Piano transcription — converting a recording of someone playing piano into written notes — used to require expensive software, a trained ear, or hours of painstaking manual work. Today, you can do it for free, in your browser, in minutes.

This guide walks through how to transcribe any piano recording using Pianolyze, a free browser-based AI tool that runs entirely on your device. No subscriptions, no uploads, and no software to install.

What you need

• A modern web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari)
• A piano recording in MP3, WAV, FLAC, or M4A format
• That's it — no account required to try the sample tracks

Step-by-step: transcribing a piano recording

Step 1 — Open Pianolyze

Navigate to Pianolyze. On the first visit, the AI model (around 30MB) downloads and caches in your browser. Subsequent visits are instant, and the tool works offline.

Step 2 — Load your audio file

Drag your MP3, WAV, FLAC, or M4A file onto the drop zone, or click Browse Files to open a file picker. You can also click one of the free sample tracks (Beethoven or Ravel) to try the tool without your own files.

Step 3 — Watch the transcription happen in real time

Pianolyze processes your audio locally and renders a piano roll as it goes. You can see notes appearing as the AI detects them. A progress indicator shows how far along the transcription is.

Step 4 — Review the piano roll

Once complete, use the piano roll view to see every note. You can zoom in and out horizontally to inspect individual passages. The sheet music view (toggle the music note icon in the header) shows standard notation alongside the piano roll.

Step 5 — Export to MIDI

Click Export MIDI in the top-right corner to download a MIDI file. Import it into GarageBand, Logic Pro, Ableton, MuseScore, or any other DAW or notation software for further editing, printing, or playback.

Tips for better transcription results

Use clean, isolated piano recordings

Pianolyze is optimized for solo piano. It works best when the piano is the primary or only instrument in the recording. Recordings with heavy reverb, drums, bass, or other instruments will reduce accuracy.

Higher quality audio = better results

Lossless formats (FLAC, WAV) generally produce the best results. If you're using MP3, aim for 192kbps or higher. Heavily compressed recordings lose frequency information that the AI relies on to detect notes accurately.

Avoid extreme dynamics

Very quiet passages (pianissimo) or heavily pedaled sections can be harder for the AI to transcribe accurately. If you're recording for transcription purposes, aim for a consistent, natural dynamic range.

Why on-device transcription matters

Most online transcription tools send your audio file to a remote server for processing. That means your recordings leave your device, potentially touching third-party storage. Pianolyze processes everything locally — the AI model runs in your browser via WebAssembly, and your audio files never leave your computer.

This matters if you're working with unpublished compositions, client recordings, or any audio you'd prefer to keep private.

What formats can you export?

Currently, Pianolyze exports to MIDI (.mid). MIDI is the universal format for note data — it's supported by every major DAW, notation program, and music production tool. From MIDI you can:

• Print sheet music with MuseScore (free) or Sibelius/Finale
• Re-arrange and re-instrument in any DAW
• Load into a MIDI-compatible hardware synthesizer
• Quantize, transpose, or edit individual notes

Frequently asked questions

Is Pianolyze really free?

The sample tracks are free with no account. To transcribe your own audio files, you'll need to sign up (free). A Pro plan unlocks unlimited transcriptions.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes. Pianolyze runs in any modern browser, including Safari on iPhone and iPad and Chrome on Android. The interface adapts to smaller screens, though the piano roll is easiest to read on a larger display.

How accurate is the transcription?

Accuracy is high for clear, solo piano recordings. Complex passages with fast runs, heavy pedaling, or low-quality source audio will have more errors. The result is always a useful starting point — you can refine it in your notation software of choice.

Can it transcribe classical music?

Yes — in fact, classical solo piano is one of the ideal use cases. Baroque, classical, romantic, and modern solo piano pieces all transcribe well. The AI model is trained on a wide variety of piano music.