How credits work

Last updated: October 8, 2026

Most of ScoreStarling is free: sheet music from a voice, one instrument or solo piano, reading sheet music, editing, listening, and PDF, MP3 and WAV downloads. Credits are for band recordings, where every instrument is written out on its own staff, and for unlocking a score’s editable files. Nothing is spent until you agree to the price. The same rules apply in the workspace, in ChatGPT and in Claude.

Which transcriptions use credits

Only band recordings: several instruments playing together, each written out on its own staff. That takes a specialist transcription service from our partner Mirelo, which we pay for by the minute. It costs 40 credits for each minute of audio it transcribes, with the audio rounded up to the next 10 seconds: a two-minute song uses 80 credits, three and a half minutes use 140 and five minutes use 200.

A voice, one instrument and solo piano use no credits. Each covers up to five minutes of a recording, and a free account can run one transcription at a time, an account with Plus five. A free account can start three of these transcriptions per 24 hours; as a fair-use limit, an account with Plus can start 100.

Scores from an account with Plus, or with credits from a credit pack that have not expired, go first in the transcription queue. Free scores still run, after them.

Nothing is spent without your consent

Before a band transcription starts, ScoreStarling measures the recording and shows the price: the exact credits, how much of the recording it covers and how it will be written. In the workspace you confirm it yourself; in ChatGPT or Claude the assistant shows you the same price and asks before it confirms. Confirming reserves those credits, and a finished task uses exactly that amount. A price is valid for ten minutes, and if our rates change you are asked again. Unlocking a score works the same way: you confirm its 15 credits in the workspace, and an assistant asks you before it unlocks.

How long a band score can be

A band transcription covers up to five minutes, for every account. A longer recording is transcribed from its start up to that limit, and the price says so before you confirm.

Unlocking a score

A free score can be edited, played and downloaded as a PDF, MP3 or WAV. Its PDFs and page images carry a small footer line, “Made with ScoreStarling · scorestarling.com”. MusicXML (and its compressed MXL), MIDI, ABC and MEI files need the score unlocked. Unlocking costs 15 credits, once per score. After that, every format downloads as often as you like, edits included, and the PDF has no footer line.

A band transcription paid with credits is already unlocked, and an account with a monthly plan has every score unlocked while the plan lasts. Credits are spent on a score at most once. Scores made before these rules stay fully open.

Where credits come from and when they expire

Every account receives 100 free credits every month, 50 a month from 2027, on its first visit that month. They expire at the end of the month, counted in China Standard Time (UTC+8), and do not add up; an account with a monthly plan receives the plan’s credits instead. A limited number of new accounts are given their first monthly credits each day, so a new account may receive them on a later visit.

When a friend joins with your invitation link and finishes a first transcription of a recording, free ones included, you both receive 100 credits, valid for 30 days; up to five friends earn rewards for you. A beta code gives 300 credits, valid for 30 days, and each account can use one. Monthly plan credits are added for each paid month and expire at the end of it; they do not roll over. Credits you bought expire 90 days after purchase. Credits are bought only on the ScoreStarling website. In ChatGPT and Claude, ScoreStarling uses the credits you already have and can redeem an invitation or beta code you give it; nothing is sold there.

When a task spends credits, monthly plan credits go first, then the credits that expire soonest.

When credits come back

A band transcription that fails, finds no notes, or stops because of a problem on our side returns its credits automatically, to the same allowance with its original expiry. If the result is uncertain because the band transcription may have finished, the credits stay reserved until it is checked; contact support rather than trying again. Transcribing the same recording again as a band is a new task with its own price.

What never uses credits

Editing notes and rhythm, undo and redo, saved versions, re-engraving, listening, PDF, MP3 and WAV downloads (a free score’s PDF has the small footer line), downloading a file again, reading sheet music and score files, notation text, previews and instrument suggestions.

Refunds and disputes

If a payment is refunded, its credits are removed; while a payment is disputed, its credits are on hold, and they return if the dispute is resolved without a chargeback. If credits from that payment were already spent, band transcription pauses until the account is reviewed; everything free keeps working. Questions about credits or payments: visit the help center.