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MakeBraille User Guide

A guide to using the online automated music Braille conversion tool MakeBraille from dzb lesen.

MakeBraille: helping you to create music Braille files automatically from MusicXML files, and from capx files (print scores scanned using capella software).

Last updated: 14 June 2022

Download this User Guide

You can download this entire user guide in the following formats: PDF, HTML, and TXT.

Spanish Version

Please see the following link for the Spanish version of the MakeBraille User Guide.

Guía_de_usuario_de_MakeBraille

PDF
HTML
TXT.

Special Thanks to the ONCE team for helping with the translation!

Acknowledgements

dzb lesen gratefully acknowledges the support of the DAISY Consortium, funders and project team supporting this work during 2020 and 2021, through the DAISY Music Braille Project.

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1. Get Started

MakeBraille is a professional online automated music Braille conversion tool which both agencies and end-users can use to produce Braille music in a highly automated way. It is made by dzb lesen in Germany. You can contact us to register for an account, and login at http://makebraille.dzblesen.de/MakeBraille. MakeBraille can convert MusicXML files as well as printed music files scanned in capella-scan, edited with capella.

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1.1 Overview of the process

The actual conversion process is quite simple once you have the file to convert into music braille, and each step is explained in detail in this User Guide:

  1. Register for an account with dzb lesen, by obtaining a licence if necessary.
  2. Log onto dzb lesen’s online ‘MakeBraille’ service.
  3. Set and save your Configuration options for the file you wish to create.
  4. Choose a file for conversion into music Braille from your computer.
  5. Start the conversion (Create Braille).
  6. MakeBraille converts your file into music Braille through Hodder, and emails you the converted file as a text file.
  7. You can then emboss the file, read it on a Braille display, or email the file directly to a blind user.

This user guide will help you learn your way around MakeBraille so you can configure it to get the type of conversion needed by your music Braille users.

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1.2 Help resources on Wiki

You will find helpful tutorials and guidance on obtaining, scanning and marking up, and preparing scores ready for conversion on the MakeBraille Support Wiki. The rest of this User Guide describes these steps in more detail.

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2. Register for an account

2.1 How to register

Only registered users are able to use MakeBraille. Blind individuals in Germany may use MakeBraille free of charge, please register by emailing . Other users (e.g. agencies, educators, transcribers and blind individuals outside Germany) should contact to request an account. We will tell you if you need to supply further information or obtain a licence.

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2.2 Your username and password

Once registered, you will receive your account login details - a username and password - by email which you use to log in both to MakeBraille, and to the Support Wiki for help resources for MakeBraille. Please save these details for future reference. If you forget your username or password, please email to request a reminder/replacement. You cannot reset or change your own password.

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3. Log in and out of MakeBraille

  1. In your browser, go to: www.dzblesen.de/MakeBraille
  2. Type in the username and password we sent you.
  3. Read the Terms of use.
  4. Select the button 'Login (I accept the terms of use)’ .
  5. If you have trouble logging in, or have forgotten your login details please email for help.
  6. We welcome your feedback – you can use the link here to send us your comments and suggestions.

Use the [Logout] button at the top of the MakeBraille window. You will be prompted ‘Are you sure’ before you are logged out, if you choose ‘OK’ you will return to the MakeBraille login page.

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4. MakeBraille Main page

4.1 Buttons

Once you’ve logged in, the Main page of MakeBraille contains the following options (described in more detail in the following sections):
 
  • ‘Profiles’ displays the currently loaded user profile name with a drop-down list of available user profiles (if you have any saved), with buttons to switch to, or delete, the selected user profile.
  • The ‘Configuration’ button is where you choose your conversion settings on the Configuration page. Set these options before choosing your file. MakeBraille saves your settings for all future conversions.

  • The ‘Choose file’ button is where you select a file to upload for conversion. When a file has been chosen the filename will be displayed next to this button.
  • The ’Select parts’ button is where you can confirm which parts from your score you wish to have converted. All parts are selected as standard, but you can de-select any you do not wish to appear in your converted Braille file.
  • The ‘Create Braille’ button confirms which output file format is chosen on the Configuration page (e.g. TXT, BRF, PEF). It uploads the chosen file to MakeBraille and starts the conversion into music Braille. Please be patient, conversion may take several minutes, and the file will be returned to you by email.

