Mixer
The mixer allows you to
- change instrument sounds;
- load virtual instruments and effects;
- adjust volume and panning, and make other adjustments to the playback for each stave.
A channel strip is automatically created for each instrument in the score (this includes when a mid-score instrument change is applied to a stave). There is also a dedicated metronome channel strip and master fader.
Users of previous versions of MuseScore should note that the concept of a “part track” with subsidiary “channel tracks” does not exist in MuseScore 4 due to compatibility issues with the new playback engine. It may be reintroduced in later versions.
Opening the mixer
You can display/hide the mixer by:
- Clicking on the Mixer button in the Note input toolbar.
- Clicking View→Mixer.
- Using the shortcut F10.
Mixer controls
Each channel strip contains the following controls (described from the bottom of a channel strip upwards):
- Mute (M) button: Disables the playback volume (Muted staves will not be heard).
- Solo (S) button: Enables playback volume for the selected (soloed) stave and mutes all other staves. (Where only one stave is soloed, disengaging the solo mode will automatically unmute all other staves.)
Mute and solo controls can be used in combination to change which instruments are heard during playback. For example, it is possible to put multiple staves into solo mode, so that only those staves are heard. It is also possible to mute a soloed stave.
- Volume fader: This can be clicked and dragged to increase or decrease the playback volume. Double clicking on the volume fader will return it to a neutral level (0 dB gain).
- Pan knob: This can be clicked and dragged to send the audio signal to the left or right speakers. Double clicking on the pan knob will return the pan to center position.
Audio FX and sounds
Sound row: the virtual instrument to use, exactly one must be selected. Supports three types: SoundFont(.sf2,.sf3), Virtual Studio Technology instrument(VSTi) and MuseSounds(MuseGroup proprietary).
Audio FX row: VST effect to use, allows stacking of multiple, is optional.
Compatible VST plugins installed on your computer will be automatically made available, find VSTi inside Sound drop-downs, find VST effects inside Audio FX drop-downs.
Manual sf2, sf3 preset/bank selection is unsupported (yet, as of Musescore 4.0). In the meantime, try workaround methods in SoundFonts.
sfz files are supported indirectly through a VST sampler, see SoundFonts.
To select a sound
Exactly one sound (virtual instrument) must be selected for each instrument.
- Hover over a Sound slot
- Click the dropdown button that appears
- Locate and click on an item from the dropdown menu
To add a VST effect
- Hover over a empty Audio FX slot
- Click the dropdown button that appears
- Locate and click on a plugin from the dropdown menu
The plugin will load as a separate window above your score. When you load an audio FX plugin, a new slot appears in the track
To disable a VST effect
- Hover over a Audio FX slot
- Click on the power icon that appears
This deactivates the plugin without removing it from the mixer.
To remove a VST effect
- Hover over a Audio FX slot
- Click the dropdown button that appears
- Click No effect
This removes the effects plugin from the mixer.
