File export

    Overview

    This chapter covers the saving of MuseScore scores in formats other than the native ones (*.mscz and *.mscx), such as MusicXML, MIDI, MP3, PDF, PNG etc.

    Exporting your score

    To export a score:

    1. Select File→Export
    2. Choose a Format from the dropdown list
    3. Select the parts to export by checking/unchecking the appropriate boxes on the left of the dialog
    4. If you want to combine all parts in one file click on the radio button titiled All parts combined in one file
    5. Click Export...

    File formats

    Graphical formats

    PDF is a universal format for text, pictures, music and so on. Virtually every computer will have a dedicated PDF reader; if not a PDF can also be opened using web browsers such as Firefox etc.

    Use this format when you want to generate music scores for other musicians to read from. PDF scores can also be printed to hard copy if desired.

    PNG is a compressed graphical format suitable for embedding in all kinds of documents. SVG enables you to preserve a higher graphical resolution and allows you to resize in situ.

    Audio formats

    MuseScore enables you to export audio files in a number of compressed formats: MP3 is the most well-known, but OGG and FLAC also have their advantages. These formats combine the benefit of relatively small size with high audio quality.

    If you want uncompressed audio go for the WAV option. File size will be considerably larger than the uncompressed audio options.

    MIDI format

    MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), a well-established music industry standard, encodes the notes and instrumentation of the original score and can be played back using a PC’s media player, or other suitable computer app, as long as the right software (or hardware) instruments are available to realize it.

    You should be aware that the sound generated by a MIDI file is dependent on the virtual instruments used to play it back, so it is likely to differ in sound quality from the original. Also it does not preserve score formatting, voicing etc.

    Score formats

    MusicXML is a universal standard which aims to preserve as much of the original score formatting as possible. It can be opened in any modern score writer. MuseScore 4 uses MusicXML 4.0.

    Braille is a plain text format used by musicians who are blind, either on a electronic braille display, or embossed onto paper as raised dots. MuseScore's braille files are bar-over-bar format, conforming to the North American Music Braille Code 2015. The files use ASCII rather than Unicode characters, meaning that sighted users who open these files in a text editor will just see ordinary font symbols; you would need to install a braille font in order to see the braille as dots.

    Customizing export settings

    {To be added]