Hi,

I know there is a lot of transcribers there, and not bad ones.
Some have a website, others no.
I'm posting this thread to discuss about that, but I don't really know if it's out of subject because it is addressed to transcribers, but talks about computering matter.
This can help transcribers who want to create their own website but don't know where to begin :)

Those who have their own website, I have some questions:
- which server do you use? free or paid? How do you choose it?
- what langage do you use to build it? (PHP 4, PHP 5, Java, ASP ...)
- What method do you use to built the structure of the site? (Frameworks, totally home made)
- Do you make it alone?
- Do you update your website often? How do you update it? Is it easy to update it or long and frustrating? (quite important^^, depends if the site is dynamic or static)
- what are your methods to lure visitors to your website?
- What seems important for you in a transcribers' website: for the transcriber? for the visitor?
- What lacks to actual transcribers' websites according to you? What missing main needs should be fulfilled?

*EDIT*
For music questions now:
- Software used to make sheet music?
- Time used to make a sheet music (average)?
- How do you create your sheet music (with piano? with keyboard and mouse?)
- How do you transcribe? (first listening and after writing, or all the same time, or takes lots of time?)
*/EDIT*

Well there can be lots of other questions, but I will stop there :sweat:

I'm especially thinking of josh's website which is update very often, and very complete: how do you find the time to make all these transcriptions and also maintening your website altogether! XD
Also, I was thinking of the 2 other main websites: Ichigos, and animescores (not longer updated it seems).

If you think some things too confidential to talk about in the forum... maybe we can share that in private messages.

Hey, it's an interview.

I wouldn't mind answering these, but... doesn't anyone else want to go first? *twiddles fingers*

Oh well, maybe later. ^^

I'll go first! My web site is Symphony Sheet Music (http://symphony.atspace.com)


- which server do you use? free or paid? How do you choose it?

Atspace. You can either have a free of paid account, but because of my age, paycheck (I'm unemployed), and parental restrictions, I chose free. My friend Mark introduced me to the site. I'd say it has a pretty good package for what I want from it.


- what langage do you use to build it? (PHP 4, PHP 5, Java, ASP ...)

HTML/CSS


- What method do you use to built the structure of the site? (Frameworks, totally home made)

I made the layout all by myself in GIMP. Then I sliced it and coded it.


- Do you make it alone?

No, Mark did my coding for me. He understands this stuff better than me. However, I run the site all by myself.


- Do you update your website often? How do you update it? Is it easy to update it or long and frustrating? (quite important^^, depends if the site is dynamic or static)

It depends on how busy I am or how often I recieve sheets. In most cases it is not left more than three months.


- what are your methods to lure visitors to your website?
Word of mouth, putting a link in my sigs, and fufilling requests. By the nature of the site, sooner or later people are going to come across it. More sooner than later thanks to josh's index. =]


- What seems important for you in a transcribers' website: for the transcriber? for the visitor?

For me, pleasing music that's enjoyable to play. It may not be 100% accurate, but I strive to be. Transcribing is a hobby that goes hand in hand with my piano playing. I like to transcribe and play pieces that I like when I get tired of my lesson material. For the visitor, my best guess is that they want to play that certain song. Which ever site has it is the one they'll go to.


- What lacks to actual transcribers' websites according to you? What missing main needs should be fulfilled?

People need to realize that most of the transcribers are not professional and have to take out their own time to transcribe. Nothing is lacking when a transcriber is trying their best on the music, and is dedicated to the site, even if they only update once in a while.

Those last two questions were a bit harder since I was coming from a transcriber's perspective. Maybe for a more detailed answer you should conduct a survey for the visitors.

If you have any more questions, just ask.

Hi Soda-o-rat, I don't mean to hijack your thread but I was wondering if you have the sheet music or even the rough notes written down for your arrangement of Sore ga ai deshou by Mikuni Shimokawa. I ask this because I love what you have done with the song by arranging it for the piano and am currently in the middle of transcribing it but it is extremely tough. My desire to play your wonderful piece keeps me going for now though. :heh:

Thanks in advance,
by A huge fan of your work.

PsyKano, that's well off topic - you can do that by private message, right? ^^

Well, let's go.


