Why is EVERYONE using Musescore for music notation?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ค. 2024
- 5 reasons Musescore has taken off in recent years and what it's doing so well.
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While preparing to make a Dorico vs. Sibelius video, I've been asking people all the time what music notation software they use. Overwhelmingly the response has been Musescore, which kind of surprised me. Avid and Steinberg, pay attention!
So I decided to look deeper into Musescore and figure out why it seems like all of a sudden everyone is using it for composition, sketching, orchestration, and whatever else they need notation to do!
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Can Musecore convert Midi tracks into notation sheets?
@@zorroinhell5549 import them, add some dynamic/articulation markings, then profit
I think the best about Musescore is its accessibility for blind users. The whole program is so good to use with screenreader software and a braille-display that I couldn't imagine something better, except the DAW Reaper which is also very accessible for blind people. So these two in combination are just perfect for composers with visual impairment.
Wow so cool!! I taught yoga for the braille institute for three years!
If there's ever a plugin or full DAW/notation program specifically geared towards the visually impaired they really ought to name it after Louis Vierne
That's funny. It has terrible keyboard shortcut support outside of the US keyboard. It doesn't read keys properly like software should, and instead reads the output like it's a GameMaker game.
But it's great that they've made it so it works great for blind users. I do really like that, since they are often forgotten. Still wished they could fix the keyboard issue too.
I like the diagram of the piano at the bottom. It helped me when a passage was full of ledgerlines, flats, sharps and naturals. I cheated.
How does it compare to using Sibelius? I'm on Mac and have been using Sibelius with Voiceover for about a year now.
Regarding Note Performer: Martin Keary (a.k.a. Tantacrul), the new Product Manager for Musescore, is a big fan of Note Performer, and it's will known that Musescore's current playback is quite janky, so I suspect that Note Performer support is reasonably high on the priority list for Musescore 4
Yes, pretty sure it's comfirmed, Musescore will include vst support as well as a built in DAW/sequencer + Noteperformer support. I think the noteperformer crew have to step in for support, but it shouldn't take long I think, both Musescore 4 and Noteperformer support. I plan on buying Noteperformer once it's supported (other notation software are just too expensive for what they are worth)
It does seem that they've delayed support and it won't be in 4.0, based on an update post from summer, but it will most likely be only delayed until 4.1 if they can manage it
You’re not kidding about the janky factor. My playback controls have just disappeared from the interface and I cannot get them back
@@fannin8583 You might've snapped the controls segment of the interface off to some far corner of the screen where they are unretrievable. Just try to reinstall the program.
The only reason I don't currently use MuseScore is because its built-in virtual instruments don't sound very realistic. If it was able to use NotePerformer for playback, I would be much more likely to consider switching to MuseScore. (I'm currently using Notion, because it's relatively inexpensive and includes high-quality instrument samples for playback.)
One thing I actually like to do with musesore is write my pieces out so that they're visually pleasing, and then export the midi which I import into a DAW. (Mine is FL Studio) Then I can bring the sound to life some haha
Yea that’s definitely the way to do it no matter what app you’re using!
I import midi to learn to play the songs
Good point. The ability to export and import MIDI files and thereby use MuseScore in conjunction with a DAW is a work-around for MuseScore's playback shortcomings.
@@DGaryGrady yep I do the same .. would be nice to avoid the round trip .. let's hope that editor appears in Musescore :)
@@simonrigby2776 There's already a piano roll editor in the program, it just isn't too good for anything except for fixing messed up arpeggios and grace notes
MuseScore 4 is a massive rewrite and upgrade. The usability, engraving and playback have all been radically improved. So the case for using it is even more compelling.
If you look at what they have planned for v.4, I think its a good idea to get familiar with Musescore. I think its in good hands now.
I think point number 6 that I've learned after publishing the video is what big fans the users are!
I've been asking for vst support for years, it'll be good to see it implemented. Big fan of Martin and glad to see his hard work paying off.
Agree with all of these points! I’ve actually (nearly) switched entirely to Musescore as my primary notation software-though I’m curious about Dorico-waiting for the trial release to test it. Great video!
