What is the SMP file format?
An .smp file is a proprietary music practice accompaniment file created by MakeMusic for use with SmartMusic and Finale. It bundles MIDI accompaniment sequences with score notation data, enabling SmartMusic's tempo-tracking playback engine - a feature that follows a live performer's pace in real time rather than playing at a fixed metronome tempo.
The .smp format was in active use from approximately Finale 2006 through Finale 2012. MakeMusic introduced the successor .smpx format with Finale 2014; .smp files are not compatible with newer SmartMusic releases or the current cloud-based SmartMusic platform. The format is proprietary and closed - no public specification exists.
MakeMusic discontinued Finale entirely in August 2024. SmartMusic has transitioned to a subscription cloud service with its own format ecosystem, leaving .smp as a legacy format with very limited modern software support. Users with existing .smp files may be able to access the content using archived older desktop versions of SmartMusic or Finale (2006-2012 era).
Note: the .smp extension is also used by a separate, unrelated Autodesk Civil 3D sampled station list file - a completely different format with no connection to the audio category described here.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWSMP files are music performance data and cannot execute code. Safe to open in SmartMusic or Finale. Since MakeMusic discontinued Finale in August 2024, obtaining and running older software versions carries the usual risks of using unmaintained software - keep systems updated and download only from official/reputable sources.
Format details
in a nutshell- Autodesk Civil 3D / AutoCAD Civil - Sampled Station List - Autodesk uses .smp for sampled station data files in Civil 3D survey/BIM workflows - an entirely different binary format unrelated to music.
Programs that open SMP files
Windows1 app
SmartMusic (legacy/desktop version)
Freemium Open .smp files in an older SmartMusic desktop client. Current SmartMusic is cloud-based and may not open legacy .smp; check compatibility. 
macOS1 app
SmartMusic (legacy/desktop version)
Freemium Open .smp files in an older SmartMusic desktop client for macOS. Current cloud version may not support legacy .smp. Technical details
deep spec| Format type | Proprietary music practice accompaniment (MIDI sequences + score notation) |
| Developer | MakeMusic (SmartMusic / Finale product line) |
| Encoding | Binary (proprietary; no public specification) |
| Container | Proprietary MakeMusic/SmartMusic container |
| Key feature | Tempo-tracking playback - follows live performer pace, not a fixed metronome |
| Audio data | MIDI-based sequences; playback rate depends on synthesizer/soundfont used by SmartMusic |
| Score data | Bundled notation data for interactive practice and assessment |
| Typical file size | 100 KB - 10 MB depending on accompaniment length and score complexity |
| Platform | Windows, macOS |
| Format era | Finale 2006 - Finale 2012 (legacy) |
| Successor format | .smpx (Finale 2014+) |
| Current status | Legacy - MakeMusic discontinued Finale in August 2024; SmartMusic is now cloud-based |
| Open standard | No - closed proprietary format, no published specification |
| Compatibility | Requires older desktop SmartMusic or Finale (2006-2012 era) to open |
| Released | circa 2006 (Finale 2006 era, used through Finale 2012) |
| Latest version | Superseded by .smpx (Finale 2014 and later) |
SMP conversions
Community Q&A
asked by usersNo questions yet - be the first to ask about SMP files.
