Why an Export Checklist in ScanScore Matters
When you digitize sheet music with ScanScore, your goal is usually to export a clean file: for example as MusicXML, MIDI, MP3 or PDF. Before you export, it is worth taking a careful look at the recognized score.
Small recognition errors can have a big effect later. A wrong note value can throw off an entire bar. A note assigned to the wrong voice can make the MusicXML file harder to edit in notation software. Repeats, lyrics or chord symbols that are not assigned correctly may look or sound different after export.
This checklist helps you review your sheet music in ScanScore step by step before exporting.
1. Are All Bars Complete?
The most important step before every export is checking the bars. If a bar does not add up rhythmically, one of these issues is often the cause:
- A note was recognized with the wrong duration.
- A rest is missing or was inserted incorrectly.
- A note was assigned to the wrong voice.
- The time signature was not recognized correctly.
- A barline is placed in the wrong position.
Start by checking whether the rhythmic structure is correct. Play back the score and listen for passages that sound too short, too long or rhythmically unstable. In many cases, listening helps you find mistakes faster than looking at the notation alone.
Correction Tip
If a bar does not add up, do not start with small visual details right away. First check the basic structure: time signature, barlines, note values and rests. After that, you can correct smaller details such as beams, slurs, ties or articulations.
2. Are the Time Signature and Key Signature Correct?
An incorrect time signature can make many bars appear wrong, even if the individual notes are recognized correctly. For example, if a piece is in 3/4 but ScanScore recognizes it as 4/4, many bars will not add up properly.
Check the following:
- Is the time signature at the beginning correct?
- Are there time signature changes in the piece?
- Were time signature changes recognized at the right position?
- Does the time signature apply to one section or the entire piece?
You should also review the key signature before exporting. An incorrectly recognized key signature can lead to unnecessary accidentals when the file is opened in notation software.
It is important to understand the difference between correcting the key signature and transposing the music. If only the key signature was recognized incorrectly, you want to correct the key without changing the actual pitch of the music. If the piece should be moved to another key, that is transposition.
3. Are Note Values and Rests Correct?
Incorrect note values are among the most common corrections after sheet music recognition. Pay special attention to passages with:
- dotted notes
- eighth and sixteenth notes
- rests within a bar
- pickup bars
- syncopation
- triplets and other tuplets
If a bar seems too short or too long, the problem is often one note value or one rest. Correct these passages before exporting the file.
This is especially important if you want to export as MusicXML. MusicXML transfers the musical structure to another notation program. The cleaner your bars and note values are in ScanScore, the less editing you will need later in MuseScore, Sibelius, Dorico, Finale or another notation program.
4. Are Voices Assigned Correctly?
Polyphonic music can be challenging during recognition. Especially in piano music, choral scores or ensemble arrangements, individual notes may be assigned to the wrong voice.
Typical signs of incorrect voice assignment include:
- note stems point in an unexpected direction
- rests appear in unusual positions
- one voice sounds incomplete during playback
- notes that belong together musically are treated separately
- a bar appears overloaded even though the notation looks correct
Before exporting, check whether the voices are logically organized. If a note belongs to a different voice, move it to the correct voice. This improves both the display in ScanScore and the later MusicXML export.
5. Were Chords Recognized Correctly?
When working with chords, check whether ScanScore recognized the notes as a chord only when they actually belong together. The opposite can also happen: notes may be displayed as a chord even though they belong to different voices.
Pay special attention to:
- piano music with left and right hand
- choral scores with soprano, alto, tenor and bass
- polyphonic melodic lines
- broken chords
- densely written notation
If a single note needs to be separated from a chord, correct it before exporting. Otherwise, the file may be harder to edit later in your notation software.
6. Are Ties and Slurs Correct?
Ties and slurs look similar, but they have different musical meanings. A tie connects two notes of the same pitch and extends their sound. A slur indicates phrasing or articulation.
Before exporting, check:
- Are ties only placed between notes of the same pitch?
- Were slurs accidentally recognized as ties?
- Are important slurs missing?
- Are curves too long or too short?
- Do they begin and end on the correct notes?
