Free online M4R to MID converter

A music editor or MIDI sequencer may require a .mid file to edit ringtone notes or use them with instruments that cannot open audio. Converting an M4R recording to MIDI requires estimating its notes; it does not simply change the audio file’s extension.

What the M4R format is

M4R is an MPEG-4 audio file, typically containing AAC-encoded sound, used mainly for iPhone ringtones. Ringtone files are often made by exporting or renaming AAC audio in Apple music tools, and you may encounter them when transferring ringtones or recordings between devices.

What the MID format is

MID is a file extension for Standard MIDI Files. A MIDI file stores note events, timing, and instrument or control data rather than recorded sound, so it can be edited in a sequencer or played using different software instruments. It is usually much smaller than an audio recording, but its playback depends on the MIDI player’s instruments.

How to convert M4R to MID

Because M4R contains recorded audio and MID contains note events, conversion means audio-to-MIDI transcription. The result is an estimate of the notes, not a copy of the original sound.

Online on 101convert.com

1. Open the M4R-to-MID converter on 101convert.com and upload the file.
2. Select MID as the output format, then start the conversion.
3. Download the converted file when the process finishes.

The page supports batch conversion, and displays a per-file size limit. Check the downloaded MIDI in a sequencer: audio-to-MIDI results can miss notes or represent them inaccurately.

Offline with desktop software

Free option: Spotify Basic Pitch is an open-source audio-to-MIDI transcription tool. It accepts WAV input, so first decode the M4R file to WAV with FFmpeg, then run Basic Pitch:

1. Convert the audio: ffmpeg -i input.m4r input.wav
2. Install Basic Pitch with Python: python -m pip install basic-pitch
3. Transcribe it: basic-pitch output input.wav

Basic Pitch writes a MIDI file and a transcription visualization into the output folder. FFmpeg and Basic Pitch are available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Commercial option: Ableton Live can transcribe an audio clip to MIDI. If Live cannot import the M4R file, use FFmpeg to make a WAV first. Import the audio, right-click its clip, and choose Convert Melody to New MIDI Track for a mainly monophonic melody, or Convert Harmony to New MIDI Track for chords.

Quality and limitations

Transcription works best on clear, isolated notes. Ringtones with percussion, chords, reverberation, or several overlapping sounds can produce incorrect pitches and timing; inspect and correct the MIDI notes in a sequencer. MIDI will not retain the M4R recording’s voice, tone, or sound effects.