- which server do you use? free or paid? How do you choose it?
I'm hosted at alphatrance.com for free right now... might move to my own server someday. *edit 2008-01-06 - http://josh.agarrado.net


- what langage do you use to build it? (PHP 4, PHP 5, Java, ASP ...)
Just PHP and HTML.


- What method do you use to built the structure of the site? (Frameworks, totally home made)
I've written small scripts to re-generate the HTML pages when I update, and keep track of my download counts... that's basically it though


- Do you make it alone?
Well, sort of... but credit for the submissions section must really go to the awesome people who keep it going ^^


- Do you update your website often? How do you update it? Is it easy to update it or long and frustrating? (quite important^^, depends if the site is dynamic or static)
Around once a week... uploading the new stuff and updating the pages takes about ten minutes


- what are your methods to lure visitors to your website?
Hmm, not really sure what to answer... just keep it up long enough, I guess, and Google will do the rest ^^ (Also, the master-index page was a really good idea, hehe)


- What seems important for you in a transcribers' website: for the transcriber? for the visitor?
- What lacks to actual transcribers' websites according to you? What missing main needs should be fulfilled?
Same answer for these two questions-- it's all about the music, really. Having a nice layout, or a shoutbox or forum, that's okay too, but I don't think you really need anything else. I mean, my site doesn't have anything on it but music, and it seems to be doing pretty well ^^

Bonus question:

I'm especially thinking of josh's website which is update very often, and very complete: how do you find the time to make all these transcriptions and also maintening your website altogether! XD
Well, it's surprising how much you can accomplish when you love what you're doing. ^^

Hehe thanks for answering, that's really interesting I think. I hope more ppl will answer, and I should expand the thread to visitors^^

Well I should also answer my own questions, because I also own my website: The Soda-o-Rat Sheet Music Transcriptions and Arrangements
(http://sodaorat2.free.fr)


- which server do you use? free or paid? How do you choose it?

It's free, by the way, my ISP's name is... "Free" :lol: and I put my website in their servers


- what langage do you use to build it? (PHP 4, PHP 5, Java, ASP ...)

I use PHP 5 / MySQL



- What method do you use to built the structure of the site? (Frameworks, totally home made)

I use my own framework, since I learned in my training course some things about Web with PHP.
Current frameworks are too young, and there are plenty of them, and not one which is really dominant. Frameworks use time to learn them, in plus of the PHP langage... The most difficult is to build the structure of the site, and frameworks are there to help that.

So my framework is inspired of
- Java's component model, J2EE, which uses "Multi-tier" structure. Each tier (component) is specialized (database,craft,presentation... (dunno how to translate in english))
- MVC Design Pattern (Model-View-Controller): there is one point of entry, the controller (index.php) and the actions call the model and view corresponding to the action.

It was a really hard work to implement that, because my real worry is to take too much time to update my website... And the framework is a lot more easy to manage once it's set!!



- Do you make it alone?

Well most of the time I make it alone... My little brother helped me for small things like creating the banneer, and filling a part of the database (which was long and repetitive...), I'm thankful of him.



- Do you update your website often? How do you update it? Is it easy to update it or long and frustrating? (quite important^^, depends if the site is dynamic or static)

it's really irregular... I can update it every day during 2 weeks, and not update it for months...
I update musical content when I transcribe/record songs, but I have also to update the structure of the website (it's never finished and I want a good website since I'm perfectionnist^^), by improving the design, intern as well as visual.

If I add sheet/audio, thanks to the framework I made, I just have to:
- Add the sheet/audio in the database
- Add the sheet/audio in the server
And that's all.

But it's so rare since I don't make lots of transcriptions.
So if I have to add some features (videos, new menus)
I update the structure by modifying templates,actions,database access.
There's so much things to add...


- what are your methods to lure visitors to your website?

That's an important question. The best ingredients for that are in the josh's website:
- Have great content (sheet music of quality)
- Update it often
- Make something that ppl want: help them to find sheet music they like... the master-index is a master idea! and also transcribing sheet that ppl wants...
- Build and keep musical relations, especially with transcribers, by talking to forums, to transcribers. This also very important.

Unfortunately, I can't use all the methods. Why? Time and motivation!!!
It's also difficult to build relations with transcribers since I have to be active on forums.


