Audio (MP3/WAV) to Tablature Converter

[markbmbass]

Hey All, does anyone know of a solid app that creates tablature from an isolated bass track or general MP3/WAV file? I'm looking for the same thing that the bass covers on YouTube feature with the tabs moving across the screen during the videos.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[SteveCS]

Sometimes the old ways are the best:

 

[markbmbass]

Sometimes we don’t have the time for that.

 

[Docduval]

Sometimes we don’t have the time for that.

Right? Sometimes it’s just fun to play a song without having to spend hours transcribing. Don’t let the elitists tell you otherwise.

 

[markbmbass]

Oh trust me, I could care less what some random troll has to say because they want to be a smart ass. It seems to be the thing to do with certain people on here.

 

[Docduval]

For what it’s worth, I’ve seen people post about several ai transcribers, but they all said that the tab outputs were not good. Wish I could remember the app names. Did a DuckDuckGo search for ai bass tab transcribe, and got a ton of results.

 

[DWBass]

No app available that does this that I know of.

 

[JonathanPDX]

Oh trust me, I could care less what some random troll has to say because they want to be a smart ass. It seems to be the thing to do with certain people on here.

So that means you do care, at least a little.

As for tab, sounds like you just need to find videos where the transcriber offers the tab as a PDF, which is a fairly common practice on Patreon. You could probably watch the video slowly and learn the piece faster than it would take to find some janky AI program to transcribe it incorrectly for you, anyway.

Tab is an imperfect format, it's not like notation where there's at least a "correct" way to identify a note and it's placement. No software is going to tell you whether the performer played the G at the 5th fret or the 10th fret.

 

[kleinenenten]

Tab is an imperfect format, it's not like notation where there's at least a "correct" way to identify a note and it's placement. No software is going to tell you whether the performer played the G at the 5th fret or the 10th fret.

This. I just spent some time transcribing a song into a slightly different tuning. It was in Drop C (from D Standard). Rather simple song overall, so I figured instead of setting up a bass for a single song, I'd just learn it on my bass in C Standard. I could have played some of the notes a few different ways, but I generally prefer the one that requires the least movement of my left hand, unless there's a specific reason to move. Keeps things interesting, and helps to learn/reinforce all sorts of lessons on the way when I do this stuff. Now, to practice it a few times tonight and get it down!

 

[SpyderX]

I'm not sure there is a phone or desktop app that can currently do it. MuseScore 4 does some interesting things and might do it, but you would have to migrate the audio file to MIDI first.

As for tab, sounds like you just need to find videos where the transcriber offers the tab as a PDF, which is a fairly common practice on Patreon. You could probably watch the video slowly and learn the piece faster than it would take to find some janky AI program to transcribe it incorrectly for you, anyway.

This ^ ^

 

[markbmbass]

So that means you do care, at least a little.

As for tab, sounds like you just need to find videos where the transcriber offers the tab as a PDF, which is a fairly common practice on Patreon. You could probably watch the video slowly and learn the piece faster than it would take to find some janky AI program to transcribe it incorrectly for you, anyway.

Tab is an imperfect format, it's not like notation where there's at least a "correct" way to identify a note and its placement. No software is going to tell you whether the performer played the G at the 5th fret or the 10th fret.

This. I just spent some time transcribing a song into a slightly different tuning. It was in Drop C (from D Standard). Rather simple song overall, so I figured instead of setting up a bass for a single song, I'd just learn it on my bass in C Standard. I could have played some of the notes a few different ways, but I generally prefer the one that requires the least movement of my left hand, unless there's a specific reason to move. Keeps things interesting, and helps to learn/reinforce all sorts of lessons on the way when I do this stuff. Now, to practice it a few times tonight and get it down!

I’ve never understood the need to make a comment that isn’t productive but to each their own.

What I’m interested in doing is actually creating tabs, but with an automated process as opposed to transcribing them myself. I assumed that the creators on YouTube utilize some type of program that assisted with that, but maybe they actually transcribe it and create the tab themselves.

 

[JonathanPDX]

I’ve never understood the need to make a comment that isn’t productive but to each their own.

What I’m interested in doing is actually creating tabs, but with an automated process as opposed to transcribing them myself. I assumed that the creators on YouTube utilize some type of program that assisted with that, but maybe they actually transcribe it and create the tablet themselves.

Transcription is a skill, you can't automate it and there is certainly not some AI program that is going to listen to someone play and tell you where to put your fingers. If you want to produce transcriptions you should probably learn how to, you know, transcribe songs.

 

[markbmbass]

Transcription is a skill, you can't automate it and there is certainly not some AI program that is going to listen to someone play and tell you where to put your fingers. If you want to produce transcriptions you should probably learn how to, you know, transcribe songs.