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4.2 Links

Links at the top-right of the MakeBraille window:

  • [What's New?] - takes you to a list of latest software improvements.
  • [Help] - takes you to the Support Wiki for tutorials, videos and user guides, and What's New. Log in to the Support Wiki using the same username and password you use for MakeBraille.
  • [Show Hints] - re-opens all Hints boxes if you have previously chosen 'Don't show again'.
  • [Log out] - closes your current MakeBraille session and logs you out. Your Configuration settings are saved ready for your next login.

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4.3 Hints boxes

Any hints for using particular controls in MakeBraille are displayed in ‘Hints’ boxes. Once you’re familiar with the controls you may hide a Hints box by selecting the [Don’t show again] button. To display all the Hints boxes again, use the [Show hints’] option at the top of the MakeBraille window.

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4.4 Information buttons

You can hover over (or Tab to) any information button ⓘ to expand a description for some features if you need further explanation.
 
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4.5 Interface language and country settings

  • MakeBraille displays the interface language according to your browser language, where translations exist. For example, if the browser language is set to German, MakeBraille will display in German; or if set to Spanish, MakeBraille will display in Spanish. Countries which do not have translated interfaces will be displayed in English.
  • MakeBraille sets your default country configuration options for conversion according to your registered email address/country.
     
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5. Configuration Page

The Configuration page is where you define the way you wish the music Braille to be presented, to suit specific users, tasks, or country requirements.

It has four groups of settings, described in turn below:

  1. Country and embosser settings
  2. Score settings
  3. Transcription settings
  4. Main page settings.

The Hints box at the top of the page reminds you that all settings are saved and applied to each conversion you make. If your requirements never change you will only need to choose and save these settings once, otherwise you can adjust them for individual conversions; and that you can visit the Support Wiki for tutorials and user guides

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5.1 Profiles

You may wish to create and use individually-named user profiles with different configuration settings – perhaps for different end-users, customers, or transcribers. Your default profile consists of your default country settings, and you cannot overwrite this default profile, you can only save changes with a new profile name.
 
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5.1.1 Profile management

Your current user profile name is displayed at the top of the Configuration page. You can Switch to another profile from the drop-down list, delete the current profile, or restore your default country profile here. You will be prompted ‘Are you sure’ before you delete any profile. To create a new profile name simply change the configuration settings and then type a new profile name at the bottom of the Configuration page and choose ‘Save Configuration’.
 
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5.1.2 Creating profiles

At the bottom of the Configuration page your current user profile name is displayed in an editbox. If you have changed any configuration settings for this profile you can save them here, or type a new name to save it as a new profile. Allowed characters in profile names: letters digits spaces - _ ( )
 
Make sure you ‘Save Configuration’ to save your changes. Note: You cannot edit the Default profile (which is set to your default country settings). Profiles do not save settings which have no impact on the output (e.g. the Main Page settings).
 
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5.2 Country and embosser settings

5.2.1 Country encoding and formatting

These radiobutton options set the music Braille encoding and layout according to the transcription preferences/standards of a specific country. If we can detect your country the radiobutton may be set automatically. To change country settings, simply select another radiobutton. Additional country codes will continue to be added, and we will be grateful to have feedback from you if you notice any problems in your country code.
 
Use the checkbox ‘Unicode/UTF-8 to get the output in UTF-8 Braille encoding. This is useful if you need to create a score for another country and wish to check the output even if you cannot read their country code.
 
The converter detects language changes in the file it converts. It will automatically convert the other languages appropriately using the relevant language notation to avoid any confusion over symbols and contractions between country codes (notation as specified in the ‘New International Manual of Music Braille Notation’ Bettye Krolick 1996).
 
If you wish to notify us of any updates to your country code/formatting settings, please contact us at .
 