- What seems important for you in a transcribers' website: for the transcriber? for the visitor?

for the transcriber:
- Make the site EASY to update
- have something that motivates the transcriber to... transcribe. It means support (forums, encouragements)
- Time and motivation!!

for the visitor:
- Sheet music he searches (lots of sheet)
- quality sheet
- easy access


- What lacks to actual transcribers' websites according to you? What missing main needs should be fulfilled?


Well I know it's a difficult question. Because that's something that bothers me for some time.
What is lacking is not good transcribers. It's a structure, a framework FOR transcribers. A tool which gathers all the transcribers, make them share all their works, comment on them, rate them... It's something like creating a Community of Transcribers, like Youtube for videos.

In my head I want to work on that but it's something you need to create with full time, like a real job. And I don't have it.

I would like to have all your advices, your ideas for it.

Also: forums are a tool for that, but really constraining: you have to keep updated all the time, real all threads, talk,know the ppl on there, well integrate something new, and that's not easy.



Well there can be lots of other questions, but I will stop there :sweat:

Yes because there's so much to talk about XD

BTW, Josh: do you use a database?

I want to add some questions:

- Software used to make sheet music?
- Time used to make a sheet music (average)?
- How do you create your sheet music (with piano? with keyboard and mouse?)
- How do you transcribe? (first listening and after writing, or all the same time, or takes lots of time?)

I will answer later to my own questions, I don't have time now. See ya

Well I know it's a difficult question. Because that's something that bothers me for some time.
What is lacking is not good transcribers. It's a structure, a framework FOR transcribers. A tool which gathers all the transcribers, make them share all their works, comment on them, rate them... It's something like creating a Community of Transcribers, like Youtube for videos.

In my head I want to work on that but it's something you need to create with full time, like a real job. And I don't have it.

I would like to have all your advices, your ideas for it.

Also: forums are a tool for that, but really constraining: you have to keep updated all the time, real all threads, talk,know the ppl on there, well integrate something new, and that's not easy.

*IDEA* Ichigo's Wiki? All we'd need is an upload script, and the Wiki software could take care of the rest.


I use my own framework, since I learned in my training course some things about Web with PHP.
Current frameworks are too young, and there are plenty of them, and not one which is really dominant. Frameworks use time to learn them, in plus of the PHP langage... The most difficult is to build the structure of the site, and frameworks are there to help that.

So my framework is inspired of
- Java's component model, J2EE, which uses "Multi-tier" structure. Each tier (component) is specialized (database,craft,presentation... (dunno how to translate in english))
- MVC Design Pattern (Model-View-Controller): there is one point of entry, the controller (index.php) and the actions call the model and view corresponding to the action.

It was a really hard work to implement that, because my real worry is to take too much time to update my website... And the framework is a lot more easy to manage once it's set!!

If you can get your hands on a JSP server (Tomcat or JBoss or something), check out JSF :) It's a fairly easy-to-use implementation of the MVC pattern, provided you're comfortable using Java.

And, I transcribed a couple sheets...does that make me a transcriber? :P

- Software used to make sheet music?
Finale Notepad (most of the time), Noteworthy Composer (if Notepad can't handle it)

- Time used to make a sheet music (average)?
Varies a lot...I'd say that if the song isn't too difficult (Je Chante drove me nuts), it takes me 1-2 hours per minute of music.

- How do you create your sheet music (with piano? with keyboard and mouse?)
Mouse...I'm gonna get carpal tunnel one day >.>

- How do you transcribe? (first listening and after writing, or all the same time, or takes lots of time?)
Listen 1 measure, write one measure, (repeat on that same measure if I couldn't write it all down), move on to the next measure

- Software used to make sheet music? Switching between Finale Notepad and Finale Printmusic (for sheet music) and Finale 2006 Demo.

- Time used to make a sheet music (average)?
10-20 minutes.

- How do you create your sheet music (with piano? with keyboard and mouse?)Mouse.

- How do you transcribe? (first listening and after writing, or all the same time, or takes lots of time?)If the actual song sounds nothing like it does in Finale, both at the same time.

