MIDI rendering is the process of “converting” MIDI music into an audio format that can be played on any audio device, such as a CD or MP3 player, or mixed in with other audio sources.

Actually, it’s not really a “conversion”. A MIDI sequencer plays the music on a MIDI device (like synth or sampler), and the output from that device is captured as audio.

MIDI often gets a bad reputation for being lifeless and artificial. It’s out of scope for this FAQ to explain why this is an unfair (and perhaps uninformed) appraisal of MIDI. Perhaps it’s suffice to say that in the right hands, MIDI is a powerful tool that can be used to render believable audio performances. If you still have your doubts, listen to our MIDI rendering of the Blue Danube on the MIDI Rendering page. You could be in for a surprise!