Why can't we make post with a question and get productive answers to the question, as opposed to some ignorant elitist comment that has to somehow condescend the OP? Does it make you feel good to get that last little dig in? Or Maybe you just missed the part about me saying I'm looking for something automated. If you read the comments, you'd probably have seen that and maybe held back with your ignorant comment. So lame.

It's a time issue. I'm a part time player with a full-time career and I'm looking for efficiency.

I said I was hoping to find something that automates the process. There isn't a great one that I know of yet. So I was simply asking the question as I'm sure other than the "Maybe you should ya know learn the skill ya know, because you suck if you don't ya know" crowd.

Elitists, I don't care about your opinions. My question is fact related, not baseless opinionated response, related. If you want be an ignorant jerk, go pick a fight with someone on Facebook about politics or whether or not Bigfoot exists. Or maybe just get life?

For you to say something can't be automated, you must be extremely naive. In due time apps will be transcribing and robots will have all of the answers. You know it as well as I do. Hope you feel better now that you got your daily dose of whatever it is...out.

 

[JonathanPDX]

Why can't we make post with a question and get productive answers to the question, as opposed to some ignorant elitist comment that has to somehow condescend the OP? Does it make you feel good to get that last little dig in?

In case you didn't read my comment, Sir Master - I said I was hoping to find something that automates the process. There isn't a great one that I know of yet. So I was simply asking the question as I'm sure other than the "Maybe you should ya know learn the skill ya know, because you suck if you don't ya know" crowd.

Elitists, I don't care about your opinions. My question is fact related, not baseless opinionated response, related. If you want be an ignorant jerk, go pick a fight with someone on Facebook about politics or whether or not Bigfoot exists. Or maybe just get life?

For you to say something can't be automated, you must be extremely naive. In due time apps will be transcribing and robots will have all of the answers. You know it as well as I do. Hope you feel better now that you got your daily dose of whatever it is...out.

I really don't see what's "elitist" about "Nothing exists to automate this process, here is why it's not going to work, and if that is your goal, learn the skill to do it yourself without automation."

AI still can't agree on the facts from today's news, so expecting an app to transcribe fingering diagrams for you is pretty silly. Transcription isn't even hard, it's not like you're describing some unattainable skill that only a select few have mastered. I've had plenty of 14-year-old students who learned to turn on the radio, pick up their bass, and write up a tab for the song they are listening to. If you have a video to watch then the process is even easier!

 

[markbmbass]

For what it’s worth, I’ve seen people post about several ai transcribers, but they all said that the tab outputs were not good. Wish I could remember the app names. Did a DuckDuckGo search for ai bass tab transcribe, and got a ton of results.

Ok thank you. I’ll give that. shot. If I find anything that produces quality I’ll let you know here as well.

 

[SteveCS]

Oh trust me, I could care less what some random troll has to say because they want to be a smart ass. It seems to be the thing to do with certain people on here.

Well that's a new one on me! Using software tools to squirt out a 'ready-rolled' solution teaches you nothing about the music. Writing it out for yourself gets you analysis, insights, accuracy, deeper learning, faster memorisation and a dramatic increase in long-term retention/recall. What's not to like?

 

[SteveCS]

I'm looking for efficiency.
...
My question is fact related, not baseless opinionated response, related.

IME, whatever 'automation solution' you choose, the state of the art right now is that you will have to spend just as much time reviewing, validating, editing and revalidating the output as you would have spent doing it yourself from scratch. Even manual software tools like Musescore, where you can enter standard notation or import MIDI and it will map out a TAB for you, does some things that need a good going over before being 100% useful. But maybe that is something you could try - there are tools that convert audio to MIDI (Melodyne is native and can run on your local computer without needing a DAW host but gets expensive, other on-line AI-driven tools are available). So convert your audio to MIDI then import to Musescore, which is still freeware, and see how you get on?

 

[MrWolf14]

Hey All, does anyone know of a solid app that creates tablature from an isolated bass track or general MP3/WAV file? I'm looking for the same thing that the bass covers on YouTube feature with the tabs moving across the screen during the videos.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Back to the original request

I use Logic Pro: not fully automated, but you can convert the track to midi and then display it as a tablature, all in Logic.

If you don't expect perfect results "out of the box", it should give you a very good starting point for "exotic songs" for which you cannot find an already made bass-tab video on the tube.

My 0.02$

 

[gtirard]

Songscription AI - Transcribe Your Music for Free

Upload your audio file or YouTube/Instagram/TikTok link and let our advanced AI pick out the notes. Perfect for learners, composers, teachers, and producers.

www.songscription.ai

Seems to do the job, although I haven't tried it. It says it does single instruments, and it does multiple notation, including "guitar tabs", so maybe bass tabs too?

 

[rolfplamperton]

Music is hard. Sorry