Converting existing MIDI loops

Hi,
I have a bunch of previously acquired and used MIDI loops, which I should like to import and use in GarageBand. When double-clicked, the MIDI loops open in QuickTime, with which I can export to an AIF file - but these are full-lenth, 3-4 minute long AIF sound files repeating the 5-10 second loop over and over.
How can I reliably extract a single cycle to save as an AIF file and import to GarageBand? Preferably, as I have a boatload of these, I am looking for a utility/script that can do this in batch mode...
Thanks, Tristan
G4 PowerBook   Mac OS X (10.4.4)  

Hi,
...well, that didn't work either: dragging those files over onto the track portion of the window (either an existing instrument or the empty area) did not turn the cursor into "+"; upon releasing, the files would jump back to the Finder window.
That got me thinking, that perhaps these were somehow not proper MIDI files (they came from a cross-platform program). Upon opening one of them with QuickTime, I exported it as "Music to Standard MIDI", and that file indeed can be dropped into the track, and creates its "Software instrument" and the full repetitive track. The created file has the type "Midi", creator "????" and UTI "dyn.ah62d4rv4ge8044pe"; and, just changing the type of the original file from "MooV" to "Midi" doesn't make it work.
From this, I can now indeed cut down to a desired cycle, and save that in GB's library. So, I now do have a method for importing these files:
(1) Open in QuickTime & export as standard MIDI file.
(2) Drag to GB's track, cut and save the result.
(3) Tweak the velocity information, since the setting obtained is disproportionate: the sounds of lesser volume are barely audible.
(4) Repeat. ...great...
Well, that answers my original question; thanks for insisting that GB should be able to use the (standard) MIDI files.
Thanks, Tristan
G4 PowerBook   Mac OS X (10.4.5)  

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