MuseScore 3.6 - A Massive Engraving Overhaul!

Recommendations concerning notation and publishing software in a non-partisan environment.
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OCTO
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MuseScore 3.6 - A Massive Engraving Overhaul!

Post by OCTO »

https://youtu.be/qLR40BGNy68

Quote:
"Download MuseScore 3.6!
https://musescore.org

How we made our font:
https://youtu.be/XGo4PJd1lng

MuseScore 3.6 features a massive engraving improvement, including a new notation font (Leland), a new typeface (Edwin) and multiple improvements to spacing, finesse and automatic defaults.

Our online score sharing catalogue:
https://musescore.com "
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Finale 27.3 • Sibelius 2023.5• MuseScore 4+ • Logic Pro X+ • Ableton Live 11+ • Digital Performer 10+ /// MacOS Monterey (secondary in use systems: Fedora 35, Windows 10)
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OCTO
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Re: MuseScore 3.6 - A Massive Engraving Overhaul!

Post by OCTO »

I have tested for a few minutes a new score with this version.

Here is my first comment, concerning the spacing.
I have noticed that the key signature spacing is not proper to my eyes, so I checked against the ruler. The spacing of accidentals is:
A) 1 space between the clef and first accidental, B) every accidental is 1 sp., and C) 1sp. to the key signature or the first symbol.
But I see that A distance is much larger. At the pictures here, 1sp = 89, and the distances between the clef and first accidental is 98 and both accidentals are 173, and should be 178. Likewise, the distance to the Time Sign is correct 89, but the total distance is 358 and should be 356.
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OCTO
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Re: MuseScore 3.6 - A Massive Engraving Overhaul!

Post by OCTO »

Another thing is concerning the font. I would trust Leland for choosing what he did: personally I miss more "punched" and more balanced white noteheads, particulary half-notehead.

1. Half notehead is not touching in thirds. While it is found in some even older scores (particularly french) this makes the noteheads somehow weak in comparison to the black and whole notehead. Adding to that somehow too white middle spot - which can be accepted when placing on the line - the noteheads almost drop out from the page when placed in the space. I would suggest imitating the original SCORE and having less white space.

2. The whole notehead are touching in thirds - even heavily which differs from half notehead - but I would love to see them even more bold, as above, to have less white space.
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OCTO
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Re: MuseScore 3.6 - A Massive Engraving Overhaul!

Post by OCTO »

Concerning the accidentals, Tantacrul has said in the font video that "some accidentals look too small in Score". I would like to add that it is not the size but the perception how something is "large" or "small".

Here I would oppose this idea:
The white space of the natural in SCORE equals the white space of the flat and of the sharp. Here, in the MS font "Leland", it is much larger. It means: more white space, slower perception.
Furthermore, as said above, not only the size but the "blackness" is important, so to speak: a bold small has more power a than thin large.
Loosing the boldness and having more white space makes it "weaker" for perception.
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odod
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Re: MuseScore 3.6 - A Massive Engraving Overhaul!

Post by odod »

What a review! Thank you so much Octo, i also think He released the font in a rush .. i agree that it has more 'loose" on the boldness
and the treble clef .. to me the original one has more balance to my eyes instead of Leland version.
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benwiggy
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Re: MuseScore 3.6 - A Massive Engraving Overhaul!

Post by benwiggy »

Despite the attention that the flags got, I don't like the flags - particularly the downstem. They look a bit pinched. And various other things.

However, it has made me get back to work on Sebastian, and I hope to be sharing that with you soon. (And I both welcome and dread OCTO's keen eyes....!)
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OCTO
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Re: MuseScore 3.6 - A Massive Engraving Overhaul!

Post by OCTO »

benwiggy wrote: 17 Jan 2021, 18:20 Despite the attention that the flags got, I don't like the flags - particularly the downstem. They look a bit pinched. And various other things.

However, it has made me get back to work on Sebastian, and I hope to be sharing that with you soon. (And I both welcome and dread OCTO's keen eyes....!)
I am so joyous to heareth yond thee w'rk on the font, benwiggy!
Me too liketh not the flags.
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tisimst
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Re: MuseScore 3.6 - A Massive Engraving Overhaul!

Post by tisimst »

OCTO wrote: 17 Jan 2021, 19:22
benwiggy wrote: 17 Jan 2021, 18:20 Despite the attention that the flags got, I don't like the flags - particularly the downstem. They look a bit pinched. And various other things.

However, it has made me get back to work on Sebastian, and I hope to be sharing that with you soon. (And I both welcome and dread OCTO's keen eyes....!)
I am so joyous to heareth yond thee w'rk on the font, benwiggy!
Me too liketh not the flags.
Brilliant verbiage!
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Tantacrul
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Re: MuseScore 3.6 - A Massive Engraving Overhaul!

Post by Tantacrul »

Very juicy!

Thanks a lot for all of this. We've jotted down a few notes :)

note: the font wasn't made in a rush. We actually took our time with it and both intend to keep tipping for quite some time to come.
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OCTO
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Re: MuseScore 3.6 - A Massive Engraving Overhaul!

Post by OCTO »

I think you have to allow people using their own fonts.

As it is an open-source software, it is somehow contrary to it to have it "closed" so that a common user cannot add their own fonts. Even the fonts provided with the software are not used, I have tried to edit these (on MacOS) and nothing happens, since MuseScore use it from somewhere else not accessible for the end user.

For sure, we can compile the software by ourselves, but regular musicians and composers usually do not compile and don't know how to do it.
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