Erik's Music Database - Score Format Options

Home Scores Discography Performers Terminology Formats Limitations Links Contribute Credits

EMDB scores may appear in several different formats, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Bitmap images are available for all scores. Other formats have more limited availability (see below).

• Bitmap image: This format (extension .gif) appears by default on an EMDB score page. It represents a cropped scan of the original paper transcription. Bitmap images are quick to display, but are often messy and their resolution is substandard for printing.
• PDF: This format (extension .pdf) is a type-set version of the bitmap score suitable for high-resolution display and printing. PDF is widely supported on all common operating systems.
• Finale: This format (extension .mus) is supported by the Finale commercial music typesetting program (available for Windows and Macs). With Finale, users may edit, transpose, and playback a score.
• MusicXML: This format (extension .xml) is a standard interchange format for music scores. It is supported by many computer music programs and friendly to custom software development.
• Myriad: Myriad refers to a browser plug-in (freely available for Windows and Macs) for viewing, transposing, printing and playing back MusicXML files (see above). Users must install the Myriad Music Plug-in in their browsers before this option will display correctly. This option is available for scores for which the MusicXML is available.

Current Availability

Bitmap images are available for all scores. James Bernhard has begun the process of creating Finale files from the original scans and using Finale to generate PDF and MusicXML files. Currently books ML01 and MM02 are available in Finale and PDF formats, and the former is also available as MusicXML. If you're interested in helping with this conversion effort, see the Contribute page.