Convert from AIFF-C audio to midi

Question

Level 1

6 points

Convert from AIFF-C audio to midi

I'm looking for a way to convert from AIFF-C format to midi on my Mac, and to use with a music program.

I can import the AIFF-C file into GarageBand, but can't seem to export it in midi format, which surprised me -- is this not supported?

Any ideas?

Thanks!

2 x 24" iMac 3.06GHz Core Duo; MacBook Pro 2.26GHz Core Duo; iBook G3; iTouch, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Mar 17, 2011 1:32 PM

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Answer 1

HangTime

Level 9

53,841 points

Mar 17, 2011 3:12 PM in response to BigMacUser

you can build a MIDI instrument:

http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/Tutorials.html#buildaninstrument

but GB does not export MIDI files

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Answer 2

Mar 18, 2011 2:17 AM in response to HangTime

I think you have something confused: AIFF files are audio, and MIDI is just a sequence of keyboard commands. There's no straighforward way to convert one to the other.

http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/FAQPages/AudioNotMIDI.html

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Answer 3

BigMacUser Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 18, 2011 8:51 AM in response to Christoph Drösser

Thanks for your replies.

I did a bit of research, and see that there are a number of software products out there that claim to convert audio to midi, but I also see that reviewers report mixed results. So before exploring or trying one of these, somewhat blindly, I was hoping to see if there were any options I had missed with Mac software I already own and trust, from GarageBand to QuickTime to Finale's PrintMusic (have I missed anything?).

And if not, then I'm hoping to get more info from Mac users about what you may have tried and what works best. Here are some of the leading options I've tripped across so far, converting to midi from audio formats AIFF-C and mp3 (since I have easy access to the source as well as the ripped versions):

- http://www.widisoft.com/english/download.html
- http://www.bestshareware.net/download/widi-recognition-system-pro.htm
- http://www.computing.net/answers/mac/aiff-to-midi/2549.html
- http://www.mymusictools.com/articles/how-do-i-convert-mp3-to-midi.htm
- http://www.brothersoft.com/downloads/mp3-to-midi-converter.html
- http://www.topshareware.com/mp3-to-midi-converter/downloads/1.htm

... and then I just found this one: http://convert.software.informer.com/download-convert-aiff-to-midi-mac/

If you have any thoughts about any of the above, or other techniques or software that would do the job, I'm all ears!

Thanks!

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Answer 4

Mar 18, 2011 8:59 AM in response to BigMacUser

An important piece of information would be: is your audio file monophic, i.e. one note playing at a time, or are there chords or even different instruments or, worse, a whole band playing? For the first case there's a couple of applications that do it, for the last one none that I would know of.

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Answer 5

BigMacUser Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 18, 2011 9:03 AM in response to Christoph Drösser

Of course -- wouldn't you know -- mine is a "worse-case" scenario. It's a multi-piece band backing up vocalists doing 4-part harmony. So it's v. difficult to separate them out by ear. I was hoping to find software that could render a first pass, and then perhaps I could tweak it and clean it up afterwards. It's the vocal "voicings" I'm looking for ...

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Answer 6

Mar 18, 2011 9:17 AM in response to BigMacUser

The only software I know that claims to be able to do that is Melodyne. I haven't tried it, and it's rather pricey.

However, I found this software quite useful (until my trial period expired): It doesn't create a midi file, but it shows you with a reasonable accuracy what notes are sounding at a given time. This can be tricky because of overlaying overtones, but it might be helpful for your purpose - and you have a 30-day trial period:

http://www.seventhstring.com/xscribe/overview.html

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Answer 7

BigMacUser Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 18, 2011 9:30 AM in response to Christoph Drösser

Hey, thanks!

I hadn't come across Transcribe! before. It looks look it could provide good support for this effort, whether or not I start with some semi-automated conversion.

Since we know automated conversions are not very accurate (I'm just finding this out) and some manual transcription will be required, this software could help out greatly in performing the manual cleanup. Glad to have this option at hand.

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Answer 8

Rob Ross

Level 1

86 points

Mar 18, 2011 3:09 PM in response to BigMacUser

What you are asking for is an ongoing research project; in other words, that ability does not yet exist.

There do exist apps that can transcribe one voice accurately, several voices if they have a clean tone, clean recording, etc. But a full band, with 4 part harmony? Not yet. Maybe someday though!

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Answer 9

BigMacUser Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 18, 2011 4:48 PM in response to Rob Ross

After responses, and some of research, I was suspecting that I was looking for a lot. So thanks for simplifying life for me.

Of course, it's never the answer you want, but it inspired me to look for original scores, and I think I have a line on that, instead ... or something suitable, at least 🙂 I hadn't expected them to be available, but surprised myself, which is a pleasant outcome.

Guess (as much as some of us would like it to) technology (still) can't do everything for us!

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Answer 10

Apr 13, 2011 5:04 PM in response to BigMacUser

So, BigMac, did you ever find a way to convert an audio file to a midi file?

I'm an arranger, and I normally pick the notes out by ear. This time around, I thought I'd search the net for any program/software that would at least get some of the transcribing done.
Like you, I don't really need it to do everything for me. But if I could just get it to put out some of the info I need, then I'm that much closer to getting the notes down.

Anyway, I was just wondering if you'd had any luck? I found something on YouTube that explains how to "convert audio to midi" in Logic 8. ( http://youtu.be/IpTukSi-oN4)
I'm either doing something wrong, or this function just ***** in Logic.

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