How do I manage parts in MuseScore 4? (delete part and edit which instruments appear in each part)
In MuseScore 3 I could
- Edit which instruments appear in each part. (For example, 2 trumpets in a single part).
- Delete any part I wanted to. (This meant I could print all parts in one go, instead of deselecting the parts I don't want every time I print. For example, If I have 2 trumpets plus piano, I don't want to have a separate piano part. The pianist would read from the full score.)
In MuseScore 4 is this functionality completely removed?
- For the first issue it carried over my part from MuseScore 3. So I suppose a possible workaround is to use MuseScore 3 to start create the file.
- My current workaround for the second issue to add a text file to the same folder that lists which parts I should deselect for each print! I tried renaming the parts (see screenshot), but next time I open the file it reverts back to the original part names (without the "DO NOT USE" label).
I'm grateful that MuseScore 4 automatically generates all parts to begin with, but I'm looking for the ability that MuseScore 3 had to manage each part in detail.
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Comments
MuseScore 4 provides a number of new controls over the contents of parts that weren't present in previous versions, like the ability to easily add instruments to parts or remove them. To do this, simply view the part itself and then go to the Instruments panel in the left sidebar and click the corresponding "eye" icon for the instrument you wish to add or remove. The Parts dialog is no longer the place for making these sorts of changes.
MuseScore 4 also allows you to easily close part tabs by clicking the "x", which previous versions could not do.
You can also simply not open the piano part if you don't want it at all - generating parts individually is now a single click versus the much more convoluted process in previous versions.
But I think the specific case you mention - printing all parts but one - would currently require you to uncheck the box in the export window, since this no longer is based n the set of open parts but rather on the set of all parts.
There is some work being done right now to further improve things for 4.0.2 and more still for 4.1, including a full part reset etc. Not sure if you'd eventually include the ability to permanently exclude a given part from the export dialog, but feel free to request that on GitHub.
In reply to MuseScore 4 provides a… by Marc Sabatella
Thanks Marc! You got me on the right track. In my latest piece I was able to reuse a piano part I didn't want and replace it with the instruments I did want (an alternate transposition). In this instance I didn't end up with any extra parts!
Overall, I'm looking to reduce the number of steps between an edit in MuseScore and producing printable PDFs (to reduce time and errors). My current steps are:
1. Edit the score in MuseScore if I find a mistake.
2. Export to PDF (Uncheck any parts I don't actually want).
3. Insert covers (front, back, sometimes front matter).
4. For any booklet-style prints (where you fold), run the files through PDF-BatchBooklet.
5. Check the PDFs visually.
6. Print.
7. If I messed up on any of the steps above, redo starting from that step.
Any tips or advice welcome!