Midi to Sheet Documentation

Midi to Sheet User Guide

Everything you need to import MIDI files, generate readable scores, and adapt playback, tracks, and notation to the way you practice.

← Back to Midi to Sheet

Overview#

Midi to Sheet converts MIDI files into readable, customizable sheet music.

The app is designed for:

Quick start#

To get started quickly:

  1. Open the main menu with the menu button
  2. Open Explorer
  3. Choose an example or import a MIDI file
  4. Start playback
  5. Open MIDI settings to adapt the score to the piece

Examples let you try the app without importing a file.

Imported files are copied into the app library. You can then find them again in My files, even if the original file is no longer in the same location.

General settings and MIDI settings#

Midi to Sheet uses two families of settings.

General settings#

General settings control the app's overall behavior.

They let you choose:

MIDI settings#

MIDI settings apply to the currently opened file.

They let you adjust:

Per-file presets#

Presets let you save several configurations for the same MIDI file.

They are useful for quickly returning to a working version:

Importing MIDI files#

Midi to Sheet supports:

To import a file:

  1. Open the main menu
  2. Open Explorer
  3. Select the appropriate library tab
  4. Import your MIDI file
  5. The score is generated automatically

MIDI library#

The library groups the files available in the app.

My files#

This section contains the MIDI files you imported.

An imported file can be removed from this section. In that case, the local copy used by the app is deleted.

Examples#

Examples are included with the app.

They let you quickly test:

Recent#

Recently opened files are shown in the Recent tab.

This lets you quickly resume a piece you already used.

Favorites#

Favorites let you keep some files within easy reach.

Use this for pieces you work on regularly.

MIDI info#

The info button shows information about the MIDI file.

Depending on the file, this information can include:

Sheet-music conversion#

Each MIDI file gets a sheet-music conversion rating. It estimates how well the file lends itself to readable transcription.

This rating appears in two places:

The verdict is shown in plain words, together with a score out of 100:

When useful, a list of points to watch flags what may hinder transcription, for example:

A collapsible technical section shows the estimated quality by family:

The rating is a relative indicator, meant to compare files with one another. It is not a guarantee: a high score makes the work easier, but a lower score often remains usable after a few adjustments (see App limits).

Display modes#

Horizontal scrolling#

Horizontal mode provides smooth score reading during playback.

This mode is especially useful for:

Page view#

Page mode displays the score in a more traditional layout.

This mode is recommended for:

Zoom#

In both display modes, you can zoom to enlarge or shrink the score.

Zoom is useful for:

Zoom only affects the display and does not change the notes.

Display options#

Several options let you adapt how the score and the player are displayed. They are set in the general settings.

Playback cursor#

A cursor can follow playback on the score to mark the current position.

Highlight measure#

The measure currently playing can be highlighted to make following along easier.

Dynamics display#

Dynamics can be shown or hidden on the score.

Piano keyboard#

A piano keyboard can be shown below the score. It lights up as playback progresses to visualize the notes being played.

The Limit to the piece's notes option reduces the keyboard to the range actually used by the file and marks the octave of each C, for easier orientation.

Note names#

Note names can be shown using different conventions, for example C D E or Do Re Mi, depending on your reading habits.

Auto-hide compact bar#

The compact playback bar can hide automatically to leave more room for the score.

Playback and practice#

Playback speed#

Playback speed can be adjusted to practice a piece progressively.

This is useful for:

Metronome#

A built-in metronome can be enabled during playback.

You can set:

The beat is in Auto mode by default: it is derived from the piece's time signature. You can also set it yourself (eighth, quarter, dotted quarter, half, whole). Only values that fit exactly into the measure are offered.

The chosen beat is also used to display pulses on the score.

Count-in before playback#

A count-in can precede the start of playback, to give you time to get ready before playing.

A/B loop#

The A and B buttons in the playback bar let you define a passage to repeat.

This is useful for practicing a measure, phrase, or difficult passage without restarting the piece from the beginning.

Pulses#

The app can display pulses on the score to help with rhythmic practice.

Pulses follow the note value chosen for the metronome.

Piano practice#

Separate-hand practice#

Tracks can be hidden or muted to practice:

In a piano MIDI file, the two hands may be separated in different ways depending on the file quality:

When the hands are already separated into tracks, you can:

If both hands are in a single track, automatic separation can be less precise. In that case, the result depends heavily on the MIDI file.

