Why MIDI needs converting
A MIDI file records which notes play and when, the way a keyboard would send them. It doesn't say which string or fret a note is on, and its timings are often a little off the beat, especially when someone played them in. To get readable tab, both have to be worked out.
What guitarnotation does
- Tracks. Every channel with notes becomes its own track. The drum channel is left out.
- Rhythm. Each beat is snapped to the grid that fits it best (sixteenths, eighth or sixteenth triplets, or thirty-seconds), and written as notes and rests, tied across beats and bar lines where they need to be.
- Strings and frets. Every note is put on a guitar string where the hand moves least, or on a bass for bass sounds.
- Tempo and time signature come from the file.
The result is a starting point, not a finished arrangement: a computer can't know you'd rather play a phrase up the neck. Select a note and press Alt+Up or Alt+Down to move it to another string at the same pitch, and listen back to check.
How to convert a MIDI file
- Choose File › Open in guitarnotation, or drag the .mid file onto the window.
- Pick the track you want in the tracks panel, and adjust any fingerings.
- Export it as PDF to print, as .gp for Guitar Pro, or as MusicXML.
MIDI out
guitarnotation exports MIDI too, for a DAW or another program. MIDI keeps the notes and rhythm but not the strings and frets, so to move a song to Guitar Pro or a notation program use .gp or MusicXML instead.
Other formats: Guitar Pro .gp5 and MusicXML. Or read the full list of what it opens and exports.