MuseScore Studio

Overview

MuseScore (renamed MuseScore Studio from 2024) is a free, open source music notation software for Windows, macOS, and Linux, used to create, edit, play, and print high-quality music scores. It is maintained by the Muse Group, supports multiple instruments, score formats (such as MusicXML, MIDI), and audio output (such as MP3, WAV), and provides an intuitive "what you see is what you get" interface. MuseScore is also integrated with the online score sharing platform musescore.com, allowing users to upload, share, and collaborate on scores. MuseScore is the tool of choice for composers, musicians, educators, and students, and is widely used to create scores, guitar tabs, drum tabs, and lyric sheets. Competitors include paid software such as Sibelius and Finale.

History and Development

• Origin:
  • MuseScore originated in 2002, when Werner Schweer separated the notation function from MusE (MIDI sequencer) and created an independent software.
  • In 2008, the musescore.org website was launched, and the number of downloads increased rapidly, reaching 1,000 times a day in 2009 and 80,000 times a month in the fourth quarter of 2010.
• Development History:
  • 2009-2013: MuseScore 0.9.5 (2009) to 1.x series laid the foundation, supported MusicXML and MIDI, and moved to GitHub (2013).
  • 2016-2020: MuseScore 2.0.3 (2016) was downloaded 1.9 million times, and was acquired by Ultimate Guitar in 2017, with a new full-time developer.
  • 2021-2024: Muse Group (headquartered in Cyprus) integrates MuseScore, Audacity and other projects, and is renamed MuseScore Studio in 2024. It will release the 4.x series, support MusicXML 4.0, and enhance playback performance.
  • 2025: MuseScore 4.4 (latest version) optimizes dynamic marking (such as dynamics, hairpins) and playback efficiency.
• Community and support:
  • Maintained by Muse Group and the community, hosted on musescore.org and GitHub.
  • X's post said that "MuseScore is the first choice for free notation, easy to use and powerful."
  • Provide Chinese documentation (musescore.org/zh-hans) and forum support.
• Open Source License:
  • Adopts GNU GPL v2, allowing free use, modification and distribution, and derivative works must be open source.

Main Features

MuseScore is known for its powerful notation function and flexibility, suitable for music creation and education. Here are its main features:

1. Notation Function
   • Music Score Creation:
     • Supports unlimited staves, legato, partial extraction, guitar tabs, drum tabs and multi-section lyrics.
     • Provides predefined templates (such as orchestral, jazz, choir), supports SATB chorus and fake book styles.
   • Input Method:
     • Supports mouse, keyboard and MIDI input (such as USB MIDI controller).
     • Automatic transposition, chord symbols, fretboard diagrams and Roman numeral markings.
2. File Format Support
   • Import:
     • MusicXML (.mxl,.xml), MIDI (.mid,.midi,.kar), MuseData (.md).
     • Other formats: Band-in-a-Box (.mgu, .sgu), Guitar Pro (.gtp, .gp3, .gp4, .gp5, .gpx), Capella (.cap, .capx), Overture.
   • Export:
     • Audio: WAV, FLAC, MP3, OGG.
     • Graphics: PDF, SVG, PNG.
     • Native formats: .mscz (default, compressed ZIP containing XML and images), .mscx (pure XML).
3. Playback and sound effects
   • Built-in sequencer:
     • Plays scores through SoundFont sample library, supports multi-sound color loading.
     • Provides a mixer to adjust solo, mute, volume, reverb and chorus effects.
   • Muse Sounds:
     • High-quality sound library, version 4.1 optimizes the playback performance of large scores (70% improvement).
   • MIDI output:
     • Support external devices and software synthesizers.
4. Cross-platform and extensions
   • Platform support:
     • Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS.
     • Mobile: iOS, Android, Kindle Fire.
   • Plugins:
     • Support free plugins to extend functions, such as advanced transposition or formatting tools.
5. Community and collaboration
   • musescore.com:
     • Online score sharing platform, 300,000+ public domain scores.
     • Support real-time collaboration, suitable for remote music projects.
   • Community:
     • Active forums, GitHub and X.

Advantages and limitations

Advantages

• Free open source:
  • GPL v2 license, free to use, community-driven.
  • X post says "MuseScore makes score creation zero cost."
• Fully functional:
  • Supports complex scores, MIDI, MusicXML and multiple audio/graphic formats.
  • Templates and plugins meet the needs of orchestral, jazz, choral, etc.
• Cross-platform:
  • Supports multiple operating systems.
• High-quality playback:
  • Muse Sounds and mixer provide professional-grade audio output.
• Community support:
  • Active community support is provided.

Limitations

• Learning curve:
  • Newcomers need to be familiar with the interface and musical terms.
  • Solution: Refer to the tutorials at musescore.org/zh-hans.
• musescore.com controversy:
  • X post criticized musescore.com's subscription model (such as PRO+ annual fee CA$119.99) for misleading users.
  • Solution: Use the free MuseScore Studio software to avoid subscriptions.
• GPL restrictions:
  • Derivative works must be open source, which is stricter than SQLite (public domain).
  • Solution: Use only MuseScore to generate content, without modifying the source code.
• Resource usage:
  • Muse Sounds and large scores may take up a lot of memory (about 1GB+).
  • Solution: Run on high-performance devices.

Summary

MuseScore Studio is a free, open source music notation software, licensed under GPL v2, supporting Windows, macOS, Linux and mobile terminals, suitable for creating, editing and playing scores. It supports MusicXML, MIDI, multiple audio/graphic formats and high-quality playback. Competitors include paid Sibelius and Finale.