Start with the least-compressed copy
A 320 kbps MP3 or a direct DAW export generally preserves attacks better than a repeatedly re-encoded 128 kbps download. If you still have the WAV master, use the WAV converter instead.
In-browser · private · no upload
MP3 to MIDI Converter
Drop in an MP3 and get editable notes in about ten seconds — converted privately in your browser, then cleaned up with five sliders. High-precision stem separation is an optional server feature.
Drop an audio file here
MP3 · up to 10 minutes · 3 minutes on mobile
Or try a sample:
Convert compressed MP3 audio without hiding the trade-offs
MP3 removes audio information to make files smaller. That usually leaves the main melody intact, but quiet attacks, long decays and dense high-frequency harmonics can become less distinct. Those are exactly the details a pitch detector uses to decide when a note begins and ends.
Tonera decodes the MP3 in your browser, converts it to 22,050 Hz mono for Basic Pitch and shows the resulting notes before export. Nothing is uploaded during standard conversion. You can keep useful notes, remove short artifacts and export the same result as MIDI, MusicXML, PDF, ABC or a chord chart.
Treat tiny notes as clues, not failures
Compression noise and reverb can create very short candidates. Raise the minimum note length or frame threshold until the blue kept notes follow the musical phrase.
One detection pass, several useful files
Download editable MIDI for a DAW, MusicXML for notation software, a printable PDF, ABC notation or a compact chord chart without paying for a second conversion.
How MP3 quality changes MIDI transcription
Bitrate alone does not determine accuracy, but it changes the evidence available to the model. Instrument choice, overlap, noise and room sound still matter more than a single number on the file.
128 kbps versus 320 kbps MP3
At lower bitrates, encoders spend fewer bits on masked or short-lived sounds. A strong piano fundamental may survive while a soft grace note, cymbal wash or guitar pick transient becomes blurred. The usual result is not a completely wrong melody; it is extra short notes, missing quiet notes or less precise boundaries.
A higher-bitrate file gives the detector a cleaner starting point, but it cannot fix a full mix where vocals, bass and harmony overlap. For a finished song, high-precision mode can separate the target stem before transcription.
Downloads, phone recordings and DAW exports
A direct DAW bounce is normally the most predictable source. A purchased or downloaded MP3 may already have been encoded more than once, so choose the highest-quality copy available. A phone recording adds room reflections and background noise; record close to one instrument and avoid automatic speaker playback if possible.
Do not convert an MP3 to WAV just to upload it here. That changes the container but does not restore information already removed by MP3 compression. Upload the MP3 directly and let Tonera decode it once.
Why the ten-minute limit exists
Standard conversion runs locally and holds decoded audio plus model tensors in memory. A ten-minute ceiling keeps the browser responsive on typical phones and laptops. For a long rehearsal or DJ set, split the file around musical sections and convert the passage you actually need.
A reliable MP3-to-MIDI workflow
1
Choose the cleanest MP3
Prefer a direct export or the highest bitrate available, then drop it into the converter.
2
Check the note map
Compare the blue kept notes with the orange discarded notes and adjust onset, frame and duration controls.
3
Export for the next job
Use MIDI for editing, MusicXML for notation software or PDF when you only need a readable score.
What MP3 to MIDI can and cannot recover
Conversion estimates musical notes; it cannot recreate audio removed during compression or perfectly separate every instrument in a mixed master. Solo piano, guitar, voice and single-note leads are the strongest sources. Dense drums, pads and layered vocals need more cleanup or stem separation.