Single lead melody
A clean one-note-at-a-time lead line through the 1-credit Basic Pitch path.
- Basic Pitch
- Basic Pitch
- 17.84s MIDI
- 17.84s MIDI
- 1 track
- 1 track
- 18 notes
- 18 notes
Source audio
18s mono WAV
MIDI preview
Basic Pitch output
Core MVP tool · AI-Powered
Audio to MIDI Converter
AI-Powered · Online tool · 2 free trial credits on signup
Upload an MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG, WEBM, AAC recording, or audio exported from a video you own or are licensed to use. PureMIDI uses an AI audio transcription engine to detect pitch, timing, and velocity, exporting an editable MIDI draft. Everything runs in the browser — no plug-ins, no subscription. Sign up to claim 2 free trial credits.
Conversion mode
Upload audio
Choose a supported file, then convert it to MIDI.
Choose an audio file to start
Formats: MP3 / WAV / M4A / FLAC / OGG / WEBM / AAC. Max 12MB.
MIDI preview
Hear real conversion examples
These samples were generated through the same production conversion paths users get: Basic Pitch for single-part audio and MT3 for full-song mode.
1 credit
Full-song mixed draft
A short mixed arrangement through full-song mode, returning one multi-track MT3 MIDI draft.
- MT3
- MT3
- 31.77s MIDI
- 31.77s MIDI
- 8 tracks
- 8 tracks
- 113 notes
- 113 notes
Source audio
32s stereo WAV
MIDI preview
MT3 output
The source clips are PureMIDI-owned synthetic demos; the MIDI files are raw provider outputs, not hand-corrected.
How it works
- 01
Upload your audio
Drag and drop or pick a local file up to 12MB. We only keep it long enough to run the conversion.
- 02
AI transcribes notes
The AI engine detects each note's pitch, on/off times, and velocity, producing editable MIDI notes.
- 03
Download and continue in your DAW
Get a clean .mid in seconds and drop it into Logic, Ableton, FL Studio, Cubase, or any DAW.
Use cases
Transcription and covers
Capture a clear line or solo part as a MIDI draft so you can rewrite, transpose, or arrange it.
DAW production sketches
Hum a line or play a riff, get an editable MIDI starting point in seconds.
Music education
Convert student recordings into MIDI for notation, playback comparison, and grading.
Remix starters
Use the detected MIDI draft as a starting point, then swap sounds and rebuild it in a new style.
Accuracy notes
- Best results come from clean monophonic vocals or solo instruments.
- For dense full mixes, isolate one clear part first for best quality, or use full-song mode (6-15 credits by length) to generate a multi-track MIDI draft.
- Heavy reverb or noisy recordings reduce accuracy — light noise reduction beforehand helps.
- Expect to lightly quantize and clean up dynamics in your DAW for the best feel.
Single-pitch vs full-song mode
PureMIDI offers two conversion modes. Picking the right one avoids wasted credits and gets you a better MIDI draft on the first try.
| Single-pitch (1 credit) | Full-song / Pro Song (6-15 credits) | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Basic Pitch | MT3 |
| Best for | Solo vocal, guitar, bass, or any monophonic line | Full mixes, polyphonic piano, multi-instrument tracks |
| Output | 1-track .mid with pitch + timing | Multi-track .mid (melody, bass, chords, drums, etc.) |
| When to choose | You have a clean, isolated part | You have a mixed recording and want all parts at once |
| DAW built-in | PureMIDI | |
|---|---|---|
| Monophonic clip in session | Fastest — no upload needed | Works, but upload adds a step |
| Polyphonic / chords | Limited or unavailable | Supported via full-song mode (MT3) |
| Full-song multi-track | Not available | One upload → melody, bass, chords, drums |
| No DAW installed | Not available | Runs in any browser, zero install |
| Cross-DAW workflow | Locked to one DAW | Standard .mid opens everywhere |
Audio format vs recognition accuracy
Format choice has a big impact on MIDI accuracy. Here's how the common formats stack up in practice.
| Format | Compression | Best for | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAV / AIFF | Lossless | Studio stems, solo parts | ★★★★★ |
| FLAC | Lossless compressed | Archival performance recordings | ★★★★★ |
| MP3 320 kbps | Lossy | Album-quality commercial audio | ★★★★ |
| MP3 192 kbps | Lossy | Streaming exports | ★★★ |
| MP3 128 kbps | Lossy | Old recordings, voice memos | ★★ |
| M4A (AAC) 256 kbps | Lossy | iOS recordings, Apple Music | ★★★★ |
| OGG Vorbis | Lossy | Games and open-source exports | ★★★ |
Practical advice
When you can pick, always upload lossless WAV or FLAC. If MP3 is all you have, aim for 192 kbps or higher. Re-encoding low-bit-rate MP3 to WAV before upload doesn't recover lost quality.
Instrument-specific guides
For the best results, use the page tuned to your instrument — each has workflow tips, DAW-specific steps, and FAQ for that context.
Guitar to MIDI
Electric, acoustic, and DI guitar recordings — includes tips for strumming vs single-note lines.
Piano to MIDI
Solo piano recordings — polyphonic-friendly, optimized for piano timbre.
Audio to MIDI in Logic Pro
Bounce → upload → drag back workflow for Logic Pro X / 11 users.
Audio to MIDI in Ableton
Export Audio/Video → upload → drag back for Ableton Live 11, 12, Lite.
