Just to add clarity (I hope!) to VLC being used as a MIDI player...
If you do nothing but install VLC, it doesn't play MIDI. However, it has a built-in MIDI synthesiser (good ol' FluidSynth). The 2nd 'however' is that there is no soundfont bound to this built-in synthesiser. I've no idea why, there's sure to be a reason.
From VLC, ~> Tools ~> Preferences ~> Show settings.All +> Input/Codecs.Audio codecs ~> FluidSynth ~> Browse...
then select the soundfont file of your choice. Click Save.
