The Key Editor is the default MIDI editor. It displays notes graphically in a piano roll-style grid. The Key Editor allows for detailed editing of notes and non-note events, such as MIDI controllers. You can open the Key Editor in a separate window or in the lower zone of the Project window. Opening the Key Editor in the lower zone of the Project window is useful if you want to access the Key. Developed in 2004, BRELS MIDI Editor is a free, open-source (licensed under the GNU GPL) MIDI editor able to create and edit MIDI files with a simple, straightforward interface.The saved files have the smallest size possible. Their entire content is editable onscreen and the exact composition length is shown and controllable by the program.
Notable software MIDIeditors and sequencers are listed in the following table.
| Software | Platform | License | Developer | Editing interface | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADSR Online Midi Editor & Player | Linux, macOS, Windows | proprietary | MidiPro.org | Event list, microtonal notation | Complete Online Midi Editor & Player. Unlimited number of tracks, which can include ADSR envelopes, low-pass filters, and LFO modulators. Supports microtonality: any synth can play 48 microtones per octave. |
| Anvil Studio | Windows | Freemium | Willow Software | Score, piano roll, tablature, event list | Full-featured MIDI editor & sequencer with staff, piano roll, percussion, event list, and audio editors. |
| Ardour | FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, Windows | GNU GPL | Paul Davis, and The Ardour Community | Piano roll, event list | MIDI support began with version 3. |
| Aria Maestosa | Linux, macOS, Windows | GNU GPL 2 | MIDI sequencer/editor with score, keyboard, guitar, drum and controller views. | ||
| B-Step Sequencer | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS (iPad), Android, Raspberry Pi | proprietary | Monoplugs | A step sequencer to create arpeggios, chord progressions, basslines or percussions. Available as VST, Audio Units or standalone program | |
| Band-in-a-Box | macOS, Windows | proprietary | PG Music | Accompaniment sequencer with audio loops and more. | |
| Steinberg Cubase | macOS, Windows (also previously for Atari ST) | proprietary | Steinberg | Score, piano roll, event list[1] | |
| Deluxe Music Construction Set | AmigaOS, macOS | proprietary | Electronic Arts | ||
| Digital Performer | macOS | proprietary | Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU) | ||
| DirectMusic Producer | Windows | freeware | Microsoft | part of DirectMusic SDK | |
| Finale | macOS, Windows | proprietary, freeware version exists | Makemusic, Inc. | Score | Composition and sequencing program, with various versions, including freeware (v. 2008 and earlier) 'NotePad' version (with very limited features) |
| FL Studio | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS | proprietary | Image-Line | Piano roll, step sequencer | |
| GarageBand | macOS, iOS | proprietary | Apple | Import only, saves to native format | |
| Guitar Pro | Linux, macOS, Windows | proprietary | Arobas Music | ||
| Indaba Music | macOS, Windows | proprietary | |||
| JFugue | Linux, macOS, Windows (Java-based) | GNU LGPL | Programming library (API) | ||
| KeyKit | Linux, Windows | Free for non-commercial use, source available | |||
| LilyPond | FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, Windows | GNU GPL | |||
| Live | macOS, Windows | proprietary | Ableton | Piano roll | |
| Logic Pro | macOS (also previously for Windows & Atari ST) | proprietary | Apple/Emagic (formerly named C-Lab | Piano roll, step editor, event list | |
| LMMS | Linux, macOS, OpenBSD, Windows | GNU GPL | Piano roll, step sequencer | DAW; VST, LADSPA support. As of March 30, 2011 no MIDI aftertouch support | |
| MAGIX Samplitude | Windows | proprietary | MAGIX | ||
| Master Tracks Pro | Windows | proprietary | GVOX (originally Passport Designs) | Full-featured GUI MIDI sequencer with notation screen (requires supplied Anastasia TrueType or Type1 font), event editor, MCI, SMPTE sync., etc. Tested to work under Win 10 1903. | |
| MIDI Converter Studio | Windows | Shareware | ManiacTools | MIDI file converter, karaoke converter | |
| Mixcraft | Windows | proprietary | Acoustica | Audio and MIDI sequencer, support for VSTis, MIDI recording, editing, and playback | |
| Mozart | Windows | proprietary | David Webber | Music notation software for simple tunes to full scores of up to 64 parts | |
| MuLab | Windows, macOS | proprietary | Mutools | MIDI and audio full DAW. Support for customizable modular DSP graphs. For electronic music but not only. | |
| MultitrackStudio | Windows, macOS, iOS | proprietary | Bremmers Audio Design | MIDI and audio full DAW, simple user interface, flexible MIDI editing | |
| MusE | Linux | GNU GPL | Piano roll, event list | Open source midi and audio work station with support for VST, DSSI, LADSPA and LV2 | |
| MuseScore | Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS (partial) | GNU GPL | Werner Schweer | Score | Music notation software with full MusicXML support. Piano roll editor, unlimited parts. good stability below 300 000 notes, edit multiple files at once, user friendly GUI, portable edition. |
| Musink | Windows | proprietary | Lee Reid | Music notation freeware with MIDI output, loop, and playback functionality | |
| Notation Composer | Windows, with Wine support | proprietary | Notation Software | Score, piano roll | Full featured notation software program and MIDI sequencer |
