Choose Songscription if
- You want sheet music, not falling notes.
- You are transcribing instruments other than piano.
- You want it in the browser on any device.
- You do not mind uploading your recordings.
LumaKeys vs Songscription
Songscription turns any recording into sheet music and MIDI in the browser. LumaKeys transcribes piano on your Mac, and you learn, record and make videos from the result.
Songscription is a web service that turns audio into sheet music and MIDI with AI: upload a recording, get a score back. LumaKeys transcribes piano on your Mac, offline, and the result becomes a piece in your repertoire that you can learn from falling notes, edit in a piano roll, record your own version of, and export as a video.
Which one fits you?
Choose LumaKeys if
- You want the transcription to stay on your Mac. Nothing uploaded.
- You want to play the result from falling notes, loop it, and slow it down.
- You want to fix the notes in a piano roll.
- You want to record your own version and export a video.
- You want to pay once.
Side by side
| Feature | Songscription | LumaKeys |
|---|---|---|
| The basics | ||
| Price | Free for 30-second clips, Plus $9.99 a month or $99.90 a year, Pro $29.99 a month or $299.90 a year | $69 for a limited time, then $99 |
| Subscription | Yes, with monthly transcription credits | None, pay once |
| Platforms | Web | macOS, Apple Silicon and Intel |
| Where it runs | In the cloud | On your Mac, offline |
| Transcribe | ||
| Audio to MIDI | From a file, a recording, or a YouTube, Instagram or TikTok link | From an audio or video file or your microphone, 5 on Free, unlimited on Pro |
| Sheet-music output | Sheet music, MusicXML, PDF, Guitar Pro | — |
| Instruments | Piano, guitar, bass, violin, flute, trumpet, sax, drums, vocals | Piano |
| Edit the result | Note editor, in the score or a piano roll | Piano roll |
| Then what | ||
| Learn from falling notes | Piano roll with speed and hand split, no play-along feedback | Yes, with loop, slow-down and wait mode |
| Record your playing | Audio only, to transcribe | MIDI or computer keys, per hand |
| Video export | — | 16:9 and 9:16, 60 fps, 4K on Pro |
| Repertoire library | Your transcriptions, in your account | Pieces and recordings, by composer |
Sources: Songscription Songscription pricing Songscription FAQ Songscription terms LumaKeys pricing
What LumaKeys adds
Audio to MIDI, on your Mac
Drop in a piano recording and it becomes editable notes, on your Mac. Nothing leaves your machine.
Edit every note
Fix what the transcription missed in a piano roll, then it is your piece.
Learn any piece
Play the result from falling notes. Loop the hard bar, slow it down, split the hands.
More detail
What Songscription does well
Upload a recording of piano, guitar, strings, winds or vocals, or paste a YouTube link, and get sheet music and MIDI back. It runs in the browser, so it works on anything, and the free tier lets you try it on 30-second clips. Its sister app Anything Piano brings the same transcription to iPhone and has its own page here.
Where it stops
You get a score and a piano roll you can edit, slow down, and share by link. It gives no feedback while you play, doesn't record your own take as MIDI, and has no video export.
Recordings are uploaded to their servers to be transcribed, and by default uploads may be used to train their models. Plus and Pro can opt out.
Questions
Comparing more apps? See all Synthesia alternatives, or ask me.
Is LumaKeys a Songscription alternative?
For piano, yes. LumaKeys transcribes piano audio to MIDI on your Mac and lets you play, edit, record, and export the result. Songscription is the pick for sheet music or for other instruments.
Does LumaKeys upload my audio?
No. Transcription runs on your Mac, offline. There is no account and nothing leaves your machine.
How accurate is LumaKeys transcription?
Strongest on solo piano, weaker on dense mixes. Whatever it misses you fix in the piano roll.
Does LumaKeys produce sheet music?
No. LumaKeys works in falling notes and the piano roll.
Start your piano journey today.
macOS 12 or later · On an Intel version?
Pro is $69 for a limited time, then $99. See all Pro features.