F.A.Q

It is the aim of this site to be of as much help as possible. If you have any questions about the site, me, requesting or anything else, this is the place to be. Make sure you read everything about a subject without mailing me, because there is nothing more annoying than having to point you here because you haven't read it all. I will keep adding to the F.A.Q. as I think of more things you might be wondering about.

General Site Questions
How often do you update this site?
How often do you upload new reviews?
Is there a quick way to check the most recent update?
Do I really need to read all that text on the front page?
I want to affiliate with you. How do I do that?
I'd like to put a link to you on my site. Is that okay?
I want to thank you/bash you. How do I go about this?
You've got a bad link on the site! How do I tell you?
Do you always read your mail?
Will you do an MMX webcomic?
Will you do an MMX fanfic?
Are you going to host .mp3 files?

Assorted MIDI Questions
How often is a new MIDI added to the archive?
How long does it generally take for you to sequence a MIDI?
I spotted an error in one of your MIDIs. Can I tell you to fix it?
Sometimes, when I listen to one of your MIDIs, some instruments seem to be missing. Why is that?
When listening to some of your MIDIs, instruments sounds horribly out of tune. Why?
Can I use your MIDIs for a game project?
Can I use your MIDIs on my site?

Request Form Questions
I want a specific MIDI from a specific game. How do I tell you this?
How do I use the Request Form?
If I request the same song a few times, will you put it at the top of the To-Do-List?
I want a specific song, but I don't know its actual name. What do I do?
When I use the Request Form, I get a 404 page. What's that about?

To-Do-List Questions
How does the To-Do-List generally work?
I know I sent you a request, but I can't find it!
Will the MIDIs at the bottom ever get done?
How do you decide what MIDI goes at the top of the list, and which MIDI ends up at the bottom?
My MIDI has been on there forever and it's still not done!!!
How does the To-Do-List Archive generally work?
What is the Current Ten section?

General Site Questions

1. How often do you update this site? [top]
Every now and then. Really, I can't promise to update it once every day, because I don't have new material every day. Sometimes the site will be updated three times during the same day, and other times it might take me a month to get around to it. Rest assured, however, that it will be updated.

2. How often do you upload new reviews? [top]
Occasionally. It takes time to write them, and that time is usually better spent with sequencing, composing original tunes or doing school work. Reviews will pop up when I have the time to write them.

3. Is there a quick way to check the most recent update? [top]
Actually, yes. At the front page, just below the picture, you can see the date and time when the site was updated last time, and below that you can see what was added/removed/changed. The newest addition will be in blue, and if something else happened that day (or not that much later), the not-so-recent stuff will be in grey.

4. Do I really need to read all that text on the front page? [top]
Oh, not at all. I just spend a lot of time writing it, that's all. I like to think that my writing pleases someone. So why not take a moment to read through it? Not many sites has that much text put on them when they are updated. You might as well enjoy it.

5. I want to affiliate with you. How do I do that? [top]
Click on the "Affiliate" button in the menu and follow the instructions.

6. I'd like to put a link to you on my site. Is that okay? [top]
Of course! You can drop me a mail if you like, however, so that I may link to you. And if you do this, you might as well affiliate with me instead.

7. I want to thank you/bash you. How do I go about this? [top]
You can either mail me or send me a comment when you request something with the Request Form.

8. You've got a bad link on the site! How do I tell you? [top]
Certainly! I'd appreciate it if you did. The site is becoming large, and spotting every single error will become increasingly difficult for me as it grows even more. So please, send me a mail if you find an error. I'll get on it right away.

9. Do you always read your mail? [top]
I read every single mail I get. And I very nearly always reply to them, as well.

10. Will you do an MMX webcomic? [top]
Not as things are now, no. I don't have the space for it (10MB limit on current server) and also, it's time-consuming and difficult. Check out the awesome webcomics out there on the net instead, they are dedicated to this.

11. Will you do an MMX fanfic? [top]
Probably not, for the same reasons as I'm not going to make a webcomic.

12. Are you going to host .mp3 files? [top]
No. I don't have space for them (the server is limited to 10MB storage space), and also, this site is aimed at MIDIs. There are other sites out there that provide you with .mp3s, so I suggest you try Googling for them.

Assorted MIDI Questions

1. How often is a new MIDI added to the archive? [top]
As with the update question, I can't really answer this accurately. Sometimes I sequence three MIDIs during the same day, and sometimes it takes weeks for me to do just one of them. MIDIs are added as often as I can make them, I suppose.

2. How long does it generally take for you to sequence a MIDI? [top]
It varies tremendously, and depends on many different things. If I like the song I'm sequencing, it's likely to go faster than if I hate the song in question. Also, I have my sequencing ups and downs, and I sequence on my spare time. Generally, if I get started and keep going until it's done, a reasonably difficult song will take me 5-6 hours to sequence.