| NoteEdit | Linux | GNU GPL | Defunct; last stable release September 2006 | ||
| NoteWorthy Composer | Windows | proprietary | Noteworthy Software | Can import and export MIDI data, but only edit and display it as a musical score. Runs correctly in wine. | |
| Overture | macOS, Windows | proprietary | Geniesoft | Notation, tab, piano-roll, MIDI/step sequencing, VST/VSTi host | |
| Podium | Windows | proprietary | Zynewave | ||
| Pro Tools | macOS, Windows | proprietary | Avid | Score, piano roll, event list | |
| Qtractor | Linux | GNU GPL | Audio MIDI multi-track sequencer application written in C++ in the Qt framework | ||
| REAPER | macOS, Windows | proprietary | Cockos | Score, piano roll, event list | Supports guitar tabs and MIDI2Tab conversion with TabEditor plug |
| Reason | macOS, Windows | proprietary | Propellerhead | Piano roll | |
| Renoise | Linux, macOS, Windows | proprietary | Tracker | Demo version available | |
| Rosegarden | Linux | GNU GPL | Score, piano roll, event list | Audio, MIDI sequence, record. Win VST support, LADSPA, JACK | |
| Scala | Linux, macOS, Windows | freeware, noncommercial | Manuel Op de Coul | Specializes in tuning; converts ascii score file to MIDI | |
| Seq24 | Linux, Windows | GNU GPL | Piano Roll | MIDI loops sequencer | |
| Sibelius | macOS, Windows | proprietary | Sibelius | Score, piano roll, tablature | Live scoring of sheet music from MIDI input |
| Sonar | Windows | proprietary | Cakewalk | Piano roll, event list | |
| TineFune | Linux, Windows | proprietary | TineFune, LLC | Piano roll, event list | MIDI sequencer with a Web Browser GUI, no windows or menu clutter |
| TuxGuitar | FreeBSD, Linux, macOS, Windows (Java-based) | GNU LGPL | Tablature editor | ||
| Z-Maestro | Windows | proprietary | 'Lite' version: limited tracks, I/O. |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^'MIDI Editors'. steinberg.help. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
Summary :
MIDI, shorted for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, is a protocol allowing electronic instruments, computers and other devices to communicate. If you have some MIDI files and want to edit them, you can try the following 7 MIDI editor software listed in this post.
Quick Navigation :
In this post, I’ll give you the 7 best free MIDI editors for MIDI editing. Let’s get started! (Need to make a music video? Try MiniTool MovieMaker!)
Here’s A List of 7 best free MIDI Editors
- MuseScore
- Crescendo Music Notation Software
- MixPad
- Rosegarden
- SynthFont
- PianoRollComposer
- Aria Maestosa
#1. MuseScore
MuseScore is an excellent MIDI editor. It lets you create and edit MIDI music files. Except for MIDI, it also supports other audio formats like WAV, OGG, MP3, FLAC, etc. As a scorewriter, MuseScore holds over 1 million pieces of sheet music for all kinds of instruments. This free MIDI editor is free and open-source, running on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS and Kindle.
Also read: Top 5 Best MIDI Players You Should Try
#2. Crescendo Music Notation Software
With a simple interface, Crescendo is perfect for writing musical compositions and editing MIDI music files. This MIDI file editor allows you to change the time signature and key signature, add notes and resets, and so on. After editing MIDI music, you can export it to MP3 or WAV. Crescendo Music Notation Software is compatible with Windows, Android, MAC and iOS.
To learn more about MIDI to MP3, see this post: Top 5 Best MIDI to MP3 Converters in 2020.
#3. MixPad
Free Midi Recorder Software
MixPad is a MIDI editor. It’s designed for mixing audio and record multiple tracks at the same time. Its built-in royalty-free music library has thousands of tracks that you can use in your music file. It’s also can be used as a beat maker and gives you the option to upload created music files to SoundCloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive.
#4. Rosegarden
Rosegarden, a free MIDI editor, can edit MIDI files with various options such as merge MIDI files, remove tracks from MIDI files, etc. It’s an ideal tool for composers, music students and musicians.
If you don’t know how to use Rosegarden, it offers you user documentation. Just go to its website and read the tutorial.
Midi Editor Free
#5. SynthFont
SynthFont is a MIDI editor that comes with a variety of MIDI editing tools. It lets you delete, duplicate, and add notes, set parameters and apply VST effects to tracks. This program also supports MIDI files creation and playback.
#6. PianoRollComposer
Another MIDI editor software is PianoRollComposer available on all the Windows operating systems. By using it, you can play, create and edit MIDI files. It’s similar to other MIDI file editors, featuring many editing tools. You are allowed to change BPM rate, note velocity, tempo, etc.
A music tag editor can help you edit metadata of music files. Here gives you a list of the 6 best free music tag editors. Read this post and have a try!
#7. Aria Maestosa
With multi-language support and well-organized UI, Aria Maestosa can be considered as one of the best open-source MIDI editors. You can play, edit, and compose MIDI files in just serval steps due to its simple interface. This free MIDI editor is available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux/Unix.
Conclusion
That’s all information about the 7 best MIDI editors. After reading this post, which one do you prefer, tell us in the comments section!