My turn to answer now ^^


- Software used to make sheet music?
Before, Melody Assistant, now Sibelius 3


- Time used to make a sheet music (average)?
about 1 or 2 hours (depends if I put a lot on it for quality)



- How do you create your sheet music (with piano? with keyboard and mouse?)
Now I try with the piano, since it's practical for the chords... but it's not always easy to do and confusing :s


- How do you transcribe? (first listening and after writing, or all the same time, or takes lots of time?)
Measure by measure... It's quite frustrating and after doing that for years, I think that if I want to make more sheet music, to arrange myself the transcriptions, and not care about the original music structure... otherwise it's boring and so repetitive (hear stop write hear stop write rewind hear stop write ......)

*IDEA* Ichigo's Wiki? All we'd need is an upload script, and the Wiki software could take care of the rest.

A Wiki seems a good idea! I should test that someday. Anyway I should first gather all needs from the visitors, think about some functional aspects before coding (it's so much time to spend on lol)


If you can get your hands on a JSP server (Tomcat or JBoss or something), check out JSF :) It's a fairly easy-to-use implementation of the MVC pattern, provided you're comfortable using Java.

Hehe in Java you have Struts, that's the most known framework for MVC and J2EE concepts. But JSP servers aren't free, and I'm not familiar with that, so I won't test it at the beginning. But I should pass to a paid server to have my own domain name... it's frustrating to be under the eyes of his ISP ...
I don't forget that my ISP removed WITHOUT telling me my ancient place where I put my website (sodaorat.free.fr), and I can't forgive that!! Plus, they removed it without real reason (they said it was because I used their homepage space for "Storage" :huh: ) As you see I'm angry against them for that ^^

In addition.....


- Software used to make sheet music?

Finale 2006


- Time used to make a sheet music (average)?

Like Tanonev said, it depends on the difficulty. None of my songs are too terribly difficult, but sometimes I'll take a huge gap in transcribing (like I am now). All in all, I'd say about 1-2 hours, closer to the 1 hour mark.


- How do you create your sheet music (with piano? with keyboard and mouse?)

Like input it into your computer? Mouse.

Like coming up with the actual notes? If the mp3 is on the computer, I use my little keyboard. If its on a cd, I'll either use my keyboard or my piano.


- How do you transcribe? (first listening and after writing, or all the same time, or takes lots of time?)

This is where I'm thankful for two things, my ear and my knowledge of theory. I'll listen to a phrase and pick out the notes involved both left and right hand. The right hand usually isn't too hard considering in most songs it has the melody. The left hand can be harder, but normally I can predict where its going based on popular chord progressions. Its really just trial and error most of the time.

I don't have a website (I submit stuff to josh under "Tien", hehe), but these are questions I can answer.


- Software used to make sheet music?

Finale Notepad 2006 and Zel for MIDI files


- Time used to make a sheet music (average)?

Depends on difficulty, yes, but also if it's simply transcription or arranging. If I put myself seriously into it (on a table and all ... you'll get why soon), I'd say about an hour per page (~20 measures).


- How do you create your sheet music (with piano? with keyboard and mouse?)

I work on a laptop, so touchpad and arrow keys. The piano helps when I try out chords and notes (I don't have perfect pitch). Pencil and paper help to quickly jot down notes, too.


- How do you transcribe? (first listening and after writing, or all the same time, or takes lots of time?)

Melody first. I use pencil and paper to quickly write down notes as they're played. Then, I listen to the song and try to split it into its many voices. I input the voices separately. And I go back and forth in the song, slowing it down when I need to, so it takes up a fair amount of time.

Hey, I like answering questions too!


- Software used to make sheet music?
Finale. I used to use something else but it was a trial and expired and cost upwards of $100 to purchase. I miss it though as it had more features than Finale and depending on what you were transcribing it could be much much faster.


- Time used to make a sheet music (average)?
Depends on the difficulty of the piece obviously but if it's something easy usually it won't take more than one session.


- How do you create your sheet music (with piano? with keyboard and mouse?)
Mostly mouse unfortunately. Someday when I have money (once I'm through with university) I'll buy a nice keyboard/electronic piano that I can hook up to a computer and just turn real music into sheet music. :P


- How do you transcribe? (first listening and after writing, or all the same time, or takes lots of time?)
Depends on the piece again. If it's easy I'll play it on the piano in parts then if I feel like it will make sheet music off the top of my head. This usually doesn't happen however since I've already got it in my head and don't really feel the need to write it down. If it's hard and will just frustrate me when playing on the piano I'll go by measures and pay special attention to chords as they tend to get switched around every so often.