This check is especially important for MIDI and MP3 export, because ties can affect playback. It is also important for MusicXML export so the musical meaning is preserved in the target program.
7. Are Repeats, Endings and Jump Marks Correct?
Repeats can cause problems during export if they are not recognized or set correctly. Check the following:
- Are repeat signs placed at the correct bars?
- Are there first and second endings?
- Are volta brackets assigned correctly?
- Were Segno, Coda or Fine markings recognized correctly?
- Does playback follow the intended musical structure?
This step is especially important if you want to export the file as MIDI or MP3. Playback follows the musical instructions. If repeats are incorrect, the exported audio file may also play incorrectly.
8. Are Lyrics and Chord Symbols Assigned Correctly?
If your piece contains lyrics or chord symbols, review these elements before exporting. They should be attached to the correct musical position.
Check for:
- syllables under the correct notes
- complete lyric lines
- chord symbols above the correct bar
- no swapped lyrics and chord symbols
- no floating text elements that should be attached musically
Correct assignment is particularly important for MusicXML export. If lyrics and chords are properly attached, they will be easier to edit in the target notation program.
9. Are Dynamics and Articulations Correct?
Dynamic markings such as p, f, mf or crescendo affect musical interpretation. Accents, staccato dots and playing techniques should also be reviewed before export.
Not every symbol is equally important for every export format. For PDF export, the visual appearance matters most. For MIDI or MP3, it may also matter how the markings affect playback. For MusicXML, it is important that the information is transferred as cleanly as possible.
Check the following:
- Are dynamic markings placed correctly?
- Were accents recognized correctly?
- Are crescendo and decrescendo hairpins aligned properly?
- Are playing techniques placed in a meaningful position?
- Do incorrectly recognized symbols affect readability?
10. Which Export Format Do You Need?
Before exporting, make sure you choose the format that fits your goal.
MusicXML is ideal if you want to continue editing the score in notation software. It works well for MuseScore, Sibelius, Dorico, Finale and other notation programs.
MIDI is useful if you want to use the music in a DAW or create a simple playback file. MIDI contains playback information, but it is not designed for perfect notation layout.
MP3 is the right choice if you need an audio file for listening, practice or sharing.
PDF is best if you want to share or print the sheet music as a finished document.
If you are unsure, export as MusicXML when you want to continue editing, and export as PDF when you need a finished score layout.
Checklist: What to Review Before Exporting from ScanScore
Before exporting, go through these points one more time:
- Are all bars rhythmically complete?
- Are the time signature and key signature correct?
- Are note values and rests correct?
- Are voices assigned correctly?
- Were chords recognized correctly?
- Are ties and slurs set correctly?
- Are repeats, endings and jump marks correct?
- Are lyrics and chord symbols attached correctly?
- Are dynamics and articulations placed properly?
- Have you chosen the right export format?
If these points are correct, your file is much better prepared for export.
Conclusion: Correct First, Export Second
A good export does not begin with clicking “Export”. It begins with careful correction beforehand. If you check bars, note values, voices, repeats and text before exporting, you will save a lot of time later.
This is especially important when exporting as MusicXML. The cleaner the musical structure is in ScanScore, the better it can be edited later in notation software.
That way, a scanned or imported sheet music page becomes a useful digital score that you can edit, play back, share or print.
FAQ: Common Questions About Exporting from ScanScore
Why should I correct my sheet music before exporting?
Because errors in bar structure, note values, voices or repeats can be transferred during export. Correcting them first leads to better results in MusicXML, MIDI, MP3 and PDF.
Which export format is best for notation software?
MusicXML is usually the best choice for further editing in notation software. It transfers musical structures such as notes, bars, voices and many other elements.
Why does my MIDI or MP3 export sound wrong?
This is often caused by incorrect note values, repeats, tempo markings or ties. Review these elements carefully before exporting.
What should I do if a bar does not add up?
First check the time signature, note values, rests and voices. Often only one note value or one rest was recognized incorrectly.
Do I need to correct everything before exporting as PDF?
For PDF export, the visual layout matters most. But if the score should also be musically correct, you should still review bars, voices, lyrics and symbols.
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