MIDI is one of the most useful formats a music notation tool can support. It lets you bring a performance recorded in a DAW or on an electronic keyboard straight into Flat as readable notation, and it lets you send a Flat score back out to any program that can mix, master, or play it with custom sounds. This guide covers both directions: how to import a MIDI file into Flat, how to export a Flat score to MIDI, and when MIDI is the right choice versus MusicXML.
What you'll need
To use MIDI import or export in Flat:
- A free Flat account, plus a web browser, or the iOS or Android app.
- The MIDI file you want to import (a
.midor.midifile), or a Flat score you want to export. - For DAW workflows: any program that can read or write MIDI, including GarageBand, Logic Pro, Cubase, Pro Tools, FL Studio, Ableton Live, or Reaper.
You do not need any special hardware or plugin to move files between Flat and a DAW. The MIDI file itself carries everything the next program needs.
How to import a MIDI file into Flat
Importing a MIDI file converts it into an editable Flat score, with notes, rhythms, instruments, and tempo translated into standard notation.
- Open your Flat score library and click New Score.
- Choose Import and select MIDI as the file type.
- Upload the
.midor.midifile from your computer or device. - Wait a few seconds for the conversion to complete.
- The MIDI file opens in the Flat editor as a fully editable score, ready to play, edit, transpose, or share.
From here, the imported file behaves like any other Flat score. You can correct any quantization quirks (MIDI captures performance timing, which sometimes needs manual cleanup), adjust the assigned instruments, change the key signature, or use the score as a starting point for arranging.
How to export a Flat score to MIDI
Exporting sends your Flat score out as a standard MIDI file you can open in any DAW or notation program. This is the most common path for composers who write notation in Flat and then want to mix, master, or apply virtual instruments elsewhere.
- Open the score you want to export in Flat.
- Click File → Export.
- Choose MIDI as the format.
- Save the resulting
.midfile to your computer or device. - Open the file in your DAW or any other MIDI-compatible program.
The exported MIDI file carries every note, rest, time signature, key signature, tempo marking, and instrument assignment from your score. Once it's in your DAW, you can swap in virtual instruments, layer additional tracks, and apply effects, all while keeping the original notation intact in Flat.
What MIDI captures (and what it doesn't)
MIDI is great for sound and performance data, but it's not a complete picture of a written score. Knowing what survives the format helps you choose between MIDI and MusicXML for any given workflow.
MIDI carries: pitches, note durations, velocities (how hard each note is played), tempo, time signature, key signature, instrument assignments via General MIDI program changes, and basic dynamics.
MIDI does not carry: visual notation details like beaming, stem direction, articulation markings (staccato, accents, slurs in their visual form), lyrics, chord symbols, rehearsal marks, or page layout. These are the things a notation-specific format like MusicXML is built to preserve.
That tradeoff is the reason both formats exist, and the reason most professional workflows use both.
MIDI vs MusicXML: which format to use
The short answer: use MIDI when you need sound or performance data, use MusicXML when you need the written notation to look the same on the other side.
| Use case | Best format | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Send a score to a DAW for mixing | MIDI | DAWs read MIDI natively; they don't need notation details |
| Send a score to another notation app | MusicXML | Preserves articulations, lyrics, layout, and chord symbols |
| Record a performance on a keyboard, turn it into notation | MIDI | MIDI captures the performance; Flat converts it to notation |
| Move a score between Flat, Sibelius, MuseScore, Dorico | MusicXML | Industry standard for notation interchange |
| Apply virtual instruments or VST plugins | MIDI | VSTs read MIDI directly |
| Share a score with a collaborator for editing | MusicXML | Keeps every notation element intact |
Many composers use both formats in the same project. Write the notation in Flat, export MusicXML to share with the rest of the ensemble, and export MIDI to bring into a DAW for sound design and mixing.
Common use cases for MIDI in Flat
A few workflows where MIDI import or export earns its place in a composer's toolkit:
- Performance-to-notation. Record a melody on a MIDI keyboard into your DAW, export the MIDI, and import it into Flat to clean up the notation. Faster than typing every note by hand for anything you can play.
- Notation-to-mix. Write the full arrangement in Flat, export to MIDI, and open in your DAW to mix with custom virtual instruments and effects.
- Cross-tool composition. Sketch a chord progression in a DAW using a MIDI piano roll, export the MIDI, and import into Flat to develop the full notated arrangement.
- Backing tracks. Export the accompaniment parts of a score to MIDI, load them into a DAW, and bounce to audio for practice playback.
- Collaboration with non-notation musicians. Send MIDI to a producer or beat maker who works in a DAW, not a notation tool. They can use the file directly without needing to read sheet music.
Frequently asked questions about MIDI in Flat
What file formats does Flat's MIDI import accept?
Standard MIDI files with the .mid or .midi extension. Both Type 0 (single-track) and Type 1 (multi-track) MIDI files work.
Will my imported MIDI look exactly right as notation?
Usually yes for clean, quantized MIDI (files created in a DAW with tight rhythms). For performance recordings with human timing, some manual cleanup is normal. Flat applies quantization during import, but very loose performances may need a pass of editing to look right on the page.
How do I download a MIDI file from a Flat score?
Open the score, click File → Export, choose MIDI, and save the file. The download starts immediately.
Can I import a MIDI file recorded on a keyboard or other MIDI instrument?
Yes. Most electronic keyboards, drum pads, and MIDI-capable instruments can record performances directly to MIDI through a DAW (GarageBand, Logic Pro, Cubase, FL Studio, Ableton Live, Reaper). Save the recording as a MIDI file, then import it into Flat the same way as any other MIDI file.
Does MIDI export include dynamics and articulations?
MIDI carries dynamics through note velocities (volume) and tempo data, but it doesn't preserve the visual notation of articulations like staccato or accents. For workflows where those details matter, use MusicXML export instead, or use both formats together.
What's the difference between MIDI and MusicXML?
MIDI is a performance and sound format. It captures what the music sounds like. MusicXML is a notation format. It captures what the music looks like on the page. Most DAWs prefer MIDI; most notation programs prefer MusicXML. See the comparison table above for which to use when.
Can I import multiple MIDI files into one Flat score?
Not in a single import action. Each import creates a new score. To combine MIDI parts, import them as separate scores, then copy and paste between them inside Flat.
Does MIDI import preserve the original tempo and time signature?
Yes. Tempo changes and time signature changes encoded in the MIDI file come through to the imported Flat score and remain editable.
Key takeaways
MIDI import and export turn Flat into a hub between notation and the rest of the music production stack. Bring in performances from a keyboard or DAW, write notation cleanly in Flat, then send the file back out to whatever tool handles the next stage of the work. Pair MIDI with MusicXML for the parts of the score MIDI doesn't carry, and you have a workflow that covers everything from first sketch to final mix.
If you haven't tried MIDI import yet, the fastest way to feel it work is to grab any .mid file (your own DAW exports, or a public-domain MIDI from a sheet music archive) and run it through Flat's import. The notation appears in seconds, fully editable.
Questions or feedback? Send a note to hello@flat.io.
Pierre, on behalf of the Flat team.