Verovio

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Overview

Verovio is a library for engraving Music Encoding Initiative (MEI) digital scores into SVG images. It supports input from formats including Humdrum, MusicXML, Plaine & Easie Code, Musedata, EsAC, and ABC, with output to SVG and MIDI. Designed for integration into applications, it runs as a standalone command-line tool, JavaScript toolkit for browsers, or bindings in Python and other languages, targeting developers building music notation tools.

Key Features

MEI Engraving - Renders MEI scores directly into SVG without intermediate conversions.
Multi-format Input - Converts Humdrum, MusicXML, PAE, DARMS, Musedata, EsAC, and ABC to notation on-the-fly.
SVG Output - Produces vector SVG with embedded SMuFL fonts for scalable, printable notation.
MIDI Export - Generates MIDI files from input scores for playback.
JavaScript Toolkit - Compiles to JavaScript for client-side rendering in web browsers.
No Dependencies - Pure C++20 implementation without external libraries for portability.
Interactive Support - Preserves MEI hierarchy in SVG for building interactive applications.
Command-line Tool - Standalone executable for batch conversion of scores to SVG or MIDI.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Community	Free	Full library access, all features, source code.

Platforms & Requirements

Compiles to JavaScript for web browsers with no installation required. Available as command-line tool on Linux, macOS, Windows. Python bindings via PyPI; supports integration in Qt, Java, Swift apps. No mobile apps; requires Emscripten for JS builds.

Integrations & Ecosystem

Music Encoding Initiative (MEI)
Humdrum
MusicXML
Omeka S module
Verovio Humdrum Viewer
Verovio App embed
SMuFL fonts
XSLT processing

Alternatives

App	Difference
MuseScore	Full desktop notation editor with GUI; Verovio is a headless library focused on MEI-to-SVG conversion.
LilyPond	Text-based engraving system producing PDF/PNG; Verovio specializes in interactive SVG from MEI.
Sibelius	Commercial DAW-integrated scorewriter; Verovio is free, open-source library for web/server use.
Finale	Professional notation software with plugin ecosystem; Verovio emphasizes lightweight, dependency-free MEI rendering.

Reputation

Verovio is recognized in music encoding communities for its speed, portability, and native MEI support, particularly valued by researchers and digital humanities projects like RISM. Its SVG output and JavaScript version enable easy web integration for interactive scores. Some users note limitations in handling complex modern notation compared to full editors, but it excels in batch processing and embedding scenarios.

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