XMF (Extensible Music Format) is a
tree-based digital
container format
A container format (informally, sometimes called a wrapper) or metafile is a file format that allows multiple data streams to be embedded into a single file, usually along with metadata for identifying and further detailing those streams. Nota ...
used to bundle music-oriented content, such as a MIDI file and optionally the sounds it uses, liner notes or other content grouped by language-codes.
The first XMF definitions were to allow the bundling of a musical performance with the musical sounds used. For instance, a
MIDI file
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (; MIDI) is an American-Japanese technical standard that describes a communication protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, ...
could be stored together with a
Downloadable Sounds file, and both files would travel together inside one XMF file. This specific use of an XMF file is referred to as XMF File Type 0 (streaming) or XMF File Type 1 (non-streaming), depending on whether the type of the MIDI file is 0 or 1, respectively.
There are currently five XMF File Types defined. The latest of which is XMF File Type 4 (counted from zero) and is called Interactive XMF (iXMF).
The specifications for the XMF were first published in 2001 by the
MMA
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...
.
Features
* Resources can be referenced internally (in the XMF file) or referenced externally using a
URI
Uri may refer to:
Places
* Canton of Uri, a canton in Switzerland
* Úri, a village and commune in Hungary
* Uri, Iran, a village in East Azerbaijan Province
* Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, a town in India
* Uri (island), off Malakula Island in V ...
.
* Resources can be country- and language-coded so that text could be shown in the right language depending on context.
* Resources can be compressed using
ZLIB
zlib ( or "zeta-lib", ) is a software library used for data compression as well as a data format. zlib was written by Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler and is an abstraction of the DEFLATE compression algorithm used in their gzip file compre ...
.
* Size information is stored using
variable-length quantities, ensuring that the format can support an infinite number, while at the same time saving storage space.
See also
*
DLS format
A DLS format (from downloadable sound) is any of the standardized file formats for digital musical instrument sound banks (collections of virtual musical instrument programs). The DLS standards also include detailed specifications for how MIDI pr ...
*
RIFF (File format)
Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF) is a generic file container format for storing data in tagged chunks. It is primarily used for audio and video, though it can be used for arbitrary data.
The Microsoft implementation is mostly known thr ...
*
Standard MIDI File
Musical Instrument Digital Interface (; MIDI) is an American-Japanese technical standard that describes a communication protocol, digital interface, and electrical connectors that connect a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, ...
*
MO3
References
External links
*
MIDI Manufacturers Association
The MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) is a non-profit trade organization where companies work together to create MIDI standards comparison, MIDI standards that assure compatibility among MIDI products. The MMA is a U.S. organization established ...
(MMA)
* {{webarchive , url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128035622/http://www.midi.org/xmf/ , date=November 28, 2007 , title=XMF Working Group, of the MMA
XMF Specification (All)About Mobile XMF
MIDI standards
Music notation file formats
Video game music file formats