TS-AudioToMIDI: Convert Audio to MIDI with PrecisionConverting recorded audio into MIDI data has long been a valuable — yet often imperfect — tool for musicians, producers, and sound designers. TS-AudioToMIDI is a modern solution aimed at closing the gap between the nuance of audio performance and the clean, editable world of MIDI. This article explains how TS-AudioToMIDI works, what it does well, where it can struggle, and practical ways to get the best results from it in real-world workflows.
What is TS-AudioToMIDI?
TS-AudioToMIDI is a software tool (standalone application and/or plugin) that analyzes audio recordings and outputs MIDI sequences representing pitch, timing, and sometimes additional expressive data such as velocity or note-on dynamics. The goal is to transform performances captured as audio — instrumental or vocal — into editable MIDI that can be used with virtual instruments, notation software, or DAW-based production.
Core technologies behind the conversion
TS-AudioToMIDI uses a blend of signal-processing and machine-learning techniques to detect musical content:
- Pitch detection and tracking: algorithms identify fundamental frequency (F0) over time. This may use autocorrelation, YIN, or deep-learning pitch trackers trained on varied instrument timbres.
- Onset detection: separate analysis locates note starts and transient events to define note boundaries and rhythmic placement.
- Harmonic/percussive separation: helps the system treat melodic sources differently from drums or noisy textures.
- Note quantization and mapping: detected pitches are mapped to MIDI note numbers, with options for scale snapping and tuning adjustments.
- Post-processing: smoothing, grouping, and velocity estimation to create usable MIDI clips.
Strengths — where TS-AudioToMIDI shines
- Monophonic melodic conversion: It produces very accurate MIDI from single-note instruments (sax, flute, violin, monophonic synths) and clear vocal lines.
- Speed: Rapid analysis and export make it practical for iterative creative work.
- Editable output: Resulting MIDI is structured for quick editing — note lengths, velocities, and quantization can be adjusted.
- Integration: Works as a plugin or exports standard MIDI files compatible with major DAWs and notation apps.
- Advanced tuning options: Supports alternate tunings, microtonal adjustments, and scale locks for non-equal-tempered music.
Limitations and common failure modes
- Polyphonic audio (chords, dense mixes) is substantially more difficult. While TS-AudioToMIDI can attempt chord extraction, results may be less reliable than monophonic conversion.
- Percussive and noisy sounds (distorted guitar, heavy reverb, breathy vocals) reduce pitch-tracking accuracy.
- Rapid pitch bends, vibrato, and glissandi may produce many short MIDI notes instead of one expressive note unless smoothing settings are used.
- Timing subtleties (human micro-timing) may be interpreted as rhythmic errors; aggressive quantization can fix this but may remove feel.
Best practices for better conversion results
- Source quality matters: use a clean, isolated recording with minimal background noise and reverb.
- Pre-process audio:
- Apply high-pass filtering to remove low rumble.
- Reduce reverb and noise when possible.
- Normalize gain so pitch tracker has consistent signal amplitude.
- Choose mode wisely: set TS-AudioToMIDI to monophonic mode for single-note lines, or experiment with polyphonic/chord modes for harmony.
- Adjust sensitivity and onset thresholds to avoid false note splits or missed attacks.
- Use smoothing and legato detection to merge short fragments produced by pitch modulation.
- Quantize lightly: preserve musical feel by using small swing/timing adjustments instead of rigid 16th quantization.
- Manual cleanup: expect to glance through the MIDI and fix mis-tracked notes, velocities, and lengths — especially at phrase boundaries.
Workflow examples
- Producer extracting a vocal melody: Load isolated vocal take, set monophonic mode, reduce reverb via gate or spectral tools, increase pitch-tracking sensitivity, export MIDI to a piano VST for arrangement.
- Composer transcribing a sax solo: Import audio, enable legato smoothing, set scale lock to match song key, export MIDI into notation software to generate readable sheet music.
- Sound designer creating hybrid textures: Convert a melodic synth riff to MIDI, assign it to multiple instruments, then layer original audio with MIDI-triggered pads for evolving timbres.
Tips for specific instrument types
- Guitar (clean, single-note lines): Use click removal and transient shaping; polyphonic chord recognition can be patchy — consider manual chord input.
- Piano: High-quality stereo piano recordings can be converted well in monophonic runs, but complex multi-voiced passages may need separate takes or manual transcription.
- Vocal: Clear, pitched singing with limited vibrato converts well; strong vibrato or vocal fry benefits from smoothing settings.
- Percussion/drums: TS-AudioToMIDI’s transient detection can create MIDI drum sequences from single-drum recordings, but full-kit separation requires specialized drum-conversion tools.
Advanced features to look for
- Real-time MIDI output: allows playing converted MIDI live through virtual instruments during playback.
- Multi-track batch processing: converts multiple files or regions automatically.
- Expression mapping: convert vocal dynamics to CCs like CC11 (expression) or CC1 (modulation) for more natural MIDI playback.
- Tuning and microtonal support: map detected pitch to custom scales or just intonation systems.
- Scripting or API access: automates repetitive conversions in larger projects.
Comparing TS-AudioToMIDI to alternatives
| Feature | TS-AudioToMIDI | Typical DAW built-in tools | Dedicated ML converters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monophonic accuracy | High | Moderate | High |
| Polyphonic/chord extraction | Moderate | Low | Variable (some specialized ML tools excel) |
| Real-time output | Yes (in many builds) | Sometimes | Depends on tool |
| Expression/CC mapping | Often supported | Limited | Varies |
| Ease of use | User-friendly | Varies by DAW | May require more setup |
Common workflow pitfalls and fixes
- Pitfall: MIDI shows many tiny notes where vibrato occurred. Fix: Increase pitch smoothing or merge short notes under a duration threshold.
- Pitfall: Chords become a messy cluster of notes. Fix: Use harmonic/percussive separation and run polyphonic mode, or manually enter chords using detected root notes as a guide.
- Pitfall: Converted MIDI sounds mechanically quantized. Fix: Apply subtle humanization (random tiny timing/velocity variations) and preserve original timing by using low-amount quantization.
Future directions in audio-to-MIDI conversion
Ongoing research and product updates are improving polyphonic accuracy, timbre-aware transcription (separating overlapping instruments), and deeper expression mapping (automatically generating CCs for phrasing, breath, and articulation). Real-time neural models and cloud-assisted analysis are making conversions faster and more accurate on consumer hardware.
Conclusion
TS-AudioToMIDI brings precision and practicality to the long-standing problem of turning audio into editable MIDI. For monophonic lines and clear recordings it’s a transformative tool that speeds composition, arrangement, and sound design. For complex polyphonic sources, expect to combine automatic conversion with manual editing or specialized tools. With proper preprocessing, parameter tuning, and light cleanup, TS-AudioToMIDI can reliably bridge the gap between expressive audio performances and MIDI-based production.
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