Music Transcription (from Audio)

When we use the term "transcription", we mean taking an audio source (an MP3 file or CD) and translating the music we hear into printed form. It seems there is quite a demand for this, because this is our most frequently requested service!

Audio Graffiti has attained an international reputation for the high quality of our transcriptions. We offer this service to professionals musicians and producers, music publishers, music teachers and hobbyists. In the past, we have transcribed:

  • Music for recording artists, so they can publish their music in song book format or on-line.
  • Favourite songs for hobbyists who can't find those favourite songs in print.
  • Scores and parts from pieces that have not been published, typically for schools and bands.
  • "Live" versions of songs that differ from the commercially print version.
  • Music for people who can't read or write music themselves.
  • Music for people who can read and write music but simply don't have the time to do it themselves.
  • Guitar and saxophone solos for students wanting to study those solos.
  • Vocal exercises for singing teachers.
  • Piano-vocal adaptations of songs that have complex arrangements.

We have many years of experience in transcribing music from audio sources, and have gained a reputation for detail and accuracy. We can transcribe anything from a single melody line through to a full band or orchestral arrangement.

All you need to do is provide us with the audio recording on CD or as an MP3 or WAV file, tell us which voices or instruments you need notated, and how precisely you want it transcribed.

For more information about our transcription service, view our FAQs page. 

Samples of our transcription work

Theme from Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence - Full Score (PDF, 121 kb)
Theme from Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence - Piano (PDF, 101 kb)
Theme from Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence - Violin (PDF, 64 kb)
Theme from Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence - Cello (PDF, 67 kb)
This beautiful piece of music does not appear to have ever been published commercially. We transcribed all parts.

Grace and Gratitude (PDF, 37kb)
This file is the first two pages of Olivia Newton-John's song Grace and Gratitude that we transcribed for Olivia's producer, Amy Sky. (Sorry, we cannot give away or sell the full version of this; to buy the full copy, inquire at SheetMusicDigital.)

Nothing comes to Sleepers (PDF, 130 kb)
Transcription of this song was requested when a client could not find it in print.

Rosanna Guitar Solo (PDF, 83 kb)
The following is a transcription of Steve Lukather's first guitar solo in the original recording of "Rosanna".

Pricing

Transcription is not a cheap service, primarily because of the huge amount of time it takes to accurately transcribe music. So we cannot quote until we've heard the song (or songs) you want transcribed, and understand your specific requirements.

But to give you some idea of what prices to expect, our rates are based on an hourly rate of $60 AUD or a daily rate of $400 AUD. Here are some indicative prices: 

  • Four minute pop song adapted as a piano-vocal arrangement, $180-$420 AUD.
  • Short guitar or saxophone solo, $60-$180 AUD.
  • Bass or drum part for a simple four minute rock song, $40-$60 AUD.
  • Vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards and drums for a four minute song, $400-$800 AUD.
  • Six minute classical piano sonata, $400-$800 AUD. 
  • Lead sheet, $60-$120 AUD.
  • Chord chart for a song of average length, $20-$50 AUD.

Pricing is directly related to how much of our time it will take to do the work. Musical complexities such as uncommon time signatures, heavy rubato, jazz voicings, and fast playing speed can all conspire to make a piece harder to transcribe. Quality of the recording is a big factor on how long a piece will take to transcribe, as does its length.

We can provide a discount for transcription of an entire CD, but we need to hear all tracks from the CD before providing a quote.

(Australian residents, please allow for the addition of GST.) 

How to Order

Ordering is a simple as sending us a copy of your music, either by email or mail. We will provide you with a quote for the cost of the job based on its size, note density, complexity and any special requirements.

We will begin work on your music when you accept the quote and formally place your order by paying the appropriate fee. When the work is complete, we will then send a draft copy for you to check. You will have the opportunity to make corrections or comment on the overall layout. If anything isn't perfect, we'll make the necessary corrections and send you a new draft. The files we send will be high resolution PDF, but we can provide hard copies on request.

If the music is your own recording, we can also assist you in doing the page layout work for song books and text books, or help you find a graphics designer for cover art work or illustrations. We can also arrange for high-volume printing if you require it.

We specialise in guitar tablature notation, and can include TAB in addition to standard notation for guitar recordings. This is real, high-quality TAB like you'd find in a commercially printed song book, not "ASCII TAB" like you find on the Internet.

For more details on placing an order, see our How to order page.