Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cantai?

Cantai is an AI vocal synthesis engine that plugs into your notation software. It reads your score — notes, lyrics, dynamics, tempo, and expression markings — and generates an expressive sung performance, from individual solo voices to full choir arrangements. You write your music as usual and Cantai sings it back.

Cantai is built from real professional vocalists who consented to participate, are paid for their work, and receive ongoing royalties.

Which notation apps does Cantai work with?

Three, all live today:

• Dorico — live. See the Dorico guide.
• Sibelius — live. See the Sibelius guide.
• MuseScore Studio — live, distributed through MuseHub.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. In Dorico and Sibelius, the free trial is the full Cantai plugin — download it into your notation software and it renders up to 30 seconds of audio before purchase. Activating your license removes the 30-second limit. No plan required to try it.

Where do I download Cantai?

Create a free account at cantai.app, then go to the Downloads page and get the installer for your OS. After installing, activate your license using the token in your account Profile.

Which voices are available?

Solo voices: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone — each with soft and operatic style variants. Choir voices: Female Choir and Male Choir, which render a full choral section rather than a single singer (configurable to 3–10 voices per part).

We're constantly adding new voices — check the Changelog to see the latest additions.

What languages are supported?

English, Latin, and Spanish are available today. You select the language directly in the Cantai plugin (VST) interface — it is not detected automatically from your lyrics. More languages are planned for future updates.

The selected language applies to all Cantai voices in your project at once. For now you can't have one voice singing in English and another in a different language simultaneously.

Do I have to add lyrics?

Yes. Cantai sings words, so notes without lyrics won't produce a voice. Assign lyrics to the notes you want sung (Shift+L in Dorico; Cmd/Ctrl+L in Sibelius and MuseScore).

Can Cantai sing chords or multiple voices at once?

Each Cantai instance is monophonic — it sings one line at a time. For multiple voices, use one Cantai instance per vocal line. In Dorico you can also route multiple independent voices on a single staff to separate instances using Independent Voice Playback (Play mode → Track Inspector → Enable Independent Voice Playback).

Can I use Cantai output in commercial projects?

Yes. Commercial use is permitted, including recordings that are sold or distributed, as long as you own the rights to the music or it is in the public domain. And your music is never used to train our AI.

Does Cantai use my music to train its AI?

No. Cantai only sends the minimum encrypted notation data required to generate audio. Your music is never used for AI training and is not sold or shared beyond what is needed to operate the service.

How much does Cantai cost?

• Lifetime license: $149 (one-time).
• Monthly subscription: $9.99/month, cancel anytime.

See cantai.app/plans for all options.

What does one license cover?

A single Dorico + Sibelius license — lifetime or subscription — covers both apps. MuseScore Studio is sold separately through MuseHub at musehub.com/muse-sounds/cantai.

I pre-ordered or bought before Sibelius launched — is Sibelius included?

Yes. If you hold a Dorico + Sibelius license (or the lifetime license), Sibelius is included automatically — no extra purchase needed. It activates on its own.

Is there an educational discount?

Yes — the educational program is live. Students can get Cantai free; educators at a reduced rate. Apply at cantai.app/plans, or from your Profile → "Apply for a student or teacher educational account," and wait for approval if eligible. If your institutional email isn't accepted or the option doesn't appear on your account, contact support and we'll help sort it out.

Can I use Cantai for commercial work?

Yes. Commercial use is permitted, and your music is never used to train our AI.

What do I need to run Cantai?

macOS: Apple Silicon (M1 or later), macOS 14 Sonoma or later. Intel Macs are not supported.
Windows: Windows 10 (version 20H2 / October 2020 update) or later, x86-64 processor. Windows on ARM (Snapdragon) is not supported.

RAM: 8 GB minimum, 16 GB recommended for large scores. Disk: ~4 GB available. Internet: required for license validation, even when rendering locally.

Which version of my notation app do I need?

• Dorico: 6.2.20 or later.
• Sibelius: 2026.6 or later. If Cantai doesn't appear, make sure you're on the latest Sibelius update.
• MuseScore Studio: 4.6.4 or later, with MuseHub open and running.

Does Cantai require an internet connection to render?

Rendering itself runs locally on supported machines, but an internet connection is always required to validate your license. When a machine can't render locally and falls back to online rendering, the connection is also used for the rendering itself.

Does Cantai work on Intel Macs or Windows ARM devices?

Intel-based Macs and Windows ARM devices (e.g. Snapdragon PCs) are not supported for local rendering. MuseScore Studio users on those systems can still use Cantai via online (cloud) rendering, which is subject to the 180-minute weekly quota.

What is the difference between local and online rendering?

With local rendering, the Cantai Engine runs directly on your computer — rendering is unlimited with no weekly quota. An internet connection is still required for license validation. With online rendering, audio is generated on Cantai's servers and is subject to a 180-minute-per-week limit.

Dorico and Sibelius always render locally. MuseScore renders locally too when your computer supports it, and only falls back to online rendering when the machine isn't compatible with local rendering (e.g. an Intel Mac or a Windows ARM device).

