Is Pianolyze really free?

You can preview the beginning of one of your own recordings for free after email sign-in. A Song Pass or monthly plan covers full recordings and more uses.

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. Use the result as a starting point and refine it in your preferred notation software.

Can it transcribe classical music?

Yes. Classical solo piano is one of the best use cases. Baroque, classical, romantic, and modern solo piano pieces all transcribe well because the AI model is trained on a wide variety of piano music.

Guide

How to Transcribe Piano Music for Free Online

Feb 19, 2026 · 6 min read

Preview your own piano recording for free

Try the first 45 seconds of your first recording free. No card required.

Upload your recording

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 try it in your browser in minutes.

This guide walks through AI piano transcription using Pianolyze. Sign in with an email code, upload your own recording, and try a short free preview. A Song Pass or monthly plan covers full recordings; see Pianolyze pricing.

What you need

A modern web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari)
A piano recording in MP3, WAV, FLAC, or M4A format
An email address for sign-in; the free preview needs no payment card

Step-by-step: transcribing a piano recording

Step 1 — Open Pianolyze

Open Pianolyze, choose a recording, and sign in with the email code Pianolyze sends you. Your workspace opens after the upload starts.

Step 2 — Load your audio file

Choose an MP3, WAV, FLAC, or M4A file. Pianolyze uploads it over a secure connection so its servers can separate and transcribe the audio.

Step 3 — Follow the analysis

Pianolyze shows progress as it analyzes the uploaded audio. Open the workspace to inspect notes as they become available.

Step 4 — Review the piano roll

Use the piano roll to inspect detected notes and zoom into individual passages. The free preview covers only the beginning of your first recording; a Song Pass or monthly plan covers full recordings. Export MIDI and open it in notation software if you want sheet music.

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

Clear solo piano is a strong starting point. Pianolyze can separate parts in mixed recordings, but dense instrumentation and reverb may reduce note accuracy. See can AI transcribe music? for more detail.

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.

Where processing happens

Pianolyze uploads recordings for server-side instrument separation and transcription. If you work with sensitive material that must remain on your device, choose local desktop software or a model you run yourself.

Check the recording’s permissions and the service’s terms before uploading unpublished compositions or client audio.

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

Preview your own piano recording for free

Sign in with an email code, upload a piano recording, and inspect a short free preview before choosing a Song Pass or monthly plan.

Open Pianolyze

Frequently asked questions

Is Pianolyze really free?: You can preview the beginning of one of your own recordings for free after email sign-in. A Song Pass or monthly plan covers full recordings and more uses.
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. Use the result as a starting point and refine it in your preferred notation software.
Can it transcribe classical music?: Yes. Classical solo piano is one of the best use cases. Baroque, classical, romantic, and modern solo piano pieces all transcribe well because the AI model is trained on a wide variety of piano music.