Specifications

Pro Tools Reference Guide354
Exporting MIDI Files
To export a session’s MIDI tracks for use in an-
other MIDI application, or for playback with an
external (hardware) MIDI sequencer, you can ex-
port Pro Tools MIDI and Instrument tracks as a
Standard MIDI File.
MIDI can be exported from Pro Tools as a merged,
single, multichannel track (Type 0), or as multiple
tracks (Type 1).
If your Pro Tools session uses key signatures and
meters, they are exported with the MIDI file.
To export all MIDI and Instrument tracks in the
current session:
1 Make sure to unmute any MIDI tracks in the
session that you want included in the exported
MIDI file. (Or, conversely, mute any MIDI
tracks you do not want included in the exported
MIDI file.) For Instrument tracks, enable or dis-
able the MIDI mute button (Instruments view).
2 Choose File > Export > MIDI. The Export MIDI
Settings dialog opens.
3 From the MIDI File Format pop-up menu, select
1 (multitrack) or 0 (single track).
4 If the Song Start time is different from the Ses-
sion Start time, select
Session Start or Song
Start
from the Location Reference pop-up
menu.
5 Enable or disable the Apply Real-Time
Properties
option.
6 Click OK.
7 Specify a folder destination and name for the
MIDI file.
8 Click Save.
Pro Tools exports all unmuted MIDI and Instru-
ment tracks in the current session to a Standard
MIDI File and writes it to your hard drive. Ex-
ported MIDI information includes notes, controller
events, program changes, and System Exclusive
data, as well as events for tempo, meter, and mark-
ers.
The SMPTE start time for the session or the song
(depending on the selection from the
Location Ref-
erence
pop-up menu) is also exported. This en-
sures that the exported tracks, when played from
another MIDI application, will align with the cor-
rect SMPTE frames, and also synchronize cor-
rectly to tape and video devices, or Pro Tools.
See your third-party MIDI sequencer documenta-
tion to determine whether it supports importing
SMPTE start times from MIDI files.
Items Not Exported with MIDI Files
Mute automation and muted clips do not affect ex-
ported MIDI. As long as a MIDI track is not muted
by clicking its Mute button, or an Instrument track
is not muted by clicking its MIDI Mute button (In-
struments view), all of its MIDI data is exported.
Chord symbols and chord diagrams are not ex-
ported with MIDI files.
Export MIDI Settings dialog
Pro Tools automatically adds the “.mid”
extension when exporting MIDI files.