A .mid file is a Standard MIDI File (SMF) that stores musical event data (note on/off, control changes, tempo, etc.) rather than audio samples. It is structured into chunks and is designed for interchange between software and hardware music devices. Key points
- File extension and purpose
- .mid is the conventional extension for Standard MIDI Files, used to transfer musical data between applications and devices. Other common extension variants include .midi, but they represent the same underlying format.
- Structure
- A MIDI file consists of a single header chunk describing the file format, followed by one or more track chunks. Each track contains a sequence of MIDI events (notes, controller changes, program changes, etc.). The header defines the format type (0, 1, or 2) and the number of delta-time ticks per quarter note.
- Formats and channels
- Type 0: single, combined track containing all MIDI events. Type 1: multiple tracks that can be played synchronously. Type 2: multiple independent tracks. A Standard MIDI File can carry up to 16 channels of data.
- Usage and compatibility
- SMF files are widely supported by digital audio workstations (DAWs), software sequencers, and hardware MIDI devices. They do not contain audio sound data themselves; they encode instructions that playback devices render into sound using their instruments.
- Files and opening
- MIDI files are widely opened in music production software and can be edited by many MIDI-compatible programs. Some tools may recognize both .mid and .midi extensions as the same format.
If you’d like, I can tailor this to your needs—such as explaining how to identify a SMF version from the file header, how to convert SMF to audio, or how to import a .mid into a specific DAW.
