The best features of MuseScore: a look at the MuseScore tools that stand out, along with the improvements we hope to see in future versions
At My Sheet Music Transcriptions, our team of professional transcribers works with several music notation programs on a daily basis, including MuseScore. Therefore, they have the competence to compare and record very useful performance reports we’d like to share with our community.
This is “MuseScore: 5 Features We Love and 5 Features We Are Still Missing“.
5 Features We Love From MuseScore
1. SMuFL-compliant font support
MuseScore allows loading any SMuFL music font. This means that users can use their favorite font and achieve a higher layout quality. We find this feature particularly useful for composers or companies that need to maintain consistency in the appearance across their product.
2. Advanced engraving control for empty staves
This feature seems useless, but the possibility of showing and hiding empty staves per system (and not globally, throughout the score) is a huge time-saver for clean scores. Hiding empty staves is very practical, especially for working with full scores.
3. Advanced & real-time MIDI input
If you work with MIDI files, this will be your favorite part! MuseScore has real-time note preview: it will play the sound instantly as you press the key. In addition, it grants velocity and sustain control: it will respect how hard the key is played and even respond to your sustain pedal.
4. Selection filter & layout widgets
MuseScore’s selection filter will let you filter concrete elements (lyrics, dynamics, slurs) from a whole selected passage without clicking them one by one or risking engraving details. The layout widgets allow control the spacing numerically to make changes without manual nudging.
5. Integrated MuseSounds & VST3 support
MuseScore includes high-quality orchestral and percussion sound libraries, plus VST3 support. This will bring playback quality closer to DAW-style realism without leaving the notation environment. It’s like having two programs in one!
5 Features We’re Still Missing in MuseScore
1. Expression positioning freedom
Users still struggle in moving expressions relative to notes. In addition, the Inspector isn’t always intuitive, and the offsets are limited.
2. Simultaneous duplication in different clefs
Composers and music editors often work with the same notes, shown in different clefs. Users often request to be able to instantly publish two parts from the same notes in different clefs.
3. Advanced tuning features
Some really useful features, like changing global tuning standards or alternate temperaments, aren’t fully implemented in version 4. And most of them already existed or were discussed in older builds!
4. More refined MIDI channel
MuseScore’s MIDI playback perfectly works, but it can’t equal DAWs for now. The most advanced users miss more precise MIDI channel control and playback editing options.
5. Consistency and reliability
MuseScore has most of the big features people need, but some workflows are still missing reliability. The features exist, but they don’t always feel finished. Users don’t often miss new features, but consistency for daily professional use.
