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File Extensions - MID File Format

SUMMARY: MID files represent MIDI music. Learn how to play and create these songs.

The MID file extension normally represents that the file is a MIDI music file. MID files can only contain music, no voices. MID files are different than files such as WAV files in that they do not contain sampled, or digitized, audio information. Instead, MIDI songs only contain several tracks, each of which designates instruments to use and notes to play in a song, as well as miscellaneous musical effects. Thus, MIDI files will sound differently depending on which sound card is used to play a file.

For example, one track of a MIDI song may represent the drums. Another, a bass guitar. Another track may be a grand piano accompaniment, yet another might be a lead trumpet.

MIDI songs are normally created by specialized music software packages such as the following. Note these websites are listed for informational purposes only and are subject to change.

* Cakewalk's SONAR Home Studio

* Finale

* PowerTracks Pro

Windows users can play MIDI songs with a variety of software such as Winamp and Windows Media Player. Macintosh users can use the QuickTime software.

Windows users: NOTE that unless you have configured your computer with the file extension viewing tweak, it is possible that a filename that looks like it ends with ".mid", especially one attached to an e-mail message, actually has a hidden OTHER extension, meaning that if you double-click the file, it may actually run a computer virus!