What instrument do I use for this?
I'm trying to transpose a song that I only have the mp3 of (which you can listen to here: http://bit.ly/1LiDNUd). Please listen to it and tell me what instrument you think it is that plays the main melody. I thought it sounded like a music box. Also, please let me know how to use whatever instrument it is in MuseScore.
Comments
The sounds used by MuseScore for the various instruments is dependent upon the soundfont used. By default, MuseScore 2 includes the Fluid R3 soundfont.
See:
https://musescore.org/en/node/36171
To match MuseScore's instrument sound to what you hear in a recording (e.g. an mp3), try this:
1. In MuseScore, create a score with a single staff (e.g. treble) and enter a simple scale.
2. Open the mixer using View / Mixer (keyboard shortcut is F10).
3. Enable loop playback and play the scale.
4. In the mixer, expand the Sound dropdown list and change the instrument 'on the fly' to find the closest match to the sound you want, using the available soundfont.
MuseScore is primarily a music notation program (scorewriter) and as such is not specifically designed to produce audio output as a finished end product. However, playback, though secondary, is still being improved - which is why you can find and use different soundfonts to approximate the sound you want.
For your mp3 example, there is a music box sound in Fluid R3 as well as other pitched percussion sounds (kalimba, marimba, xylophone). You can even try things like violin pizzicato.
Regards.