White Paper | Scorefol.io Blog

Today’s composers have a documentation problem. Unlike yesterday’s composers, they not only use a notation editor for their scores, but they use DAWs and code editors for their electronic music, and even video editors to produce music videos. Today, a composer’s output of a single work is not just one document; it’s often one or more documentable items in a collection of varying digital medium types:

A PDF (for the score)

One or more audio files (for recordings, and/or electronic music tracks)

One or more video files (for recorded footage, music videos, or score videos)

Composition metadata (text-based information about the composition, program notes, and possibly even sketches, etc.)

“Other” mediums (a catch-all category for any potential alternative ways of making music, such as code snippets, embedded physical computing, collaborations with artists working in physical mediums, etc.)

Composers need to document, share, and monetize their music, but even organizing the assets of a single piece – let alone their entire oeuvre – can become burdensome due to the various digital media types that compositions may take. These include:

It’s expensive. Composers need to maintain multiple online subscriptions to host media of different types (e.g., SoundCloud for audio, ISSUU for scores, Vimeo for video, etc.)

No individual platform accurately documents the composer’s complete body of works. Looking at the composer’s profile on any one hosting service may paints picture of a much less prolific composer than the composer truly is. For example, on just the composer’s ISSUU account, one might see “gaps” in their work during periods of time when the composer was focused on making electroacoustic music. A composer’s SoundCloud account might suggest gaps in their work during periods when the composer was focused on making music videos. Furthermore, a composer’s YouTube account will often also host interspersed music theory teaching demos, interviews, DAW tutorials, etc., that are not necessarily a part of the composer’s “creative output.”

Because there are no individual media hosting platforms that can accurately document the composer’s oeuvre, composers must build out a centralized website for their portfolio where they can define a “context” of a composition document in the form of a web page for each piece of music. This introduces additional fees for site/web & domain hosting and it’s tedious to maintain. It is also challenging to get the website to look aesthetically consistent and unified when embedding various media players from various hosting platforms in the same web site.

The mission for scorefol.io is to resolve these documentation problems by creating a unified portfolio platform for all composer’s hosting requirements. In doing so, scorefol.io also provides tools for composers to build fantastic looking “score videos,” a marketplace to sell their works, a call-for-works submission portal, and a centralized hub where all musicians can discover and share the music of today. Lastly, the scorefol.io platform is specifically designed for composers to manage their portfolio as effortlessly as possible, so that they can spend more of their precious time focused on their music.

Dynamically Adaptive Media Player

In building scorefol.io, we understood early on in the process that “unifying” a composition document would require us to build a media player that dynamically adapts to whatever media is imported into it. As mentioned above, a composition can be a multitude of media types (A PDF score, an audio recording, a video, etc.), but there were quite a few other considerations that led us to this conclusion:

Different types of composers may have divergent definitions of what constitutes a composition:

Composers with a traditional classical background may regard the notated score as the authentic text.
Those with jazz, production, or other popular music backgrounds may place more weight on a specific recording as the composition itself.
For songwriters, a "music video" might be the ultimate document.
Experimental composers often challenge the very definition of music, making it difficult to codify a composition in a discrete digital form.

A composition can exist in various states of “incompletion”:

A newly conceived or commissioned piece might be just a loose collection of ideas or sketches, which the composer may want to share as a work in progress or upcoming commission.
A piece might be considered complete when the score exists, but no recordings are available yet—or vice versa: it may have been premiered, but the score still needs final edits. It’s therefor necessary that the composer can add newly completed assets to a pre-existing scorefol.io work.

Composers need control over how much of each piece is shared:

Every piece requires privacy settings.
Even if dissatisfied with an early work, a composer may want to include it in their catalog to demonstrate creative activity during that period.
Some composers are more wary of piracy, preferring to share only perusal scores or excerpts while keeping full documents behind a paywall.
Composers, performers, or listeners may wish to share or experience only a subset of the available documents.

To accommodate these many requirements, we have designed the scorefol.io media player as a complex abstraction of a composition document, consisting of nine primary default types:

A Catalog Entry

Default type if only composition metadata is supplied.

Up to four external links can be added to the catalog entry.

A catalog entry is the most basic composition type from which all other types extend.

An Embed

Default type if the first listed external link matches one of a handful of white-listed hosting platforms, such as YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify, etc.

scorefol.io will wrap the embedded media inside the media player.

An Audio Player

Default type if only a recording is imported.

scorefol.io will automatically transcode the audio and surface it as a standard audio player similar to a service like SoundCloud.

