Polyphonic Music Transcription Expert

About OpenTrain

OpenTrain is the #1 platform for finding and building careers in AI training and data labeling. It connects skilled contributors with specialized projects, helps them build a credible profile, and makes it easier to grow experience in a fast-moving technology industry.

• Create a free OpenTrain account and apply in minutes
• Build a portfolio around specialized AI training experience
• Discover flexible, fully remote contractor opportunities

About AI Training Work

AI training is the human side of building artificial intelligence. Contributors prepare and review examples that help AI systems understand information, generate useful outputs, and perform specialized tasks. In this project, accurate musical transcription helps create structured training data from complex audio recordings.

• Work directly with data used to improve modern AI systems
• Apply professional or practical expertise to a cutting-edge field
• Complete project work remotely with a flexible schedule

The Role

OpenTrain is recruiting a Polyphonic Music Transcription Expert for an AI training project focused on reconstructing precise musical scores from mixed audio recordings. You will work with polyphonic performances, including four-part soprano, alto, tenor, and bass recordings, and convert them into exact MusicXML notation.

This contractor opportunity combines advanced musical listening with structured transcription, audio analysis, notation accuracy, and technical problem-solving. The role is listed as entry level, and formal education or a specific number of professional years is not required when relevant practical expertise can be demonstrated.

• Work globally and fully remotely
• Schedule: approximately 15 hours per week
• Employment type: part-time contractor
• Compensation: $50 to $100 per hour
• Primary working language: English

What You'll Do

You will reconstruct musical scores from mono mixes containing multiple simultaneous vocal or instrumental lines. The work requires careful listening, accurate musical judgment, structured file creation, and technical validation.

• Transcribe polyphonic recordings into structured musical notation
• Separate soprano, alto, tenor, and bass lines from mono mixes
• Identify pitches, onsets, durations, rests, and re-articulations
• Quantize musical events to the correct rhythmic grid
• Apply accurate key signatures, accidentals, and enharmonic spelling
• Generate or manipulate MusicXML scores
• Use Python to inspect audio, analyze spectral information, and automate workflow steps
• Validate transcriptions through musical review, structured checks, or resynthesis

Required Skills

This role requires both advanced musical ability and strong technical execution. You should be able to distinguish several simultaneous lines in a mixed recording and represent what you hear accurately in standard notation and MusicXML.

• Strong Python programming for audio inspection, spectral analysis, or transcription automation
• Advanced ear training for separating simultaneous SATB lines from mono recordings
• Strong knowledge of harmony, rhythm, voice leading, and standard musical notation
• Experience with SATB music, choral arranging, score preparation, or polyphonic transcription
• Ability to determine pitch, timing, articulation, spelling, and rhythmic representation carefully
• Ability to produce accurate MusicXML and validate pitches, timing, rests, articulations, and enharmonic spelling

Helpful Background

Experience with audio-analysis and notation tools can be useful for this work. Relevant practical expertise may come from musical performance, arranging, composition, research, transcription, or technical audio projects.

• librosa
• NumPy
• SciPy
• music21
• Essentia
• pretty_midi
• MuseScore
• Comparable audio-analysis or notation tools

Who Should Apply

This opportunity may suit performers, arrangers, composers, choir musicians, researchers, and independent transcription specialists who can demonstrate accurate polyphonic listening and strong technical judgment. The role is open to candidates with relevant practical ability, regardless of formal education or a specified number of professional years.

• Musicians comfortable analyzing four-part SATB recordings
• Transcription specialists who care about notation precision
• Python users interested in audio analysis and AI training
• Applicants who can work independently in a remote contractor setting

How to Apply Through OpenTrain

Create a free OpenTrain account, build your profile around your musical and technical experience, and apply in minutes. Highlight your SATB transcription, MusicXML, Python, audio-analysis, notation, or related project experience so your capabilities are easy to evaluate.

• Apply through OpenTrain
• Show relevant musical and technical work in your profile
• Use the flexible schedule to contribute approximately 15 hours per week
• Build experience in the growing field of AI training and data labeling