AudioScore is effectively a legacy product at this point. It was one of the first programs to listen to a recording and write out the notes, and for Sibelius users it was a convenient pairing. But the app has not seen a real update since around 2020, there is no native Apple Silicon build, polyphonic accuracy requires significant hand correction, and the rest of the field has advanced considerably since then. If you are looking for an alternative, that is the right instinct.
AudioScore does still transcribe. The Ultimate edition handles polyphonic audio, the Lite version that ships with Sibelius handles monophonic lines, and it exports to Sibelius, MusicXML, and MIDI. The Sibelius handoff is tighter than most alternatives. It sells as a paid one-time license. If you are already deep in the Sibelius world and want minimal friction, that matters. But the transcription quality and the platform support have not kept pace.
Why People Look Elsewhere
- It is a desktop install. You download, license, and run it on one machine, with no native Apple Silicon build to lean on.
- It is effectively unmaintained. No real update in years means no improvement to its transcription engine while the rest of the field improved fast.
- Polyphonic accuracy is unreliable. Dense, multi-note audio comes out rough and needs heavy editing.
- It is built around Sibelius. Great if you own Sibelius, less appealing if you use MuseScore, Dorico, or nothing yet.
The Modern Alternatives
The biggest shift since AudioScore's heyday is that transcription moved to the browser and to better models. You no longer install anything to get notation from a recording.
Songscription is a web app. Open a tab, upload MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4, or MIDI, paste a YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok link, or record into the mic, and the AI writes the notes. It handles piano well and supports guitar, bass, violin, flute, trumpet, sax, and drums, with vocals in an experimental state. It transcribes one instrument at a time from a multi-instrument recording, and it detects chords. From a single upload you get PDF, MIDI, MusicXML, and Guitar Pro. The free tier covers unlimited 30-second clips plus a trial. If you primarily need the Sibelius handoff, the MusicXML export does that job without AudioScore. AnthemScore is worth knowing if you want offline desktop with a one-time purchase rather than a subscription, strongest on piano and instrumental. Klangio covers more instruments through a split family of web tools and an API. ScoreCloud runs on desktop and is built around live monophonic input rather than uploaded recordings.
Side by Side
| AudioScore | Songscription | |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Desktop install, no Apple Silicon build | Web browser |
| Upkeep | No real update since ~2020 | Actively developed |
| Instruments | Mono in Lite, polyphonic in Ultimate | Piano plus several others |
| Input | Audio files and mic | Files, links, and mic |
| Export | Sibelius, MusicXML, MIDI | PDF, MIDI, MusicXML, Guitar Pro |
Keeping the Sibelius Workflow
If the only reason you used AudioScore was its Sibelius export, you do not lose that by switching. The bridge is MusicXML. Transcribe the recording in Songscription, export MusicXML, and open that file in Sibelius, MuseScore, or Dorico. Our guide on how to open MusicXML in MuseScore, Sibelius, and Finale walks through it. MusicXML carries the full written score between programs, where MIDI carries only the raw notes, which our MusicXML vs MIDI explainer covers.
For a broader survey of where the field stands now, see our roundup of the best music transcription software in 2026. When you are ready to test one on your own audio, start a transcription on the audio-to-sheet-music page and compare the output to what AudioScore gives you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AudioScore?
AudioScore is a desktop audio-to-notation program from Neuratron, tied to the Sibelius and Avid family. It runs on Windows and Mac, though there is no native Apple Silicon build. The Ultimate edition handles polyphonic audio, while the Lite version bundled with Sibelius is monophonic only. It genuinely transcribes, exporting to Sibelius, MusicXML, and MIDI, but it has seen no real update since around 2020 and its polyphonic accuracy needs heavy correction.
Is AudioScore still worth using?
It depends on your setup. If you live inside Sibelius and want a tight handoff, AudioScore still does that job. But it is effectively unmaintained, there is no native Apple Silicon build, and its polyphonic results often need a lot of fixing. Modern web-based AI transcription has caught up and passed it on accuracy and convenience, so for most people a browser tool like Songscription is the better starting point.
How has AI transcription accuracy improved since AudioScore was last updated?
AudioScore's last meaningful update was around 2020. Since then, the main AI transcription tools have retrained on larger datasets, improved pitch detection on polyphonic sources, and expanded instrument coverage. Web-based tools in particular moved from mostly piano to covering guitar, bass, strings, and more. The practical difference on a clean piano recording is noticeable, and on complex polyphonic audio the gap is larger. If you tested AudioScore years ago and found it rough, the current generation of tools is worth retesting.
Can I still export to Sibelius without AudioScore?
Yes. The bridge is MusicXML. Transcribe your recording in Songscription, export MusicXML, and open that file in Sibelius. MusicXML carries the full written score between programs, so you keep the notation rather than just the raw notes. You get AudioScore's old Sibelius workflow without depending on a tool that has not been updated in years.