Hehe in Java you have Struts, that's the most known framework for MVC and J2EE concepts. But JSP servers aren't free, and I'm not familiar with that, so I won't test it at the beginning. But I should pass to a paid server to have my own domain name... it's frustrating to be under the eyes of his ISP ...
I don't forget that my ISP removed WITHOUT telling me my ancient place where I put my website (sodaorat.free.fr), and I can't forgive that!! Plus, they removed it without real reason (they said it was because I used their homepage space for "Storage" ) As you see I'm angry against them for that ^^

If your ISP lets you set up a web server on your own computer, you can download Tomcat for free. For that matter, you could grab your Windows installation CD and put on IIS, then use ASP.NET (though free IDEs for the .NET family are much harder to find than free ones for the Java family). Then again, a lot of ISPs force you to purchase commercial broadband before they let you set up a web server...


Like input it into your computer? Mouse.

Like coming up with the actual notes? If the mp3 is on the computer, I use my little keyboard. If its on a cd, I'll either use my keyboard or my piano.

I wish I had easy access to a piano or keyboard >.> Staying at this apartment this summer means I get access to a piano about...once a week :( Fortunately, I rarely use the piano for transcriptions, though it helps out immensely in arrangements...

BTW, Josh: do you use a database?
Not at the moment... my data is all in text files ;_;


- Software used to make sheet music?
* Finale 2003
* Zel
* AmazingMidi (http://www.pluto.dti.ne.jp/~araki/amazingmidi/)
* Transcribe! (http://www.seventhstring.demon.co.uk/)
(The last three are my secret weapons, hehe... not easy to learn, but they're really powerful)


- Time used to make a sheet music (average)?
Depends... for simple piano pieces, about 20-30 minutes per minute of actual music. For arrangements, anywhere from an hour to a few days... I figure out the chords first and then play with the song until I've come up with a version I like, then I write it down.


- How do you create your sheet music (with piano? with keyboard and mouse?)
Just pointing and clicking... I haven't got any musical equipment other than my computer. I want a real keyboard of my own though ^^ Someday.


- How do you transcribe? (first listening and after writing, or all the same time, or takes lots of time?)
Again, it depends... I can usually write down simple pieces on the fly, but when I arrange songs for piano, I have to listen to them for a while first. (The piano is downstairs, so I can't play along :p)

if im correct soda you posted up some vids on youtube. pretty cool man. i dunno why this site attracts so many talented pianists and transcribers. me personally i dont have many transcriptions worth creating a website for. I may have to do the same as double t and post it on josh's site if he doesn't mind. i think i'll just send a batch over rather then doing some at a time.

Yes Youtube is a great site for posting videos, and the comment/rating system is really interesting, since you can share opinions, critics.

About creating a website, it's a hard work, because it can take a lot of time to make it! Especially when you want to make it clean (with database for example). It's more interesting to find someone who can gather the sheets.

It was one of my projects. Josh already has his master index, and it's already a good work, since the site is regularly updated.

I would like to create some place in my website to host others' transcriptions and also create some kind of transcribers' community along. I'm asking everyone your ideas, your critics/opinion about that.
I'm especially talking to Josh since it would be some concurrence (if I ever launch the project... that's not sure at all! XD).

- which server do you use? free or paid? How do you choose it?
I use the website that comes with comcast cable



- what langage do you use to build it? (PHP 4, PHP 5, Java, ASP ...)
Not sure. I make my website using Microsoft FrontPage and then upload that to comcast.



- What method do you use to built the structure of the site? (Frameworks, totally home made)
I use the stuff in Microsoft FrontPage.



- Do you make it alone?
Yes. There are rare moments when I do actually get help (like adding lyrics to one of my transcriptions). But whenever I do get help, they will be credited.



- Do you update your website often? How do you update it? Is it easy to update it or long and frustrating? (quite important^^, depends if the site is dynamic or static)
If you check the updates section of my site, you can see at first I was updating pretty frequently. Then when school came I crashed and burned :cry:
Updating isn't that hard.



- what are your methods to lure visitors to your website?
I don't think I have one.



