How to export MIDI files

Learn to export MIDI files from Ableton Live. Save your MIDI clips for use in other DAWs or for archiving your musical ideas efficiently.

Exporting & Bouncing · intermediate level

Steps

  1. Select the MIDI Clip

    In either Session View or Arrangement View in Ableton Live, click on the MIDI clip you wish to export to select it. To export multiple clips, hold Shift or Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and click to select them.

  2. Initiate Export Command

    Right-click on the selected MIDI clip(s) or go to the 'File' menu in the top bar. Choose 'Export MIDI Clip' from the context menu or 'Export MIDI/Audio' (Ctrl+Shift+R or Cmd+Shift+R).

  3. Choose Save Location and Name

    In the 'Save' dialog box that appears, navigate to your desired save location. Enter a descriptive filename for your MIDI file.

  4. Confirm Export

    Click the 'Save' button to export your MIDI clip as a standard .mid file. This file can now be imported into any other MIDI-compatible software or hardware.

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