A Score Viewer

Default type if only a score is imported.

scorefol.io will automatically rasterize the PDF into discrete images, and display them as a standard score viewer similar to a service like Scribd, where users can flip through the pages.

An Async Score Video

Default type if both a score and audio are imported

scorefol.io will present the audio (recording) and visual (score) components of the piece in the same media player, which resembles a video player. The user can toggle the play button on and off to control the audio, and will have to leaf through the pages of the score by clicking on the arrow keys in the video canvas.

A Score Video

Default type if both a recording and a score is imported, and the composer sets timestamps for each slide.

scorefol.io will show the images of the score, synchronized with the audio, according to the timestamps set for each page of the score.

The user may optionally disable synchronizations if they have not completed editing the video, which will default the piece to the “Async Score Video” type.

A Video Player

Default type if a video file is imported.

scorefol.io will transcode the video, and present it in a standard video player

An Async Mediated Score [Not Yet Available]

Default type if a video file and a score are imported.

scorefol.io will display the video footage and score within the same canvas, and the user will flip the pages of the score to follow along.

A Mediated Score [Not Yet Available]

Default type if a video file and score are imported, and the composer set timestamps for the score slides.

scorefol.io will display the score, synchronized with the video footage.

Lastly, not only can each piece be of any type, but any “sub-type” can be extracted. For example, if the composer created a score video, scorefol.io allows users to consume it just as a score, or just as a recording as needed.

Score Video Editor

The Value Proposition of a Score Video

Composers don't just enjoy sharing their music—they take pride in revealing the typically hidden artistry and meticulous craftsmanship behind their notation. When notation is paired with a recording, it can highlight otherwise unnoticed nuances of skill and collaboration between composer and performers. For instance, a septuplet performed live without visual context may initially sound like a mistake or misinterpretation. However, presenting the same rhythm alongside its written notation transforms the listener's perception: the rhythm becomes not only correct but impressively precise, inviting listeners to attune to nuanced musical ideas in the composition.

This synchronization can build trust with audience members who might otherwise question the performers' interpretation—a mistrust that takes place often when staging the work of living composers who have not yet stood the test of time. Conversely, it can also provoke deeper skepticism among listeners already resistant towards contemporary music. In either scenario, displaying scores synchronized with recordings has the potential to significantly engage and intrigue audiences online, drawing interest from listeners who may otherwise remain indifferent.

The Problem with General-Purpose Video Editors

A score video is essentially a precisely timed slideshow, typically requiring the use of video editing software and additional tools to assemble and render the slides effectively. While some YouTubers who regularly produce score videos invest considerable time into developing custom editing workflows for efficiency, this approach is usually impractical for individual composers. Furthermore, creating a slideshow may seem straightforward with off-the-shelf video editors, but most composers without technical backgrounds will quickly find the process complicated, tedious, and intimidating.

General-purpose video editors are paradoxically both over-equipped and under-equipped for the specialized task of creating score videos. On the one hand, they come overloaded with numerous irrelevant features, creating unnecessary complexity and steep learning curves. This excess of options, combined with difficulties identifying optimal rendering settings, can lead composers to waste valuable time and end up with subpar results.

On the other hand, general-purpose editors frequently lack essential features needed specifically for score video creation. A common initial hurdle composers encounter is importing PDFs into video editing software. If a composer naively drag-and-drops a PDF into a video editor, depending on which editor it is, it might display really blurry despite setting your project to a high resolution. They might not be able to crop and/or turn the pages, or the video editor might simply reject the PDF. In fact, reliable PDF support for creating score videos is nearly nonexistent among general-purpose video editors, highlighting a critical limitation in existing solutions.

The Value Proposition of a Specialized Score Video Editor

Scorefol.io is specifically designed for creating score videos, providing focused features that surpass even high-end, general-purpose video editors for the task at hand. For example, Scorefol.io utilizes advanced computer vision techniques to automatically detect and crop musical systems within scores. Indeed, the entire editing workflow revolves around intuitively listening to music and turning pages in real-time at the click of a button—an approach naturally aligned with a musician’s instincts.

Additionally, Scorefol.io includes an integrated PDF-to-image rasterizer, addressing common issues associated with PDF imports. Its powerful, high-speed video renderer significantly outperforms standard editors, capable of generating a full two-hour score video in less than 50 seconds—an unprecedented benchmark achieved by the simple fact that scorefol.io precisely knows the type of video output required. This specialized workflow, combined with strategic optimization techniques, not only delivers visually appealing results but also produces exceptionally compact video files, greatly improving efficiency and user experience.