*side note: I swear that was the Fort Pierce Kmart in your video! 😂*
just discovered your channel and I love it. You are plying the youtube game so well and you still bring a lot of knowledge
Haha thanks, it's a learning process one video at a time
I started using musescore when I was around 16, back when it was still with in the 1.0 version. To this day its way more intuitive than others. Sure the playback is rough, but for the price of free, so worth it to learn.
Version 4 is about to release, so I'd love to see what you think about the playback once it's out.
Thank you so much dude! Very clear and worthy video
Hello, Ryan. Thank you for this video! It was very helpful to me. I am a retired music teacher who has also worked as a church musician for 50 years. I have been writing pieces by hand for decades for SATB choir, Pass the Peace songs, responses, songs for school, piano pieces for piano students, etc. Tedious, to say the least, as you know. I would appreciate some advice as I can't write down what I hear in my head fast enough and I'm getting close to 70. Time is clicking by! My daughter (who studied at Juilliard for 8 years) thinks I should get Sibelius, but it just seems to be too much to learn for what I need, which is fairly basic notation with and without lyrics, SATB with piano accompaniment and lyrics. I know my way around a computer quite well, but I don't know all the jargon for music programs. Your description of MuseScore sounds like I could learn it and it produces a good product for people to read from. This may be a dumb question, but I just don't know. I majored in piano in college and grad school, so I have good piano chops. Do you know if there is a program available that I can download on a MacBook Pro, hook it up to a digital piano, play on the digital piano and the program prints out what I'm playing? That is what I'm hoping for; or do you ultimately have to notate one note at a time in any given program. I just don't know. I have much music going around in my grey head, and I want to write it down. Your help would be most appreciated! Thank you! -- Diane in Buffalo, NY (old dog trying to learn new tricks 🙂)
Thanks for this precious information.
When I came to music arrangement (and more recently composition) 3 years ago, Sibelius was the professional choice and Finale was considered just too weird and complex. Finale suffered from the classic "first product" conundrum of being locked into early dodgy design decisions which couldn't be changed without breaking stuff. Sibelius learned from Finale's mistakes and Dorico has probably learned from both. I couldn't really justify the Sibelius cost as a hobbyist and thankfully discovered MuseScore. It does everything I need and certainly has a great community, plugins, training videos and plans for the future. The planned VST3 solution for version 4 should provide a listening experience as good as Note Performer gives.
The other notation system I tried was Notion. This comes free with the subscription for my DAW of choice (Studio One) and has good DAW integration. But it's just not polished and flexible enough for me. I usually have to move to MuseScore for the score to look good.
I am a retired software developer and have benefited from and contributed to a number of open source projects. And if/when I really get a bee in my bonnet about a missing MuseScore capability, I like the idea that I can roll my sleeves up and work on it myself - for my own benefit and that of other like me.
Finally I was excited to read that Tantacrul (Martin Keary) is now head of design at Muse, so the design and usability quality is definitely going just keep on going up!
VST
Probably the most exciting part of our plans include a new audio engine as well as VST support. We plan to implement integration with Steinberg's VSTi SDK, while making sure that our system will integrate with NotePerformer. To that end, we are in constant communication with the engineers from the NotePerformer team to ensure that the integration goes smoothly.
musescore.org/en/MuseScore4
Ah, so I heard from multiple people there’d be no NotePerformer support but they were misinformed?
From a software developer perspective I can see how that would be fun!
@@RyanLeach The most recent statement I have found is in musescore.org/en/node/319957 "Our Progress on MuseScore 4" (though it may be out-of-date) is:
Tantacrul • Apr 14, 2021 - 16:07In reply to What's the current plan for… by L'Moose
We have not built NotePerformer support in MuseScore 4.0. As mentioned above, we are working on something else. More updates to come soon.
Oh I see, the forum post Centurion Maximus posted is from 2020!
I currently use MuseScore, I enjoy it very much.
Been trying to get funkier with it and push it's limits.
It's fun to learn things every now and then from other people, mentally running to MuseScore just to try them out.
It's been a wonderful learning tool for me, and I'd recommend it to other beginners like myself, or even just to slap down some random notes and think "Damn, I made some music." getting better over time.
Cool video, MuseScore is not perfect, but it is fun.
I was introduced to MuseScore a while ago, and I have used it for some of my greatest written pieces. I love it.
I think the reason why noteperformer support is not planned is because they are planning to add vst support and also the piano roll feature that you talked about is going to be added too.