3. I spotted an error in one of your MIDIs. Can I tell you to fix it? [top]
Sure. Many people have, in fact, done just that. Send me a mail and tell me what the problem is, and I'll get right on it.

4. Sometimes, when I listen to one of your MIDIs, some instruments seem to be missing. Why is that? [top]
This is because some MIDIs use more than 10 MIDI channels, and the program you're using is configured to only accept output from 10. I suggest that you either go into the program preferences to change this, or simply use the latest version of WinAmp to play the MIDIs. WinAmp reads all 16 available MIDI channels, and is therefore a good player to use.

5. When listening to some of your MIDIs, instruments sounds horribly out of tune. Why? [top]
A lot of my MIDIs use extensive, octave-based pitch bends to emulate the Moog-Synth-ish sound that many of the originals are using. However, some players don't register all of these pitchbends, and, if they do, sometimes don't register the fact that they are octave-based. This might result in some instruments sounding very, very wierd. I know that QuickTime has some issues with this, so Mac-users, get SubBand or something like it. Windows/Linux people, use WinAmp or something similar that has a good MIDI plug-in.

6. Can I use your MIDIs for a game project? [top]
You know, generally my answer is yes. The music in itself isn't mine, it's Capcom's. So as long as you're not selling the game in question, I have no real qualms with it. However, from another point of view; I did sequence all of these MIDIs. If you're going to put my MIDIs in a game you're making, please, at least mail me and ask me about it. I will generally ask for my name and site to be put in the credits. Plus, hey, I might want to play the game myself!

7. Can I use your MIDIs on my site? [top]
Hrrmmm. Well, yes. Technically. But I really think you ought to ask me for permission before you do that. It's simple: mail me! Give me credit, and it's all fine. However, do not direct link to the files on this site! This cannot be said enough times, so I'll do it again: Do not direct link to the files on this site! I have a very limited bandwidth, so if you want me to keep this site running, do not direct link. And mail me before you take the MIDIs. I've spotted several sites out there with nearly a complete collection of Fredrik Häthén-made MIDIs, their names changed and some instruments altered. This is a good way of making me angry. Thieves: you know who you are. Give credit where credit's due.

Request Form Questions

1. I want a specific MIDI from a specific game. How do I tell you this? [top]
You fill out the Request Form and send it to me.

2. How do I use the Request Form? [top]
Click on "Music Request Form" in the menu. You'll see a form. Fill it out according to these instructions:

Your name: Write your name or alias here. What you write here will be displayed on the site when the MIDI is added to the To-Do-List.
Your email: This is purely for contact purposes. Your email adress will not be displayed publicly or be used by me to spam you. I want you to put your email in this box because if there's something I need to ask you regarding the request I want to be able to contact you.
In which game is the song you want featured?: Here, you get a drop-down-list of all the games I accept requests from at the moment. Choose the appropriate option.
What is the name of the song? (If you don´t know, just write where it plays.): Pretty self-explanatory. If you know the track name for the song, fine, put that here. If you don't, just tell me where the song plays, and I'll usually figure it out anyway. :)
Other comments: This is where comments end up. If you want to tell me something but you don't feel like mailing me, this is where you do that. I always appreciate a comment, and, to tell you the truth, a comment is likely to bump you higher up on the To-Do-List.

When you're done, check your answers thoroughly. Then, click "Submit Form". At the next page, if you see any checked check boxes, uncheck them to avoid getting spammed by Bravenet. Then click "Continue", and you've sent me the request!

3. If I request the same song a few times, will you put it at the top of the To-Do-List? [top]
No, no, no, no and no. Oh, and by the way: NO. There are few things that are more irritating than six or seven requests for the same song made by the same guy. Request the song once, and then let it be. I see your request, and I will add it to the To-Do-List with an appropriate priority. Request it more times than one, and you run a very high risk of me deleting the request and forgetting about it.

4. I want a specific song, but I don't know its actual name. What do I do? [top]
Describe where it's played in the "What is the name of the song? (If you don´t know, just write where it plays.)" text box. I'll figure out which song you're after eventually.

5. When I use the Request Form, I get a 404 page. What's that about? [top]
This seems to happen a lot to Mac users. I have no solution to this problem, as it lies with Bravenet rather than me. If you really want the request to go through, then wait a while to see if I did get the form results anyway, and if the request hasn't appeared on the To-Do-List after a few days, then mail me about it and tell me what you want.

