Sessions & Tracks : Importing and Exporting Session Data : Exporting MIDI Files

Exporting MIDI Files
For more information, see the following topics:
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.
To export all MIDI and Instrument tracks in the current session:
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).
2 Choose File > Export > MIDI. The Export MIDI Settings dialog opens.
 
3 From the MIDI File Format pop-up menu, select 1 (multitrack) or 0 (single track).
4 If the Song Start time is different from the Session Start time, select Session Start or Song Start from the Location Reference pop-up menu.
5 Enable or disable the Apply Real-Time Properties option.
6 Click OK.
7 Specify a folder destination and name for the MIDI file.
*
Pro Tools automatically adds the “.mid” extension when exporting MIDI files.
8 Click Save.
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.
Items Not Exported with 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.
Chord symbols and chord diagrams are not exported with MIDI files.
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.