MuseScore 4 — VST Support, Kontakt, Indigenus sound libraries
I've not used VST libraries recently, and I'm not particularly familiar with the required setup of VST configuration, so I'm hoping to benefit from the experience of others before moving ahead.
Anyone know if MuseScore 4.01 can use playing libraries from Indigenous.com ... or libraries with the same/similar requirements? My understanding is that a full version of Kontakt is required. So I guess the core question is if Kontakt and MuseScore 4 work well together.
I'd like to try some of my arrangements and transcriptions with the steel string guitar, nylon string guitar and resophonic guitar and the ukulele from Indigenous.
Thanks!
scorster
Comments
All I know is: It has to be VST3. VST2, which lot of the free stuff is still based on, is not supported.
If Kontakt can run within MuseScore 4 then our libraries should work. You can test this with our free instruments:
https://www.indiginus.com/freebees.
As mentioned before, our libraries do require the full version of Kontakt.
-TC
In reply to If Kontakt can run within… by tcindiginus
Thanks Tracy!
I'll continue to look into using Indigenous libraries with MuseScore 4.
Please update us if you test Kontakt and your libraries with MuseScore 4 on MacOS and Windows.
Much appreciated!
scorster
The following posts are by MuseScore 4 users working with Kontakt:
https://musescore.org/en/node/344013
https://musescore.org/en/node/338246
https://musescore.org/en/node/342434
And here are citations in the MuseScore 4 Handbook:
https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/working-vst-and-vsti
https://musescore.org/en/handbook/4/mixer#audiofx
I'm hoping a couple of people will chime in with some MuseScore4/Kontakt success stories!
scorster
In reply to The following posts are from… by scorster
It's four months later now ... and two days ago I purchased Kontakt 7 during Native instrument's "Komplete" 50% off sale.
Progress is good.
Yesterday I got Kontakt 7 working in Logic.
Today I opened Kontakt 7 in MuseScore 4.02. Worked perfectly ... with a couple of minor issues:
1) it takes about 7 second to open the plugin
2) anytime I leave the score the Kontakt plugin window closes
3) I don't see a way to have the Kontakt plugin open but behind the score window.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YJDK77VId8
MacOS Ventura 13.3.1a
Macbook Air M2, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD
Glad to see this working. I'll also test to see if I can access 3rd party libraries ... and my first choice will be those from http://indiginus.com
Otherwise I'm back to MuseScore 3.7.
scorster
In reply to It's four months later now … by scorster
Thank you very much for your informative messages. So basically I can make the scores sound without a keyboard, controlling everything with Musescore
In reply to It's four months later now … by scorster
Pardon my ignorance here, but I'm trying to get something working in MS with Kontakt, and your message of a couple years ago is about as close as I can come to what I'm trying to do. I downloaded a trumpet library from https://www.norrlandsamples.com/, and I guess I need Kontakt to make it work. I got the Kontakt 8 player, which allows me to open the Trumpet samples, but I'm not sure how to integrate into MS.
My fear is, the (free) Kontakt 8 Player won't do it—I need the paid version of Kontakt(?)
The developer of the samples touted it as free—which I suppose is technically true, but if I need to spend $300 on plumbing, it's not quite free. Thanks for any help.
MacOS Sequoia 15.3.1
Macbook Pro M3 36GM RAM, 500GB SSD
In reply to Pardon my ignorance here,… by meferris7
Indeed, the Norrland trumpet library free but, as with Indigenus' libraries, the Norrland site states they are "made for the FULL version of Native Instruments Kontakt 5.8.1" ... which means that they won't work in the free Kontakt Player.
So as you summarized, it's $300 for the plumbing.
In reply to Yes, you can get the… by scorster
It will work in Kontakt Player for 15 minutes. Long enough to test it.
In reply to It will work in Kontakt… by graffesmusic
That's good to know. Thanks for that tip!
In reply to Yes, you can get the… by scorster
Man, that's frustrating. I've been a personal mission for a couple of years to get MuseSounds to add a straight mute for trumpet, but so far, nothing. If they can do a Harmon mute (which is the mute that comes with MuseSounds,) they should be able to do a straight mute. The amount of hoop-jumping required with other libraries and plugins to get this one sound, it just flummoxes me.
In reply to Man, that's frustrating. I… by meferris7
Not free.
