308: Using QuickTime Pro to create .wav files for burning to audio CD

Sibelius 3 and above include a built-in feature for saving audio files directly from Sibelius. For details of how to upgrade, click here. Alternatively, you can use these step-by-step instructions for creating .wav files for burning to audio CD using Apple's QuickTime Pro.

These instructions assume that you are running Windows, and using QuickTime Pro 5. Other operating systems and versions of QuickTime Pro may require a slightly different procedure.

Installing QuickTime

QuickTime is a free download from Apple's site, and you must then pay a registration fee to 'unlock' your copy of QuickTime Pro.

Download QuickTime from here: www.apple.com/quicktime/download.

Once you have installed QuickTime, follow the instructions in the program itself for buying the 'unlock' key.

Converting the file

1. In Sibelius, use File > Save as to save your score as a MIDI file; see Saving MIDI files in your User Guide for help with this step
2. Run QuickTime Player from your Start menu
3. Choose File > Import
4. In the dialog that appears, change Files of type to Audio files
5. Find the MIDI file you exported from Sibelius in step 1, select it, and then click Convert
6. Another dialog appears, titled Save converted file as:. Click Save; this saves a QuickTime Movie (.mov) file of your MIDI file
7. Choose File > Export.
8. The dialog that appears is titled Save exported file as:; from the drop-down menu next to Export choose Music to AIFF
9. Click Save
10. You've now saved an AIFF file (.aif) of your MIDI file. All that remains is to turn it into a .wav file
11. Choose File > Import. Set Files of type to Audio files
12. Find the AIFF file you just saved, and select it, then click Convert
13. Choose File > Export again
14. Change the drop-down list next to Export to say Sound to wave, then click Save

And that's it! You now have a .wav file of your Sibelius file, ready to burn onto CD. You can delete the .mid, .mov and .aif files that were saved along the way.

Related article

• A48 - Creating audio CDs