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 2010 and the other Finale family products read and write MusicXML files directly from the File menu on both Windows and Mac OS X. Finale 2010, PrintMusic 2009, and Finale NotePad 2009 read and write MusicXML 2.0, 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 Mac 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 and Open Score Format 0.9.1 files, and provides batch translation features. MusicXML 1.1 and 1.0 files are also supported. Dolet 4 for Finale supports Finale 2000 to 2009 on Windows and Finale 2004 to 2009 on Mac OS X. Intel-based Macs require Finale 2007 to 2009 as Dolet 4 does not run under Rosetta. Batch translation and some advanced formatting features require Finale 2004 to 2009.
Sibelius reads MusicXML files as of Version 4.0. Version 5.1 added support for reading MusicXML 2.0 files. You can write MusicXML 2.0 files from Sibelius 5 and 6 using Recordare's Dolet 4 for Sibelius plug-in. For Sibelius 2.1, 3.1, and 4, 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 4 for Sibelius includes support for MusicXML 2.0 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 added 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 added 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. Its user interface languages include German, Danish, Dutch, and English. Both the full version of PriMus and the less expensive PriMus Classic include MusicXML support.
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 added MusicXML import for editing files created by other programs.
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 6.0 adds support for both importing and exporting MusicXML files directly from the File menu. (Version 5.3 added MusicXML export via a plugin). 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.
Encore is Gvox's flagship notation editor. Version 5 for Mac and Windows has added support for MusicXML import and export.
capella Media Producer is a music file conversion tool, including support for both audio and symbolic formats. Version 5 added the ability to translate between MusicXML 1.0 and other formats, including CapXML and MIDI.
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.
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.
SCORE is one of the oldest music notation programs still in use. Jan de Kloe has developed the SipXML2Score program to convert MusicXML files into SCORE files. Version 4.0 of SipXML2Score is now available for Windows. Version 3 added support for the new MusicXML 1.1 features supported by Finale 2008 and the Dolet 4 for Finale plug-in. Version 1.0 of the SipScoreToXML program to translate SCORE files into MusicXML format is also available, supporting MusicXML 1.0 files.
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.
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.
OpenMusic is a visual programming environment for created computer-assisted composition applications. It was designed and developed at IRCAM and runs on Mac OS X. Version 6.0 includes support for reading and writing MusicXML files.
JFugue is an open-source Java API for programming music without the complexities of Java's MIDI implementation. Version 4.0 added fully integrated support for reading and writing 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 added MusicXML support.
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 added MusicXML support on Windows.
Hervé Bitteur's ProxyMusic library provides a binding between Java objects and a MusicXML 2.0 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. JAXB 2.0 is required.
TaBazar II is a notation editor for guitar and other stringed instruments, running on Windows. It has supported reading and writing MusicXML files since version 2.6 of the original TaBazar program.
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. Version 2 supports the MusicXML 2.0 format.
Pizzicato is a music notation and composition program for Windows and Mac from Arpege sprl, including tools to help write melodies, harmonies, and counterpoint. Version 3.3 added MusicXML support. The Professional version both reads and writes MusicXML 2.0 files. The Light and Beginner versions write MusicXML 2.0 files, but do not read them.
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.
KOffice is a free integrated office suite for Linux KDE systems. Version 2.0 adds the ability to read and write embedded MusicXML as part of compound office documents
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 added MusicXML support.
Forte is a Windows-based notational, sequencing and recording software product from Lugert Verlag. German, English, and French versions are available.
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

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.
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.
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 added MusicXML export support.
Sequoia and Samplitude are Windows-based audio and MIDI recording and editing applications from MAGIX AG. Version 9.1 added export of Sequoia and Samplitude scores to MusicXML format.
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.
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.
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.
AudioScore Professional from Neuratron is a Windows-based program that, among other features, converts monophonic wave audio (.wav) files into MusicXML files.
Audiveris is an open-source, Java-based music scanning program. Version 3.0 added the ability to save MusicXML files. The project is led by Hervé Bitteur.
ScoreMaker FX3 is a Windows-based music scanning and notation program from KAWAI Musical Instruments, sold mostly in Japan. ScoreMaker version 4.0 added the ability to save MusicXML 1.0 files. Version 5.0 added MusicXML 1.1 support.
Electric Ears has introduced the first MusicXML application for the iPhone. The pocketscore notation editor allows you to write simple music notation on the iPhone or iPod Touch, and then export a MusicXML file by e-mailing to an address in your contacts.
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 added 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.
Max/MSP is an interactive graphical programming environment for music and audio on Mac and Windows. The MaxScore Max object adds common Western music notation to Max/MSP, including saving MusicXML 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.
TuxGuitar is a multitrack tablature editor and player for Linux and Windows. Version 1.0 supports MusicXML export via the TuxGuitar-MusicXML plugin.
Peter Billam's muscript language for music typesetting exports MusicXML files as of version 2.6s, as well as exporting PostScript and MIDI files.