- What seems important for you in a transcribers' website: for the transcriber? for the visitor?
Transcribing accurate music for people to play.



- What lacks to actual transcribers' websites according to you? What missing main needs should be fulfilled?
Vidoes


- Software used to make sheet music?
Finale 2006
Record Producer



- Time used to make a sheet music (average)?
For me, this is hard to say. If the song is easy, it can be done in less than a day. Bleach - Going Home, took me 2 days (no procrastination, worked on it non-stop, only slept and ate in between). Hard pieces like Akuma no Trill, took me like 5 days, and it's still not a 100% accurate transcription. I don't even want to get in to a full conductor's transcription.



- How do you create your sheet music (with piano? with keyboard and mouse?)?
Mouse



- How do you transcribe? (first listening and after writing, or all the same time, or takes lots of time?)
The very first thing I do is listen to the whole song and figure out the time signiture (or key), tempo, and phrases that repeat. Then listen for the 1st measure. Then I write the first measure. Then I listen for the 2nd measure. Then the 3rd measure, etc, until the song is done. If there's improvisation, I'll add chords.

If the song is guitar or bass, first I'll try to play it myself. Then I tab it and write it.

Not sure. I make my website using Microsoft FrontPage and then upload that to comcast

This is HTML, the most basic langage for Web pages :)


Vidoes

Well now with Youtube it's easy to make videos of yourself playing. I've experienced that on my website, and it works well since it's very easy to add the video object on the page.


Hey all your answers are really interesting, I hope other people will answer too, so as I can gather the information and make some kind of summary which can be useful

I'm interested in how that summary is going to turn out.

I'm interested in how that summary is going to turn out.

Hehe. Maybe I should fix a deadline? How about the end of september? Everyone is in holidays now, so something like 30rd of September.

Well it seems that nobody wants to reply anything now...
So I make a summary for now (based ONLY on the answers I had until now)

Server used to host the website:
Mostly free hosts

Langage used:
Lots use HTML, a few use PHP (scripts). Database is rarely used.

Structure of the website:
for design: few use picture editor like GIMP, otherwise none.
for code: HTML often, so it's static pages which is not practical if the website grows. Otherwise, PHP scripts, but unstructured. it seems I'm the only one to use a structured framework, and database (because I use my knowledge from school ;) )

Make it alone?
Some ask help from someone who knows website design, others make it themselves.

Updating:
the website is often updated. It's not difficult for most.

Methods to lure visitors:
Talk about it, signature in forums, make sheets that please, master index

What's important?
Making sheet music enjoyable to play

What's missing?
If the transcriber works hard, it's enough.
Some say videos would be great


Software used for sheet music:
Most use Finale. Other software: Noteworthy Composer, Sibelius, Zel, Transcribe, Amazing Midi, Record Producer

Time to make sheet music:
Difficult to quantify it. Often it's several hours for a sheet music (1 to 5 hours)

How do you create sheet music:
Often it's by "listen & transcribe", which means measure by measure you listen and after write the notes.
A few prefer write all in once, after having the notes in their head.


Well it would be great to make some conclusions there. I'm telling mine.

We transcribers often lack the knowledge of making website, which is understandable since it requires learning. Some transcribers prefer give their transcriptions to existing websites. Courageous ones make their own website.
Due to the existing websites in the net, unless you know well how to make a website and have the courage for it or you know someone who can do it, it's better to give transcriptions to existing websites.

Josh's website is active and seems to be the entry point for anime sheet music. But there still lacks some kind of community for transcribers, forum isn't enough because it's still difficult to administrate, and also it's mixed with all kind of other subjects: it's easy to be lost in the numerous threads.
For anime sheet music, there are Ichigos and Animescores forums.
But still, transcribers are difficult to gather unless they are active on forums (which has been difficult for me lol)

The main point for transcribers: Put your heart in transcribing a song, and make it enjoyable to play. Videos & MP3 are bonus: thanks to Youtube.Com, it's possible. I encourage all who have a camera to make videos ;)

About creating sheet music:
Since Finale is the most used, it's the recommanded software, especially for sharing files. For keyboards, I've heard that Sibelius is the best.
It's rare to spend less than 1 hour to write sheet music for piano. Averagely, it takes 2 or 3 hours to make a sheet music. Knowing that, it's difficult to produce by oneself lots of sheet music. We transcribers should be more unified to write sheet music that hasn't be already written, and that is not already transcribed by someone else. Some kind of validation process could be good to have a quality sheet at the end.