To-Do-List Questions

1. How does the To-Do-List generally work? [top]
Once you've clicked the "Continue" button after filling out the Request Form, the request pops up in my inbox. I look at it, figure out what song it is if it's not already crystal clear, and add it to the list. The song will get a priority, based on how much I feel like doing it/how much I like it, whether there are any special comments that catch my eye or something like that. Once your song is up on the list (this usually takes about a week, tops), you can monitor my progress with it by looking at the "health bars" on the right. Completed MIDIs are quickly added to the Archive.

2. I know I sent you a request, but I can't find it! [top]
That might be because you're looking in the wrong place for it. If you can't find your request in the "Current Ten" section, then check the "To-Do Archive" - chances are, your request has ended up there.

3. Will the MIDIs at the bottom ever get done? [top]
Yes, but it'll take some time. The bottom of the list contains those songs that I'm not that excited about, and so, it'll take a while for me to make them. But yes, in due time they will be sequenced.

4. How do you decide what MIDI goes at the top of the list, and which MIDI ends up at the bottom? [top]
When I'm deciding what priority a song gets, many factors come into play. The first thing is whether I like the song or not. If I do, the song goes higher up. Also, if the requester has taken the time to write me a few nice comments, that will usually bump the request far up on the list. I'm human, and like most of them, I like praise. It makes me far more motivated to sequence a song.

5. My MIDI has been on there forever and it's still not done!!! [top]
I'm sorry about that, but that's the rules. I don't get paid for doing this - I do it because I think it's fun. That gives me the right to prioritize. If your song is far down on the list it will eventually get done; it will just take a while for it to happen. In the meantime... well, why not request something else? I might like that song better.

6. How does the To-Do-List Archive generally work? [top]
All requests that are sent to me through the request form are, sooner or later, added to the To-Do-List Archive. This archive works as a sort of storage room, where you can see that your request has been noted and will be processed. As songs in the Current Ten section (see below) are finished, requests from the top of the To-Do-List Archive are moved to the bottom of the Current Ten list. This is because it's easier to keep track of the work currently in progress when it's shown like this.

The To-Do-List Archive clearly shows all requests that have been made and then accepted by me. You can easily check the most recent additions to the archive by looking at the top of the page, where you will see something that looks like this:

Recent additions (Tuesday, March 29, 2005 2:14 PM) [10]:
Song title [Game additional info] {requester} (priority)

(day, month, year, time): This usually corresponds to the recent site update time, but there are - mirculously enough - site updates when I haven't got new requests. In any case, this is the day, month, year and time when the following songs were added.
[10]: The number of requests added to the list.
Song title: This shows the title of the song that has been added.
Game: This shows the game that contains said song.
additional info: Sometimes requesters are asking for a song that's only included in the Japanese version of the game of, as is the case with Mega Man X3, a song that is only found on the PSX version. This is shown here.
{requester}: Here you can see who made the request.
(priority): All songs that are added to the To-Do-List Archive receive a certain priority, which is basically shown by where they are on the list and is determined by me. A high priority song goes high up, a mid priority song goes at the middle somewhere, and a low priority song ends up further down.

7. What is the "Current Ten" section? [top]
Basically, this section shows the ten requests that are being processed. At the top you will find songs that will be added to the MIDI Archive very soon, and at the bottom you'll find songs that just came from the top of the To-Do-List Archive. As requests are completed, they are removed from this list, and songs from the To-Do-List Archive are added at the bottom so that the number of list items stays at ten.

Miscellaneous Answers to odd Questions in Request Forms or Mails

1. "Some cool remixes you have!" or "Can it be the real songs? Instead of re-mixed version from the game?" [top]
A surprising number of request comments look like these, and I still have some problems understanding them. What do you mean? I believe people who write this are asking me to put up .mp3 files from the games, which I simply cannot do at this point (bandwidth issues). However, if that's not the case... well, the MIDIs on this site are as close to the "real thing" as I can possibly make them. They are no remixes, they are intended to be MIDI carbon copies of the original.

2. "If you find the song, can you send me a mail/update it?" [top]
This one is a bit depressing, because it means that most people never bother to read anything I write on this site. I will say this once again: I don't "find" MIDIs. I make them all myself. If it were as simple as finding them somewhere on the net, I wouldn't have to start a whole homepage about it. I don't find them - I sequence them myself, and it takes a lot of time and energy to do it.

3. "I want [insert song name here] from MMX: Command Mission!" [top]
I agree that MMX:CM contains some amazing tunage. However, if you want a good reason why I'm not accepting CM requests right now, just look at the To-Do-List and the Current-Ten and realize that I'm about to sequence all those songs. Then you might understand why I'm not accepting CM requests right now. Trust me, I will in the future, but only once the list is considerably shorter and I feel I can handle the workload. Until then, I will simply delete all mail requests for CM songs.