What is MIME type "audio/med"?

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

audio/med is a MIME type for module music files.
It refers to a group of file formats that combine digital audio samples with instructions on how to play them. These files store both sound data and sequencing information. They allow a lightweight representation of music that can be dynamically played and altered by tracker software.

Main purpose: Encode and play multi-channel music using samples.
Usage in applications: Often used in tracker-based music production and playback applications.
Legacy significance: Common in early computer music, demos, and video games due to small file sizes and flexible musical arrangements.

Formats covered by this MIME type include many tracker modules such as MOD, FAR, XM, IT, STM, AMF, MED, WOW, DMF, S3M, 669, MTM, MT2, ULT, and OKT.
This MIME type ensures that systems and applications can recognize and handle these diverse module files properly.
For further reading, see Wikipedia on Module Files.

Associated file extensions

.mod, .far, .xm, .it, .stm, .amf, .med, .wow, .dmf, .s3m, .669, .mtm, .mt2, .ult, .okt

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: audio/med

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="audio/med">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', 'audio/med');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.mod, .far, .xm, .it, .stm, .amf, .med, .wow, .dmf, .s3m, .669, .mtm, .mt2, .ult, .okt

FAQs

How do I configure Apache to serve audio/med files?

To ensure Apache serves module files correctly, add the AddType directive to your .htaccess file or server configuration. Use the line AddType audio/med .med .mod .xm .it .s3m to map the MIME type to the relevant tracker file extensions.

Can I play audio/med files directly in a web browser?

Most modern browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) do not support audio/med or tracker module files natively via the HTML5 <audio> tag. To play files like .mod or .xm on a webpage, developers typically use JavaScript libraries such as libopenmpt or Cowbell to decode the audio in real-time.

What software opens audio/med and tracker files on Windows or macOS?

You can open these files using versatile media players like VLC Media Player or Winamp (with a plugin). for editing or detailed inspection, dedicated tracker software like OpenMPT (Open ModPlug Tracker) or MilkyTracker is recommended.

How do I add audio/med support to Nginx?

In Nginx, you must update the mime.types file or the types block in your server configuration. Add the line audio/med med mod xm it s3m; to ensure the server sends the correct Content-Type header for these files.

Why does the browser download the file instead of playing it?

This usually happens because the browser does not have a built-in codec for module files, or the server is sending the file as application/octet-stream. While setting the correct MIME type helps the browser identify the file, users typically still need a specialized plugin or extension to play it within the browser window.

What is the difference between audio/med and audio/midi?

While both are instruction-based music formats, audio/med (module files) contains the actual digital audio samples (instruments) within the file, ensuring it sounds the same on every device. In contrast, MIDI files only contain musical notes and rely on the playback device's internal synthesizer for sounds, which can vary significantly between systems.

Is audio/med the only MIME type for tracker modules?

No, while audio/med is used—particularly for OctaMED files—tracker formats often lack a single standardized MIME type. You may also encounter audio/x-mod, audio/xm, audio/it, or audio/x-s3m depending on the specific file extension and server configuration.

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.