A music transcriber creates sheet music from live or recorded music. The sheet music can be used to study the music, rehearse it in different settings, or create arrangements in which the music is transformed in some way. Music transcription necessitates a keen ear, proficiency with musical instruments, and perseverance. These specialists can earn much depending on the sort of music they handle and the number of assignments they can do each year.

A music transcriber, often known as a music transcriptionist, may be required in a variety of circumstances. The classic example is when someone possesses a recording of a piece of music but no accompanying sheet music. The music could be improvised jazz, recordings of traditional ethnic music, or even a recording of popular music for which no sheet music is available. A music transcriber can listen to a piece of music and transcribe it into sheet music that anyone with musical training can read.

Transcribers can utilize handwriting or computer programs to create sheet music. They can also use technology in transcription, such as decreasing the speed to make it easier to hear the notes. Furthermore, some systems provide an auto transcribe function that is supposed to automatically generate sheet music, albeit the reliability of such tools is not always the best.