Is adding VST support for future versions of MuseScore possible?
Hello! I've been using MuseScore as my primary music production software for the past two-odd years and as a composer I have to say that I love this program! Having first started notating in grade school using Finale Notepad 2012, I am much more familiar with notation software than with standard DAWs, which I find to be clunky and nearly impossible to use--and I really can't thank you enough for making such a powerful notation tool available free to the public!
That being said, I can't help but feel that MuseScore is missing out by only offering SoundFont and SFZ instrument support. Please don't misunderstand me; I love using them and am highly dependent on using them for the majority of my production process. However, on the odd occasion that I do need to use a VST instrument in my music, I have to work around MuseScore and jump through all these ridiculous hurdles to get the sound I want in Cakewalk--then I have to re-mix all of my MuseScore tracks as audio so that the levels, pan, &c. work with the audio from my DAW. It would be much more efficient if I could just load VST plugins directly to MuseScore.
All that being said, I'm not a software engineer; I'm a musician. I don't know if adding VST support for your applications would be possible, and if not, I understand. If, however, it's something you might be able to do, I would greatly appreciate you looking into it.
Thank you for reading! (^-^)/
_Connor
Comments
I guess because VST parameters cannot be controlled in the Musescore, there will be many problems.
But of course if someone wants to work on it, it may be possible.
Workaround:
Use the Musescore's MIDI output and redirect to a standalone version of the VST you want to use. (There are mini softwares (600-700Kb) to use VSTs as standalone)
e.g.: Search for "SaviHost" on google.
there are also virtual MIDI port routers.
e.g.: Search for "loopMIDI" on google.
I think the DAW is the place to load Vst/ Vsti. Musescore has its hand full with notation. I am finding a large number of composers these days using keyboards to enter midi into a DAW, using a piano roll, and then exporting to a notation program afterwards for clean-up and part scoring. So, I think Musescore could focus on improving all things related to midi import. (I do it the other way around. I can send 16 channels to 16 tracks in a DAW and have many instrument choices including sf2 if needed. It might take a while to set up initially, but the track control and options available are worth it.)
I'm a fan of the "one tool, one task" attitude. While I agree that the availability of VST integration could be somewhat useful, I feel much more attracted by ease of use and accessibility of features -- which often means "no features overload". Anyway, as someone else already wrote, MuseScore can output a document in a pletora of formats, so that a score can be effectively shared with programs aimed at giving as a good sound as possible (DAWs, mostly).
I would love to be able to use NotePerformer with Musescore. NotePerformer's high quality sound is a big help in the composing process. But this would require adding VST support to Musescore, which I imagine is a big job. Yes, you can export files from Musecore to other programs with VST support, but doing so takes away the instant feedback that a direct integration would provide. I hope the Musecore team will consider doing VST support in the future.
In reply to I would love to be able to… by jayW
Indeed, immediate feedback helps one focus on writing music instead of juggling multiple programs. It is an improvement point.