MIDI playback on macOS - player software and playback stuttering

[lausvi]

Hi.
I am using a Roland UM-One with my Big Sure MBP2015. I've been trying different apps to play MIDI files (over the mentioned USB-MIDI cable to my MT32pi and to my Roland SC55). So far MIDIPlayer X has been the most OK:ish, but it's still very simple (fe. no playlists).

Anyway; as I keep playing a MIDI file (in any MIDI player app), it works great for while, but unless the player itself is in foreground, the music will start stuttering (hanging or slows heavily down in tempo) withing couple of minutes. If I switch to the player app (get it on front), the playback gets back to normal. Also if I keep switching to the player app every minute or two, it keeps playing fine. Why is playing MIDI files this difficult in 2021? 😕

[dwhinham]

Honestly, this is the same dilemma I faced when trying to test macOS/RTP-MIDI - there are hardly any MIDI players and the ones that are available seem very flaky.

In the end I used REAPER to import the MIDIs and play them, this was more reliable. I also used ScummVM on macOS to test RTP-MIDI and again this worked well for me. I'd encourage you to try ScummVM and re-test regarding issue #152.