After you open the sequencer device, query the division type of the device element with a status command. Division type refers to the method used to represent the time between MIDI events in the sequence.

open mysong.mid alias midi1 shareable
status midi1 division type wait

A MIDI file's division type can be either PPQN or any of the following SMPTE formats:

PPQN (parts-per-quarter-note)
SMPTE 24 frame
SMPTE 25 frame
SMPTE 30 frame
SMPTE 30 drop frame

After you determine the file division type, you can make other status queries such as:

Query

Response

Length of sequence

Length of track n

Current position of sequence

Current position of track n

Current tempo.

Responses are all in the current time format. PPQN files return length and position information in song pointer units. However, SMPTE files return the information in colon format HOURS:MINUTES:SECONDS:FRAMES.

PPQN files return the tempo in beats per minute; SMPTE files return the tempo in frames per second.