3.5.3 The MIDI block
To create a MIDI output file from a LilyPond input file, insert a
\midi block, which can be empty, within the \score block;
\score {
… music …
\layout { }
\midi { }
}
Note: A \score block that, as well as the music, contains
only a \midi block (i.e., without the
\layout block), will only produce MIDI output files. No
notation will be printed.
The default output file extension (.midi) can be changed by using
the -dmidi-extension option with the lilypond command:
lilypond -dmidi-extension=mid MyFile.ly
Alternatively, add the following Scheme expression before the start of
either the \book, \bookpart or \score blocks. See
File structure.
#(ly:set-option 'midi-extension "mid")
See also
Notation Reference: File structure, Creating output file metadata.
Installed Files: ‘scm/midi.scm’.
Known issues and warnings
There are fifteen MIDI channels available and one additional channel (#10) for drums. Staves are assigned to channels in sequence, so a score that contains more than fifteen staves will result in the extra staves sharing (but not overwriting) the same MIDI channel. This may be a problem if the sharing staves have conflicting, channel-based, MIDI properties – such as different MIDI instruments – set.
Using a midi block with polymetric notation may cause unexpected
barcheck warnings. In this case move the Timing_translator from
the Score context to the Staff context within the
midiblock.
\midi {
\context {
\Score
\remove "Timing_translator"
}
\context {
\Staff
\consists "Timing_translator"
}
}