---
name: "midicsv"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "midicsv"
version: "1.1+dfsg.1-1+b2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/midicsv"
---

# midicsv(1)

translate MIDI file to CSV

## NAME

midicsv - translate MIDI file to CSV

## SYNOPSIS

**midicsv** \[ **-u** **-v** \] \[ *infile* \[ *outfile* \] \]

## DESCRIPTION

**midicsv** reads a standard MIDI file and decodes it into a CSV (Comma-Separated Value) file which preserves all the information in the MIDI file.  The ASCII CSV file may be loaded into a spreadsheet or database application, or processed by a program to transform the MIDI data (for example, to key transpose a composition or extract a track from a multi-track sequence).  A CSV file in the format created by **midicsv** may be converted back into a standard MIDI file with the **csvmidi** program.

## OPTIONS

- **-u**

  Print how-to-call information.

- **-v**

  Print verbose debugging information on standard error.  The MIDI file header is dumped, along with the length of each track in the file.

## FILES

If no *infile* is specified or *infile* is \`\`**-**'', **midicsv** reads its input from standard input; if no *outfile* is given or *outfile* is \`\`**-**'', CSV output is written  to standard output.  The input and output are processed in a strictly serial manner; consequently **midicsv** may be used in pipelines without restrictions.

## BUGS

**midicsv** assumes its input is a well-formed standard MIDI file; while some error checking is performed, gross errors in the input file may cause **midicsv** to crash.

Please report problems to **bugs@fourmilab.ch**.

## SEE ALSO

[**csvmidi**(1)](/csvmidi/1.md), [**midicsv**(5)](/midicsv/5.md)

## AUTHOR

John Walker http://www.fourmilab.ch/

This software is in the public domain. Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted, without any conditions or restrictions.  This software is provided \`\`as is'' without express or implied warranty.