MusicXML Software

Map of MusicXML software support

MusicXML has become the most successful standard for music notation interchange since MIDI. The chart above indicates the current state of MusicXML interchange. Recordare offers file translation services to move music files between many of these programs. Here are more details about the companies and projects adopting MusicXML for their software:

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Reads and Writes MusicXML

Finale 2008 and most of the other Finale family products read and write MusicXML files directly from the File menu on both Windows and Mac OS X. Finale 2008 and PrintMusic 2008 read MusicXML 2.0, 1.1, and 1.0 files and write MusicXML 1.1 and 1.0 files. Allegro 2007 and Songwriter 2007 read MusicXML 1.1 and 1.0 files and write MusicXML 1.0 files. MakeMusic! was the first major music software company to fully support MusicXML starting with Finale 2003 for Windows, adding Macintosh support in Finale 2006.
Recordare's Dolet 4 for Finale plug-in extends Finale's built-in MusicXML support. Dolet 4 both reads and writes MusicXML 2.0 files, and provides batch translation features. MusicXML 1.1 and 1.0 files are also supported. Dolet 4 for Finale supports Finale 2000 to 2008 on Windows and Finale 2004 to 2008 on Mac OS X. Intel-based Macs require Finale 2007 or 2008 as Dolet 4 does not run under Rosetta. Batch translation and some advanced formatting features require Finale 2004 or later.
Sibelius reads MusicXML files as of Version 4.0. Version 5.1 adds support for reading MusicXML 2.0 files. You can write MusicXML 1.1 files from Sibelius 4 and 5 using Recordare's Dolet 3 for Sibelius plug-in. For Sibelius 2.1 and 3.1, you can write MusicXML 1.0 files using Recordare's Dolet 1 for Sibelius plug-in. MusicXML support is available on both Windows and Mac OS X. Dolet 3 for Sibelius includes support for MusicXML 1.1 and more.
Cubase is Steinberg's advanced music production system, including audio and MIDI tools for composition, recording, editing and mixing. Cubase Studio is a more streamlined workstation version of this technology. Version 4.1 adds MusicXML import and export support to both products.
Nuendo is Steinberg's audio production environment for audio post, studio production and live recording. Nuendo 4 adds MusicXML import and export support via the music notation features of the optional Nuendo Expansion Kit add-on package.
PriMus is a new Windows notation program from Columbus Soft that includes the ability to directly work with multiple pieces of music, text, and graphics in a single file.
SmartScore is music scanning and scoring software for Windows and Macintosh from Musitek. Version 5 added MusicXML export in most of its editions for Windows, and 5.1 added MusicXML export for Macintosh. SmartScore X adds MusicXML import for editing files created by other programs.
capella Media Producer is a music file conversion tool, including support for both audio and symbolic formats. Version 5 adds the ability to translate between CapXML and MusicXML 1.0 formats. CapXML files can be created, viewed, and edited in the capella professional notation program. Bernd Jungmann's CapToMusic script can also be run from Python to convert CapXML files into MusicXML 1.1 files.
PROGRESSION is NOTION Music's composition and performance software for guitar, pop, and jazz music. It works as a notation- and tablature-based sequencer. Version 1.1 added MusicXML import and export. Older versions can add MusicXML support via a free downloadable update.
NOTION music composition and performance software pioneered the idea of notation-based sequencer for classical and orchestral music. You mark up your score to control the integrated orchestral playback much like you would mark up a part during rehearsals for a performance. Version 2.0 supports MusicXML import and export. NOTION added MusicXML import in version 1.0 Build 2577, and added MusicXML export in version 1.5.5. Versions with MusicXML support are available via a free downloadable update.
Harmony Assistant is a computer-assisted composition and editing program from Myriad Software. It includes novel features such as an optional Virtual Singer module for singing lyrics as part of score playback. Version 9.0.5 added initial MusicXML support, with MusicXML 2.0 support added in Version 9.4.0. It is available for Windows and Mac OS X.
Encore is Gvox's flagship notation editor. Version 5 adds support for MusicXML import and export. The Mac version is available now, with the Windows version scheduled for the end of winter 2008.
QuickScore Elite Level II is Sion Software's premier music composition product: an integrated 48-track scoring and sequencing program for Windows. MusicXML support was added in Version 10.
Many programs can translate between MusicXML and Standard MIDI Files. Two programs have specific features for these translations. capella Media Producer can do direct batch translations of MusicXML files to MIDI files. Notation Composer takes greater than usual care in translating MIDI files to MusicXML files.
Guitar Pro is a multitrack tablature editor for guitar, banjo and bass that runs on Windows. Besides writing scores, Guitar Pro helps guitarists improve their skills, compose, or simply accompany themselves. Version 5 adds MusicXML support.
The Lime notation program from the CERL Sound Group added support for importing and exporting MusicXML files starting with version 8.05. Lime 9 makes this feature generally available. Lime is available for both Windows and Macintosh. The GOODFEEL 3 braille music translator includes Lime to provide MusicXML support.
Hervé Bitteur's ProxyMusic library provides a binding between Java objects and a MusicXML 1.1 file, allowing marshalling and unmarshalling. It is designed to provide an easier way for Java programs that deal with symbolic music information to read and write MusicXML files. Beta support for MusicXML 2.0 files is also included. JAXB 2.0 is required.
TablEdit is a program for creating, editing, printing and listening to tablature and standard notation for guitar and other fretted, stringed instruments. Version 2.64 adds MusicXML support on Windows.
MagicScore is a Windows-based notation program family from DG Software, including both Russian and English user interfaces. MusicXML support is available in Version 5 of both the Maestro and Classic editions.
TaBazar reads and writes MusicXML files starting with version 2.6. TaBazar is a 10-track tablature editor and MIDI player for guitar and other stringed instruments, running on Windows.
Speech Analyzer from SIL International is a Windows-based program for acoustic analysis of speech sounds. Several features also support non-western music analysis. Version 3.0 adds MusicXML support.
Forte is a Windows-based notational, sequencing and recording software product family from Midisoft. Forte Worship Studio and Forte Standard both include MusicXML support.
Free Clef is a lightweight music notation editor that reads and writes MusicXML files, including user interfaces in both English and Portuguese. Free Clef is free software released under the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2. Version 1.0 works on Windows; Mac OS and Linux versions are planned for the future.

