Mathematica Import/Export Format

MIDI (.mid)

MIME type: audio/midi
Standard MIDI file format.
Audio format.
Used for controlling electronic musical instruments, computer sound cards and sequencers.
Stores a sequence of discrete sound events such as the beginning and end of a note, velocity and timbre information, and instrument and sound bank codes.
MIDI is an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface.
Binary file format.
Introduced in 1983.
Developed and published by the MIDI Manufacturers Association (U.S.) and the Association of Musical Electronic Industry MIDI committee (Japan).

Export fully supports the standard MIDI file format.

EXPORT

Export["file.mid", expr] exports a sound object to MIDI.

Export["file.mid", Sound[...]] creates a MIDI file from a Sound expression consisting of SoundNote primitives.

Export["file.mid", expr, elem] creates a MIDI file by treating expr as specifying element elem.

The file format can be explicitly specified using Export["file", Sound[...], "MIDI"].

See the reference pages for full general information on Export.

ExportString supports the MIDI format.

ELEMENTS

Data representation element:

"Sound"

a Sound expression consisting of SoundNote primitives

Export by default uses the "Sound" element for MIDI files.

Export["file.mid", Sound[ SoundNote[0]]] creates a MIDI file representing the "middle C" note played for 1 second in the default "Piano" style.

The pitch specification 0 in Mathematica corresponds to MIDI pitch level 60.

Export["file.mid", Sound[SoundNote[pitch, t, "style"]]] specifies a duration t and an instrument style. The following General MIDI styles are supported:

"Accordion"	"Agogo"	"AltoSax"	"Applause"
"Atmosphere"	"Bagpipe"	"Bandoneon"	"Banjo"
"BaritoneSax"	"Bass"	"BassAndLead"	"Bassoon"
"Bird"	"BlownBottle"	"Bowed"	"BrassSection"
"Breath"	"Brightness"	"BrightPiano"	"Calliope"
"Celesta"	"Cello"	"Charang"	"Chiff"
"Choir"	"Clarinet"	"Clavi"	"Contrabass"
"Crystal"	"DrawbarOrgan"	"Dulcimer"	"Echoes"
"ElectricBass"	"ElectricGrandPiano"	"ElectricGuitar"	"ElectricPiano"
"ElectricPiano2"	"EnglishHorn"	"Fiddle"	"Fifths"
"Flute"	"FrenchHorn"	"FretlessBass"	"FretNoise"
"Glockenspiel"	"Goblins"	"Guitar"	"GuitarDistorted"
"GuitarHarmonics"	"GuitarMuted"	"GuitarOverdriven"	"Gunshot"
"Halo"	"Harmonica"	"Harp"	"Harpsichord"
"Helicopter"	"HonkyTonkPiano"	"JazzGuitar"	"Kalimba"
"Koto"	"Marimba"	"MelodicTom"	"Metallic"
"MusicBox"	"MutedTrumpet"	"NewAge"	"Oboe"
"Ocarina"	"OrchestraHit"	"Organ"	"PanFlute"
"PercussiveOrgan"	"Piano"	"Piccolo"	"PickedBass"
"PizzicatoStrings"	"Polysynth"	"Rain"	"Recorder"
"ReedOrgan"	"ReverseCymbal"	"RockOrgan"	"Sawtooth"
"SciFi"	"Seashore"	"Shakuhachi"	"Shamisen"
"Shanai"	"Sitar"	"SlapBass"	"SlapBass2"
"SopranoSax"	"Soundtrack"	"Square"	"Steeldrums"
"SteelGuitar"	"Strings"	"Strings2"	"Sweep"
"SynthBass"	"SynthBass2"	"SynthBrass"	"SynthBrass2"
"SynthDrum"	"SynthStrings"	"SynthStrings2"	"SynthVoice"
"Taiko"	"Telephone"	"TenorSax"	"Timpani"
"Tinklebell"	"TremoloStrings"	"Trombone"	"Trumpet"
"Tuba"	"TubularBells"	"Vibraphone"	"Viola"
"Violin"	"Voice"	"VoiceAahs"	"VoiceOohs"
"Warm"	"Whistle"	"Woodblock"	"Xylophone"

Percussion sounds are represented as an expression of the form SoundNote["perc", t]. Possible percussion styles include:

"BassDrum"	"BassDrum2"	"BellTree"	"Cabasa"
"Castanets"	"ChineseCymbal"	"Clap"	"Claves"
"Cowbell"	"CrashCymbal"	"CrashCymbal2"	"ElectricSnare"
"GuiroLong"	"GuiroShort"	"HighAgogo"	"HighBongo"
"HighCongaMute"	"HighCongaOpen"	"HighFloorTom"	"HighTimbale"
"HighTom"	"HighWoodblock"	"HiHatClosed"	"HiHatOpen"
"HiHatPedal"	"JingleBell"	"LowAgogo"	"LowBongo"
"LowConga"	"LowFloorTom"	"LowTimbale"	"LowTom"
"LowWoodblock"	"Maracas"	"MetronomeBell"	"MetronomeClick"
"MidTom"	"MidTom2"	"MuteCuica"	"MuteSurdo"
"MuteTriangle"	"OpenCuica"	"OpenSurdo"	"OpenTriangle"
"RideBell"	"RideCymbal"	"RideCymbal2"	"ScratchPull"
"ScratchPush"	"Shaker"	"SideStick"	"Slap"
"Snare"	"SplashCymbal"	"SquareClick"	"Sticks"
"Tambourine"	"Vibraslap"	"WhistleLong"	"WhistleShort"