Workflow for Engraving
Hello Everyone,
I'm on a Mac:
OS: macOS 13.6, Arch.: x86_64,
MuseScore version (64-bit): 4.2.1-240230937, revision: d757433
I haven't prepared a professional score on MU4 yet, but am excited for the new features.
I have been working on music for an orchestra that was also created in MU4. I haven't worried about formatting yet.
- What is a good workflow for creating a professional score from existing scores?
Create a template and copy paste from the existing scores into a new one?
Or, save a copy of the existing and make changes directly?
Should I format the score first, before adding articulations, slurs, dynamics, etc?
Want two systems per page (10x13), 4-5 measures per system and have been playing around with spacing and system breaks, but can't get it right.
Attached is the score as it is now.
Advice for workflow and settings/measurements/spacings to get 2 systems per page would be great. Going to read more of the handbook...
Thanks,
Seabass
Comments
The only way to get two systems per page is to reduce the scaling:
Format > Page settings... > Scaling > Staff space > reduce to 0.054 in (1.372 mm)
But you may then find that the score is too small to be read easily?
[CORRECTION]
That's not the only way, sorry! You could also increase the paper size:
Format > Page settings... > Page size > 15 x 11 in (381 x 279 mm)
In reply to The only way to get two… by DanielR
Hi Daniel,
I'll play with spacing, but the orchestra is requesting 10x13 for score and parts, so will stick to that. It's tough to tell how it'll look printed that size on the screen, even in PDF form.
Have fun,
Seabass
Regarding work flow - leave formatting until last. Adding/changing notes or accidentals or text markings will probably require any formatting adjustments you have made to need re-adjusting. If you are working with an existing score, it is probably best to reset the position of everything to its default before starting on the formatting. Use CTRL+A to select everything and CTRL+R to put it back into its default position. The defaults are usually quite good and you will probably need to do a bit of tweaking here and there.
See here for some ideas on how to adjust the page layout https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/formatting.
If you adjust the stave space scaling in Format>Page settings to something like 1.4 mm or 0.55 in, the score as it is at present should fit as 2 systems per page, but of course that may change if you change the content of the score. For an orchestral score, Behind Bars by Elaine Gould (a respected authority on musical notation) suggests 0.925 mm (0.036 in) as a reasonable minimum spacing for a score. Individual parts should be bigger, Gould recommends 1.5 - 1.7 mm (0.06-0.067 in) . Musescore's default is 1.75 mm (0.69 in).
I find that the steps in stave space scaling that Musescore gives when you click on the spinner are too big. I usually end up typing the size into the text box.
In reply to Regarding work flow - leave… by SteveBlower
Hello,
Thank you both for the input. I love Behind Bars, but didn't realize she gave minimum spacings...what a book.
Will finish adding dynamics, lines, articulations, etc. and then play with formatting.
Thanks again.
In reply to Hello, Thank you both for… by RogerRabbit95
Page 482 and 483 in my copy of Gould (2011). She gives sizes for the whole stave. Musescore uses the space between adjacent lines - i.e. 1/4 of the height of the stave.
In reply to Page 482 and 483 in my copy… by SteveBlower
I have the same edition, and thanks for pointing out the differences b/t whole stave and stave space measurements...probably saved me some frustration...