Writes MusicXML

capella professional from capella-software GmbH is a music notation editor for Windows that combines simplicity with powerful features at an affordable price. Recordare is proud to introduce the capella line of products into the USA and Canada. Version 5.3 adds MusicXML export. Also, capella's tonica and tonica plus auto-harmonization products can save their results as capella files, which capella professional can then export as MusicXML files.
SharpEye Music Reader from Visiv saves MusicXML files. Many people regard SharpEye as one of the most accurate programs for converting images of sheet music into computerized music notation. Our customers rave about how much time they are saving in their work. Version 2.65 added MusicXML 1.1 support for more formatting information. If you have been disappointed with the music scanning features that is built into other products, don't give up. Try SharpEye free for 30 days and see for yourself whether it works for you. SharpEye runs on Windows.
PDFToMusic Pro from Myriad Software translates PDF files created by music notation programs into MusicXML files. Since PDFToMusic Pro works with output from a notation program, it has more information to work with than scanning programs that just have an image of the music. This lets you translate files from programs that don't support MusicXML more accurately than would be possible by using either MIDI or printing and scanning.
capella-scan is a Windows-based music scanning program from capella-software. It offers many productivity features like direct reading of PDF files, an overlaid display, and powerful editing tools. It too is one of the most accurate programs for optical music recognition. MusicXML 1.1 export was added in Version 6.1-23.
Notation Composer (formerly known as MidiNotate Composer) from Notation Software is an integrated notation editor and MIDI sequencer. It conveniently converts MIDI recordings and files to sheet music. You can use it as a notation editor, or as an improved MIDI conversion tool for notation programs that read MusicXML files. Version 2.0 adds MusicXML support.
PhotoScore Ultimate from Neuratron saves MusicXML files starting with version 3. This is the full version of the music scanning software that comes with the Sibelius notation program. It is available for both Windows and Macintosh.
Sequoia and Samplitude are Windows-based audio and MIDI recording and editing applications from MAGIX AG. Version 9.1 adds export of Sequoia and Samplitude scores to MusicXML format.
AudioScore Professional from Neuratron is a Windows-based program that, among other features, converts monophonic wave audio (.wav) files into MusicXML files.
Rosegarden-4 is an audio and MIDI sequencer, score editor, and music composition and editing environment for Linux systems. Version 1.0 exports MusicXML files.
Scoremaker-FX is a Windows-based music scanning and notation program from KAWAI Musical Instruments, sold mostly in Japan. Version 4.0 added the ability to save MusicXML 1.0 files. Version 5.0 added MusicXML 1.1 support.
Audiveris is an open-source, Java-based music scanning program. Version 3.0 adds the ability to save MusicXML files. The project is led by Hervé Bitteur.
The Plaine and Easie format is used for the music incipits in the RISM databases. Rainer Typke has released his pae2xml Perl script to translate these incipits (and other Plaine and Easie music) to MusicXML. The script is licensed under the GNU General Public License Version 2.
The Java Music Specification Language (JMSL) is a Java-based development tool for algorithmic composition, live performance, and intelligent instrument design. Version V103 adds the ability to save MusicXML files.
SimpleChord from Wonder Warp Software is a chord reference and composition tool for Mac OS X. It exports MusicXML files starting with version 3.3.
Peter Billam's muscript language for music typesetting exports MusicXML files as of version 2.6s, as well as exporting PostScript and MIDI files.
Virtual Composer from Morpheus, Inc. writes MusicXML files starting with version 3.4. Virtual Composer is a graphical multichannel musical compiler, sequencer and analyzer for Macintosh OS 9, designed to perform complex polyphonic music using QuickTime's Musical Instruments Architecture.
Django is a Windows-based tablature editor and composer for lutes, guitars, and other plucked instruments. It saves MusicXML files starting with version 7.4.

