Free online KAR to MSCZ converter

KAR files are karaoke MIDI files, while MSCZ is MuseScore’s compressed notation format. Convert KAR when you need to edit or print its musical content as a score in MuseScore rather than play it as karaoke.

What the KAR format is

KAR is a karaoke format based on Standard MIDI File data. It stores note events, instrument or channel assignments, tempo, timing, and usually synchronized lyrics or karaoke metadata; it does not store engraved sheet music.

Karaoke programs, MIDI sequencers, and arranger-keyboard software create or use KAR files. You commonly encounter them in karaoke song collections and older MIDI-based music archives. Because KAR is structurally close to MIDI, many applications identify the same data more readily when the file has a .mid extension.

What the MSCZ format is

MSCZ is MuseScore’s compressed native score format. It stores notes, clefs, key and time signatures, lyrics, instruments, layout, and other notation objects in a compact compressed package.

MSCZ is suitable for continuing score editing in MuseScore, printing parts, exporting PDF or MusicXML, and archiving an editable notation project. It is not an audio or karaoke playback format.

How to convert KAR to MSCZ

Using MuseScore

1. Make a backup of the original song.kar.
2. Try opening song.kar in MuseScore through File → Open. If MuseScore does not show or accept the file, make a copy and rename the copy to song.mid; changing the extension does not alter the MIDI data.
3. Open the renamed file in MuseScore. In the MIDI import dialog, select the tracks to import and adjust quantization, voices, instruments, and the minimum note duration when those options are available.
4. Review the imported notation, especially measure boundaries, tuplets, rests, tied notes, tempo changes, and lyrics. Correct the score manually where necessary.
5. Use File → Save As, choose MuseScore Compressed format, and save the result as song.mscz.

You can also use the built-in free converter on 101convert.com when you do not want to install software.

Quality and compatibility limitations

The conversion is not a direct notation-preserving transformation. KAR contains performance timing rather than explicit note spelling and engraving instructions, so MuseScore must infer rhythms, measures, voices, accidentals, and notation layout from MIDI events.

Lyrics may be stored as MIDI text or lyric events and may import incompletely, appear on the wrong staff, or require repositioning. Sustain-pedal data, pitch bends, controller changes, karaoke markers, and expressive performance details do not map cleanly to a printed score.

For a usable result, compare the imported score with the original playback, enable a suitable quantization value during import, and proofread every staff before exporting or sharing the MSCZ file.