What is the TSI file format?
.tsi files are used by Traktor, the professional DJ mixing software developed by Native Instruments. TSI files store various Traktor settings, including:
- audio device routing,
- effects assignments,
- keyboard shortcuts and keybindings,
- MIDI controller mappings.
.tsi files can save DJ controller device settings and are frequently used to synchronize Traktor with mixing hardware. Internally, a .tsi file is an XML document whose core mapping data is stored as Base64-encoded binary, using ID3v2-like frame blocks in big-endian order.
Traktor software offers a multitude of functions and tools for professional audio mixing, many of which offer rich control interfaces. Settings defined and exported into .tsi files can then be imported directly into Traktor via the Controller Manager. This method not only allows for more convenient settings management, but also enables testing different setups stored in .tsi files distributed over the Internet.
Traktor Pro 2.x and 3.x use incompatible binary frame structures inside the .tsi wrapper. The CMDR editor - an unofficial open-source tool - provides a graphical interface for editing .tsi mappings without manually manipulating the XML or binary data. The format was reverse-engineered and documented by community developer Ivan Zlatev in 2014.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWTSI files are configuration/data files with no executable code. They cannot harm your system. However, importing an untrusted TSI may silently override your existing Traktor controller mappings or audio settings - always back up your current TSI before importing a downloaded mapping (Traktor > Preferences > Export Settings).
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open TSI files
Windows2 apps
Traktor Pro
Paid In Traktor Pro: Preferences > Controller Manager > Add (Import) - select the TSI file. Alternatively: Preferences > Import - for settings TSI.
CMDR (unofficial TSI editor)
Open-source Open CMDR, File > Open TSI - edit MIDI bindings and commands visually without launching Traktor. 
macOS1 app
Traktor Pro
Paid In Traktor Pro: Preferences > Controller Manager > Add (Import) - select the TSI file.
TSI Converter (convert.guru)
Free Upload a TSI file to view/convert to XML or TXT (for inspection, not for re-import into Traktor). Technical details
deep spec| Developer | Native Instruments GmbH |
| Outer format | UTF-8 XML (root element: NI_Serialization) |
| Inner mapping data | Base64-encoded binary using ID3v2-like frame blocks; big-endian byte order |
| Typical file size | 10 KB - 500 KB (simple to full-controller mappings) |
| Stored data | MIDI In/Out bindings, Traktor command IDs, modifier states, audio routing, FX settings, keyboard shortcuts |
| Platform | Windows, macOS |
| Version compatibility | Traktor Pro 2.x and 3.x use incompatible binary frame structures; files are not interchangeable |
| Import method | Traktor Preferences → Controller Manager → Import TSI |
| Community specification | Format reverse-engineered by Ivan Zlatev (2014); documented at github.com/ivanz/TraktorMappingFileFormat |
| GUI editor | CMDR (unofficial open-source editor at cmdr-editor.github.io/cmdr) for visual mapping without manual XML/binary editing |
| File sharing | Community .tsi mappings widely distributed via NI User Library and DJ forums |
| Released | circa 2010 (Traktor Pro 2.x) |
| Latest version | TSI format used by Traktor Pro 3.x (current as of 2025) |
| Specification | github.com |
TSI conversions
Community Q&A
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