Reads MusicXML

Sibelius Student is the entry-level notation program from Sibelius Software. The current version, based on Sibelius 5, adds the ability to read MusicXML 2.0 files.
musicRAIN 2.0 is an interactive sheet music player created for sales of digital sheet music. Because musicRAIN was built using the Macromedia Flash Player, no additional downloads are required for use. The application reads music in the MusicXML 1.1 format and lets you transpose for printing and playback. Created by mediaRAIN, the sheet music player can be completely customized to meet the needs of each individual digital sheet music retailer. For example, Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) is using musicRAIN 2.0 in its SongSelect Advanced and Premium applications for online lead sheets, chord sheets, and hymn sheets.
capella playAlong lets you create play-along CDs from musical scores in MusicXML, MIDI, and capella format. All you need to do is leave out the part that you want to play when creating the CD. The program guides you step by step through all the options you might want in creating practice CDs. Version 2 added MusicXML support.
SCORE is one of the oldest music notation programs still in use, due in large part to the high flexibility and quality of its output. Jan de Kloe has developed the SipXML2Score program to convert MusicXML files into SCORE files. Version 3.0 of SipXML2Score is now available for Windows. Version 3 adds support for the new MusicXML 1.1 features supported by Finale 2008 and the Dolet 4 for Finale plug-in.
MuseBook Score listens to your live performance, follows the notes in the score, and turns the pages in your electronic sheet music automatically. MuseBook The first version is intended for use on the piano with a Tablet PC. MuseBook Score also works with MIDI keyboards, as does the less expensive MuseBook MidiScore software. Both products use the MusicXML format for their digital sheet music and run on Windows.
OrganMuse is the world's first fully automatic page turning system for organs. It works similarly to the MuseBook MidiScore for piano, but also memorizes registration changes. The integrated system comes complete with Dell CPU, Samsung flat-panel display, and XML Notebook software and works with MIDI-equipped organs.
The Myriad Music Plug-In is a free web browser plug-in for displaying, playing, transposing, and printing music notation files. Version 5.4.0 adds support for MusicXML files, including MusicXML 2.0 support. The plug-in works on Windows and Mac.
GenieSoft has added MusicXML import to version 4 of their two notation and VST hosting programs: the flagship Overture product and the lower-cost Score Writer product.
The Myriad QuickLook Plug-In lets you browse music notation files created in different formats without having to open them in a music program. It works on Mac OS 10.5 and supports MusicXML files in both .mxl and .xml formats.
Melody Assistant is the entry-level notation program from Myriad Software for Windows and Mac OS X. Version 7.4.0 adds the ability to read MusicXML 2.0 files.
LilyPond is an open-source automated music engraving system. It runs on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. Version 2.8 adds a basic MusicXML importer. This supersedes Guido Amoruso's earlier xml2ly XSLT stylesheet for translating MusicXML into the LilyPond format.
Melody Player is a free program for Windows and Mac OS X that plays music files created by Myriad Software applications as well as other music file formats. Version 5.0.0 adds the ability to play MusicXML files.
The abc format is especially popular for folk and traditional music. Its compact design makes it easy for people to type and read. On the Mac, BarFly reads MusicXML files and converts them to abc, which can then be exported to a Standard MIDI file. Converting from abc to MusicXML is planned for a future release. MusicXML support was added in version 1.3.
MelodicMatch a software program for analyzing music through pattern recognition. It allows musicologists to search for melodies, rhythms and lyrics in MusicXML files. Version 1.0 runs on Windows.