Website & Domain Hosting

Home is where your music is

As we’ve established, composers often juggle multiple platforms to showcase their works—making it harder for listeners to fully appreciate a composer’s breadth of music and for the composer to cultivate a cohesive online presence. Scorefol.io solves this challenge by doing more than just hosting a unified media player with score videos.

A composer’s digital "home" on the web extends beyond just the media—it represents the definitive hub where people go to hear their music. This central home should integrate all aspects of professional composer documentation: direct access to scores, recordings, and videos, as well as indirect engagement through event listings, sales channels, streaming platforms, and any other relevant access points.

Understanding this comprehensive vision, scorefol.io gives composers a way to make their portfolio of music their “home.” By acquiring a custom domain, composers can easily transform their unified catalog into their official branded online presence. This transformation isn't merely about adding another platform; rather, it solidifies scorefol.io as the digital home page—integrating all aspects of a composer’s professional presence into one cohesive, comprehensive, and easily manageable location.

Build Your Home

When a portfolio is converted into a scorefol.io site:

The Composer’s Brand Takes Center Stage. The platform’s branding yields to the composer’s, ensuring a consistent, professional identity.

The Entire Oeuvre Stays Front-and-Center. Previously imported scores, audio tracks, videos, and external embeds automatically appear in a unified “list of works.”

Expansion is Effortless. Newly created compositions on scorefol.io are instantly reflected on the composer’s website—no additional steps required.

Customization is Straightforward. The site block-builder makes it simple to add pages, blogs, image galleries, and any other elements that enrich a composer’s digital persona.

Ultimately, scorefol.io enables the creation of a single, authoritative digital “home” for every aspect of a composer’s portfolio. While composers focus on writing music, scorefol.io manages technical details—such as hosting, domain setup, and design consistency—so that online representation remains polished and professional.

The Score Follower Archive

Contemporary music often contends with two opposing forces: scarcity and abundance. On the one hand, many composers strive to introduce audiences to new sonic worlds, only to find that when they place their scores and recording behind a paywall, it can often be difficult or inconvenient to access. This “scarcity problem” makes it hard for composers to get their music heard, and leaves interested listeners without practical ways to study a piece’s artistry—especially if they lack institutional resources or are hesitant to purchase a score for casual exploration.

At the same time, the digital era has ushered in an “abundance problem.” Music has become “untethered” from physical formats. Even artists with the strongest capital make their music available for free to stream the day it is released, which raises expectations for instant availability and creates fierce competition for attention. Yet many of the world’s most innovative composers, whose work falls outside mainstream popularity, remain largely unheard in this new attention economy.

Contemporary Music is already notoriously “hard to get.” If, on top of that, it’s also “hard to access,” then it will continue to be insular and lost into obscurity.

A Public Repository for Contemporary Music

The Score Follower Archive emerged in response to these challenges, embracing abundance, and offering a publicly accessible, and trusted curated collection of score videos. By securing permissions from composers and rights holders, the Archive reproduces musical scores synchronized with recordings and makes these audiovisual materials freely available on platforms like YouTube. In doing so, the Archive:

Reduces Barriers to Entry. Musicians and audiences can freely browse new repertoire without library privileges or the up-front cost of purchasing an unfamiliar score.

Encourages Deeper Study. Synchronized score videos clarify even the most notationally obscure works, helping viewers appreciate the technical skill and innovative thinking that define contemporary music.

Promotes Discovery. Each piece stands on its own, sparking awareness of composers who might otherwise go unnoticed in a crowded, algorithm-driven digital landscape.

Faceted Search Through Scorefol.io

A key advancement in the Archive is its integration with scorefol.io’s faceted search tool, which allows visitors to explore this rich repository by instrumentation, genre, country, or other relevant parameters. Instead of relying on exact composer names or piece titles—proper nouns that have yet to make it into the cannon—users can discover compositions that meet specific performance or research needs, effectively unlocking the “abundance” in contemporary music by making music they might like easy to find, while keeping the music itself freely available.

The integration between the scorefol.io archive and social media is deep. Not only are composers using it to create videos for their own social media accounts, but directly within scorefol.io, composers can apply to have their work featured on the Score Follower YouTube channel.

By combining open access on YouTube with robust metadata management and faceted search through scorefol.io, the Score Follower Archive serves as a vital resource for anyone interested in exploring the cutting edge of contemporary composition. In turn, it illustrates how free, public documentation can thrive alongside scorefol.io’s broader mission to unify, monetize, and sustain new music in the digital age.