Reads MusicXML

Sibelius First and Sibelius Student are simplified music notation programs from Sibelius Software. The current versions, based on Sibelius 5, can read MusicXML 2.0 files.
Legato Sheet Music Viewer is an interactive sheet music viewer created for sales of digital sheet music. Because Legato was built using the Adobe Flash Player, no additional downloads are required for use. The application reads music in the MusicXML 2.0 format and lets you transpose for printing and playback. Based on the older musicRAIN viewer, the sheet music viewer can be completely customized to meet the needs of each individual digital sheet music retailer. For example, Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI) is using the Legato/musicRAIN viewer in its SongSelect Advanced and Premium applications for online lead sheets, chord sheets, and hymn sheets.
Noteflight is an online service for writing and sharing music notation online, and then embedding the results in web sites and blogs. The Noteflight Score Editor displays, edits, prints and plays back music notation in any standard web browser. MusicXML import is available when using Flash Player 10 in the version 1.0 release.
Finale Reader is a free program from MakeMusic for displaying, playing, and printing MusicXML and Finale-format files. It runs on Windows and Mac OS X.
LilyPond is an open-source automated music engraving system. It runs on Linux, Mac OS X, and Windows. Version 2.8 added a basic MusicXML importer, which has been greatly improved and expanded for version 2.12. Version 2.12 also includes an extensive MusicXML test suite that can be used by other MusicXML developers. This supersedes Guido Amoruso's earlier xml2ly XSLT stylesheet for translating MusicXML into the LilyPond format.
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.
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.
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 Music Plug-In is a free web browser plug-in for displaying, playing, transposing, and printing music notation files. Version 5.4.0 added support for MusicXML files, including MusicXML 2.0 support. The plug-in works on Windows and Mac.
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.
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. MusicXML support was added to BarFly in version 1.3 Other programs can also read MusicXML files and write abc files, including Melody Assistant and Harmony Assistant on Windows and Mac.
Melody Assistant is the entry-level notation program from Myriad Software for Windows and Mac OS X. Version 7.4.0 added the ability to read MusicXML 2.0 files.
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.
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 added the ability to play MusicXML files.
Igor Engraver from NoteHeads reads MusicXML files starting in version 1.7. Igor Engraver is a notation program available on both Mac and Windows.
NoteAbility Pro is a music notation editor for Mac OS X from Opus 1 Music. Version 2.34 added the ability to import MusicXML files.
The GUIDO format as a text-based notation format used by a few programs who used it for interchange before MusicXML became popular. The MusicXML Library translates from MusicXML to GUIDO format.
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.
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.
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-Pro program supports MusicXML import starting with version 2.0.3.2.
NtEd is Dr.-Ing. Jörg Anders's new musical score editor for Linux. It is now included with the Fedora operating system, and packages are available for other Linux distributions. MusicXML import was added as of version 0.17.
Archivarius 3000 is a desktop search program from Likasoft. Version 3.79 added the ability to read MusicXML metadata for desktop text searches.
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 added MusicXML support, including modal analysis of MusicXML files.
Turandot is a score writing program for Windows from Spe-Not Kkt in Hungary. Version 1.0 reads MusicXML files.

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.
Open Score Format is an open and non-proprietary distribution, interchange and archive file format for digital scores. Based on MusicXML 2.0, it adds features for digital signing, structured metadata, enhanced multimedia packages, and repertoire-specific profiles. The OSF Packaging Toolkit provides a command-line tool for creating, unpacking, validating and signing Open Score Format packages. Recordare's Dolet 4 for Finale plug-in also reads and writes OSF files. Organizations that have contributed to the development of the Open Score Format include Yamaha, Recordare, Music Sales, MakeMusic, and Hal Leonard.
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.
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.
MuseScore is a free and open source music score typesetter for Windows and Linux. It reads and writes MusicXML 2.0 files, including the compressed .mxl format.
Samuel Silva has developed a Haskell Library for reading and writing MusicXML 2.0 files from applications written in the Haskell language.
The pyScore programming toolkit supports working with symbolic music notation in Python. It includes tools for translating between the MusicXML and GUIDO formats in both directions.
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.

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.
Synfire Pro is a music prototyping studio program from Cognitone. It lets composers work with elements like figures, motifs, and phrases, and arrange them in a tree-like structure. When you have something ready for production, you can then transfer to more conventional notation or sequencing programs using MusicXML or MIDI.
The abc4j software toolkit for abc notation in Java includes an abc2xml MusicXML export feature as of version 0.5. Another abc2xml program was created by John Lynch, along with an xml2abc XSLT stylesheet for going the other direction. The original versions of John Lynch's programs are no longer available, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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.
Perfect Intonation from Provectis Music is a pitch/intonation training and rehearsal tool for vocalists and string players. You can load any MusicXML file into the program and have it evaluate your pitch and intonation as you perform from the displayed score.
Canorus is a free extensible music score editor for Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X. Version 0.7 adds basic MusicXML import.
BrailleMUSE (Braille MUsic Support Environment) is a free Braille music translation server from MusicXML documents through the Internet. It has been developed by Yokohama National University and collaborators.
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.
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 June 23, 2009.