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5.2.2 Page setup

Here you can specify the number of cells per line, and lines per page you need to suit your paper size or Braille display (for example: for an A4 portrait page 30 cells x 30 lines; for an A4 landscape page 36 cells x 20 lines). If we know the typical page setup for your country this may already be displayed here, but you can change the numbers to adjust the page size if you wish.
 
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5.2.3 Output format

Choose the output format for your Braille file you require from one of these radiobuttons:
 
  • TXT: Plain text file. No formatting.
  • BRF: Formatted text file with page breaks ready for embossing.
  • PEF: Portable Embosser Format ready for embossing with PEF-compatible Braille printers.
Additional output format(s)
 
  • MIDI: If it is possible to create a MIDI file from the file you are uploading you can have this file returned together with your Braille file. This can be helpful if the user wants to listen to the score as well as reading it.

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5.3 Score settings

5.3.1 Output presentation

These options allow you to select the kind of score presentation you require from your file.
 
  • Full score – Presents all instrumental and vocal parts in score order (e.g. woodwind, brass, percussion, chorus, strings), producing a complete Conductor’s score. The Conductor can therefore read all the parts for specific bars at once, then read all parts for the next bars, and so on.
  • Choral score – Presents just vocal parts in score order (e.g. SATB) without any instrumental accompaniment/reduction. A choral singer might use this score to learn how their parts relate to the others.
  • Part by part – Presents all parts individually, instrumental and vocal, one after the other. This kind of score can then be cut up, and each part given to the relevant specific player/singer (e.g. the violin part to the violinist, the Soprano line to the Soprano soloist and so on).
  • Mixed - Outputs an accompaniment part/complete score plus separate files for each part. E.g. a vocal part file plus a piano accompaniment file; or a combined score file plus 5 separate quintet instrument files; or a choral score plus separate vocal parts. Information (such as tempo, fermata and other directives) from the full score will be replicated in all converted parts so there will be no missing information in the individual parts.
Additionally, you can also choose the following presentation options (de-select them if you do not wish to show any of these):
 
  • Show lyrics – The position and layout of lyrics is set by individual country preferences. Note: if you hide lyrics you might influence the presentation of the music notes for the accompanist.
  • Show chord symbols
  • Show figured basses
  • Show page breaks - When deselected, the ink print page breaks and numbers are removed. Note: when ‘Mixed’ presentation output’ is selected, the ink print page breaks and numbers are removed only for separated part files.

Note: for scores formatted as Bar over Bar, System by System, or Page by Page formatting a list of instruments and their abbreviations is presented just before the musical notes in the converted score.

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5.3.2 Braille language settings

If the selected country code offers contracted and uncontracted options, you can choose how text in the score will be presented. No matter which option you choose for your own language, MakeBraille will present any other languages it finds in the file as uncontracted.
 
  • German uncontracted
  • German extended uncontracted – will contract frequent groups of letters if applicable by language, uncontracted otherwise.
  • German contracted
  • UEB uncontracted
  • UEB contracted
  • 8-dot Braille

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5.3.3 Score formatting

Set how the Braille score should be divided and formatted. Many countries have a national standard or preference for formatting, although some musicians like different layouts depending on the type of music or activity they are using. MakeBraille can convert scores into the following layouts (usually set by default according to your country preference):
 
  • Section by section – Sections are set musically and/or by user-defined section marks by inserting {S} system marks.
  • System by system – Sections are set at print systems.
  • Page by page –  Sections are set at print page turns.
  • Bar over bar, respecting system breaks - Vertically aligned bars. Starts a new line when a new line starts in ink print.
  • Bar over bar, continuous - Vertically aligned bars. As many bars as possible per line irrespective of ink print line breaks.

Note: Conversion into Bar over bar takes a little longer than conversion into Section by section due to the extra processes involved, especially for large/complex files, so please be patient.

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5.4 Transcription Settings

5.4.1 User type

Choose your user type to apply automated settings for transcription to suit their requirements. You can customize each profile further using the following Transcription settings if you wish.
 
