Audio · .mid
What Is a MIDI File?
A .mid file is a music file of notes and instructions, not recorded sound.
- Extension
- .mid, .midi
- Full name
- Musical Instrument Digital Interface file
- Type
- Audio
- MIME type
- audio/midi
- Developed by
- MIDI Manufacturers Association (1983)
About MIDI Files
A MIDI file doesn't contain audio. It stores music as instructions: which note to play, when, how hard and with which instrument, much like digital sheet music. That makes files tiny, often a few kilobytes. When you play one, your device or software synthesizes the sound, so the same file can sound very different on different devices. Musicians use MIDI to move songs between music software, keyboards and synthesizers. To get an MP3, you must render the MIDI to audio in a music app first.
How to Open a MIDI File
- Windows
- Media Player plays MIDI files with the built-in synthesizer.
- Mac
- Open it in GarageBand or Logic Pro; QuickTime Player no longer plays MIDI.
- Any device
- Music software such as MuseScore, FL Studio or Ableton Live imports MIDI.
MIDI File Questions
Can I convert MIDI to MP3?
Not directly, because MIDI has no recorded sound. Open it in a music app such as GarageBand or MuseScore, then export the result as audio.
Why does my MIDI sound different on another computer?
Each device uses its own instrument sounds to play the notes.