ABC Live Transcriber

ABC Live Transcriber listens as you play and adds recognized pitches to the ABC area. Click Start Listening, allow microphone access, and play one sustained note at a time. The tool is optimized for notes from G below middle C (G3) through D7.

Set Input gain as needed. The level meter at the upper right shows the incoming signal level.

Select the tune Key. The K: field is updated automatically, and detected pitches are written relative to that key signature. For example, in K:D, a detected F-sharp is entered as F, because F-sharp is already part of the D-major key signature. Accidentals outside the key signature use ABC accidentals, with sharp spelling where applicable.

Select the Meter: 2/4, 4/4, 6/8, 9/8, or 12/8. The M:, L:, and Q: header fields update automatically without changing any entered notes. L: is always 1/8. For 2/4 and 4/4, Q: is 1/2=90; for 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8, Q: is 3/8=120.

For tin whistle, enable Transpose detected notes down one octave. Pitch recognition still shows the note actually played, while the ABC output is written one octave lower.

When a note is stable, its ABC note name is inserted at the current insertion point in the ABC editor and will replace any selected text.

Duration is not measured; every detected note is entered as a single ABC note.

The Notation Preview above the ABC area automatically updates whenever the ABC changes. For longer tunes, scroll within the preview area to see additional notation.

Drag the split bar between the notation/playback panel and the ABC editor to give either area more room. The split position is saved as a percentage, so it adapts to different window sizes when restored. Double-click the split bar to reset it to 50/50.

Use the playback controls directly below the notation preview to listen to the current ABC. During playback, a cursor tracks the notes being played and the notation preview automatically scrolls as needed to keep the cursor visible. If microphone listening is active, pitch detection is temporarily paused during playback so the playback audio is not transcribed; listening resumes when playback is paused or finishes.

The buttons below the ABC area insert spaces, barlines, repeats, line breaks, duration modifiers, triplets, and grace-note braces at the current insertion point. If text is selected, the inserted item replaces the selection and the insertion point moves immediately after it.

Clear ABC restores the standard ABC header using the currently selected key.

You can also edit the ABC manually, copy it, save it as an .abc file, or open it directly in the ABC Transcription Tools.

For best results, use a clean monophonic instrument tone, avoid chords, and leave a small separation between repeated notes of the same pitch.

Your Input gain, Key, Meter, tin-whistle octave-transposition setting, and preview/editor split position are saved automatically in this browser and restored the next time the tool is opened.

This ABC Live Transcriber tool was created by Michael Eskin.

If you find it useful, please consider making a contribution via my online tip jars:

Michael Eskin's Tip Jars