[NFBCS] [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Re: Screen Reader or Text to Speech for Sheet Music

Sun Oct 23 13:20:41 UTC 2022

It's possible to convert from PDF to XML to a music that can be read with a screen reader using the Goodfeel suite of programs plus one extra.  It's a bit of a process, though.  One of the programs Goodfeel uses is Lime, with Jaws scripts for Lime Aloud.  Once it's in Lime, you can read note by note, with Jaws saying each note.  You can also play the music in Lime.  But, as Dana says, the Goodfeel suite is not cheap. 

I have also used ABC to read music, but I don't know how common that is outside trad music.  ABC is a system people can use to write down music using letters for notes.  It's pretty easy to learn and use.  
But, like Dana, I much prefer braille music to anything else.
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBCS [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of dana mohsen via NFBCS
Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2022 2:17 PM
To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List
Cc: dana mohsen
Subject: Re: [NFBCS] [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Re: Screen Reader or Text to Speech for Sheet Music

Hello,
The only ways I know of to read music with screen-readers are as follows:
1. using music notation software, such as Sibelius or Muse Score. If you do
this, the file has to be in XML format, which is the type of editable music
file format. In that sense, it is similar to Microsoft Word files.
2 Using programs such as GoodFeel from Dancing Dots or Braille Music
Editor. Both programs are paid and may be too expensive. Again, you have to
use XML files, wich  are not common.
You have to convert your PDF files to XML files, which is done through
other music OCR programs, such as Photo Score, which are also paid.
Based on my experience, braille music is what works for me when reading
music, and Sibelius is what works best for writing music.
I'm really sorry for the long reply.
Hope that helps.
Best,
Dana

On Sat, Oct 22, 2022 at 7:54 PM Lanning, Laura via NFBCS <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
wrote:

> Does anyone know a screen reader or text to speech that will read sheet
> music?
>
> Thanks,
> Laura
>
> From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Wendy Walker via NFBCS
> Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2022 11:35 AM
> To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Wendy Walker <wenintex at gmail.com>
> Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] Re: [NFBCS] pdf conversion tools
>
> We have had luck with the following when it comes to power point
> documents: Go to the original power point and enable saving now do a save
> as and select the option of outline in RTF instead of power point now save
> the document and it will be
>
>
> We have had luck with the following when it comes to power point documents:
>
> Go to the original power point and enable saving
>
> now do a save as and select the option of outline in RTF instead of power
> point
>
> now save the document  and it will be an RTF file
>
>
>
> This is not perfect but reads better than a power point with a screen
> reader.
>
>
>
> Hope this is what you are looking for.
>
>
>
> Wendy Walker
>
>
>
>
>
> On 10/22/22, Jim Barbour via NFBCS <nfbcs at nfbnet.org<mailto:
> nfbcs at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
>
> > I don’t understand why the OCR options didn’t work.
>
> >
>
> > I would definitely not expect you to be able to convert the PDF back to
>
> > PowerPoint or work.
>
> >
>
> > What happened when you tried to OCR the images?
>
> >
>
> > Any chance you can get the original PowerPoint?
>
> >
>
> > Jim
>
> >
>
> > Written while on the move,,
>
> >
>
> >> On Oct 22, 2022, at 4:58 PM, Cricket X. Bidleman via NFBCS
>
> >> <nfbcs at nfbnet.org<mailto:nfbcs at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
>
> >>
>
> >> Hi folks,
>
> >>
>
> >> I have a pdf file that was converted from a powerpoint, so everything
>
> >> is reading with JAWS and VoiceOver as images since that's how slides
>
> >> appear. I tried opening the file in Word.  I tried converting it back
>
> >> to a powerpoint. I tried converting the file to a .txt. Also tried
>
> >> JAWS OCR mode, and also OpenBook. None of that worked. Are there any
>
> >> other tools that you find helpful and reliable? Thanks.
>
> >>
>
> >> Best,
>
> >> Cricket
>
> >>
>
> >> --
>
> >> Cricket X. Bidleman, B.A (she/her/hers)
>
> >> M.A Candidate | Stanford Journalism Class of 2022
>
> >> Co-Chair | Stanford Daily Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
>
> >> Member | Blind Advisory Committee, California Department of Vocational
>
> >> rehabilitation
>
> >>
>
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