What is MIDI?

In a nutshell, MIDI is a digital protocol, that is, a language which communicates performance instructions for any musical instrument or device (such as your sound card) which understands the language. MIDI is not audio information. It is primarily used to communicate which, when, for how long, and how loud to play musical notes, and with which "instrument." But it can be used to communicate a great range of other performance data. Digital pianos, physical pianos and other real instruments, synthesizers, computerized virtual instruments, and even stage sets of an opera can all be controlled by MIDI. It was originally developed in the 1980s as a standard communications protocol for connecting hardware synthesizers together with sequencers, keyboards, and other devices which controlled them.

MIDI files can also be converted to sheet music, with the appropriate software. See below...

You may start your MIDI discovery by clicking "By Composer", "By Contributor", or typing what you're looking for, into our search box above.

To download a MIDI, click its download button, to add it to Download Queue.

The 0 or 1 suffix on the download button indicates the type of the MIDI file: Type 0 or Type 1. Some Disklavier, for example, can only play one or the other type. You should experiment first to see which type is compatible with your hardware.

When you are ready, go to your Download Queue, and follow the download instructions.

For a great experience with MIDI files, we recommend the MuseScore - a free music composition and notation software - which shows you the score as you play the file!