Optical Music Recognition (OMR)
Free Optical Music Recognition,
right in your browser.
Turn a PDF or photo of sheet music into notes you can edit, play, and export — in seconds, on any device. No install, no per-page fees, and your files never leave your computer.
From paper to playable in three steps
Import your score
Open the Scores screen and hit Import. Drop in a PDF or a photo of the page you want to digitise.
QuickStave reads it on your device
Recognition runs right in your browser — no upload, no waiting on a server queue. Your sheet music stays private to you.
Edit, play, and export
The result opens as a fully editable score. Fix anything, hear it back instantly, then export to MusicXML, MIDI, or PDF.
Why scan with QuickStave?
Most music scanners are paid desktop installs, or upload your files to a server and charge by the page. QuickStave does neither.
| QuickStave | PhotoScore / SmartScore | Flat.io PDF Import | Audiveris | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Paid | Per-page credits | Free |
| Runs in | Any browser | Windows / Mac install | Browser | Java install |
| Your files | Stay on your device | On your device | Uploaded to a server | On your device |
| Setup | None — just open a tab | Install + licence | Account required | Install Java + app |
| Edit the result | Full editor, same tab | In the bundled editor | In Flat's editor | Export only |
Comparison reflects each product's standard offering at time of writing.
Built the QuickStave way
Genuinely free
No per-page credits, no trial countdown. If free software can read your score, you shouldn't have to pay to do the same.
Private by design
Everything runs on your device. Your scores aren't uploaded, stored, or processed on anyone else's computer.
Fast
Seconds per page, not minutes. We're called QuickStave for a reason.
Any device
Chromebook, iPad, phone, or desktop — if it has a modern browser, it can scan.
Editable, not locked
The scan lands in a real notation editor. Correct a wrong note, add dynamics, transpose — then play it back.
Open formats out
Export to MusicXML and MIDI to carry your score into Sibelius, Dorico, MuseScore, or a DAW.
Curious how we built browser-native OMR? Read the engineering story.
Frequently asked questions
Is QuickStave's music scanning free?
Yes. Scanning a score and editing the result are free, with no per-page charges and nothing to install. Exporting the finished score to MusicXML or MIDI is part of Pro; PDF export is free with a small badge.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Optical Music Recognition runs in any modern browser — Chromebook, iPad, phone, or desktop. There is no app to download and no licence to manage.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. Recognition runs entirely on your own device. Your sheet music never leaves your computer — which is also why we can offer it for free.
What can I scan?
A PDF or a photo of printed sheet music works best. Faint, skewed, or handwritten pages are harder and may need more cleanup in the editor.
How accurate is it?
This is an early release and improving steadily. Treat the result as a fast first draft you tidy up in the editor — still far quicker than entering every note by hand.
Can I export the scanned score?
Yes. Once it is in QuickStave you can export to MusicXML (to open in Sibelius, Dorico, or MuseScore), to MIDI, or to PDF.
How long does a scan take?
Usually seconds per page, depending on your device — not the minutes that desktop tools often need.
Scan your first score now
It's free, it runs in this browser, and nothing gets uploaded. Open QuickStave, go to the Scores screen, and hit Import.