problems with midi programming in python

[sreekant]

Hi folks

I hope someone here might be able to help. I scavenged some info and 
even code from the net and am trying to write a module that reads a text 
file and spits out a midi file.

So far I managed to make it work to the level of reading a text file 
with appropriate notes, octaves, transposing, volume, aftertouch, 
polyphony, channeltouch etc.

However I am stuck at writing notes longer than 127 decimal number.

The code I am using is below. I didn't post the whole code to keep it 
brief. If it is ok I will post the whole.

###########################################
def note_on(self, time, channel, note, velocity):
     return varLen(time) + [0x90 + channel, note, velocity]

def varLen(value):
      # Big endian variable byte word
      # as defined by the midi standard
      result = []
      while value:
          result.append((value & 0x7F) | 0x80)
          value = value >> 7
      if len(result) == 0:
          return [0]
      else:
          result[len(result)-1] -= 128
          result.reverse()
          return result
#############################################

note_on should accept time,channel,note and velocity as decimals.

Note and velocity are not a problem as their numbers are small.

If I want to put a note that lasts say longer than 127, fluidsynth moans
saying unexpected eof or unexpected byte 0xfe.

What I would like to do is, to be able to
note_on(1500,1,60,120)
1500 being the problem.

Midi file standard says that time is written as a variable length 
entity. so if 1500 does not fit in a byte it should then use as many 
bytes as needed, but all bytes except last one have their msb set to 1 
to show there is more to come.

Below is the output of mftext for a working and nonworking midi files 
respectively.
############## playing a single 'a' note ############ working fine ###
Header format=1 ntrks=2 division=24
Track start
Time=0  Tempo, microseconds-per-MIDI-quarter-note=500000
Time=0  Time signature=4/4  MIDI-clocks/click=24 
32nd-notes/24-MIDI-clocks=8
Time=0  Meta event, end of track
Track end
Track start
Time=0  Program, chan=1 program=1
Time=0  Note on, chan=1 pitch=57 vol=127
Time=127  Note off, chan=1 pitch=57 vol=0
Time=127  Meta event, end of track
Track end
######################################################

######### playing a single a note, with double the 127 duration##
########not working############################################
Header format=1 ntrks=2 division=24
Track start
Time=0  Tempo, microseconds-per-MIDI-quarter-note=500000
Time=0  Time signature=4/4  MIDI-clocks/click=24 
32nd-notes/24-MIDI-clocks=8
Time=0  Meta event, end of track
Track end
Track start
Time=0  Program, chan=1 program=1
Time=0  Note on, chan=1 pitch=57 vol=127
Error: unexpected byte: 0xfe
#########################################################

What am I doing wrong!!!!!!

Help appreciated.
ta
sree