Note, if you’re a college student finale and sibelius have a MAJOR discount for students.
I paid 99$ for finale and only have to pay for upgrades.
And are far better. I didnt realize how bad muse score was for my writing ability till I used finale
I can't really confirm it, but Finale has a very bad reputation
@@prototypeinheritance515 its very confusing to use i'll admit that. (although everything you need is online) It can do a lot more then muse score can. I know as I started with it due to it being a lot cheaper. My teacher showed me the ropes and after using Finale for a bit I really do not want to go back to muse score
My writing ability was chocked from it.
@@metalmike3780 Can you elaborate on what you mean by this? I've found Musescore to have just about all the things I need when writing
@@nathanasher9139 so I transferred a song I made from muse score to finale and noticed a lot of slurs and other accidental were needed where there were none. In other words muse score put it there for me. Which seems great except if I'm writing for an orchestra it wont be accurate to what I want.
There where also a bunch of times my teacher was going into some more detailed sides one might occasionally use. Muse score did not have it available.
I'll admit it's far easier to access a lot of additions as well as its smoother when you right click drag. But after using finale for a bit I have a hard time going back to musescore
There
Used MuseScore to listen to the difficult parts for playing trumpet, now i use it to learn to Play keyboard. You can also export your sheet Music to FL studio.
Good wrap up .. I've been using Musescore for years now although my requirements for notation software are much more tame than they used to be. So it does the job admirably. Just to note in the "cons" section you mention playback and also the fact that this is slated for Version 4 with VST support. Better integration with MIDI via a sequencer/midi editor is also in the roadmap .. I'm not sure where I saw this but it is definitely an acknowledged shortcoming they are looking to address.
Thanks for this. New to the channel but subscribed to look at more.
its even better now. literally everything has improved since this video. there is no reason to not use musescore other than already owning an industry standard software
This is something I think I'll look into. My last midi editor quit working because new windows version no longer supported it. I'm a hobbyist, so this looks like a choice. I really don't have the income to afford a professional grade package. For that matter, as long as I can transcribe sheet music, and have my computer play it back, at this time, that sounds like a great option for me.
My first notation software was the lite version of finale (Finale notepad). I was introduced to it in the early 2000's and spent a lot of free time in highschool composing hundreds of arrangements. Eventually I sprang for Allegro version, even though I wasn't writing professionally, because it was just that much fun. Some years later I got a computer savvy friend to bootleg me a copy of the full version with garritan VSTs for cheap. I found it so much more fun with more realistic sounding instruments. Eventually a friend overheard one of my compositions and asked me to write some music for her wedding. It was an honor to be asked to compose and produce music for an important venue like this.
Fast forward to 3 years ago. I hadn't had time to play around with Finale in undergrad and between that and my computer dying on me I no longer had the software, but I still wanted to get back into it. That's when I discovered Musescore. It's quite amazing, and even though the playback isn't quite as lovely, the core notation is solid. I wish I had something like this in highschool when I was limited to 8 instruments on my lite version of Finale. I now notate for my church choir, providing sheet music for songs that don't have any and making prettier and easier to read sheet music for songs that do. I've also dived more into FOSS software as well, having Linux run on my business laptop and going open-source whenever I can (I made my business cards using gimp and edited my TH-cam videos on shotcut). Aside from being free, I love the fact that it's so much easier to find cross platform and customizable software when it is open-source. It doesn't rely on closed ecosystems. The community involvement is usually much greater as well. And the software is often surprisingly stable and fast. It's almost always worth the slightly less features to go open-source in my opinion. Especially since I've never exhausted the features in any of my software anyway.
I also started with Finale, latter went to Sibelius.
Well thank you. I was having thus debate for 2 months, Dirico or Musecore. back and forth. You answered it clearly. Musecore. Thanks
Thanks for your review on Musescore. Musescore 4 is awesome!
I’d love to see an updated video with your opinion on MS 4
Went from Finale to Musescore about a year ago. Haven’t looked back since! Suits my needs (and wallet) perfectly!
