Sibelius Won't Import Properly

When I export file as XML or midi, Sibelius won't import it correctly. It drops some measures or loses the key changes and things like that. Anyway to get a good import into Sibelius? I am using Sibelius 7 First.

[Sherry C]

Hi,

It's probably a safer bet with Sibelius to use the File/Export MusicXML in Notation Composer rather than the Export MIDI. For one thing, Sibelius is not fundamentally designed to transcribe "readable" notation from .mid. It typically gives a more rigid transcription which sometimes although highly accurate is not as easy to play.

Also, things like key changes are not part of the MIDI file format, and so are not kept with the file. When transcribing sheet music from a .mid file key changes have to be determined when that file is opened and the notes are analyzed and transcribed. The MusicXML format, however, should keep key changes and other score-related items.

One comparison test you can run for the Music XML file is to use Finale's Notepad (free from their website) to import a MusicXML file that you've exported from Notation Composer. If NotePad shows the same problems with importing the .xml file as Sibelius does, then the problem is probably with the exported file from Notation Composer. In that case, we'd certainly want to know about the problem so we can schedule it for fixing! However, if Notepad imports the file correctly where Sibelius doesn't, then I'm sure the developers at Sibelius would like to know about the problem.

MusicXML is a work in progress. The fellow who knows the most about it and has been a leading proponent of it for years, Michael Good, now works with MakeMusic, the parent company of Finale Music. Ergo my suggestion to use Finale Notepad as a comparison test case as it should have the "latest/greatest" import engine.

Please do let us know either here on the forum or at the Helpdesk (support@notation.com) of any problems that you find with the exported .xml files from Notation Composer. Attaching a copy of the file, along with an explanation of the problem, would be most appreciated!

Thanks!
Sherry