Erik's Music Database - Score Format Options
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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.