To export a session’s MIDI tracks for use in another MIDI application, or for playback with an external (hardware) MIDI sequencer, you can export Pro Tools MIDI and Instrument tracks as a Standard MIDI File.
MIDI can be exported from Pro Tools as a merged, single, multichannel track (Type 0), or as multiple tracks (Type 1).
If your Pro Tools session uses key signatures and meters, they are exported with the MIDI file.
1 Make sure to unmute any MIDI tracks in the session that you want included in the exported MIDI file. (Or, conversely, mute any MIDI tracks you do not want included in the exported MIDI file.) For Instrument tracks, enable or disable the MIDI mute button (Instruments view).
Pro Tools exports all unmuted MIDI and Instrument tracks in the current session to a Standard MIDI File and writes it to your hard drive. Exported MIDI information includes notes, controller events, program changes, and System Exclusive data, as well as events for tempo, meter, and markers.
The SMPTE start time for the session or the song (depending on the selection from the
Location Reference pop-up menu) is also exported. This ensures that the exported tracks, when played from another MIDI application, will align with the correct SMPTE frames, and also synchronize correctly to tape and video devices, or Pro Tools.
See your third-party MIDI sequencer documentation to determine whether it supports importing SMPTE start times from MIDI files.
Mute automation and muted clips do not affect exported MIDI. As long as a MIDI track is not muted by clicking its Mute button, or an Instrument track is not muted by clicking its MIDI Mute button (Instruments view), all of its MIDI data is exported.
When exporting MIDI files from Pro Tools, device assignments for tracks are not retained (though channel assignments are). If you export MIDI or Instrument tracks from Pro Tools and later re-import them, you will need to reassign the tracks to devices in your studio.
All playlist information for MIDI and Instrument tracks is lost when exporting. For example, tracks that previously contained dozens of MIDI clips will be flattened and only contain single clips after exporting and re-importing.