[MusicTlk] XML format

[BillList1]

Right, the Lime notation editor software that is a key component of the GoodFeel suite from Dancing Dots can import MusicXML files thereby making them immediately accessible for speech, braille, and magnification users.  But something has to convert the original pdf to MusicXML format.  Lime cannot open or import PDF documents.

One promising application is PDFToMusic Pro.  Sometimes, it does a great job but sometimes it does not.
http://www.myriad-online.com/en/products/pdftomusicpro.htm

Some pdf documents are printed from a music notation program like Finale or Sibelius.  Ideally, instead of printing to pdf, the creator of those scores could export to MusicXML instead.  That is, Finale, Sibelius and over one-hundred other notation programs can now export to MusicXML format directly.  MusicXML export has become a standard feature.  Users of Sibelius and Finale can also download and install the free Dolet plug-in for exporting MusicXML.  We have found that, in many cases, Dolet creates more detailed MusicXML scores.
https://www.musicxml.com/

SharpEye Music Reader, the music OCR program that is a component of the suites of accessible music notation we supply, cannot read pdf format directly.  Users must first convert pdf to the tiff image format.  There are some free and paid tools to make that conversion.  The Tiff Image Printer from Peernet.com works very well.

The music scanning applications for Finale and Sibelius, SmartScore and PhotoScore respectively, both can read and scan pdf documents directly.  But, as with any OCR process, scanning errors are inevitable.  We blind musicians will need a sighted assistant who can refer to the original score and make necessary corrections for us before the any resulting MusicXML can be of use to us.

In the best of all possible worlds, publishers would make the MusicXML version of their scores available to those of us who need to access that information in an alternative format.  Those kinds of arrangements are already happening on an informal basis.  That is, a good number of our customers already have successfully persuaded some publishers to supply them with MusicXML versions of pdf or hardcopy scores for which they have already paid.
 
Bill McCann
Dancing Dots


-----Original Message-----
From: MusicTlk [mailto:musictlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jessica Raichle via MusicTlk
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2018 9:30 PM
To: Music Talk Mailing List for Blind Musicians
Cc: Jessica Raichle
Subject: Re: [MusicTlk] XML format

You can’t convert a PDF to XML in line or could feel.

Jessica

> On May 20, 2018, at 8:10 AM, Chris Nusbaum via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> I believe this conversion can be done in either Goodfeel. If you have the scanned copy, import it into Lime and it will convert to XML or any other format it supports.
> 
> Chris Nusbaum
> 
>> On May 19, 2018, at 9:33 AM, Ned O'Brien via MusicTlk <musictlk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Can someone explain method to get sheet music into xml format? From what I
>> found so far, is that you cannot convert a scanned piece saved in pdf to
>> xml. I would like to use the programs that can read xm. sheet music, but
>> can't figure out how to get there
>> thx
>> ned
>> _______________________________________________
>> MusicTlk mailing list
>> MusicTlk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/musictlk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for MusicTlk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/musictlk_nfbnet.org/cnusbaumnfb%40gmail.com
> 
> _______________________________________________
> MusicTlk mailing list
> MusicTlk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/musictlk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for MusicTlk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/musictlk_nfbnet.org/jdraichle%40gmail.com

_______________________________________________
MusicTlk mailing list
MusicTlk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/musictlk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for MusicTlk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/musictlk_nfbnet.org/billlist1%40verizon.net