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Midi file won't play

I am currently running the most recent version of OS X Lion on my MacBook Pro 13", and for some reason I cannot play midi files. All midi files were working literally just yesterday, and out of nowhere they stopped. I can't get a single sound out of them. My headphones make a buzzing noise, like when speakers are waiting to produce sound. Every other sound file works as well. Midis straight off websites don't work either. But when I import them to garageband they work just fine. Anyone know whats up? I restarted my computer and shut it off completely twice already.

MacBook Pro 13", Mac OS X (10.6.5), none

Posted on Feb 26, 2012 1:44 PM

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23 replies

Feb 26, 2012 3:18 PM in response to nbvkd

What program are you using to play "midis", and what type of MIDI file is this? A MIDI file contains information about what note was hit, and the velocity at which it was hit, and the order and length of the notes, Garadgeband and other audio applications (Pro Tools, Ableton, Logic) take these MIDI files and use them with instruments, meaning you can't simply play a MIDI file in iTunes or VLC

Feb 26, 2012 7:16 PM in response to bigluc23

I apologize for the lack of clarity. They are ".mid" files. I understand what they are, I've been using them to create remixes of songs for a few weeks now. The program that is opening them is Quick Time Player. They have been opening and playing correctly up until today. If you didn't understand how they aren't working, its that I can't hear them. Normally they'll play with Quick Time Player, and I import them into Garageband and all that, but today there isn't any sound. I was able to take one off the internet and make a remix out of it with no problem. I'm just puzzled as to why I can't hear them at all. Thank you!

Feb 27, 2012 4:09 AM in response to fane_j

I apologize, I tried to explain that. I don't hear any sound at all out of them. And it's only with .mid files. Everything else works perfectly fine in quick time. Only .mid files are silent. But they were fine the day before and I haven't done anything that would change that. Any ideas?

Feb 27, 2012 11:57 AM in response to Zyriab

I have not done that, I shall try now and let you know if it worked. Thank you!


Update: Unfortunately, those settings didn't help. Its not a midi keyboard I'm using, its just the type of files that won't produce sound. I didn't touch the audio midi setup app, and haven't done anything AT ALL to this computer. I cannot even think of why this is happening. I'm going to restart the computer again and see what happens. And if those settings actually will help, please tell me what to do in there. Thank you!

Feb 27, 2012 4:51 PM in response to nbvkd

nbvkd wrote:


Unfortunately, those settings didn't help.

No, they wouldn't. They're for interfacing with MIDI controllers.


QuickTime X doesn't play MIDI files, but it should tell you to open QT 7 to play them, so that can't be it either.


I'm baffled. All I can think of is to try the new user technique to find out if it's a user issue or a system-wide issue.

Feb 27, 2012 4:54 PM in response to bigluc23

Haha I'm sorry, either I'm being extremely unclear or people aren't reading what I'm saying. I am downloading these .mid files. Here's the website if you want: http://www.ninsheetm.us/index.php. I am then clicking on the midi buttons shown on a page from that website, and then get to this page, for example: http://www.ninsheetm.us/sheets/Pokemon/PokemonBlackWhite/AccumulaTown.mid.

I get to that page so I can listen to them and sample them. This uses quick time player 7, which I have uninstalled and reinstalled to no avail. After I sample it, I then download it to my computer and am able to listen to it with Quick Time Player 7. If you go to the download page on apple's website for quick time player 7, the description says it supports the use of .mid files. You simply get an electric piano sound of the notes. I then import these .mid files to GarageBand and then use them to create remixes of the songs. It just frustrates me that the files were producing sound in quick time player 7 just the day before and randomly stopped playing for seemingly no reason. I apoligoze for sounding frustrated, but it seems only the first person who posted actually read what I said at all. Thank you for helping!

Feb 27, 2012 5:13 PM in response to nbvkd

Create a new user account.


Reboot and log in as the new user. Try to reproduce the problem.


  • problem occurs → the issue is system-wide (in the System or Local domains)
  • problem doesn't occur → the issue is restricted to one user (in the User domain)


Then you'll have a better idea where to look for the cause.

Feb 27, 2012 6:13 PM in response to bigluc23

Yes, I don't know if my posts look different to you or something, but I had originally put ".midi" in one post but then changed it to the correct type of file ".mid". Either way, fane_j is right, its treated the same so it doesn't matter. And the link worked? then it must be my computers and not the application. Thanks for the input!

Midi file won't play

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