Related guides
Workflow articles to help you get more out of audio-to-MIDI.
More MIDI workflows
Beyond audio conversion, PureMIDI offers additional MIDI creation and editing tools.
Audio to MIDI upload decision guide
Choose the right page and mode before you upload. That avoids wasted credits and gives you a more useful MIDI draft than blindly uploading a dense mix.
| Source | Best page | Best mode | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo vocal / lead melody | Audio to MIDI | Quick Melody | 1 credit, best for single-pitch material |
| Full song / mixed track | Audio to MIDI | Pro Song | MT3 can produce a multi-track MIDI draft with melody, bass, chords, and drums |
| Audio exported from video | Audio to MIDI | Depends on complexity | Uploading audio is usually faster and cleaner than uploading a large video |
| Local MP4 / MOV video | Video to MIDI | Pro Song or Quick Melody | Use the video page if you have not extracted the audio yet |
| MP3 file | MP3 to MIDI | Depends on complexity | The MP3 page explains bit rate, compression, and common conversion fixes |
Set the right expectation
MIDI stores notes, not the original sound. After conversion, pick instruments, quantize timing, and clean up false notes in Logic, Ableton, FL Studio, Cubase, GarageBand, or PureMIDI's online editor.
YouTube, video, audio, and MP3 to MIDI workflow
These searches describe the same practical job: turn music from a video or audio file into an editable .mid. PureMIDI converts the audio track, not the video pixels, and it does not download from YouTube.
Video to MIDI / video 2 MIDI
Upload a local MP4, MOV, WebM, or M4V file; PureMIDI extracts the audio track and converts it to MIDI.
YouTube to MIDI / YT to MIDI
Preview a YouTube link, confirm rights, then continue to upload authorized audio.
Audio to MIDI / video to MIDI
Upload audio exported from a video, recording, or DAW bounce and turn it into editable MIDI.
MP3 to MIDI / video 2 MIDI
Use the MP3 workflow when the music you have is an MP3 song, hook, riff, or video audio export.
What video 2 MIDI means
Video to MIDI and video 2 MIDI usually mean converting the video's audio track into MIDI. Export or obtain an audio file you own or are licensed to use, then upload it to PureMIDI.
Clean up MIDI after conversion
Once you have a .mid file, you can inspect tracks, quantize timing, tweak velocities, and export a cleaner MIDI before opening your DAW.
Frequently asked questions
Is the audio to MIDI converter free?+
Free trial — sign up for 2 free trial credits, valid 14 days. No subscription. Continue with one-time credit packs (no expiration); see /pricing for current packs.
Which audio formats are supported?+
MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG, WEBM, and AAC. Maximum file size is 12MB on the free tier.
Can PureMIDI convert video to MIDI or video 2 MIDI?+
Yes, when you upload the video's audio track rather than the video file itself. Export or obtain an MP3, WAV, M4A, or FLAC file you own or are licensed to use, then convert that audio to MIDI here.
Does the AI separately detect chords, bass, and drums?+
The single-pitch engine detects pitch and timing, not separately bass/chords/drums. For mixed tracks, full-song mode (6-15 credits by length) uses MT3 to generate one multi-track MIDI draft covering melody, bass, chords, drums, and other parts.
Do you keep my audio?+
We only store files long enough to run the conversion, then clean them up. We never use your audio to train models.
Why does my MIDI sound off?+
Dense mixes, heavy effects, and unusual timbres degrade detection in single-pitch mode. Either isolate one clear part first, or switch to full-song mode (6-15 credits by length) for a multi-track MIDI draft.
Does it work for Ableton Live or Logic Pro?+
Yes. The output is a standard .mid file that opens in every major DAW — Ableton, Logic, FL Studio, Cubase, Reaper, GarageBand, and more.
Can I convert long recordings?+
Free users get 12MB (roughly 5–10 minutes). Paid plans raise the limit and add batch conversion.
What is the difference between single-pitch and full-song mode?+
Single-pitch mode (1 credit) uses Basic Pitch to detect one melodic line — ideal for solo vocals, guitar, or bass. Full-song mode (6-15 credits by length) uses MT3 to transcribe an entire mix into a multi-track MIDI file with separate channels for melody, bass, chords, and drums.
Should I use PureMIDI or my DAW's built-in audio-to-MIDI?+
DAW built-in tools (Logic Flex Pitch, Ableton Convert Audio to MIDI) are quick for monophonic clips already in your session. PureMIDI adds value for polyphonic or full-song conversion, when you don't have a DAW installed, or when you want multi-track output from a single upload.
Can I convert a guitar or piano recording specifically?+
Yes — and we have dedicated pages with instrument-specific tips: Guitar to MIDI for electric/acoustic recordings, and Piano to MIDI optimized for polyphonic piano timbre. Both use the same AI engine but guide you through the best workflow for that instrument.
Related MIDI tools
MP3 to MIDI
Convert MP3 songs or MP3 audio exported from video into editable MIDI.
WAV to MIDI
Lossless WAV recordings to MIDI with AI pitch detection.
YouTube to MIDI Converter
Preview YouTube/YT links, then upload authorized audio for MIDI conversion.
Video to MIDI
Upload MP4, MOV, WebM, or M4V video and convert its audio track to MIDI.
PDF to MIDI Converter
Free online PDF sheet music to MIDI converter.
Sheet Music to MIDI
Sheet music images and PDFs to MIDI for practice playback.