  • Beginner – Creates a simple score showing only notes, rests, accidentals, barlines, music prefixes, time and key signatures. The "Define all symbols used in the score" list of symbols is presented above each piece.
  • Intermediate – Creates a score which does not use complex notations (i.e. stems, part measures, short simile, parallel shifts, moving notes and similar notations are not used). The "Define less common symbols" list of symbols is presented above each piece.
  • Expert – Creates a score suitable for experienced music Braille readers.
  • Teacher – Creates a score for a blind teacher with sighted students. It includes many additional signs such as clefs, ottavae, slur orientation etc., and applies to all score types.
  • Pupil/examinee – Creates a work sheet or exam score showing clefs and ottavae, indicate slur orientation, line breaks follow ink print.
  • Conductor - Presents full scores applying the country's interval direction and special full score part presentation.

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5.4.2 Show

These checkbox settings can be turned on/off independently of each other, so you can choose the markings you wish to have included in the Braille score. For new learners you may wish to hide everything except the musical notes. More advanced learners/musicians may require more notation.
 
  • Fingering – Show all fingering markings
  • Slurs – Show all slurs
  • Dynamics – Show all dynamic markings
  • Articulation – Show all articulation markings
  • Ornaments – Show all ornament markings.

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5.4.3 Presentation

These checkbox settings can be turned on/off independently of each other, so you can choose the markings, and additional support materials you wish to include in the Braille score, to suit different kinds of user ability and preferences:
 
  • Repeats / Simile – Check this box if you want to use repeat/simile markings, or uncheck it if you want them written out in full.
  • Doubling – Check this box if you want articulations, intervals etc. shown with doubling, or uncheck it if you want all shown with individual markings.
  • Pronunciation guide to foreign characters – This creates a pronunciation guide to foreign characters found in lyrics to help singers performing in other languages (e.g, ‘you pronounce the German ‘au’ in English as ‘ow’ like in the word howl’. It will be included near the start of the score. Only applicable if such a guide is available for the selected language.

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5.4.4 Slurs

Slurs are automatically set according to your country defaults. However, if you wish to change the presentation of slurs you can do so here.
 
  • Simple slurs - dots 14
  • Two cell slurs - dots 56,12 and 45,23 — Uses simple slurs up to four notes, otherwise uses two cell slurs.

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5.4.5 List of symbols

Choose whether to include a list of symbols near the top of each piece explaining signs and symbols in various levels of detail, helpful for learners or when reading scores with rare or unfamiliar symbols. The list of symbols is ordered as in the ‘New International Manual of Braille Music Notation’ by Bettye Krolick, not by order of appearance.
 
  • Define all symbols used in the score - The list of symbols includes all music Braille symbols appearing in the score. The list is presented at top of each piece.
  • Define less common symbols – A shorter list of symbols, of only the less common symbols appearing in the Braille score which may be unfamiliar to readers. The list is presented at top of each piece.
  • Define only very rare or instrument-specific symbols – The list of symbols only includes very unusual symbols or those which only occur for specific instruments, such as guitar or accordion. The list is presented at top of all pieces.
  • No list of symbols – No list of symbols is included in the Braille score.

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5.4.6 Return my converted file to

Please enter your email address here (if it is not already showing), or amend it if you wish to send the converted file to a different address. You can request confirmation details of your Configuration settings to be returned with/in your converted file, which can help with distinguishing your converted files apart, and for being able to report feedback on conversions to the developer:
 
  • Add configuration to filename — Add codes to each filename to indicate your configuration settings for that file. A key is included in the email with the converted file for easy reference.
  • Add full configuration to end of returned file — All configuration settings are listed in full at the very end of the music Braille file, separated from the score by dotted lines.

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5.5 Main page settings

You can customise the MakeBraille Main page to suit your preferred way of working. You can show or hide any of these groups of Configuration options on the Main page for quick access:
 
  • Show ‘Country and embosser settings’ on main page
  • Show ‘Score settings’ on main page
  • Show ‘Transcription settings’ on main page
  • Show ‘Select parts’ on main page – important if you wish to choose specific parts to be presented in your converted score.
  • Show ‘Configuration’ button at bottom of main page — If unchecked then button shows at top.

