@c -*- coding: utf-8; mode: texinfo; -*-
@c This file is part of lilypond.tely
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@node Converting from other formats
@chapter Converting from other formats

Music can be entered also by importing it from other formats.  This
chapter documents the tools included in the distribution to do so.
There are other tools that produce LilyPond input, for example GUI
sequencers and XML converters.  Refer to the
@uref{http://@/lilypond@/.org,website} for more details.

These are separate programs from lilypond itself, and are run
on the command-line.  By @q{command-line}, we mean the command
line in the operating system.  Windows users
might be more familiar with the terms @q{DOS shell} or
@q{command shell}; OSX users might be more familiar with the
terms @q{terminal} or @q{console}.  OSX users should also
consult @ref{Notes for the MacOS X app}.

Describing how to use
this part of an operating system is outside the scope of this
manual; please consult other documentation on this topic if
you are unfamiliar with the command-line.



@menu
* Invoking midi2ly::            Importing MIDI.
* Invoking etf2ly::             Importing Finale.
* Invoking musicxml2ly::        
* Invoking abc2ly::             Importing ABC.      
* Generating LilyPond files::   
@end menu



@node Invoking midi2ly
@section Invoking @command{midi2ly}

@cindex MIDI

@command{midi2ly} translates a Type@tie{}1 MIDI file to a LilyPond source
file.

MIDI (Music Instrument Digital Interface) is a standard for digital
instruments: it specifies cabling, a serial protocol and a file
format.  The MIDI file format is a de facto standard format for
exporting music from other programs, so this capability may come in
useful when importing files from a program that has a convertor for a
direct format.

@command{midi2ly} converts tracks into @internalsref{Staff} and
channels into @internalsref{Voice} contexts.  Relative mode is used
for pitches, durations are only written when necessary.

It is possible to record a MIDI file using a digital keyboard, and
then convert it to @file{.ly}.  However, human players are not
rhythmically exact enough to make a MIDI to LY conversion trivial.
When invoked with quantizing (@code{-s} and @code{-d} options)
@command{midi2ly} tries to compensate for these timing errors, but is not
very good at this.  It is therefore not recommended to use @command{midi2ly}
for human-generated midi files.


It is invoked from the command-line as follows,
@example
midi2ly [@var{option}]@dots{} @var{midi-file}
@end example

Note that by @q{command-line}, we mean the command line of the
operating system.  See @ref{Converting from other formats} for
more information about this.

The following options are supported by @command{midi2ly}.

@table @code
@item -a, --absolute-pitches
Print absolute pitches.

@item -d, --duration-quant=@var{DUR}
Quantize note durations on @var{DUR}.

@item -e, --explicit-durations
Print explicit durations.

@item -h,--help
Show summary of usage.

@item -k, --key=@var{acc}[:@var{minor}]
Set default key.  @math{@var{acc} > 0} sets number of sharps;
@math{@var{acc} < 0} sets number of flats.  A minor key is indicated by
@samp{:1}.

@item -o, --output=@var{file}
Write output to @var{file}.

@item -s, --start-quant=@var{DUR}
Quantize note starts on DUR.

@item -t, --allow-tuplet=@var{DUR}*@var{NUM}/@var{DEN}
Allow tuplet durations @var{DUR}*@var{NUM}/@var{DEN}.

@item -V, --verbose
Be verbose.

@item -v, --version
Print version number.

@item -w, --warranty
Show warranty and copyright.

@item -x, --text-lyrics
Treat every text as a lyric.
@end table


@refbugs

Overlapping notes in an arpeggio will not be correctly rendered.  The
first note will be read and the others will be ignored.  Set them all
to a single duration and add phrase markings or pedal indicators.


@node Invoking etf2ly
@section Invoking @command{etf2ly}

@cindex ETF
@cindex enigma
@cindex Finale
@cindex Coda Technology

ETF (Enigma Transport Format) is a format used by Coda Music
Technology's Finale product.  @command{etf2ly} will convert part of an ETF
file to a ready-to-use LilyPond file.

