ of technology there is no alternative but to upgrade to the latest technology. But the new advances are not only for the more technically minded of us, there is something inherently cool about having your favourite song as your ringtone. Just like the MIDI ringtones of the past, MP3s give us all a chance to express ourselves. Installation is so easy too, and so many songs are available that it is easy for anyone to do.
MIDI ringtones have also suffered due to the increasing use of the ‘vibrate’ feature of most modern cellphones. Since the ‘wow’ factor has been removed from mobile phones and they have now become largely functional items, people are no longer trying to create situations to show off their phones, such as having an outrageous MIDI ringtone that is designed solely to draw attention to themselves.
Four of five years ago MIDI ringtones were the height of fashion and the peak of technologically but now true tone ringtones are everywhere and many new phones don’t offer MIDI ringtone composers – a feature that was standard only a generation of phones ago.
But does this mean MIDI ringtones are dead? This blogger doesn’t think so! With the last generation of phones finding new homes within the retro style movement and also in developing nations, there is still a huge market for MIDI ringtones. And lets not forget that until recently we were amazed by the variation and accuracy offered by these ringtones; if true tone had not come around then we’d still think MIDI was king.
Moreover, there is immense variety possible from MIDI ringtones that there entire range has still not been realised yet, nor will it be in the near future. There will always be a new melody to find or a new hook line to put into a MIDI ringtone.
However, as the above implies, MIDI ringtones are starting to die out in the advancing western markets. Not only are phone companies no longer adding the software functionality for people to compose MIDI ringtones on their phones, most advertising is now aimed solely at true tone ringtones which reduces the availability of MIDI ringtones to the end user. Finally, there is a genuine preference in the market for the more modern true tone ringtones. Apparently there is something inherently chic about having the latest chart topper on your phone instead of MIDI ringtones carefully crafted by someone working with only a mobile phone!
Are you a Mozart in the making, or perhaps an aspiring Paul McCartney? Well if you are then you’ll want to be able to compose songs on the move and share them with the world via your midi ringtones!
MIDI composers vary from phone to phone but most revolve around the basic premise that the number keys represent the different notes and sharps and flats can be added to MIDI ringtones by using the hash and + keys. Of course you won’t be able to create true tone ringtones like those which flood the market today but anybody can compose MIDI ringtones even if you aren’t a genius on the guitar which means MIDI ringtones are open to everyone not just a chosen few!
Plus composing MIDI ringtones is free as long as you have a phone which supports it and once it’s made you can share it with friends and even the world via the plethora of sites out there. On top of that MIDI ringtones let you express yourself and brighten up your day when you hear your favourite song every time you get called!
But, MIDI ringtones are becoming far rarer, with people preferring true tone ringtones which reproduce speech and music exactly. Against the rather bland and simple MIDI ringtones, true tone ringtones have great range and precision and as a result can reproduce a far greater range of audio, from catchphrases from comedians such as Peter Kay, to hip hop from Jay-Z back to famous parts of classical music such as the Enigma Variations.
