Alchemys App
Score Editor
Write, edit and play back music notation in the browser. No install, works offline once loaded.
Sign in with Google to use it — Score Editor is limited to invited accounts, so most visitors won't be able to open it.
Overview
One editor, three ways in
Write ABC notation directly, let AI recognise a photo or recording, or generate a score from a text prompt.
AI Compose
Describe the music you want in plain language and get a full, playable score in seconds.
AI Recognize
Photograph printed or handwritten sheet music, or upload a recording, and AI turns it into notation.
Realistic playback
Hear your score with real instrument sounds, right in the browser.
Works offline
No install — a score you've opened once stays cached for offline use.
Getting started
From blank stave to finished score
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1
Open Score Editor
Go to Score Editor. You'll see the sidebar on the left and an empty score in the middle.
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2
Create your first score
Easiest is AI Compose — click it in the sidebar and describe the music you want.
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3
Play it back
Click the play button in the toolbar to hear it with real instrument sounds.
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4
Save your work
Click Save, or press Ctrl+S. It appears in the sidebar and syncs across your devices.
Score view
Two ways to see your music
Switch between the rendered score and the raw notation whenever you like.
Score view (default)
Rendered sheet music — staves, note heads, clefs and bar lines. This is what you see by default.
ABC text editor
The raw ABC notation, for direct editing. The rendered score updates as you type. Open it from the ABC button in the toolbar.
You don't need to know ABC notation to use Score Editor — AI Compose and AI Recognize write it for you. The ABC editor is there for precise manual edits.
AI Recognize
Turn a photo or recording into notation
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1
Click Recognize in the sidebar
A file picker opens.
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2
Choose a photo or a recording
Image — a photo of printed or handwritten sheet music. JPG, PNG and other common formats. Audio — a recording of someone playing or humming. WAV, MP3, M4A, OGG, FLAC and AIFF.
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3
AI processes it and loads the score
Wait a few seconds — the score renders automatically, with a note if the result needs review.
Confidence levels — a clear printed score is usually high confidence and very accurate; medium or low confidence means the AI made its best guess and the result is worth reviewing before you save it.
AI Compose
Generate a score from a text prompt
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1
Click AI Compose in the sidebar
A dialog opens with a text field.
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2
Describe the music you want
e.g. "A gentle waltz in G major for violin and piano"
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3
Set tempo and bar count, then click Generate
The score appears in seconds. Click Generate again as many times as you like for a different result.
Composing over a score you already have open? You'll be asked whether to replace it or keep both — the new composition is always saved as its own score.
Instruments & notes
Add voices and enter notes three ways
Instruments
Each instrument is its own staff. Click + Add Instrument in the sidebar to add one.
11 instruments to choose from, each with the right clef already set up.
To remove one, hover over it in the sidebar and click the × that appears.
Three ways to add notes
On-screen piano (easiest)
Click the piano icon in the toolbar, then click a key to insert that note. Use the ‹ › arrows, or the toolbar's octave buttons, to move up and down the keyboard.
Drum pads
Click the drum-pad icon for cymbal, tom and core pads. Tap a pad for one hit, or click [·], pick several pads and click [·] again (or press Enter) to insert them as a chord.
Type in the ABC editor (advanced)
With the ABC editor focused: A–G inserts a note, 0 a rest, 1–5 sets the duration, and #, - and = set sharp, flat and natural.
Playback & export
Hear it, save it, take it with you
Playback
- Play / PauseClick the play button; click again to pause
- StopResets playback to the beginning
- TempoDrag the slider, 40–240 BPM, changes apply immediately
Instrument sounds (about 2 MB each) download the first time you press play, then stay cached for next time.
Save & export
- SaveSave or Ctrl+S — add a title and tags; syncs across your devices
- DraftsAuto-saved locally every 5 seconds; a restore banner appears if you closed the tab early
- Export ABCA plain-text .abc file — opens in MuseScore, Sibelius or any ABC app
- Export PDFOpens your browser's print dialog — save as PDF from there
Shortcuts & ABC
Work faster, and understand the notation
- Ctrl/Cmd+SSave score
- Ctrl/Cmd+EExport ABC file
- A–GInsert a note (ABC editor focused)
- 0Insert a rest
- 1–5Set duration: whole, half, quarter, eighth, 16th
- # - =Sharp, flat, natural
- Shift+↑/↓Octave up / down
You never need ABC notation to use Score Editor, but it's simple to read. A score starts with a header — title, time signature, tempo, key — followed by the notes:
X:1
T:My Score
M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:120
K:C
V:1 name="Piano" clef=treble
[V:1] CDEF GABC|]Header fields
X:Tune number (always 1)T:TitleM:Time signatureL:Default note length (keep at 1/8)Q:Tempo, in BPMK:Key signature (the last header line)
Each instrument gets its own V: voice — here's a two-instrument example:
X:1
T:Duet
M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:120
K:C
V:1 name="Violin" clef=treble
V:2 name="Piano" clef=treble
[V:1] e2e2 d2c2|e8|]
[V:2] C2E2 G2E2|C8|]FAQ
Questions
Who can use Score Editor?
It's limited to invited accounts. If you don't have access, signing in won't let you into the app.
Do I need to know music notation?
No — AI Compose and AI Recognize write the notation for you. Manual ABC editing is there if you want it, not required.
Does using AI cost anything?
AI Compose and Recognize draw on the same shared credit balance as every other Alchemys app. Typing ABC by hand doesn't call AI.
What audio and image formats work with Recognize?
Images: JPG, PNG and other common formats. Audio: WAV, MP3, M4A, OGG, FLAC and AIFF.
Can I get my score out of the browser?
Yes — Export ABC downloads a plain-text file you can open in MuseScore, Sibelius or any ABC-compatible app; Export PDF uses your browser's print dialog.
Ready to write your first score?
Sign in and start with AI Compose, AI Recognize, or a blank stave.