I bought Sibelius many years ago, mostly because of the comments and recommendations of a friend who was a professional copyist/arranger. I'm an amateur musician but wanted a decent notation program and used Sibelius enough to get reasonably comfortable. However, I didn't use it that much and found a number of things to be difficult (or impossible) to achieve. When I heard about Dorico (around version 2), I checked out a number of videos and decided the cost to switch was reasonable. Again, because I'm not a pro, I tend to use it sporadically and haven't yet become terribly proficient. However, I do find that whatever I want to do with it is easier and more straightforward than Sibelius. I do find having to use the eLicensor system a royal P.I.A. I'm about to get serious about learning and using the program regularly (now version 3.5) and will see how well I do over the next few months. At this point, the sound options are not critical, although nice to have. If it turns out I find them to be unimportant to what I do, I will probably look more closely at Musescore.
I made the switch from Sibelius to Dorico very recently and so far so good. I don't know if I'll ever do any Dorico focused content, but if there's something specific you'd like to see let me know!
I’ve been using musecore forever, it got me into music like 8 years ago, it’s been around for a while
I've been wondering what people have in their heads when they put dictators and murderers of millions like Stalin on their avatars? Do you really think it's cool?
@@sashko-fomin do I think it’s cool, no, but I do think somebody online shouldn’t care about someone’s profile picture because, A, it doesn’t show any bit of my personality, B it’s an old dead dude, C I don’t care about the USSR and finally I’ve had the same picture for 5 years now, but yes I must say musecore is a nice notation software
@@danishdangler9223 It does show your personality, at least as an immature one and your reasoning is just proving that...
Sadly Musescore doesn't have VST support and its playback is subpar
@@sashko-fomin it shows my personality as immature…🤦, if you really think a picture of Stalin tells you about me then we definitely found the one that’s immature. Let alone that your actually trying to argue with someone in the TH-cam comments. As for musecores downsides, someone with actual skill at composing could learn to live with them.
@@danishdangler9223 I'm not trying to argue. I was just curious to know why people do it as I don't pick random "old dead dudes" for my avatars. You failed to explain. Your last argument that you've had this picture for 5 years was very "strong", just as the rest. I've made the conclusion. Period.
I switched from MuseScore to Dorico almost a year ago (as a student I only paid about $350 - that price tag still stung), and I think your assessment is spot on. MuseScore is a very capable program, and it's improving quickly. There are, however, a handful of things that Dorico does just a little better that makes it worth it for me. Slurs are one example - Dorico's slur generation looks much better and requires far less tweaking. I also really like the page template ("Master Page") system. A little clunky, but a really powerful time saver (if you're doing a lot of scores) once you set it up.
I have been using MuseScore since 2013, and each release just gets better. I have used MuseScore to typeset lieder, part songs, piano solo, piano quintet, string quartet and full symphony orchestra - all as transcriptions, either from manuscript or from Public Domain editions. The "engraving release" of MuseScore 3.6.2 introduced a much more professional look to scores.
Sure, I too would have been really glad to see integration with NotePerformer. But if the MuseScore developers can produce an equivalent which sounds as good in the upcoming MuseScore 4, I'll stop being grumpy and go with the flow.
"I'll stop being grumpy and go with the flow" is good advice for all of us!
If all you do is enter other people's already engraved sheet music, it's passable. You can literally just sit there appending the symbols you see in the original music, from left to right. Musescore is useless for editing music as a composer.
Thanks for posting; some fair points raised. Even though Steinberg running 30% off sale right now, making (a tempting) crossgrade to Dorico, cheapest it will be for at least next 6 months, am going to wait for Musescore 4. I think its going to be a major step up in its development - lots of good stuff coming.!
Though I have read that VST support won't be ready for the initial release - its targetted for inclusion in a first update. Pity about no Noteperformer solution as well... maybe one day... ;-)
I think Musescore is the best choice for most people. I did the crossgrade from Sibelius to Dorico recently and am very happy with it so far!
Thank you for introducing this software. Now it’s time to try it … :)
Great information, thanks, Ryan!
Does Musescore support Microtonality, notably microtonal accidentals with correct transposition?
I love Noteperformer! It's the main reason I still use Sibelius and haven't even considered switching
Here’s a question/request for a future video. How do you prepare printed scores for studio orchestra to prevent noise when turning pages?