This is a great plugin: https://librewave.com/product/sordina-mute-emulator/
Any mute you like for Brass and Strings.
In reply to Not free. This is a great… by graffesmusic
Does this integrate with Musescore?
In reply to Does this integrate with… by meferris7
Yes, it does.
Note that this is a Audio FX plugin, not a instrument.
You modify the sound of the instrument. (just like a real mute works)
For each mute, you can choose between several brands.
And there is a Linux version. Reason enough to buy it, since i cannot spend my money on Muse Sounds...
As suggested by the author in the FAQ, you can try the free 'Bell and Bone' sample library
https://librewave.com/product/bell-and-bone/ to have an idea how a couple of mutes sound.
"The technology featured in Sordina is also incorporated into our complimentary Bell & Bone sample library. By using it, you can experience the effect offered by Sordina while receiving a free instrument!"
Maybe that free vst with the trumpet mutes is enough for your needs...
In reply to Yes, it does. Note that this… by graffesmusic
Thanks for this. I've downloaded it, but I can't see how it actually integrates with Musescore. It needs the Rhapsody player (or something similar) which I got, but when I hit the keys in that, I get no sound. I've sent a note to Librewave support, too.
In reply to Thanks for this. I've… by meferris7
I assume you mean the Bell and Bone instrument? And it is installed and selected in the mixer?
It works if you fist select a note on the stave, before using the "vst keyboard". (this is true for many vst's in MuseScore, at least on my system)
In reply to It works if you fist select… by graffesmusic
ok. How do I get Musecore to recognize/find the plugin? What file extension should I be looking for in what I downloaded?
In reply to ok. How do I get Musecore to… by meferris7
After you install the vst (double click on the Rhapsody installer), it should be visible in the mixer.
https://handbook.musescore.org/sound-and-playback/working-with-vst-and-…
Where you will be able to select under Sound > Vst3 > Librewave > Rhapsody
In reply to After you install the vst,… by graffesmusic
Got it. I see it upon a restart of Musescore. So the bucket mute approximates the straight mute (though still not quite the same.) However, if I was going to try to integrate this in my score, when I record the piece using playback, it seems I'd have to do a few extra steps.
That is, if I set the mixer to use Rhapsody for, let's say 10 bars of muted trumpet, then want to go back to no mute, It seems like I'd have to splice together bits of audio, because you can't reset the mixer to use a different instrument at a given bar, correct?
In reply to Got it. I see it upon a… by meferris7
There is no direct support for this in MuseScore.
The only thing i can think of that might work, is doing a 'change instrument', which will add a 2nd mixer channel where you would be able to select another (or no) mute.
This is a workaround for a very basic vst support in MuseScore.
The same would be true when using the Sordina effect. You need a new channel every time you change.
If this is only for playback, you can just add a second staff for the trumpet
Edit:
![changeInstrument.png]( "changeInstrument.png")
Consider this:
When you want to add a mute, do a change instrument (the "change Instr" one from the Text palette) - no matter what instrument in the same tonality - eg. trumpet Bb => Clarinet Bb and back to trumpet Bb. The same instrument (trumpet Bb to trumpet Bb does not work)
In the mixer, for the 'clarinet part' you choose Rhapsody with a mute.
You can change the 'to clarinet' text to read e.g. Cup mute
https://handbook.musescore.org/notation/instruments-staves-and-systems/…
In reply to There is no direct support… by graffesmusic
I see. That will work. In a way, MuseSounds has been too successful. That is, the playback you can achieve with it is really good, so good that in almost any case, it's the preferred library. But there are gaps (like this lack of a straight mute.) But (I guess since it's free?) you don't really get support. I've put in request for features (formerly in Github, and now through another interface) but this just goes into the ether. You never get any reply, any acknowledgement, and you're in the dark about whether anything is being worked on.
In reply to I see. That will work. In a… by meferris7
OK. initially, this was about the Sordina FX.
You can perfectly use Muse Sounds and apply one of the many mutes from Sordina FX.
Of course, i understand it isn't free nor cheap. That's something everybody must decide for himself. As a trumpet player, i had to buy it for myself. ( i have no connection at all with Librewave. i was just trying to add options for your problem)
In reply to OK. initially, this was… by graffesmusic
I'd consider buying if would offer what I'm after. That is, if Bell and Bone are just extracted from Sordina FX, and there isn't a true straight mute for trumpet, then I'm not sure it's worth it for me.