View source for XMF

{{Short description|Tree-based digital container format used to bundle music-oriented content}}
{{about|the file format|the ISO language code|Mingrelian language}}
{{refimprove|date=July 2011}}
'''XMF''' ('''Extensible Music Format''') is a [[tree (data structure)|tree-based]] digital [[container format (digital)|container format]] 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 [[Standard MIDI File|MIDI file]] could be stored together with a [[DLS format|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)'''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.midi.org/specifications/item/xmf-specification-all |title=XMF Specification (All) |access-date=2017-10-19 |archive-date=2019-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720100303/https://www.midi.org/specifications/item/xmf-specification-all |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The specifications for the XMF were first published in 2001 by the [[MIDI Manufacturers Association|MMA]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.midi.org/aboutus/news/xmfpress.php |title=MMA Announcement |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120055635/http://www.midi.org/aboutus/news/xmfpress.php |archive-date=January 20, 2012}}</ref>

== Features ==
* Resources can be referenced internally (in the XMF file) or referenced externally using a [[URI]].
* 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]].
* Size information is stored using [[variable-length quantity|variable-length quantities]], ensuring that the format can support an infinite number, while at the same time saving storage space.

== See also ==
* [[DLS format]]
* [[RIFF (File format)]]
* [[Standard MIDI File]]
* [[MO3]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [[MIDI Manufacturers Association]] (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
* [https://www.midi.org/specifications/item/xmf-specification-all XMF Specification (All)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720100303/https://www.midi.org/specifications/item/xmf-specification-all |date=2019-07-20 }}
* [https://www.midi.org/specifications/item/about-mobile-xmf About Mobile XMF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518232000/https://www.midi.org/specifications/item/about-mobile-xmf |date=2022-05-18 }}

[[Category:MIDI standards]]
[[Category:Music notation file formats]]
[[Category:Video game music file formats]]