It is invoked from the command-line as follows.

@example
etf2ly [@var{option}]@dots{} @var{etf-file}
@end example

Note that by @q{command-line}, we mean the command line of the
operating system.  See @ref{Converting from other formats} for
more information about this.

The following options are supported by @command{etf2ly}:

@table @code
@item -h,--help
this help
@item -o,--output=FILE
set output filename to FILE
@item -v,--version
version information
@end table


@refbugs

The list of articulation scripts is incomplete.  Empty measures
confuse @command{etf2ly}.  Sequences of grace notes are ended improperly.

@node Invoking musicxml2ly
@section Invoking @code{musicxml2ly}

@uref{http://@/www.@/recordarde@/.com/xml@/.html,MusicXML} is an XML dialect
for representing music notation.

@command{musicxml2ly} extracts the notes from part-wise MusicXML
files, and writes it to a .ly file.  It is invoked from the command-line.

Note that by @q{command-line}, we mean the command line of the
operating system.  See @ref{Converting from other formats} for
more information about this.

The following options are supported by @command{musicxml2ly}:

@table @code
@item -h,--help
print usage and option summary.
@item -o,--output=@var{file}
set output filename to @var{file}. (default: print to stdout)
@item -v,--version
print version information.
@end table

@node Invoking abc2ly
@section Invoking @code{abc2ly}

@cindex ABC

ABC is a fairly simple ASCII based format.  It is described at the ABC site:

@quotation
@uref{http://@/www@/.walshaw@/.plus@/.com/@/abc/@/abc2mtex/@/abc@/.txt}.
@end quotation

@command{abc2ly} translates from ABC to LilyPond.  It is invoked as follows:

@example
abc2ly [@var{option}]@dots{} @var{abc-file}
@end example

The following options are supported by @command{abc2ly}:

@table @code
@item -h,--help
this help
@item -o,--output=@var{file}
set output filename to @var{file}.
@item -v,--version
print version information.
@end table

There is a rudimentary facility for adding LilyPond code to the ABC
source file.  If you say:

@example
%%LY voices \set autoBeaming = ##f
@end example

This will cause the text following the keyword @q{voices} to be inserted
into the current voice of the LilyPond output file.

Similarly,

@example
%%LY slyrics more words
@end example

will cause the text following the @q{slyrics} keyword to be inserted
into the current line of lyrics.


@refbugs

The ABC standard is not very @q{standard}.  For extended features
(e.g., polyphonic music) different conventions exist.

Multiple tunes in one file cannot be converted.

ABC synchronizes words and notes at the beginning of a line;
@command{abc2ly} does not.

@command{abc2ly} ignores the ABC beaming.



@node Generating LilyPond files
@section Generating LilyPond files

@cindex External programs, generating LilyPond files

LilyPond itself does not come with support for any other formats, but
there are some external tools that also generate LilyPond files.

These tools include

@itemize @bullet
@item
@uref{http://@/denemo@/.sourceforge@/.net/,Denemo}, a graphical score editor.
@item
@uref{http://www@/.volny@/.cz/smilauer/rumor/rumor@/.html,Rumor}, a realtime
monophonic MIDI to LilyPond converter.
@item
@uref{http://nicolas@/.sceaux@/.free@/.fr/lilypond/lyqi@/.html,lyqi}, an
Emacs major mode.
@item
@uref{http://@/www@/.nongnu@/.org/@/xml2ly/, xml2ly}, which imports
@uref{http://@/www@/.musicxml@/.com/xml@/.html,MusicXML}
@item
@uref{http://@/noteedit@/.berlios@/.de,NoteEdit}
which imports @uref{http://@/www@/.musicxml@/.com/xml@/.html,MusicXML}
@item
@uref{http://@/www@/.rosegardenmusic@/.com,Rosegarden},
which imports MIDI
@item
@uref{http://@/common-lisp@/.net/project/fomus/,FOMUS},
a LISP library to generate music notation 
@end itemize