You can choose the position of the Configuration button itself on the Main page. If you frequently change your settings for difference conversions, you may wish to have the Configuration button at the top of the page so it’s the first item on the page and you can get to it quickly.

Once you have set up your configuration according to your preferences you may never need to go into the Configuration page again as MakeBraille retains your settings for all future conversions. In this case you may wish to show the Configuration button at the bottom of the main page, so it does not get in your way each time you log in.

However, remember: if you choose a file and then go into the Configuration page, your chosen file will not be remembered, and you will have to choose it again before it can be converted.
 
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5.6 Save Configuration / Cancel

At the bottom of the Configuration page your current user profile name is displayed in an editbox. If you have changed any configuration settings for this profile you can save them here, or type a new name to save it as a new profile.  Allowed characters in profile names: letters digits spaces - _ ( )
 
Note: You cannot edit the Default profile (which is set to your default country settings). Profiles do not save settings which have no impact on the output (e.g. the Main Page settings).
 
Make sure you ‘Save Configuration’ to save your configuration changes (including your new profile name if applicable) and apply them to the conversion.
 
MakeBraille saves your settings and applies them to each new conversion, even when you log out. If you need to update the Configuration settings for different conversions remember to save the changes each time. After selecting ‘Save Configuration’ you will be returned to the Main page with confirmation that your Configuration was saved. Alternatively, choose ‘Cancel’ to return to the Main page without saving any Configuration changes.
 
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6. Choose the file to convert

MakeBraille will apply your saved Configuration to the conversion. Note: Always remember to make changes in the Configuration page BEFORE choosing your file, as MakeBraille cannot maintain a link to your file once the Configuration page is open and you will have to choose it again.
 
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6.1 Choose file

On the MakeBraille Main page, use the ‘Choose file’ button to select the file you wish to convert into music Braille.  This opens your file browser for you to find and select the file for conversion. Note: Your chosen file not uploaded to MakeBraille for conversion until you select the ‘Create Braille’ button. Your chosen file will be displayed next to the ‘Choose file’ button.

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6.2 File formats supported for upload

The following file formats are supported for upload for conversion through MakeBraille:
 
  1. capella (.capx)
  2. Uncompressed MusicXML (.xml or .musicxml)
  3. Compressed MusicXML (.mxl)
  4. Zipped (.zip) containing single, large, or multiple files of mixed file types

Note: The better the source file, the better the music Braille file – it is worth spending the time to obtain/create a high-quality source file before attempting to convert it into music Braille.

  • If you start from a print score, you can scan and edit it with capella software, following our capella help resource
  • If you start from a print score, you can have it engraved into a digital file in a music notation tool (such as MuseScore, Sibelius or Finale) following our engraving guidelines.
  • If you start from a MusicXML file you should check it for accuracy, and correct it if required before conversion.  Don’t assume that all MusicXML files will be suitable for conversion into music Braille.

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6.3 Sample files

For an easy start you may use the following sample files for conversion tests:

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6.4 Use a zipped file for multiple files, mixed file types or large files

If you want to convert multiple files or a very large file, please put them into a zip file. The zip can contain any combination of the filetypes listed above. 

There is a size limit for file upload which should permit most files to be managed. If you have very large files, please zip them, and if the file still fails to convert, please email us to arrange an alternative method for upload.

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6.5 Specify the order of files to be converted

Files in a zip file will be output in alphabetical order, grouped by filetype. If you wish to have the music Braille file presenting pieces in a specific order you can number your filenames in the zip in the order you wish them to be presented. To do this, add a prefix to each filename, e.g. 1-filename.capx, 2-filename.capx, 3-filename.capx.

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6.6 Save your Configuration before choosing your file

MakeBraille does not upload your file until you select the ‘Create Braille’ button. Therefore, if you go back into the Configuration Page after choosing your file, you will have to choose the file again.

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7. Select parts

If your chosen score or scores has more than one part, MakeBraille will convert all of them as standard. Information (such as tempo, fermata and other directives) from the full score will be replicated in all converted parts so there will be no missing information in the individual parts.

