There have been many recommendations with regard to a MIDI player for
PCs and Mac and I would like to offer my comments, having tried
several.

If you are running a PC you will have to go a long way to do better
than Van Basco's "Karaoke". It's available as a free download (always
a good start), it's easy to use, it lets you create playlists or
programs and it allows the user a little control over the Tempo while
the file is playing.  All good, so far, but the downside (for me using
the late Bob Hunt's Virtual Roll System) is that there is no piano
roll view and I like to see what's going on!

"WindPlay" had these facilities but I understand that this software
is no longer available and nor will it run on Windows 7 or 8, but this
is hearsay.

As for Apple Mac, I've just tried "Synthesia".  This is a good-looking
piece of software that again is easy to use and has the all-important
"piano roll" view (not quite to the edge of the roll) but sadly you
can't create a playlist and frustratingly the Tempo control only works
in gradients of 10 percent and if you are looking to play e-rolls and
they have not been scanned very well, 10 percent increments is simply
too big a jump.

For anyone interested, I've recorded a short piece with a video camera
to show this software in operation.  Visually it's quite good (apart
from the gimmicky firework effect when the note hits the keyboard).
The link to this video is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1ihBwyR6I8 

I've tried "Cakewalk" and "Logic" but these programs can be a little
complicated (especially if all you want is a MIDI player and are not
looking to edit the data) but here again the piano roll view seems to
be an issue as they show the roll horizontally!  (You could always
lie down to watch it!).  Microsoft's MIDI player is just too basic.

I've yet to try "Rondo".  The screen shots on their web site look
promising and I must say the response from the technical support
department was outstanding.  I got a reply to my question by return.
Watch this space!

Another feature that would be useful, especially when you were
pedalling (pumping) rolls, would be a Tempo control that you could use
with a slide or joystick (just like the Tempo control on a player).

In short, I'm still looking for the perfect MIDI player.  Anyone found
it?

Regards,
Steve Greatrex
Plymouth, UK