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Joined: Aug 2010
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Since I don't play piano all that well, I'm thinking of investing in some music scanning software to convert some sheet music to MIDI files. It looks like there are a few packages out there, including Neuratron PhotoScore (Mac and Win), Smartscore Pro (Mac and Win), and SharpEye (Win only, I think.) Anybody tried any of these packages? Are any better than the others? Worth the money?
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Have you tried googling the song to see if there is a midi file that already exist. they may not be the best, but from what i have heard scanning is difficult as well. Most of the time that type of twain based software makes a lot of mistakes.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB 2025, Realband, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 9 32c , Melodyne 5 editor, Presonus Audiobox 1818VSL, Presonus control app.
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I used to have Smartscore and it scanned the music with "ok" results. I had to edit each page in several places and it is tedious work. I used the software on out-of-print, or hard to find sheet music which I could not find a compatible midi file for.
It will save a scanned a piece and let you save as a midi file. If you know how to read music, you will have better results reading, setting up repeats etc . . . In the end, I was saving the lead or melody notes only and importing them into a Biab created backing midi file. Took alot of work.
I find it is much easier to use the Biab notation editor to enter a lead, riff or specific solo part I can't figure out how to record live. It also helps if there is a Biab style suited for the specific song I am trying to make.
I don't use any scanning software now. I found that I can enter the parts quicker using Biab's notation editor.
Trax
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Never had any luck with that software. That said I gleaned over 20,000 'standard' songs in band in a box format. Then you can get files from Notes Norton, check out his stuff.
In order for the software to work you need a pristine copy, flat, no freckles and not to much extra notation. (Like the Mantooth standards with dual chords.)
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Hi
I have used Smartscore from the start,if you have the right scanner,if the sheetmusic is new and well printed,if the music is quite straight forward it does a excellent job but if like me i wanted to make midi files out of older ragtime sheetmusic i have given up,i have not used up all the ragtime midi files you find on the internet
regards Dave
Last edited by jazzband; 08/11/10 11:20 PM.
I always play the right notes but not always in the right order
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Joined: Oct 2008
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I guess I'm always looking for shortcuts. I've tried a couple of different music scanning programs. It took me so much time to edit the scans that I now just enter the stuff myself. I've used both Sibelius and BIAB notation. Right now each one takes me about the same amount of time. With Sibelius, I use copy and paste to save a lot of time. With BIAB, I use the qwerty keyboard and enter the notes in the correct rhythm and then move them to their correct places on the staff.
If you find scanning software that works well for you, good deal. One problem I've had is that some of the music does not fit on the scanning bed. Good luck!
Stan
Cornet Curmudgeon
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Quote:
One problem I've had is that some of the music does not fit on the scanning bed.
Stan
No kidding -- I wonder if music publishers settled on that slightly-larger size for virtually all sheet music and books, in part to discourage copying. It's particularly a pain if you're trying to scan music (sheet music you purchased, of course!) into a program like SmartScore -- which I bought but don't use that often, since even with clean source material, manually fixing any notes, rests, etc. that confused SmartScore is still a time-consuming business. Worth it only if for some reason you really want to hear (or start with) the tune played exactly as written and don't have the skills yourself, or a pianist friend who could just play the sheet music for capture into a sequencer or music notation program. It seems strange that publishers don't make this easier: right now I can go to one of several sellers of sheet music online, hear the audio of the sheet music being played (through the Sibelius Scorch plug in), then pay my money and download the music to my printer. But I don't think there is anyway that I can simply download the tune -- the music Sibelius/Scorch just played for me -- as midi. Seems a shame.
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I have had fairly good luck in finding midi files on the web and then modifying them to suit my needs. I have downloaded the sheet music just as you have, but I don't like then taking the time to enter it my hand. Sometimes though, it's the only solution. We have bought many fake books since they give the best value. We have bought Norton's fake book disks when available. Sure has saved us a lot of time even though we may have to enter the melody manually.
Stan
Cornet Curmudgeon
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I have a few of Norton's Fake Disks for Biab and they work great. Most songs in his Fake Disks use his custom styles he sells, but you can replace them with a Biab style. There are no melodies in the songs on his Fake Disks for Biab.
You can do a web search for Norton's Music and it should immediately pop up. You can browse his collection along with his free Biab fake disk songs. He usually adds a couple of free songs on his fake book song list on the right hand side of the page.
Good luck,
Trax
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Not all the styles that Norton uses are his own, at least from my experience. Allanah has also been a nice source for some songs that are not in the fake books we have. We just got Norton's Ultimate Broadway Fake Book disk and the book also. It has over 820 songs. Of course we will never use them all, but it's a great resource for us.
Stan
Cornet Curmudgeon
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I know this post is old, but wanted to see if anyone had updated suggestions. I've heard about Scanscore, and was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on it (or any other software?)
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Just a suggestion: Once you get a hit on one of your posts, be sure to make a note in the others where you posted the same question that the thread is continuing in only one place. Otherwise, it will get confusing fast. Thanks.
I don't have much more information than I did several years ago, sorry. I have mentioned in the recent past a program called PDF to Music Pro, but it's quite expensive and only works on printed published scores (if that).
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
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Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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