MIDI vs MusicXML vs PDF: which score file do you need?

PDF: the fixed page

PDF is useful for printing, teacher annotations and sharing a fixed layout. The reader does not need your notation software, and the page does not reflow in another score editor.

PDF is not the best working format for changing individual notes. Keep MusicXML as well if you expect to transpose, rearrange parts or continue editing rather than re-entering the page later.

MusicXML: exchangeable notation

MusicXML exchanges notation between music applications, including notes, durations, parts and other score information. Use it to continue refining a Notavue transcription in a notation environment you know.

Notation applications have different engraving rules. Review page breaks, stems, slurs and text placement after importing. Exchanging the musical data does not guarantee identical page layout in every application.

MIDI: note events and timing

MIDI is useful in a DAW for working with notes, timing, velocity or instrument sounds. It is not designed to preserve a published page layout, so keep the editable score rather than relying only on MIDI.

Notavue’s full version includes these three export formats. Download them from one saved edition, then check the title, opening phrase and ending before sharing the files.

Format at a glance