Converting Pdf Score to Finale
Moderators: miker, Peter Thomsen
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- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon May 29, 2017 1:20 am
- Finale Version: Finale 2014
- Operating System: Windows
Converting Pdf Score to Finale
Greetings to everyone on the forum, I am a first time user here.
I have been sent a PDF of a clarinet part - 5 pages.
What is the best way to import it into Finale?
Is there a Application that will scan it into Finale?
I need to be able to transpose it and manipulate notes etc
Thanks in advance
I have been sent a PDF of a clarinet part - 5 pages.
What is the best way to import it into Finale?
Is there a Application that will scan it into Finale?
I need to be able to transpose it and manipulate notes etc
Thanks in advance
Re: Converting Pdf Score to Finale
Welcome to the forum.
You can't bring a PDF directly into Finale. If you have an older version (2014.5 or previous) you can convert it to a TIFF file, and import it through SmartScore Lite. However, this will not allow you to edit until it gets into Finale, and it can often be quite a problem to clean up. Since I see that you have 2014, you can give it a try. YMMV
If the PDF was created DIRECTLY from a music app, PDF to Music Pro will work. However, the demo only does one page at a time, and if the PDF is a scan of a published sheet music, it won't work at all.
The best way to handle it is with one of the scanning programs from Musitek. These allow editing before the creation of the XML that you import into Finale. Many of us have found that it's a great timesaver, but it does have a learning curve to use it to its fullest.
Otherwise, you would have to enter the score manually.
You can't bring a PDF directly into Finale. If you have an older version (2014.5 or previous) you can convert it to a TIFF file, and import it through SmartScore Lite. However, this will not allow you to edit until it gets into Finale, and it can often be quite a problem to clean up. Since I see that you have 2014, you can give it a try. YMMV
If the PDF was created DIRECTLY from a music app, PDF to Music Pro will work. However, the demo only does one page at a time, and if the PDF is a scan of a published sheet music, it won't work at all.
The best way to handle it is with one of the scanning programs from Musitek. These allow editing before the creation of the XML that you import into Finale. Many of us have found that it's a great timesaver, but it does have a learning curve to use it to its fullest.
Otherwise, you would have to enter the score manually.
Finale 26 | SmartScorePro X2
Mac OS 10.13 High Sierra
Copyist for Barbershop Harmony Society
Mac OS 10.13 High Sierra
Copyist for Barbershop Harmony Society
- zuill
- Posts: 2804
- Joined: Sat Dec 10, 2016 9:35 pm
- Finale Version: Finale 2011-v26.2
- Operating System: Windows
Re: Converting Pdf Score to Finale
Or.......
Hire someone to do it. I'm game.
Zuill
Hire someone to do it. I'm game.
Zuill
Windows 7, Finale 2011-v26.2
"When all is said and done, more is said than done."
"When all is said and done, more is said than done."
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- Posts: 3
- Joined: Mon May 29, 2017 1:20 am
- Finale Version: Finale 2014
- Operating System: Windows
Re: Converting Pdf Score to Finale
Great thanks - how do i contact you? I have not been on forum long enough to use private message the rules tell me 
If you could email me adam45spiritATaol.com .. I could send you pdf for your view

If you could email me adam45spiritATaol.com .. I could send you pdf for your view
- MikeHalloran
- Posts: 660
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- Finale Version: 26.1, PM 2014.5
- Operating System: Mac
Re: Converting Pdf Score to Finale
Mike Halloran
Finale 26.1, SmartScore X2 Pro, GPO5 & World Instruments
2017 iMac Pro 14 Core, 128G RAM, OS 10.14.5, 2T; Ext SSD x2
NotePerformer3, Dorico, Overture, Notion, Encore, DP 10.01, Logic Pro
Old G4: OS 10.4/9.2, Finale 1998–2011
Finale 26.1, SmartScore X2 Pro, GPO5 & World Instruments
2017 iMac Pro 14 Core, 128G RAM, OS 10.14.5, 2T; Ext SSD x2
NotePerformer3, Dorico, Overture, Notion, Encore, DP 10.01, Logic Pro
Old G4: OS 10.4/9.2, Finale 1998–2011
Re: Converting Pdf Score to Finale
Try PlayScore 2 for iOS. It is very accurate and will scan a whole PDF into MusicXML for a fraction of the cost of a PC scanning program. You can download and try it free.
- MikeHalloran
- Posts: 660
- Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2017 2:56 am
- Finale Version: 26.1, PM 2014.5
- Operating System: Mac
Re: Converting Pdf Score to Finale
PlayScore 2 for iOS now has much of the functionality of of SmartScore Lite — except at $16 a year. Expressions, lyrics, text... nope. The Android version cannot handle more than one page at a time.Antinus wrote:Try PlayScore 2 for iOS. It is very accurate and will scan a whole PDF into MusicXML for a fraction of the cost of a PC scanning program. You can download and try it free.
Here’s a recent review:
https://techinmusiced.wordpress.com/201 ... ol-to-buy/
Mike Halloran
Finale 26.1, SmartScore X2 Pro, GPO5 & World Instruments
2017 iMac Pro 14 Core, 128G RAM, OS 10.14.5, 2T; Ext SSD x2
NotePerformer3, Dorico, Overture, Notion, Encore, DP 10.01, Logic Pro
Old G4: OS 10.4/9.2, Finale 1998–2011
Finale 26.1, SmartScore X2 Pro, GPO5 & World Instruments
2017 iMac Pro 14 Core, 128G RAM, OS 10.14.5, 2T; Ext SSD x2
NotePerformer3, Dorico, Overture, Notion, Encore, DP 10.01, Logic Pro
Old G4: OS 10.4/9.2, Finale 1998–2011