I was originally a Sibelius 6 user, but couldn't justify the upgrade expense and switched to MuseScore a few years back as a result. Surprisingly, many task were actually easier and more straightforward and I've found the playback sounds usable in general (and, in some instances, even better than Sibelius 6.2). Because MuseScore is free, it was easy to get my fellow band members to download and start using the program too--which also proved very helpful. (The only other Sibelius user in the band left quite a while ago and I ended up having to do a lot of manual transcription work and PDF/MIDI exporting before making the switch.) MuseScore is a little buggy and missing some features I could really use (especially playback on numbered repeats, for which I've had an open request for probably two years or so), but I'm still quite happy to have made the jump.
I procured all of the available scoring softwares (yeah, bonkers 😃), but I mostly use Sibelius for that once in a blue moon scoring that I do. I was also pissed when I paid outright for Sibelius, only to be notified after a year, that I needed to renew avid support. Maybe I’ll take another look at Musescore, hopefully they integrate note performer sometime.
One of my favorite things to do is to go to MuseScore and look up piano arrangements of some of my favorite songs, either from movies or shows or other
There are sound libraries you can connect to pre4.0 versions to have really good playback. With 4.0 of course there are excellent options, but I’m still using 3.6 as a professional jazz/classical arranger and composer and currently have no reason to upgrade or use another editor
I’ve been using musescore for about 8 years or so now and it’s super easy to use which i love. We had Sibelius at school and as well as the base sounds being not as good imo, it would crash every single time you wanted to close a project as well as it being clunky and the UI less straightforward.
Musescore is defo my go to but i use it mainly now for transcribing my band’s drum parts or figuring out larger arrangements before moving the midi across into Ableton
While I'll still be composing in Dorico for a while, I've been very excited for all the upgrades that MuseScore has done. It is amazing for the price, and I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes more popular in the professional notation and compositional scene in a few years. Especially for music educators, some music composers, students, or several other musicians, there aren't too many reasons not to use MuseScore. I'd recommend it to a lot of people, even though I wouldn't be using it for my own compositions.
I would love if you would make a video talking about your education whether you went to school or not for music and how you got started doing it professionally.
Thanks Justin. It's not exactly "how I started" but I cover a bit of that in this video: th-cam.com/video/ZQ9aP8Bzx2M/w-d-xo.html
I use musescore religiously. I've tried Sibelius, Noteflight, Finale, and others. Musescore has all the features of the professional software, but the functions are placed in such a way that you can create scores really easily.
And now, Musescore 4 is coming out soon! It's gonna be great!
And now MuseScore 4 is out and it is amazing!
Thank you for you useful review!
What do you think about Crescendo?
And is Musescore available for iPad? I can only find the app to download the partitions.
What about Finalle thought? I'd loved it if you had gone into details about it. It's the one i use and I don't really know anything about all the other programs so this video was great for me and I thank you. But still I would love to know what you think about it with a few lines. I am new to your channel and I love your work. Keep it up!!
I used Finale in college, when I switched to Sibelius is was such a relief. Haven't used Finale in years but that's the feeling I remember! Now I use Dorico.
I used a bit of Sibelius and Finale back when I was in college, but never enough to really enough to be able to compare them to MuseScore. I definitely agree that its playback is kinda lacking, but I never found the program in general to be lacking for my needs as a casual composer.
I’ve used MuseScore for about 15 years now. The program has improved immensely in that time. I used it at college as a music major, and was able to convince several professors that it was useful, even preferable for students. Great program, keeps getting better!
BTW, I don’t know why people say the playback isn’t that good. With a little tweaking with the sound fonts and the synthesizer feature, I’ve been able to create the sound of a classical orchestra, and make it sound great. What I do is double up on the strings with fast violins expr. and violin expr. together for 1st violins, with the single violin slightly louder than the violins section, and I place the single violin slightly right of center, and the violins section slightly left of center. I do the same with the 2nd violins, but I place them slightly more right, keeping the single voices closer to the center, and the sections more to left or right, so you create the illusion that there are certain violins in a section that stand out, just like in real orchestras. Same with violas, Cellos, and the Basses far to the right. Yes, you will need more staves for this, but you can delete them once your soundtrack is created. It sounds great if you tweak the synthesizer to make the strings sound more intimate; IOW, less reverb, and bring out the deeper sounds. I also increase the volume of cellos and basses slightly more than violins and violas. Also, use the tempo markings to retard and excel certain phrases, and keep in mind that in general, MS’s dynamics are too loud: Piano (p) should be 25-30, instead of 49. Forte should be around 60-70 (sometimes less.)
