Free online KAR to MUSICXML converter

KAR files are karaoke MIDI files, while notation programs commonly require MusicXML for editable scores. Converting one is useful when you need to open the melody, timing, and lyrics in MuseScore or another music-notation application.

What the KAR format is

KAR is a karaoke-specific MIDI format. It stores MIDI note, instrument, tempo, channel, and timing events together with lyric or karaoke text events; it normally does not contain recorded audio. Karaoke authoring programs, MIDI sequencers, and karaoke applications create or save KAR files, and you may encounter them in backing-track libraries or older karaoke collections.

A KAR file describes a performance rather than a fully engraved score. It usually lacks reliable information about clefs, voices, beaming, enharmonic spelling, chord symbols, and visual layout.

What the MUSICXML format is

MusicXML is an XML-based interchange format for written music. It represents notes, rests, durations, measures, key and time signatures, clefs, dynamics, lyrics, parts, and other notation data so that programs such as MuseScore, Dorico, Sibelius, and Finale can exchange editable scores.

MusicXML is preferable to a PDF or image when the destination application must transpose, edit, reformat, print, or archive the notation. It is also more suitable than KAR for transferring a score between notation programs, but it cannot recover musical information that the KAR file never stored.

How to actually convert KAR to MUSICXML

Using MuseScore

1. Make a backup copy of the original .kar file.
2. Because many notation programs identify the underlying data as MIDI rather than KAR, rename the copy from song.kar to song.mid. Renaming changes only the extension; it does not alter the file contents.
3. Open the renamed file in MuseScore with File → Open. If MuseScore displays a MIDI import dialog, select the tracks and quantization settings that best match the performance.
4. Inspect the imported score, then correct the clefs, key signature, time signature, measure divisions, voices, note spelling, and rests.
5. Save or export the result with File → Export, select MusicXML or .musicxml, and choose a destination filename such as song.musicxml.

MuseScore can also be used from a terminal when its command-line executable is available:

musescore song.mid -o song.musicxml

The executable name varies by operating system and MuseScore version; use the installed command name if it is different. Open the exported file in a notation program afterward because automated MIDI import may produce incorrect rhythms or staff assignments.

Using the online converter

You can convert the file on 101convert.com for free without installing software: upload the KAR file, choose MUSICXML as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting file. Review the output in a notation editor, particularly if the KAR contains multiple tracks or lyrics.

Quality and compatibility limitations

• KAR-to-MusicXML conversion is usually a MIDI-to-notation reconstruction, not a direct transfer of an engraved score. MIDI note starts and lengths must be interpreted as readable notation.
• Quantization can change displayed rhythm values. A loose karaoke performance may become cluttered with short notes, ties, tuplets, or irregular rests; a high quantization value can instead erase intentional rhythmic detail.
• Lyrics may be stored as MIDI text or lyric events. Some importers preserve them, while others ignore them or place syllables incorrectly. Check lyric alignment and melismas manually.
• Track and channel information may import as separate staves, instruments, or voices. Hide or delete accompaniment tracks if only the vocal melody is required.
• Sound data is not converted. The MusicXML file contains notation and related metadata, not the karaoke backing audio.
• Tempo changes, controller events, program changes, karaoke markers, and proprietary metadata may be omitted because MusicXML and KAR represent different types of musical information.
• Do not simply change .kar to .musicxml; that only changes the filename extension. The file must be imported by a MIDI-capable notation program or processed by a converter.