Boneyard Tools

MIDI File Info Viewer

Drop in a .mid or .midi file to read its Standard MIDI File header: the format (single-track, multi-track, or multi-song), how many tracks it contains, the timing division in ticks per quarter note, plus the tempo, time signature and track names found by scanning the tracks. The file is parsed entirely in your browser and never uploaded.

How to read MIDI file info

  1. Drag a .mid or .midi file onto the box, or click to browse for one.
  2. Read the format, track count, division, tempo and time signature that appear instantly.
  3. Scan the track list to see each track's name and the size of its event data.

Examples

A multi-track song

song.mid (a format 1 file with two tracks)
Multi-track (format 1), 2 tracks, 480 ticks/quarter, 120 BPM, 4/4

Frequently asked questions

Is my MIDI file uploaded anywhere?

No. The file is read and parsed entirely in your browser using JavaScript. The MIDI data never leaves your device and nothing is sent to a server, so even unreleased compositions stay private and local.

How does it read the MIDI details in the browser?

Standard MIDI Files begin with an 'MThd' header chunk that holds the format, track count and timing division, followed by one or more 'MTrk' track chunks. The tool reads those big-endian fields directly and walks the track chunks to record each one's size and name.

What is the division, and what are ticks per quarter?

The division sets the timing resolution. When its top bit is clear it is the number of ticks (clock pulses) per quarter note, for example 480 ticks per quarter. When the top bit is set the file uses SMPTE timecode, expressed as frames per second and ticks per frame instead.

How is the tempo found and turned into BPM?

Tempo is stored as a Set Tempo meta event giving microseconds per quarter note. The tool scans the first track for it and converts with BPM equals 60,000,000 divided by that value, so 500,000 microseconds per quarter reads as 120 BPM. A file with no tempo event simply shows none.

What do format 0, 1 and 2 mean?

Format 0 is a single track with everything merged together. Format 1 is several tracks played at the same time and sharing one timing track, which is the most common. Format 2 holds independent patterns or songs that are not necessarily played together.

What if the file is not a valid MIDI file?

If the bytes do not begin with a valid 'MThd' header, the tool reports an error instead of guessing. Use the File Type Identifier to confirm what the file actually is.

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