I play around with creacendo/decrecsendo on individual notes, and set them as invisible. There’s a lot you can do to tweak MS to give you a great playback.
Great video. Can I ask you what mic do you use? it sounds very good
Thanks! It’s a Rode NT-1A. It sounds good as long as I remember to turn of my AC, unfortunately in my latest video there’s a low wind rumble the whole time!
Ya. :) I can't stand Finale anymore, and have really enjoyed Sibelius...
But MuseScore keeps getting better and better...
As I occasionally take over some music classrooms for a while...
It just seems like the right tool to introduce to the kids. And as the features improve, sometimes I wonder why I'm using anything else!
-Great review!
I agree, Musescore seems like the best place to start. Personally I switched to Dorico the past few months and am loving it but that comes later!
I've been using Musescore since 2016 and it's always been treating me well
I switched to Musescore in 2016 because Powertab had not worked properly since Windows 7. Whilst I even now still find it slightly clunky for producing guitar tabs, you absolutely cannot beat the superbly beautiful "hybrid" tab (tab plus rhythm notation) it produces. As the versions go up, the sheet has become more and more beautiful... I love how the authors have managed to produce software for real musicians, but still support us simpler guitar tab folk 👍
Good information. Thanks. I use MuseScore 3.6 and tried Dorico 5 for the first time recently. I find it's the MuseScore playback that is superior, and I have heard that same assessment on other videos. Dorico sounded like a video game when I tried it. :^/ MuseScore has some instruments that sound cheesy, but many are just fine for the demos I create. I'm stuck on MS 3.6 until the Parts can be properly created using the musescore -P command-line option. That option is not working in MuseScore 4.1.1, otherwise I'd use it. :^(
Thanks, Ryan. I use Logic Pro and have MuseScore but haven't dug into it much. Can I export my Logic MIDI files to MuseScore? In a bigger sense, I'm wondering what the ideal integration / workflow is for composing from a written score perspective (like scoring drums, guitars etc and using MIDI instruments as placeholders until I record the live instruments) - is something like this possible with MuseScore and Logic, or do I need something fancier like Dorico? Would NotePerformer help (if it gets integrated with MS)? (I have Kontakt full version too)
I have released three albums on spotify straight out from Musescore with not a single audio editing so I think that the audio output is not bad... at least of course for my experience and type of sounds but if you mess around with the mixer and the "inspector" (which allows you to edit single notes) you can get you way around with almost anything sonundwise. A really big disadvantage for me is that you can´t "force" the format, that is to say. The amount of measures per system, and the spacing is kind of automatic, but sometimes you just want to "force" things a bit for the sake of spacing, visuals, printing, and so!
Really helpful. Thanks. (Musescore newbie.)
You're very welcome, hope it's working out for you so far.
I've been using Musescore for over 8 years and despite having tried Sibelius and other programs, I still like Musescore the best by a long shot!
I've been using it that long too. Hopefully by the time 8 more years pass I'll have worked out how to use it! 😂 #uintuitive software
What types of music are you writing, Marja, and which features/capabilities or the workflow are more helpful to you?
Finale 27 with NotePerformer Is outstanding!
You are one of the rare few who are happy with Finale!
@@RyanLeach I've had it since version 1 while I was doing my PhD. After you've climbed the steep learning curve, I find it pretty accessible, however, I wasn't happy with the Garritan strings. Note performer has solved all those issues. I enjoy lurking on your site - thanks!
Nice, thanks.
I only started using it because I play bass clarinet and previously used Noteflight which doesn't have a bass clarinet option.
I can't remember exactly how long I've been using MuseScore, but I know for sure that it's been at least 7 years. I remember MuseScore 2 very well. Because I remember the first time I downloaded updated to MuseScore 3, I was shocked at how much improved. I had to get used to where everything was again. But I LOVE MuseScore. I'd totally suggest it too if somebody was asking what the best notation program they should get.
With the drawbacks for sound, I can totally understand that. The soundfont that it comes with is not that great, but I often do research of soundfonts and get some pretty good ones that sound pretty decent, especially for piano.
