Zen Piano doesn't host a MIDI catalog and it isn't trying to. Choose a source based on the kind of file and evidence you need, inspect the source page, download it, then bring the `.mid` or `.midi` file into Zen Piano to convert and practice. BitMidi is the breadth-first starting point. Mutopia Project is the better first stop when rights labels and score context matter more than catalog size. VGMusic is useful for game music, while MuseScore is useful when notation or MusicXML context helps you evaluate an arrangement.
Pick a source by what you need
| You want | Try | Catalog size | Quality | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast, broad search | BitMidi | ~113,000 files | Uneven. It's a historical dump of web-era MIDIs, not curated, so file quality varies title to title | Huge catalog, but rights info is thin |
| Backup broad catalog | FreeMidi | Not published | Similar mixed bag to BitMidi, no strong quality signal either way | Worth a check if BitMidi comes up empty |
| Clear rights, classical focus | Mutopia Project | ~2,100 works | High. Every file is generated from notation source, so the MIDI is clean and converts predictably | Smaller library, but everything is rights-labeled with score context |
| Deeper classical/counterpoint | Kunst der Fuge | ~19,300–20,000+ files | Good. Files are legally published with rights-holder permission, but the site limits reuse to personal use | Narrow focus, good for repertoire digging |
| Game soundtracks | VGMusic | ~31,800 files | High for its niche. Uploads are vetted — no ROM-rips, no converted game assets accepted | Only useful if you're after game music specifically |
| Score or MusicXML context | MuseScore | ~2.6M community scores, plus 1.3M official licensed scores | Mixed. Official scores are clean; community uploads vary, and MIDI export is secondary to notation | Great for arrangements, but access depends on the uploader and sometimes an account |
| Community catalog with points system | MidiShow | ~237,000 files | Good. Files carry real technical metadata (GM standard, MIDI type, track count), which is rare elsewhere | Worth it for variety, but you'll trade time for a points/account system |
| Serious classical repertoire | Classical Archives | 1M+ classical files sitewide (MIDI is a subset) | High. Curated, with Type 0/1 MIDI clearly labeled | Deepest catalog here, gated behind a subscription |
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HamieNET and MIDIWORLD are still out there and still work, but catalog size isn't published for either, quality control looked shaky during research (HamieNET showed a maintenance interstitial; MIDIWORLD's stated genre policy doesn't match what's actually on the site), and they're worth checking only after the sources above.
Before you open `/convert`
- Download the actual file. Look for a direct `.mid` or `.midi` link, not just a streaming preview.
- Read the source page. Title, uploader notes, and any rights label tell you more than the search result does.
- Grab score/MusicXML context if it is offered. Some sites (MuseScore especially) give you notation alongside the MIDI — worth having before you convert.
- Open `/convert`, load the file, check the notation, then head to `/play`.
That's it — Zen Piano picks up once you already have the file on your machine.