The sheet music should be at the end in PDF format, since it's universal to all transcribers who don't use the same software.

Well it's a long conclusion, but this is not the only one, and I'm waiting for yours ;)

Interesting. Question about the videos. These videos, I assume, are of the transcriber playing the arrangment that they transcribed. How exactly does that help a person learning to play?

Interesting. Question about the videos. These videos, I assume, are of the transcriber playing the arrangment that they transcribed. How exactly does that help a person learning to play?

Mmm it's also a question to ask to gedtag who suggested that.

For me videos are attractive because you see the transcriber (or another one) play.
MP3 would also be enough for the tempo, but seeing the fingers, the attitude of the interpretor, especially in tough parts (crossing hands, big scales) in order to give motivation to the listener.

Anyway, a video is a bonus, and it may not be really useful :)

How exactly does that help a person learning to play?

Here's one reason: If it's a tabbed guitar music sheet, you can see their hand positions that the player is using, their technique, how they pick, etc. They always say "A picture is worth a thousand words" (or in this case a video).

Here's one reason: If it's a tabbed guitar music sheet, you can see their hand positions that the player is using, their technique, how they pick, etc. They always say "A picture is worth a thousand words" (or in this case a video).

I agree with you, that's a good reason, since tabs are not always complete like piano sheets because the rythm is not often specified

The sheet music should be at the end in PDF format, since it's universal to all transcribers who don't use the same software.
I agree with this-- it's a bit of a pain having to re-download the new version of Finale Notepad every year >:3

Also, I think we're forgetting an important question... why do you transcribe? :D

(I'll answer it in a while myself :D)

Also, I think we're forgetting an important question... why do you transcribe? :D


Hoho it's a good question :D

I transcribe for several reasons
- I love the song and nobody has the sheet music or it's of poor quality: I want a transcription so I can play it myself
- Transcribing music makes ppl who look for the sheets happy, since they can play the song they like. I like transcribe for these ppl since they are grateful to me :)
- Transcribing is a rare skill to share with other transcribers: transcribe music to meet other transcribers!

well these reasons are the ones popping on my mind, there can be other ^^

I transcribe because I love the music, and most of the time I want to play it myself. Its a hobby of mine, and I've come to like finding out the notes to the song. Obviously if I didn't like doing it I wouldn't be doing it in the first place. I also think that chord progressions and patterns in songs are interesting.

I transcribe merely because if there is a song that sounds beautiful to me and calms my soul then i feel the urge to play it so that others will here the beauty that i play. this is the reason that I don't transcribe often and also why my transcriptions take so long to do. when i feel the beauty of the song i work at it hard but through transcribing and me listening to the song over and over then the song starts to lose its beauty which is when i start to lose interest.

This should be moved to music discussion

me listening to the song over and over then the song starts to lose its beauty which is when i start to lose interest.


That's so true. Transcribing a song is like exploring the song and pulling out the skeleton of it. When you do it, you lose some kind of mistery and treasure of the song you love, that's why the song loses a bit of its value to the transcriber.

Hmm, this topic needs a bump, so I'll answer now

Why do I transcribe?

-> Transcribing improves your musical skills ^^ Perfect pitch *can* be learned after all-- I'm getting there, slowly
-> I'd like to make a career out of music someday (never taken a formal class in my life though) and this seems like a good place to get started
-> I like numbers, and watching my download counters go up makes me happy :)
-> Same as most of you, sometimes I just want to be able to play a song myself :D

Here's the main reason though:
-> The e-mails I get from time to time saying 'I've started learning piano because of your site' ^^

Why do I transcribe?

I'd like to make a career out of music someday... probably a composer/arranger, or performance.
It improves your musical skills. I've learned a lot of musical terms just from joining this forum :) .
You're doing something for someone else.... which I can't do very often in my life (I've stayed home on about 75% weekdays during the summer so far :heh: ).

Ignore the PDF in my attachments.

Here's the main reason though:
-> The e-mails I get from time to time saying 'I've started learning piano because of your site' ^^


Awww, you're so helpful. That's so sweet.