The scorefol.io Market Place [Not Yet Available]

Empowering Composers to Monetize Their Music

Composers invest considerable time, expertise, and resources into each new piece, yet often struggle to effectively market and sell their work online. Scorefol.io addresses this gap through an integrated marketplace designed to make it easy for composers to offer digital scores and other paywalled materials directly to interested performers, ensembles, and audiences.

Sell Scores Effortlessly

“Purchase Digital Score” Button

Any work uploaded to scorefol.io can display a “Purchase Digital Score” button with a single toggle, making it clear which pieces are available and simplifying purchases for potential buyers.

Paywalled Supplemental Materials

Beyond scores, some composers develop premium content—such as Max patches, tech riders, parts, or other specialized resources necessary for performance. Scorefol.io allows these materials to be securely locked behind a paywall, giving composers full control over how each item is shared and monetized.

A Seamless Transaction Experience

By handling payment and secure file distribution within the same platform that hosts the composer’s portfolio, scorefol.io eliminates the need to juggle third-party e-commerce tools. This streamlined process keeps the focus on the music itself and ensures a unified, reliable experience for both creators and purchasers. This commitment to a seamless experience extends to the practicalities of digital commerce: Composers will have clear options to define usage rights and licenses for their work, while Scorefolio manages secure payment processing and applicable sales tax requirements, simplifying these operational complexities.

Supporting Creative Work

Every score sale or premium content purchase contributes directly to sustaining a composer’s creative practice. Whether a composer is freelance, an educator, or part of an ensemble, scorefol.io’s marketplace provides a direct channel between the art and those who value it.

Ultimately, scorefol.io not only unifies a composer’s entire body of work but also creates meaningful opportunities for revenue—enabling composers to devote more time and energy to their craft.

The Score Follower Mobile App [Not Yet Available]

A Unified Space for Experiencing Contemporary Music

While scorefol.io offers composers powerful tools for building, managing, and selling their works, the Score Follower Mobile App provides a single destination where listeners and performers can discover and enjoy those compositions. By integrating score videos, audio tracks, and digital scores into a flexible, user-friendly interface, the app makes it easy to explore every facet of new music in one place.

Choose How to Engage

Whether someone wants to watch a fully synchronized score video, listen to a piece as an audio-only track, or read through the notated score, the app supports all modes of engagement as distinct discovery carousels. Likewise, works that contain multiple forms of documentation are automatically linked, allowing users to seamlessly switch between viewing the score, streaming audio, or following along with video.

Built-In Marketplace Access

In addition to hosting a robust library of contemporary music, the app integrates with the scorefol.io Marketplace. Performers who discover new scores can purchase and download them directly onto their devices—transitioning from discovery to their music stand.

Uniting the Many Dimensions of Contemporary Music

By combining audiovisual streaming, score viewing, and score purchases within a single, accessible platform, the Score Follower Mobile App gives contemporary composers a new and unprecedented stage for their works—and provides performers & music lovers a dynamic way to discover, study, share, and support new music communities.

Conclusion

The demands of contemporary composition far exceed what traditional media hosting and portfolio tools can accommodate. Whether working in notation, audio production, code, or video, today’s composers require a single platform that unifies every aspect of their professional presentation. Scorefol.io fulfills this need by integrating a dynamically adaptive media player, a specialized score video editor, comprehensive website hosting, and a powerful marketplace—all under one roof.

At the same time, Score Follower, through it’s public archive and aggressive presence on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, gives the public access to contemporary music notation by curating freely available score videos. Its open, discovery-focused model removes barriers for listeners and performers who want to explore new repertoire. With scorefol.io’s faceted search enhancing this public archive, pieces are easier to find, study, and share than ever—ensuring that even the most experimental works do not remain hidden behind the complexities of the digital era.

By uniting free, open documentation with robust options for monetization, composers can confidently share as much (or as little) of each piece as they choose. Those who discover a piece through the platform or on social media can immediately purchase and download the relevant score or supplemental content from the scorefol.io Marketplace, knowing exactly what they are getting. Meanwhile, composers benefit from the direct financial support of their audience, without sacrificing control over their work.

With one unified platform, composers can maintain creative focus, foster genuine connections with audiences, and sustain their artistic pursuits on their own terms. This holistic approach ushers in a new era in contemporary music, one where innovation is supported by accessible technology, vibrant public engagement, and a more equitable path to professional success.