How to Import a MIDI File in FL Studio, Logic Pro and Ableton (+ No Sound?)

You downloaded a MIDI file, maybe a chord progression or a melody, and now you want it in your beat. Sounds easy, but a lot of people hit the same wall: the file is in there, but you hear nothing. This guide shows you how to import a MIDI file into FL Studio, Logic Pro and Ableton Live, and what to do when it stays silent.

First: what is a MIDI file?

A MIDI file (usually with the extension .mid) contains no sound. It only holds instructions: which note, when, how long and how hard. Think of it as sheet music for your computer. An instrument in your DAW, like a piano plugin or a synth, is what turns it into sound.

That is exactly why MIDI is so useful. You can switch the same chords from piano to pad or 808 in one click, move notes around and change the tempo without losing quality. With a WAV or MP3 that is a lot harder.

There are two types you will run into:

• Type 0: everything is merged into one track.
• Type 1: each part has its own track, for example chords on one and a bass line on another.

Need a file to practice with?

No MIDI file at hand yet? With the free chord progression generator you pick a mood, key and tempo, listen right in your browser and download the MIDI. You get two tracks: the chords and a bass line on the root notes. Perfect for trying the steps below, and you are free to use the MIDI in your own tracks.

How to import a MIDI file in FL Studio

FL Studio gives you a few routes. These two are the easiest.

Option 1: through the Piano roll

1. Add an instrument to the Channel rack, for example FL Keys or another synth.
2. Open the Piano roll for that channel.
3. In the Piano roll menu, choose Import MIDI file and select your .mid file.
4. An import window opens. Click Accept.

Option 2: drag it from the Browser

If the file shows up in the FL Studio Browser (the folder list on the left), you can drag it straight onto the Channel rack or the Piano roll. Hold Shift while dragging to skip the import window. Hold Alt to force it to appear.

The import options that matter most

• Create one channel per track: puts each track on its own channel. Ideal for a file with chords and bass, so you can give each part its own sound.
• Channel type: decides how the new channels make sound. FLEX gives you an instrument inside FL right away. MIDI Out sends the notes to an external device or plugin, so without an extra instrument you will hear nothing.
• Start new project: when this is off, whatever is already in the selected pattern gets overwritten. Working inside an existing beat? Select an empty pattern first.
• Realign events: removes empty space at the start of the file, so the notes start right on beat one.

Something went wrong? Press Ctrl+Z to undo the import.

How to import a MIDI file in Logic Pro

Option 1: drag it into the tracks

Drag the .mid file from Finder or from Logic's file browser into the Tracks area. Where you let go decides two things: the bar where it starts and the track where the first MIDI track lands. Logic snaps the start to the nearest bar.

Option 2: use the menu

1. Move the playhead to the bar where you want the MIDI.
2. Choose File > Import > MIDI File.
3. Select your file. It lands at the playhead.

Option 3: open it as a new project

Want a clean slate? Just open the MIDI file with File > Open (Cmd+O) and Logic turns it into a new project.

Then pick the instrument you want to hear on each track, for example a piano from the library for the chords and a bass or 808 for the bass line.

How to import a MIDI file in Ableton Live

1. Drag the .mid file from Live's Browser or from File Explorer or Finder into Session View or Arrangement View.
2. Drop it below your last track. Live then creates a new MIDI track for it and you stay clear of existing audio.
3. Does the file have several tracks? Live puts each one as a clip on its own MIDI track.
4. Drag an instrument onto the track, for example a piano or synth from the Browser. Without an instrument, a MIDI track stays silent.

Heads up: in Arrangement View, audio clips in the spot where you drop the file will block the import. That is why just below the last track is the safest place.

No sound after importing? Check this

This happens a lot, and it is usually a quick fix. Go through this list:

1. Is there an instrument on the track or channel? A MIDI file contains no sound, so without an instrument you hear nothing.
2. FL Studio: which Channel type did you pick? With MIDI Out, the notes go out instead of to an instrument. Import again with FLEX, or put an instrument on the channel yourself and paste the notes in.
3. Are the notes where you are looking? Some files start with empty bars. Zoom out in the Piano roll or arrangement, or use Realign events in FL.
4. Is the track muted or very quiet? Check the mute button and the volume fader, and in FL also check that the channel is routed to a mixer track that is switched on.
5. Is the right pattern or clip active? In FL, the Playlist only plays what is in it. In pattern mode you only hear the selected pattern.

From MIDI to beat in 4 steps

1. Pick your sounds. Put the chords on a piano, pad or pluck and the bass line on an 808 or sub bass.
2. Change the key if you need to. Because it is MIDI, you can move all notes up or down at once. Not sure which chords fit your key? Check chords by key or read which chords go together.
3. Make it feel human. Vary the velocity (how hard each note hits) a little and nudge a few notes slightly off the grid. It will sound less robotic.
4. Build drums around it and leave room for the vocal. Chords that play a bit less give a rapper or singer more space.

FAQ

Do I need a MIDI keyboard to use MIDI files?

No. You can import and edit everything with your mouse in your DAW. A MIDI keyboard is handy when you want to play chords or melodies in yourself, but it is not required.

What is the difference between MIDI and a WAV file?

A WAV is recorded sound: you hear exactly what was recorded. MIDI is only the notes. You choose which instrument plays them and you can still change every single note.

Does the same MIDI file work in every DAW?

Yes, that is the whole idea of MIDI. A .mid file opens in FL Studio, Logic Pro, Ableton Live and most other DAWs. You just pick the instrument in each program.

Why is everything on one track when the file has chords and bass?

It is probably a Type 0 file, where everything is merged into one track, or you did not turn on Create one channel per track in FL. With a Type 1 file you can put the parts on separate tracks.

Want more free help for your beats, like a BPM and key finder and a master checker? Check out all our free music tools.