Convert Sheet Music to Audio Files

coolagarry · 19 May 2013 at 11:08AM

I have been given some sheet music which I have to sing. Unfortunately I dont read music. Is there any software (preferably free) available that can convert the written music into audio. Thanks in anticipation.

Jivesinger · 19 May 2013 at 11:13AM

I don't know, but it's a tricky thing to do so I'd be surprised if there was.

What's the piece of music?

There may be other versions online (for instance quite a lot of music has been transcribed into the MIDI file format).

Jivesinger · 19 May 2013 at 11:20AM

Actually it looks like there may be such things. Have a look here and there are a couple of free options mentioned.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_OCR

I've no idea if they are any good/ free from malware though. It would have to be printed music I think rather than a hand-written score.

If the piece of music is well-known then finding a MIDI version may be easier though.

coolagarry · 20 May 2013 at 9:20PM

Thanks Jivesinger (A name like that gives you credability on a music question.) The paid for ones ore over £100 but the open source may be able to help. Sadly its a bit of obscure church music and I couldnt find it anywhere.

Jivesinger · 20 May 2013 at 9:30PM

It's fair to say I have encountered a few obscure pieces of church music in my time! Which one is it (just for my personal interest if nothing else)?

debitcardmayhem · 20 May 2013 at 10:30PM

Just a suggestion really, have you tried your church organist ?

PasturesNew · 20 May 2013 at 10:32PM

Two options spring to mind: Youtube it to see if anybody else is singing it. And/or learn to read music - it's not that difficult. There are the actual notes, and some other wiggly bits that give other clues that the sound is only half a note or something similar (from memory of over 40 years ago)

coolagarry · 20 May 2013 at 10:49PM

It's 'The Gloria' and the 'Lamb of God' in the Mass of Blessed Dominic of the Mother of God. There are lots of 'Glorias' but not this particular one. I have thought seriously about asking the church organist but she lives nowhere near me.

Yorkie1 · 20 May 2013 at 11:21PM

Do you have a local library that might be able to order a recording of it for you?

paddyrg · 20 May 2013 at 11:52PM

Someone, somewhere nearby you can read music and play piano - maybe at a college, a student home for the summer, a school flute player, a pub guitarist. Someone in your extended circle will be able to play it, and you can tape them!

tyllwyd · 21 May 2013 at 9:24AM

I agree with the above - perhaps google for a singing teacher near you, or go into a local music shop and ask. You should be able to find someone who can sing it for you to record - I would have thought a fee of £10-£20 per hour would be reasonable. I've never used sheet music to sound software, but I wonder if it would be like language translation software - it more or less works, but nowhere near as good as the real thing.