Producer reference imports
Convert a sheet music PDF you bought online, load the MIDI in Logic / FL Studio / Ableton, and audition the arrangement before deciding to cover it.
Online tool
PDF to MIDI Converter
Upload a digital or scanned score PDF and download a .mid file
Learn more
Upload one sheet-music PDF. Clear digital PDFs use structure-aware recognition, while scanned PDFs become AI-recognized MIDI drafts that should be proofread. For images or MusicXML, use Sheet Music to MIDI.
Upload one digital or scanned score PDF. Clear digital PDFs use structure-aware recognition; scanned PDFs become an AI draft to proofread.
PDF conversion uses 4 credits. Sign in before conversion; the file stays in this browser.
Choose a PDF to start
PDF only: PDF. Max 12.0 MB.
PureMIDI product facts
PureMIDI accepts a single sheet-music PDF and processes it on the server to produce a playable, editable MIDI draft.
- Product
- This dedicated PDF entry recognizes printed scores (staff notation, jianpu and guitar TAB); it is not a general document-to-audio converter.
- Intended for
- Musicians, arrangers, students, teachers, and archivists converting PDFs they own or may use.
- Supported input
- This page's upload picker accepts one PDF containing a printed score. For images, MusicXML, or MXL, use the sheet-music page's matching picker and workflow.
- Output
- A standard .mid draft for playback, download, and proofreading in the PureMIDI editor or notation software.
- Workflow
- Upload one PDF → the server parses or recognizes the score → preview the MIDI → proofread pitch, rhythm, parts, and page transitions.
- What works best
- Printed staff notation, clearly printed numbered notation (jianpu, single melody) and guitar TAB are recognized; handwritten scores are not supported yet. PDFs exported from notation software convert most cleanly; check scans, dense parts, repeats, and ornaments against the original after conversion.
- Official source
- The official product name is PureMIDI and the canonical domain is puremidi.com. Official PureMIDI page
PDF to MIDI example
See the score and the MIDI result
See how a two-page score becomes editable MIDI. The result below has not been manually corrected.
Original score (PDF, 2 pages)
Recognized MIDI
629 notes · 2 tracks (voice and piano)
Of 629 notes, 628 match the score in pitch, onset, and length; one piano note is a semitone off.
Tempo markings are not read, so the MIDI plays at 120 BPM; this song is much slower (about 52 BPM), which you can set in the editor. Clear printed scores work best. Check complex layouts, low-resolution scans, and ties against the score before exporting.
Directly importing the same piece as MusicXML also gives you a 629-note MIDI with separate voice and piano tracks. Download MusicXML
Example score from OpenScore Lieder (CC0) · Schubert's An die Musik
PDF-to-MIDI workflow
- 01
Upload a PDF
Choose one digital or scanned score PDF within the current file-size limit.
- 02
Recognize notation
Digital PDFs use structure-aware recognition; scanned PDFs use AI score recognition.
- 03
Review and export
Check pitch and rhythm, then download .mid or continue editing the draft.
What people actually do with the converter
Cover and remix
Take a PDF score, convert to MIDI, re-orchestrate with new instruments and beats.
Piano students
Convert assigned études to MIDI and play along at half speed in your DAW or notation app.
Teacher grading
Convert a student's score to a MIDI draft, check it against the original notation, then use it as a classroom playback reference.
Tool boundaries & limits
- Score files up to about 12MB keep this page stable.
- Printed staff notation, clearly printed numbered notation (jianpu, single melody) and guitar TAB are recognized; handwritten scores are not supported yet. Scanned PDFs are best treated as editable drafts; dense polyphony and historical notation should be proofread in notation software after export.
- PDF/image score conversions use 4 credits for up to 4 pages, then 1 credit per extra PDF page. If a conversion cannot be completed, its credits are returned.
- Credit packs are one-time purchases (no expiration), good for occasional or burst usage. See /pricing for current packs.
Improve PDF recognition quality
Prefer a PDF exported directly from notation software. For scans, use at least 300 dpi, crop borders, remove shadows, and correct skew. Dense polyphony and ornaments still need proofreading after export. Printed staff notation, clearly printed numbered notation (jianpu, single melody) and guitar TAB are recognized; handwritten scores are not supported yet.
Core audio to MIDI paths
Choose the conversion path that matches your source. These pages separate general audio, compressed MP3, YouTube/YT workflows, and local MP4/video files so each search intent has one clear owner.
AI audio to MIDI converter
Best default for WAV, M4A, FLAC, recordings, stems, and authorized audio exported from video.
MP3 to MIDI converter
Use the MP3-specific page when your source is compressed MP3 and you need bitrate or retry guidance.
YouTube to MIDI workflow
Preview a link, confirm rights, then upload audio you own or are licensed to use for MIDI conversion.
MP4 / Video to MIDI converter
Upload a local MP4, MOV, WebM, or M4V and convert its audio track directly to MIDI.
Already have a MIDI file?
If another score-recognition tool, DAW, or notation app already gave you a .mid file, open it in PureMIDI's online editor for a quick cleanup pass.
Check the draft before you use it
A PDF conversion is a draft. Compare pages, notes and ties with the source before practice or arranging.
Tool-focused FAQ
Do I need to sign up?+
Yes. PDF conversion requires sign-in. Successful MusicXML/MXL conversion uses 1 credit; PDF conversion uses 4 credits for up to 4 pages, then 1 credit per extra PDF page.
Do you keep my PDF?+
Files uploaded for completed conversions are deleted within 3 days. Files from failed conversions may stay up to 14 days so you can retry. You can continue a free preview for about 2 hours. You can restore a selected file in this browser for about 60 minutes after signing in or paying; expired browser copies are cleared the next time you open a tool. Conversion results stay separately in your account history until you delete them. We do not train models on uploads.
Is batch conversion supported?+
This page converts one file at a time. Batch queues and one-click re-run come after score recognition quality is stable.
Can I get MIDI and MusicXML?+
Yes. Download MIDI directly, or open the score draft in the online editor, review pitch and rhythm, and export .musicxml.
Can I set the BPM before converting?+
Conversion uses the score tempo when available and falls back to a default BPM. Manual BPM override is a next-step control.
Do I get refunded if a conversion fails?+
If a conversion cannot be completed, its credits are returned. A successful conversion that produces an editable MIDI draft uses credits even when the result still needs proofreading.
Is there an API?+
Not yet. We are stabilizing the web converter and failure taxonomy before exposing a public webhook/API flow.
Related MIDI tools
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MP3 to MIDI
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YouTube to MIDI Converter
Preview YouTube/YT links, then upload authorized audio for MIDI conversion.
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