What is .midi?

.midi / .mid (MIDI file) is a Standard MIDI File that stores musical performance data—notes, timing, velocity, instruments, and controller events—rather than recorded audio. It is more like a digital sheet music score that a synthesizer or virtual instrument plays back, producing sound based on the device's sound library.

This quick guide explains when to use .midi files, how to open them on any device, and how to share them instantly with FileXhost.

When to use .midi files

You are composing or arranging music using DAWs, notation software, or MIDI controllers.
You want to share musical ideas, melodies, or arrangements in a compact, editable format.
You need to drive virtual instruments, synthesizers, or game engines with note data.
You plan to export or render the final audio to formats like WAV, MP3, or FLAC.

How to open .midi files

MIDI files can be opened in digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Cubase, and Reaper, as well as notation software such as MuseScore, Sibelius, and Finale. Many media players can trigger basic MIDI playback through built-in synths, though results vary by device. On the web, MIDI is often converted to audio or played through WebMIDI-enabled instruments. You can upload .midi or .mid files to FileXhost to share them as downloadable music data for collaborators.

Algorithm details

Standard MIDI Files (SMF) store a sequence of events organized into tracks. Each event encodes timing (delta time), message type (note on/off, control change, program change, pitch bend, etc.), channel, and parameters. MIDI files come in formats like Type 0 (single track) and Type 1 (multiple tracks). Because they only store instructions, not audio waveforms, they remain extremely small while allowing flexible playback and sound design.

Browser & platform support

Desktop: Many browsers do not natively render MIDI as audio; playback usually involves JavaScript libraries, WebMIDI, or converting to audio formats like MP3 or OGG.
Mobile: Requires dedicated apps or DAWs; mobile browsers typically download .mid files instead of playing them.
OS: Most desktop operating systems can route MIDI to software instruments or basic synths via DAWs or media players.

Format comparison

Feature	Details
Data vs Audio	Stores musical instructions (notes and control data), unlike MP3 or WAV, which store actual recorded audio waveforms.
File Size	Extremely small compared to audio formats because only event data is stored.
Editability	Highly editable; you can change notes, tempo, instruments, and dynamics easily in a DAW or notation program.
Sound Consistency	Playback quality depends on the instrument library or synth; the same MIDI file can sound very different on different systems.

How to create midi files

DAWs: Record from MIDI keyboards or draw notes in Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Cubase, Reaper, and others.
Notation Software: Compose scores in MuseScore, Sibelius, Finale, and export to MIDI.
Game/Engine Tools: Generate MIDI from procedural composition tools or game engines.
MIDI Utilities: Convert audio-to-MIDI using specialized tools (with varying accuracy).

How to convert midi files

FileXhost: Upload MIDI files for sharing; collaborators can download and import into their DAW.
Desktop: Use DAWs or notation software to render MIDI to WAV/MP3/FLAC by assigning instruments and exporting audio.
Online Tools: Web services that convert MIDI to MP3, or vice versa, by using server-side synthesizers.
CLI: Use tools built around fluidsynth, timidity++, or FFmpeg pipelines to render MIDI to audio on servers.

Advantages & disadvantages

Advantages

Tiny file sizes and fast sharing of musical ideas
Highly editable, non-destructive representation of performance data
Can drive any compatible synth or virtual instrument for flexible sound design
Ideal for composition, scoring, and educational use

Disadvantages

Does not contain real audio; quality depends entirely on playback instruments
Same file can sound very different across devices and soundfonts
Not suitable as a final delivery format for streaming or distribution (use MP3, AAC, or FLAC instead)

Tools & software

DAWs

Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, Cubase, Reaper, Pro Tools

Notation

MuseScore, Sibelius, Finale, Dorico

Players/Synths

VLC (with plugins), Windows Media Player (legacy), fluidsynth, timidity++, many mobile MIDI players

Frequently asked questions

Why is my MIDI file silent or sounds wrong?

MIDI files do not contain audio; they depend on your system's synth or virtual instruments. If you hear nothing, no instrument may be assigned. If it sounds odd, the default General MIDI sound set may differ from what the composer intended.

How do I convert MIDI to MP3?

Load the MIDI file into a DAW or notation program, assign virtual instruments, then export or bounce the result to an audio file like WAV or MP3. Online converters do something similar on a server using their own instrument libraries.

Is MIDI still used today?

Yes. MIDI remains a core standard for music production, live performance controllers, virtual instruments, and even lighting or control systems. The newer MIDI 2.0 standard expands resolution and capabilities while remaining compatible with many existing workflows.

What is the difference between .mid and .midi?

They both represent Standard MIDI Files. .mid is more common historically due to three-character extension limits on older systems; .midi is just a longer variant. Most software treats them identically.

Technical specs

File type: Audio
Extension: .midi
MIME type: audio/midi, audio/x-midi
Compression: Uncompressed
Max file size on FileXhost: Up to 25 MB per file on the free plan and up to 1 GB on Pro FileXhost accounts.

Upload your .midi file to FileXhost to get a clean, shareable URL in seconds. View the file in a modern browser, protect access with optional settings, and let others download it without any confusing ads or cluttered file pages.

Upload .midi file