KlavarScript is Marco van der Kolk's software for creating klavar music electronically. Klavar notation (Klavarskribo) was invented in the Netherlands in 1931 as an easier way to read music. The December 2005 version uses MusicXML import to translate from common Western music notation to Klavar notation much more accurately than is possible with MIDI.
The MusicEase notation editor reads MusicXML files. MusicEase runs under all versions of Windows, supporting tablature and shaped notes in addition to standard music notation. Shout Music Editor Professional adds hooks to MediaShout's Shout Music Manager worship planning software.
Personal Composer is a music notation, MIDI, sequencing, and publishing program for Windows. This pioneering program started on DOS back in 1983. The top-level PC-44 program supports MusicXML import starting with version 2.0.3.2.
THoTH is a Windows program that lets you store a database of musical files and recall them by both descriptive and musical features. Version 2.0 adds MusicXML support, including modal analysis of MusicXML files.
Igor Engraver from NoteHeads reads MusicXML files starting in version 1.7. Igor Engraver is a notation program available on both Macintosh and Windows.
Turandot is a score writing program for Windows from Spe-Not Kkt in Hungary. Version 1.0 reads MusicXML files.
Archivarius 3000 is a desktop search program from Likasoft. Version 3.79 adds the ability to read MusicXML metadata for desktop text searches.

Beta / Prototype Products

Reads and Writes MusicXML

Recordare continues to provide translations between MuseData and MusicXML as part of our file translation services. MuseData support was included in Version 1 of Recordare's Dolet for Finale product.
MuseScore is a Linux-based music score typesetter for the MusE MIDI/audio sequencer. MusicXML support was added in the 0.1.0pre1 release.
The Humdrum Extras suite includes the hum2xml and xml2hum programs for two-way translation between MusicXML and the Humdrum format. Compiled versions are available for Linux, Mac OS X, and Cygwin. Humdrum is a general-purpose software system intended to assist music researchers. Together with MuseData, it was one of the two major starting points for the design of the MusicXML format.
The MusicXML Library is an open source project hosted on SourceForge. This portable C++ library is based on work conducted by the Grame Computer Music Research Laboratory. The library supports conversion from and to an in-memory C++ format.
JFugue is an open-source Java API for programming music without the complexities of Java's MIDI implementation. Version 3.2 supports a beta add-on for reading and writing MusicXML files.
NoteWorthy Composer is an inexpensive music composition and notation application for Windows. Two third-party developers have built programs to add MusicXML translation. James Lee's nwc2xml program translates NoteWorthy Composer 1.5x and 1.7x files to MusicXML files. Niversoft's mxml2nwcc program translates MusicXML files to NoteWorthy Composer Clip 2.0 format.
Two programming toolkits include conversion between MusicXML and the GUIDO format. The pyScore toolkit translates in both directions. The MusicXML Library translates in one direction, from MusicXML to GUIDO.
Richard Boulderstone's Ossia Viewer is a free Java-based MusicXML viewer, player, and printer. It can save MusicXML files created by appending two scores together.
NoteEdit is a musical score editor for Linux originally developed by Dr.-Ing. Jörg Anders at the Technical University of Chemnitz. Version 2.3.3 added experimental support for MusicXML import and export, thanks to the work of Leon Vinken.
Geoff Chirgwin's NightXML program translates back and forth between Nightingale Notelist and MusicXML timewise files. This Java-based program uses XSLT 2.0 stylesheets for the translations. It runs on many platforms including Windows, Macintosh, and Linux.
KGuitar is an open-source environment for guitarists, including a tablature editor, running on Linux, Solaris, and FreeBSD. Basic MusicXML support was added in the 0.4.1 release.
Audimus Notes is free Java-based scorewriting software. It is currently available in an alpha release for Windows, including both Dutch and English user interfaces.
KOffice is an integrated office suite for Linux KDE systems. Version 2.0, currently in alpha test, adds the ability to read and write embedded MusicXML as part of compound office documents