How do I customize a choir?

The Female Choir and Male Choir voices render a full section. To set the number of voices per part (3–10), open the … menu in the Cantai plugin interface and adjust the choir section count.

Do I have to keep the plugin window open while it renders?

No. Cantai renders in the background while you keep composing. You can close the pop-up window and keep working — whenever you change something that affects a vocal part (notes, lyrics, dynamics, tempo, expression), Cantai automatically re-renders just the affected segments.

Is there a limit on how much I can render?

• Local rendering (Dorico, Sibelius, and MuseScore on compatible machines): unlimited, no weekly quota.
• Online rendering (only when a machine can't render locally): 180 minutes per week, resetting every Monday at 00:00 UTC. Only newly generated audio counts against the quota — replaying already-rendered passages is free.

Can I export the audio?

Yes. In Dorico and Sibelius: File → Export → Audio — choose WAV for highest quality or MP3 for smaller files. Export uses the same engine as real-time playback, so the quality matches what you hear.

Do I need to draw in MIDI automation for dynamics?

No. Write your score the way you would for human performers — dynamic markings (p, mp, mf, f, ff…), hairpins (crescendo/decrescendo), and tempo markings (Allegro, ritardando…) are all interpreted automatically.

How do I activate my license?

Copy the account token (your license key) from your Profile at cantai.app, then paste it into the Cantai plugin when prompted and click Activate.

How do I assign a voice?

• Dorico: load one Cantai instance per vocal stave in Play mode, then pick the voice from the Show Instrument dropdown. Set the language in the Cantai plugin interface. (Full guide.)
• Sibelius: activate Cantai in Play → Setup → Playback Devices, assign an instance to each vocal staff in the Mixer, then choose the voice via CantAI → Voice in the program dropdown. (Full guide.)
• MuseScore: open the Mixer (F10) and choose the Cantai instrument on the staff.

In Sibelius, make sure you actually pick a voice — if an instance is left on its default with no voice selected, it may not render. Switching to another voice fixes it.

How do I add lyrics for Cantai to sing?

Select the first note in your vocal part and open lyric entry — Shift+L in Dorico, Cmd/Ctrl+L in Sibelius and MuseScore. Press Space to advance after a complete word, or - (hyphen) to advance after each syllable of a multi-syllable word. Hyphenating syllables (e.g. hal- le- lu- jah) helps Cantai map phonemes correctly.

Windows: the engine won't start or won't activate after install.

Reinstall and accept the default install location (AppData\Local\Cantai). Cantai's engine on Windows expects that path; installing to a custom folder (e.g. Program Files) prevents it from starting.

Where do I purchase Cantai for MuseScore Studio?

Via MuseHub at musehub.com/muse-sounds/cantai. Both the $9.99/month subscription and the $149 lifetime plan are available there.

What version of MuseScore do I need?

MuseScore Studio 4.6.4 or later is required. MuseHub must also be open and running in the background while using Cantai.

How do I assign a Cantai voice to a staff?

Open the Mixer (F10) in MuseScore Studio, then use the instrument selector on the desired staff to choose a Cantai voice (e.g. Cantai Soprano, Cantai Alto).

How does the 180-minute weekly quota work?

The quota only applies when MuseScore renders online — that is, on computers that aren't compatible with local rendering (e.g. Intel Macs or Windows ARM devices). On compatible machines MuseScore renders locally with no quota.

When it does apply, the quota counts new audio generated — playing back already-rendered passages does not consume quota. It resets every Monday at 00:00 UTC. To use it efficiently, switch to manual rendering mode in Preferences → Audio & MIDI and render only the sections you need.

Cantai isn't appearing or there's no audio in MuseScore — what should I do?

Check three things: (1) lyrics are present on the notes, (2) your weekly quota has not been exceeded, and (3) MuseHub is running in the background. To reset the connection, close both MuseScore Studio and MuseHub completely, then reopen MuseHub first, followed by MuseScore Studio. Repeat up to 3 times if needed.

Where can I get MuseScore-specific support?

For MuseScore-via-MuseHub issues you can reach Muse's support at support.musehub.com.

Is there a full Dorico setup guide?

Yes. For a complete, illustrated step-by-step walkthrough — installation, activation, loading Cantai in Play mode, assigning voices, and exporting audio — see the Dorico Quick Start Guide. The answers below cover the most common questions.

How do I set up Cantai in Dorico?

Add lyrics to your vocal staves (Shift+L). In Play mode, open the VST and MIDI tab and load one Cantai instance per vocal stave, then assign each in the Track Inspector. Choose a voice via the Show Instrument button, and press Play. See the full Dorico guide.

How do I export audio from Dorico with Cantai?

Use File → Export → Audio in Dorico. Supported formats are WAV and MP3.

Are there any known limitations in Dorico?

Cantai is monophonic — it renders one voice per staff and does not support chords or divisi within a single staff (use one instance per line, or Independent Voice Playback). Musical repeats and playback loops are not currently supported; write out repeated sections explicitly.

