What is MIME type "application/vnd.yamaha.smaf-phrase"?

A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.

The MIME type application/vnd.yamaha.smaf-phrase is a vendor-specific media format. It is used to store short musical phrase data for Yamaha devices and applications.
It is part of the SMAF family, a format designed for compact music storage. This data can control tone, pitch, and playback timing in digital instruments and on mobile devices.
Files using this MIME type, such as SPF, carry instructions for synthesizing music. They are efficient for:

Storing musical snippets that can be played as ringtones or alerts.
Encoding performance data for Yamaha hardware and compatible software.
Integrating short compositions in digital devices where memory and processing power are limited.

This format handles technical musical details in a compact file structure. More details on similar topics can be found at Yamaha and on MIME related pages.

Associated file extensions

.spf

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

When serving content with this MIME type, set the Content-Type header:


    Content-Type: application/vnd.yamaha.smaf-phrase

HTML

In HTML, you can specify the MIME type in various elements:


    <a href="file.dat" type="application/vnd.yamaha.smaf-phrase">Download file</a>

Server-side (Node.js)

Setting the Content-Type header in Node.js:


    const http = require('http');    
    
    http.createServer((req, res) => {    
      res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/vnd.yamaha.smaf-phrase');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.spf

FAQs

What is the application/vnd.yamaha.smaf-phrase MIME type used for?

This MIME type represents SMAF Phrase files, which are vendor-specific data files developed by Yamaha. They typically use the .spf extension and contain short musical phrases or performance data used to control pitch and timing on Yamaha-compatible digital instruments and older mobile devices.

How do I configure Apache to serve .spf files correctly?

To ensure browsers and devices recognize the file correctly, add the following line to your .htaccess file or main configuration: AddType application/vnd.yamaha.smaf-phrase .spf. This tells the server to associate the spf extension with the correct Yamaha SMAF Phrase MIME type.

Can web browsers play application/vnd.yamaha.smaf-phrase files directly?

No, standard web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge do not natively support SMAF Phrase files. If a user clicks a link to this file type, the browser will typically prompt to download it rather than playing it. Playback usually requires dedicated Yamaha software or hardware.

What software can open or edit files with this MIME type?

Files served as application/vnd.yamaha.smaf-phrase are best opened with Yamaha SMAF authoring tools or specific mobile device emulators. For general audio use, users often convert these files to MIDI or MP3 using specialized audio conversion utilities before playing them on a PC.

How do I set up Nginx to handle the .spf extension?

In Nginx, you should update your mime.types file to include the definition. Add the line application/vnd.yamaha.smaf-phrase spf; inside the types block. After saving the file, restart or reload Nginx to apply the changes.

Is application/vnd.yamaha.smaf-phrase the same as a standard MIDI file?

No, although they share similarities in how they control musical notes. The SMAF Phrase format is a proprietary Yamaha specification designed for high efficiency on mobile chips, whereas MIDI is a universal standard. You generally need to convert an .spf file to MIDI to use it in standard DAW software.

General FAQ

What is a MIME type?

A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type is a standard that indicates the nature and format of a document, file, or assortment of bytes. MIME types are defined and standardized in IETF's RFC 6838.

MIME types are important because they help browsers and servers understand how to process a file. When a browser receives a file from a server, it uses the MIME type to determine how to display or handle the content, whether it's an image to display, a PDF to open in a viewer, or a video to play.

MIME types consist of a type and a subtype, separated by a slash (e.g., text/html, image/jpeg, application/pdf). Some MIME types also include optional parameters.

How do I find the MIME type for a file?

You can check the file extension or use a file identification tool such as file --mime-type on the command line. Many programming languages also provide libraries to detect MIME types.

Why are multiple MIME types listed for one extension?

Different applications and historical conventions may use alternative MIME identifiers for the same kind of file. Showing them all helps ensure compatibility across systems.