The Journal
Featured · Comparisons
Most transcription apps bill monthly. The free, one-time and per-piece options that don't, with prices from each vendor's site and when a plan still wins.
10 min read →
Samplab not working since 17 September 2026? Why logins and old versions fail, what still opens your projects, how refunds work, and where to go next.
Samplab's stated end date, 17 September 2026, has passed. What its notice says about projects and refunds, and which audio-to-MIDI tools handle piano.
You play by ear and can't read music. Here is how to get your playing written down properly anyway — for a teacher, a band, an exam, or just to keep it.
Human transcribers charge per minute of music with a minimum order. September 2026 rates from three services, compared with software.
Spotify's Basic Pitch outputs MIDI with pitch bends — no key signature, no hand splitting, no rhythmic spelling. What it takes to get a readable score.
Browser-based alternatives to AnthemScore, with prices checked on every vendor's own site — plus an honest case for AnthemScore's one-time desktop licence.
ABRSM asks for a legible, fully-notated score of your own composition. Here is the exact wording, what it means, and how to get there from a recording.
What is a MIDI file? Learn what .mid files contain, how they differ from audio and sheet music, and how pianists and music producers use MIDI in practice.
How to transcribe piano music by ear: find the key, map the bass and melody, fill in chords, notate the rhythm and check your work at the piano.
How to record piano with your phone for clear sound and accurate transcription: phone placement, the right settings, room tips, and mistakes to avoid.
Learn to read piano sheet music: the grand staff, treble and bass clefs, note names, rhythm, rests, and key and time signatures, for beginners.
How to turn a piano recording into sheet music: prepare the audio, convert it, check the score and fix errors. A practical piano to sheet music guide.
Audio to MIDI tools compared: Basic Pitch, Piano2Notes, Songscription, AnthemScore, ScoreCloud, Melodyne and ours, from vendor pages read Sept 2026.