However, you can select just the parts you wish to convert from each score. The ’Select parts’ button opens a ‘Select parts’ page where you will find a list of all part names and part abbreviations detected by MakeBraille in your score. All parts will be selected for conversion by default.You can de-select any you do not wish to appear in your converted Braille file. You can also edit the Part names and Part abbreviations if you wish alternatives to be used in your converted score by overwriting the text in the editboxes.

From this page you can now ‘Create Braille’ applying your saved Configuration settings, or choose Cancel to return to the Main Page without modifying the part selection. Note: if you choose Cancel, your selected file will be lost, and you will have to choose your file for conversion again on the Main Page.

 
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8. Create Braille

Once you have set your Configuration options and chosen the file to convert, select the ‘Create Braille’ button to begin the conversion. The ‘Create Braille’ button confirms which output file format is chosen on the Configuration page (e.g. TXT, BRF, PEF). It uploads the chosen file to MakeBraille and starts the conversion into music Braille. The transformation may take several minutes, and will be returned to you by email. It should arrive within 30 minutes, or sooner for a short/simple score. If you don’t have a file selected, or try to convert an unsupported file type an error prompt will be displayed: ‘No file or wrong file format!’.
 
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9. Your converted music Braille file

9.1 Return by email

A confirmation message will be displayed confirming that your converted music Braille file will be sent to the address specified on the Configuration page. The email with the resulting music Braille file should arrive in your Inbox within 30 minutes, from with the Subject line: [MakeBraille] Filename music {format} file. You can use this text file to emboss the Braille score, to read on a Braille display, or save it and send as a digital file to your music Braille user.

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9.1.1 Resolving problems

To be sure you receive the converted file from MakeBraille please add to your Contacts/Approved Senders list, or check your Spam/Junk box if you don’t find the message in your Inbox. If there was a problem with the conversion you will receive an Error Report in your Inbox with advice/recommendations of what to do next. If you don’t receive your file within 30 minutes please contact us at so we can resolve the problem.

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9.2 Post-conversion editing

If you used an accurate MusicXML to start with (i.e. no errors in the original file), or a well marked-up score in capella also run through the capella optimizers, there should be no, or very little, post-conversion editing required to fix errors.
 
Note: Please try to avoid editing a converted Bar over bar file, as this can easily destroy the alignment in the file making the file useless. If you find any conversion errors please email us so we can make a fix at .

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10. Embosser/Braille display settings

If the resulting music Braille file does not emboss or display correctly, please check your Country settings on the Configuration page, and/or the settings of your embosser/Braille display. One particular problem can result from an automatic Braille conversion of the texts. For example, it is possible that the quarter note C, which appears as 4, is converted by your Braille display or printer into a real 4 - i.e. number sign d. If this is the case, you have to adjust your Braille display or embosser. Please check your manuals, or ask for help from the manufacturer.
 
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11. Help

11.1 Support Wiki

Registered users of MakeBraille have access to the MakeBraille Support Wiki where you will find tutorials, videos, user guides, and other helpful links. You can get to the Support Wiki from the [Help] link at the top of the MakeBraille window, or in your browser go to: https://dzblesen.uber.space/projects/hodder/wiki. Log in to the Support Wiki with the same username and password that you use for MakeBraille. You may prefer to ‘Stay logged in’ to save your login details for future sessions. Note: On this login page, users of other dzb lesen services also log in to their respective support area. With your MakeBraille username and password, you can only access the MakeBraille Support area.

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11.2 Troubleshooting

11.2.1 Error 403 Forbidden

  • Description : Some browsers (e.g. Chrome) may occasionally display a 403 Forbidden error message when trying to access MakeBraille or the Support Area.
  • Solution : Use a private /incognito browsing window / Refresh or clear your cache / Use another browser. Alert us at so we can help.

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11.3 Contact us

If you’re having any trouble and can’t find the answers on the Support Wiki, or would like to report things for our attention, please contact us at so we can help.

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