Getting Started with SmartScore X2 Piano Edition: Tips & Workflow

Getting Started with SmartScore X2 Piano Edition: Tips & Workflow

Quick overview

SmartScore X2 Piano Edition converts scanned piano/solo sheet music and PDF/TIFF files into editable notation, MIDI and MusicXML. It’s optimized for two-stave piano scores, offers playback with Garritan sounds, basic editing tools (Nudge, Select, Delete), layout controls, transposition and export to MIDI/MusicXML/Finale.

Before you begin (setup)

1. System: Use a Windows or macOS machine compatible with SmartScore X2 (32-bit app on older macOS — check compatibility).
2. Scanner / PDFs: Use a flatbed scanner or high-quality PDFs (300–600 dpi recommended). Clean, high-contrast scans improve accuracy.
3. Sounds (optional): Install included Garritan sounds or use your MIDI device for more realistic playback.

Step-by-step workflow

1. Import/Scan a score

   • File > Open to load a PDF/TIFF, or choose Scan from scanner.
   • For multi-page scores, import all pages; SmartScore will combine them.

2. Let SmartScore recognize notation

   • Run the recognition engine (Prodigy Engine).
   • Wait for automatic detection of staves, key/time signatures and