Musescore updates and instrument sample sound changes
A lot of updates completely change the sound of the instrument playback in musescore.
Music that sounded good with the specific instrument timbres of an earlier version of musescore sounds like crap with the new instrument timbres of the newest update.
I don't understand why the instrument sounds keep changing so drastically from one update to the next without any striking improvements.
I think if y'all are gonna change so much of the playback sounds with each update, then you ought to also preserve the old sounds and give the user the option to choose the timbre and style they prefer for each instrument. The instrument sounds in some versions are MUCH better than they are in others.
I just wish I had known the instrument sounds were going to change so drastically before I downloaded the recent update, because if I HAD known what the instruments would sound like now, I would not have downloaded it and would have saved the old version I had. Now I have to go download old versions of musescore until I find the one I had so I can get the instrument sounds I like back.
Comments
I agree 100%. I have written a movement of a whole symphony which sounded great and now it sounds like crap. And even if I go back to earlier versions of my files - even back to 2023 it's all changed. Why? And as nolesole says why isn't there the option to keep the old version? I was using Spitfire BBC Symphony and it was terrific. Now what do i do? Start all over again? And then there'll be another update which changes everything?'??
In reply to I agree 100%. I have… by Graham Hunt
Why would you think that an earlier version would sound like it did two years ago? Every time you load a file it loads current sounds. There haven't been that many sound updates lately. Are you both sure that Muse sounds have been loaded and not Basic?
What, for example is worse?
In reply to Why would you think that an… by bobjp
According to what you've said every time you load a file it loads current sounds - meaning if I have sweated and worked on my symphony with a set of sounds tweaked to exactly how I want it to sound in playback and then along comes a new version it overwrites my work? Without asking me? I'm meant to be happy with that? I mean what happened to "if it isn't broken don't fix it"? Why during the update isn't there a window - do you want to update the sound fonts? Musescore is a wonderful program but to now have to go back to my symphony and rework the sounds for all the instruments is heartbreaking. I've tried to go back to an earlier Musescore 4.1.1 version to see if I can somehow recover the sounds I had but even after I have disinstalled Musescore 4.4, during the setup wizard of 4.1.1. a window pops up telling me that a newer version is installed and "Setup will now exit". Any help would be appreciated.
In reply to According to what you've… by Graham Hunt
It has nothing to do with the version of the software. It's the version of the sounds. You don't have to update either one. I hope you don't have the automatic sound updater turned on in the HUB.
Let me ask you something. You spend a very long time setting up a score just the way you want it. Maybe you do this through an audio interface and expensive headphones. Make a wav file. Does it sound just like it did in playback in the software. Maybe. Now play that music on your friend's sound system, computer speakers, your car sound system, earbuds. That music is going to sound different on each one. Because each system accents different frequencies differently. Which one is what you intended? BTW, I hope you pan your scores.
In reply to It has nothing to do with… by bobjp
First you say : "I hope you don't have the automatic sound updater turned on in the HUB" Well I'm afraid I have to answer that I had no idea there was an automatic sound updater to turn on or off. I was never asked that question when I downloaded the new Musescore. In fact HUB seem to download itself when I downloaded the new Musescore. I never really understood where this HUB thing came from. It never used to be there. I don't like the HUB interface - it looks like some videogame interface. And why would I think that the sound updater would alter the wonderful sounds I already have chosen? And why would they now suddenly sound "worse"?
Can I turn it off now and all will be alright?
Secondly you talk about sounds always being perceived differently. You are certainly 100% correct. The same track through a mobile phone or through expensive headphones obviously sounds different. But that doesn't mean sound then doesn't matter. I realize there are many people who use Musescore just for the notation software and not for the playback. I am not one of those. I use it for the playback and I find that when I make an MP3 from my score it is (was) pretty faithful. I have even had one of my files broadcast with a film in a cinema and I was happy with it. And as a symphonic composer I certainly do pan my scores.
I don't want to get into a food fight, I just want to know how I can get back to the sounds I had with the first Musescore 4. If you can be of help I would be eternally grateful.
In reply to First you say : "I hope you… by Graham Hunt
You can still use BBC Symphony. Can I assume you used it as a VST? You don't need the Hub to use MuseScore. It can be deleted.
There are at least three ways to update MuseScore. Which one, can have to do with downloading the HUB. Even if you didn't specifically ask for it. I don't know which method you used. It is possible that the HUB has been on you system for some time. It doesn't automatically put an icon on the desktop.
Do you know what sounds you are using now? And do you know how to find out? I have to ask several questions so that we can find out where you once were (sounds you like) and where you are now (sounds you don't like). Those descriptors aren't helpful. Even if it is all you have to offer at this point. You might need to spend some time in the manual. Sorry.
Without more information, we have to guess. My guess is that you were using BBC in MuseScore4. Later, depending on how you updated the software, or through some inadvertent action on your part, BBC got replaced by Muse basic sounds. Basic sounds are noticeably different than BBC.
In reply to You can still use BBC… by bobjp
I really appreciate your feedback.
I realize now that besides using BBC Symphony Discover, but I was also picking out sounds from a long list of orchestral instruments provided by MuseScore that you used to be able to select from. What happened to that?
In reply to I really appreciate your… by Graham Hunt
Open the mixer. Click on the down arrow that appears when you scroll over the Sound at the top of the channel you want to change. Scroll down to SoundFonts. Scroll to MS Basic. There is the list of sounds that comes with MuseScore. If that isn't the correct list. Maybe you were using Muse sounds instead. Maybe not.