Writes MusicXML

Stefan Bellon has created an Amadeus to MusicXML converter that runs on Windows. It converts files in Amadeus's musinp format into MusicXML 1.0 format.
The Music Prototyping Studio is a professional composition shaping program from Cognitone. As the name indicates, it creates musical prototypes. When you have something ready for production, you can then transfer to a more conventional notation or sequencing programs using MusicXML or MIDI.
John Lynch created an abc2xml conversion program from abc to MusicXML, and an xml2abc XSLT stylesheet for going the other direction. The original versions of these programs are currently unavailable, but Dave Holland has made available a Linux version of abc2xml.
Jelmer Vernooij's Power Tab Tools includes a ptb2musicxml program for translating Power Tab Editor files into MusicXML format.
David Psenicka's FOMUS (FOrmat MUSic) is a notation tool for composers of computer music. It facilitates converting raw algorithmic output into readable music notation. FOMUS is written in the Lisp programming language and runs on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows.
TuxGuitar is a multitrack tablature editor and player for Linux and Windows. MusicXML export is supported as of version 1.0-rc1.
Recordare has prototype software that translates the NIFF format into MusicXML. If you are interested in funding a project to make this software generally available, please contact us.
BUZZle is a modular composing tool / studio / sequencer for Windows by Bernhard "HotKey" Slawik, currently in beta release. It is intended as a successor program to the Buzz Modular Studio.
Robert Hamilton's jChing application is a gamut-based algorithmic composition tool inspired by the compositional techniques pioneered by John Cage in works like Music for Changes. It was demonstrated at the International Computer Music Conference 2005 in Barcelona.
Middle C Software is developing new music recognition software for use with digital cameras and scanners. MusicXML has been chosen as the output format due to its flexibility and application independence.
Jan de Kloe has announced a prototype version of the SipScore2XML program to translate SCORE files into MusicXML format. In the meantime, going from SCORE to MusicXML is currently a two step process. Finale and Sibelius can both import SCORE files, and then write out MusicXML files.

Reads MusicXML

Andreas Wenger's Xenoage Player is available both as a Java application and as a Java applet. Version 0.4 plays MusicXML files and can save them as Standard MIDI Files. It includes support for compressed MusicXML 2.0 files as well as MusicXML opus files.
James Delos Reyes's GLozart is a 3D graphics program written in OpenGL that graphically simulates hands playing a piano. It uses MusicXML files that include a piano part to create the animation. We hope this is the first of many programs that use MusicXML data to create interesting and useful animations and visualizations. GLozart runs on Windows and requires the OpenGL Utility Toolkit (GLUT).
Peter Billam's musicxml2mid program is a Perl script for translating MusicXML files into Standard MIDI Files.
NtEd is Dr.-Ing. Jörg Anders's new musical score editor for Linux. MusicXML import was added as of version 0.17.
FreeDots is Mario Lang's free MusicXML to Braille music notation translator, written in Python.

The number of products and formats with MusicXML support is constantly increasing. Watch this space for further updates. If you are interested in having Recordare help you add MusicXML support to your product, please contact us.

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Last updated April 11, 2008.