Someday I wanna go professional in composition, but I know it's gonna be hard to use a different program for that because I've used it for so long.
I don’t think anyone yet has said they don’t like it. What makes you think you’ll need to switch to another program at some point?
@@RyanLeach Because I'd like to do more composition for films/video games. Soundtrack composition to be more precise. And I might want to get into DAWs instead of notation programs for that. I would never stop using MuseScore, but I've been using it more for a hobby. Idk. Depending on how much better MuseScore 4 gets, I might stick to using it and use it professionally.
I study music composition professionally and exclusively use musescore for my notation, i've had no issue whatsoever and more than likely never will
@@gerardgag Oh definitely! For notation! But someday I'd like to use a DAW program for music though as I want to do more soundtrack music.
@@RoseCadenza in that case i would recommend using either ardour (open source and although not free it's a one time payment) reaper (free trial period and a cheap license that Is also one time payment if im not mistaken) or cakewalk (it used to be a paid DAW but got bought by bandlab and since then it's totally free provided you make an account) , depending on the type of soundtrack and the techniques you need a lot of the time you will still use sheet music notation though, specially if you write soundtracks for live instruments to record them, It would probably be useful to learn Audacity as well
I absolutely agree. I write and compose with Musescore and only use Sibelius because of Noteperformer. The minute when Muescore allows Noteperformer I hope to never open Sibelius again.
I'm not a pro or even a competent musician, but Musescore lets me transcribe music for my children's brass instruments, transpose it to suit the key of the instrument and print it out really legibly. That's all I use it for and it does the job very easily.
Good review. If I didn't already have Finale due to having once taught composition at a local college, I'd try it. Incidentally, Dorico user Guy Michelmore (see his Yt channel) pronounces it Duh-REEK-oh. Maybe it's a Brit thing, idk.
can we get an update on this now that musescore 4 is out?
There are a few really annoying bugs in Musescore. Also, the program often don't start when I try to opne it. When it comes to the playback, the sound quality is WAY better than in Finale, which I have too and use. It's not even in the same league. It's more userfriendly and i'ts easier to adapt details. Some featuers are much better in Finale though like the copy and paste function, for instance. What I really miss in both programs is a function for switching two voices from two different staffs - that would be enourmously useful.
thank you
Im using it right now.
HI, what you think about Notion? I know is very, very expensive, but have a great compability with VST like Miroslav or Garritan, and work with any VST or VSTI you want.
MuseScore user as well and lots of improvements on the road map.
Hola friend;
It's already two years that you published your video. How has the panorama changed with regard to the downsides of this app?
It's what I'm migrating too ... Just wish there were a quick and easy way to port my old Sibelius arrangements over.
I work as a music teacher and do a lot of writing for class ensembles and big band. I have been using Sibelius for years. Now I'm thinking of switching to Dorico or using Musescore as well. I am thinking if StaffPad would be something for me?
I tried StaffPad last night and was really disappointed, it barely recognizes my handwriting at all. I'm going to give it some more effort but so far it's been frustrating.
@@RyanLeach same .. it was so promising .. great idea .. terrible execution
Can it have different key signatures and different time signatures in different staves in a score?
Which software is best at handling extended techniques and complex contemporary rhythmic notation?
MuseSore 4 has a 15gb dedicated library for playback and it sounds pretty good.
What I do not like about musescore is that I can not go to a bar and click into notation and start to write there because when I click on the notation note at the left the programm jumps to the first bar and changes something there wich has to be corrected then. So I do not write like with Sibelius. I just copy a passage and change the tone and the length of the note. That is not very fast, but better than destroing already written passages. Another problem is, that I can copy only in the movement I am in. When I want the side theme from the first movement to reappeare in the forth, I can not use copy and paiste. I can do as much apple v as I want to, it does not work. And something else one can not expect but is sad is that I can not finish some compositions I wrote by using Sibelius. Because I of cause can not open them in musescore. It would be great if that would be possible. The sound is not something I am complaining about because I use musescore to write music, not to record it.
Is it possible to add the fingering on musescore?
I like musescore. But version 4 has a problem. It's in the key signature section. It doesn't give you the one you want. For example I wanted a particular key, say D maj and it gave me a different key, I can't remember which now but it had more sharps than I needed. So I went back to V3. Let me know when it's fixed.