Accompaniment practice#

Midi to Sheet can be used to:

Track management#

Hide or mute a track#

Hiding a track and muting a track are two different actions.

Hiding a track:

Muting a track:

Hiding tracks#

Tracks can be hidden to make the score lighter.

This is useful when the MIDI file contains many instruments or tracks you do not need for your work.

Muting tracks#

Each track can be made silent independently.

This is useful for practicing one part with accompaniment.

Changing instruments#

MIDI instruments can be changed directly in the app.

This lets you replace the sound of a track without changing the score notes.

Additional soundfonts#

You can add your own soundfonts to customize the sound rendering.

Added soundfonts are layered over the base soundfont: they replace the instruments they contain, while all other instruments keep using the default sound.

They do not change:

Additional soundfonts are most useful with internal sound output.

SF2 is supported on all platforms. SF3 is supported on Android and Windows.

Examples:

Concrete examples:

Warning: a larger soundfont is not always better. It can use more memory and take longer to load.

Transposition#

Midi to Sheet supports:

Global transposition changes the whole score.

Per-track transposition lets you adjust only some parts when Per track mode is selected.

This is useful for:

Notation options#

Time signature#

The app automatically detects the piece's time signature (the meter).

You can turn off automatic detection and choose the time signature yourself when the MIDI file is misinterpreted.

Key signature#

The app automatically detects the piece's key and places the matching key signature.

You can turn off automatic detection and set the key manually if the result does not match the piece.

Warning: detecting the time signature and key depends on the MIDI file and may require a manual adjustment.

Automatic clef changes#

The app can automatically change clefs to improve readability.

Ottavas#

Ottavas can be generated automatically to avoid too many ledger lines.

Dynamics#

Automatic dynamics generation is available.

Warning: this feature is experimental and depends heavily on the MIDI file.

Ornament detection#

Some automatic ornament detection can be offered.

The turn is one of the ornaments that can be detected depending on the MIDI file.

A turn is a small melodic figure around a main note. In a MIDI file, it can be difficult to distinguish from a series of notes that should really be written out, because MIDI does not always contain the musical intention.

Warning: these features are experimental and can produce variable results depending on the MIDI file.

PDF export#

Scores can be exported as PDF files.

PDF export is especially useful in Page mode.

Examples can be exported from the limited version. For imported files, PDF export requires the full version.

Before exporting, check:

Presets#

Settings can be saved for each MIDI file.

This lets you quickly restore:

Presets are available for examples. For imported files, they require the full version.

MIDI connection#

Midi to Sheet supports external MIDI connections. This lets you route sound directly to an electronic piano.

Internal sound output#

Internal sound output uses the app's audio engine.

It is suitable when you want to listen to the piece directly from the device.

Additional soundfonts can change the rendering of this output.

External MIDI output#

External MIDI output sends MIDI events to a compatible device.

It can be used with:

In this mode, the sound mainly depends on the external device.

If you do not hear any sound, check:

Limited version and full version#

Some features can depend on the version of the app you are using.

The examples included with the app let you try all features. On imported files, some advanced features require the full version.

If an action shows an unlock screen, that feature requires the full version.

The full version helps support the development of the app and future improvements.

App limits#

Important: MIDI file quality#

The quality of the generated score depends heavily on the quality of the MIDI file.

Some MIDI files found online may contain:

In these cases, the generated score may require adjustments.

MIDI and musical notation#

A MIDI file mainly contains:

Some traditional musical information is not always present in MIDI:

Converting to a score therefore remains an automatic interpretation of the MIDI file.

Experimental features#

Some features use advanced automatic algorithms.

Results can vary depending on the MIDI file.

Experimental features include:

Troubleshooting#

I cannot hear any sound#

First check:

The score looks incorrect#

Conversion depends heavily on the MIDI file.

Try checking:

A well-quantized MIDI file with clearly separated tracks usually gives a better result.

The MIDI file does not open#

Check that the file is a valid MIDI file.

Midi to Sheet supports MIDI formats 0 and 1.

If the entry was removed from My files, import the MIDI file again.

External MIDI is not detected#

Check:

PDF export does not match the expected result#

Before exporting, check:

Tips#

For best results: