With regard to a timer on MIDI files, please note that that won't work
on Windows Vista.  At present, there is no way to direct a MIDI file
played on Windows Media Player or some other similar program to an
MPU401 MIDI device.  This is an external MIDI driver such as would be
used to control a MIDI keyboard or other stand-alone MIDI sound gene-
rator.

The MIDI synthesizer contained in XP or Vista is of a very inferior
quality when compared to Casio and Korg keyboards.  Windows 98SE, 2000
and XP included the option to direct MIDI to the external driver
(MPU401), but Vista does not. I get by, when playing MIDI files, by
using Cakewalk Sonar 6, which has an option of external outputs (as,
I suppose, do other MIDI sequencers).

I am working on a combination of MIDI music synched with Christmas
lights, using a MIDI hardware controller.  I will have to solve this
somehow soon.

Jim Cook