Converting your MIDI demo into a score

Getting a track to sound right with samples is step one. Preparing its score is what comes next

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When your piece is approved, you can convert your MIDI demo into a score for musicians to play. Often the differences between a piece sounding right (for samples) and looking right (on the page) can be stark. Save a new version of your piece called ‘Score Prep’.

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We quantise every note to stick strictly to bar and beat lines. Samples often sound ‘late’ if they’re quantised as the body of a sampled note isn’t usually at the point it’s triggered by a MIDI note-on message. For your score, they’ll need to ‘look’ completely in time.

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Next we need to strip out any MIDI information which isn’t note data. You’ve probably needed lines of MIDI controller data – modulation, expression, vibrato control etc. – to make your samples come to life, but you don’t need that to appear on the score. Delete it all.

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Correct note lengths next. Make sure that any notes which overlap (which is often necessary for portamento swoops) are shortened so that the score software won’t tie some notes over others. Equally, make sure that staccato notes are all short.

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Save the selected parts as a MIDI file. Import this into your score writing software and each part will be imported onto its own stave. Make sure that the clef for each of the parts has been set correctly and insert the right key signature. Now you’re ready to work in more detail within the score writing software. Add dynamic markings (f (forte) for loud, p (piano) for quiet, etc), crescendo/ decrescendo lines, staccato dots for short notes, slurs for notes you want to be played within a single bow… and so on.