Guide to Digital Music Editing

The Guide to Digital Editing, produced within the Huma-Num MUSICA2 consortium, provides a structured survey of methods and standards for the digital editing of notated music. It distinguishes between digitized reproductions and born-digital editions, emphasizing interoperability, sustainability, and FAIR principles.Key topics include notation software and encoding formats (MusicXML, MEI, Humdrum), conversion and visualization processes, long-term archiving, and metadata integration to ensure traceability and scholarly citation. The Guide also considers legal frameworks, collaborative workflows, critical apparatus construction, and the implementation of IIIF protocols for linking editions to primary sources.Attention is given to the evaluation of current editing tools, quality control procedures, and the promotion of open standards and open-access dissemination. Situated in the context of European cultural policies and digital research infrastructures, the Guide combines technical guidance with institutional perspectives, offering a practical and research-oriented framework for digital music editing. The french version of the Guide can be consulted here.