Cantai is not appearing in Dorico — what should I check?

Verify that the Cantai Engine is installed (download from your account at cantai.app), that you are running Dorico 6.2.20 or later, and that your license is active. Restart Dorico after installing the engine.

Dorico says "Cannot reach the local Cantai server."

First try Clear Cache and Reset Instance Settings from the plugin's … menu, then restart Dorico. Confirm the Cantai engine is installed at its default path. If it persists, contact support with your log files — this is a case we actively investigate.

Dorico shows "No parts found" when I pick a voice.

This most often appears in projects created in an older Dorico version and re-saved in a newer one. In Play mode → VST and MIDI, remove the existing Cantai instance(s), add them back fresh, and reassign them to your vocal tracks. This resets the routing without losing your score.

Is there a full Sibelius setup guide?

Yes. For a complete, illustrated step-by-step walkthrough — installation, activation, Playback Devices, assigning voices in the Mixer, and exporting audio — see the Sibelius Quick Start Guide. The answers below cover the most common questions.

Is Sibelius covered by the Dorico + Sibelius license?

Yes. The Dorico + Sibelius plan ($9.99/month or $149 lifetime) covers both apps with a single license — no additional purchase is needed.

How do I set up Cantai in Sibelius?

Add lyrics (Cmd/Ctrl+L). Activate Cantai in Play → Setup → Playback Devices, adding one instance per vocal staff. In the Mixer (M), assign each staff to a Cantai instance, then choose the voice via CantAI → Voice in the program dropdown. See the full Sibelius guide.

What hardware is required for Sibelius?

Cantai for Sibelius uses the same local rendering engine as Dorico — an Apple Silicon Mac (macOS 14+) or an x86-64 Windows PC, plus Sibelius 2026.6 or later.

A voice isn't rendering, or shows a cross (×) instead of the singer's photo — what should I do?

A known issue we're working to fix. As a workaround, open the affected Cantai interface and change the voice again from the Sibelius Mixer — the voice will then load and render normally. Also make sure a voice is actually selected: an instance left on its default with no voice chosen may not render.

Rendering misbehaves — what should I try first?

1. Clear Cache from the plugin's … menu.
2. Reset Instance Settings from the same menu.
3. Restart your notation app.
4. Make sure you're on a supported version of both Cantai and your notation app.

If the issue continues, send us your logs (see below).

Playback only renders about 30 seconds, then stops.

The 30-second limit is the free-trial cap. If you've purchased, this means your license isn't fully activated — re-paste your token from your Profile. If it still caps at 30 seconds after activating, contact support.

I get "The token is not yet valid (iat)" when activating.

This is usually a clock-sync issue. Set your computer's date and time to sync automatically:

• Windows: Settings → Time & language → Date & time → turn on "Set time automatically," then "Sync now."
• Mac: System Settings → General → Date & Time → "Set time and date automatically."

Then try again. If it persists after syncing, contact support — a small number of tokens need to be reissued on our side, which we'll handle for you.

The voice sounds detuned, glide-y, or "twangy" between notes.

If this started after a recent update, let us know your Cantai engine version — we're aware of a pitch/phrasing issue affecting some builds and are fixing it. Trying Clear Cache from the … menu, or switching to a different voice, can help in the meantime.

A word is pronounced incorrectly.

Pronunciation improves with each update. A reliable workaround is to re-spell the word phonetically in the lyrics (for example, "heaven" → "hev'n"). If you're using uncommon diacritics and a staff renders silent, replace them with base Latin letters (e.g. ê → e). Send us the words that trip up — we track these for improvements.

How do I send my log files?

Please include your logs when you contact support about a technical issue. Open the plugin's … menu → Support → Export logs…, which saves a single timestamped .zip — then drag that file into the Help chat window.

Please also include your OS version, your Mac chip or Windows processor, your notation app version, and your Cantai engine/plugin version.

Can I become a Cantai voice?

Yes — we're always looking for singers to join the voice bank. Singers go through a professional audition and selection process, a recording session, and earn an ongoing revenue share whenever their voice is used by composers. Read the full details and apply on the Auditions page.

Do you have merch?

Yes. Browse Cantai apparel and merchandise on the Merch page.

What's new in the latest version?

We publish every release, new voice, and fix in the Changelog. Check there to see the most recent updates for each platform.

How is my data and privacy handled?

Cantai only sends the minimum encrypted notation data required to generate audio, and never uses your music to train our AI. For the full details on what we collect, how it's stored, and your rights, see our Privacy Policy.

How do I get support?

Use the in-site Help chat widget on cantai.app, or the contact page. For MuseScore-via-MuseHub issues, you can also reach Muse's support at support.musehub.com.

Is there a community?

Yes — join the official Cantai Discord at discord.gg/BpXkzBb4MN, and follow us on Instagram at @cantai.app.

Where else can I find Cantai?

Cantai is made by Turing Opera Workshop. You can also follow founder Richard deCosta at richarddecosta.com, on SoundCloud, and on Patreon.