I tried using MuseScore a while back and was impressed by the fact that it is free and comes with everything necessary but I found it kind of hard to use, probably because I have never used any music notation software before. What I want to do is paste from old books songs with their notes into MuseScore and share them public, but I had difficulties learning to use the software and paste notes and other elements. Do you happen to know a good tutorial online on how to use MuseScore?
I can't recommend anything specifically but I have no doubt TH-cam is full of good tutorials! I think like any other notation software it just takes a little practice and some time to get your head around how it works and then you will be able to work quickly. For example in Sibelius having the note durations in the numpad with my right hand and a MIDI keyboard with my left hand I can input notes very quickly.
The best quick introduction I've found is this one: th-cam.com/video/POaZ_WKZ_Lc/w-d-xo.html In 20 minutes it covers pretty much all the basics in a well-organized fashion. It also focuses on the most efficient ways to do things. For your purposes it might be close to ideal.
Do you have any book recommendations for composer/orchestrators?
Plenty. Any particular area?
Form - Analyzing Classical Form by William Caplin
Form - Musical Structure and Design by Cedric Thorpe Davie
Composition - Fundamentals of Musical Composition by Schoenberg
Orchestration - The Study of Orchestration by Samuel Adler
General - The Shaping Forces in Music by Ernst Toch
@@RyanLeach Thanks! :)
I have been using Musecore for some years now and apart from the play quality, that can be improved by using other Banks, I am pretty well satisfied.
It can sound pretty decent, but sometimes I don't like the quality of the soundfonts that it comes with. I download other soundfonts, and they sound pretty good. They're currently working on MuseScore 4 which I'm hearing that beta release will be out pretty soon. But they're saying that we should be able to use VSTs in it which will be a huge step for them. I'm honestly very interested how that will turn out. 🤔
Can I ask what are you mainly using it for? Solos, orchestra, for composing, engraving etc.
@@RyanLeach Composing, but mostly as a way to review and correct scores done on Rotherham software. Best regards
I'd often find MuseScore frustrating when just using a computer keyboard, it'd never pick the correct octave, for example. Since I have a midi keyboard, it has become much more usable.
It still has some quirks when you want to do something out of the ordinary, like adding non-rhythmic spoken word lyrics, it feels too fragile adding it in as Staff Text. You can change the visual length of bars, so you could get it to match perfectly, but then you change one note 200 bars later, and it changes all the previous bars, so everything is all messed up.
You cn improve the sound from MuseScore by quite a bit if you download a custom soundfont.
thanks mate
I use it all the time to make my music, great app!
Ryan,
Do you know what VSTs it can accomodate? The playback is pretty good in Musecore 4.
this video is coming up on two years old, in 2023 I'd just say use Musescore 4
Musescore is gonna win out in the long haul. I remember as a kid wanting to get into it and jumping from trial to trial of finale because I couldn't afford it. Musescore would have changed so much for me.
What do you guys think about noteflight?
That's the Kmart in Burbank! Hey!
Merci for this. I just downloaded it and I'm too much of a Nooby to really need it. But it was cool to put in a Hand Independance exercise....which I'm starting to achieve.
Tried Muscore and do not get out at all. I can use finale and it's kinda easy for me, but Muscore is just hard to use. Why I wanted to use muscore is because my computer can't handle the big instrument catalogue of finale. It's huge. And Muscore is kinda lite. But can't get his to write notes or anything.
Can musescore write guitar tabs in custom tunings?
What's your opinion about finale?
Only one question.... If I have 4 beats in a measure and I place 8 8th notes, than later I need to change one of the middle notes to a quarter note, how can I have the program slide everything to the right? Instead of deleting a note?
I think what you're looking for is called "insert mode" near the bottom of this page musescore.org/en/handbook/3/note-input-modes#timewise
Can musescore be used as piano learning practicing etudes? It doesn't have that game like feature that lets midi keyboard play acc to the score, right?
Right, it's not a music learning app but is intended to be used for writing music
@@RyanLeach actually I saw this video of a guy using some script into it, piano tutor, to use it like the piano tutor th-cam.com/video/2ORmydKdgfQ/w-d-xo.html -- It would have been great if they provide it in musescore, along with basic practices.
Can I sell my music arrangements on Musescore? If no, where can I do it? Thank you!