musescore
Run MuseScore, the music notation software
TLDR
Use a specific audio driver
Set the MP3 output bitrate in kbit/s
Start MuseScore in debug mode
Enable experimental features, such as layers
Export the given file to the specified output file. The file type depends on the given extension
Print a diff between the given scores
Specify a MIDI import operations file
SYNOPSIS
mscore [options] input_file [output_file]
PARAMETERS
-h, --help
Show help message and exit.
-v, --version
Show version information and exit.
-o, --output
Specify output file or directory. If a directory is specified, output files will be created in that directory, using the same base name as the input files.
-F, --factory-settings
Run with default (factory) settings. Useful for debugging issues related to user settings.
-S, --style
Apply a style file to the score.
-r, --resolution
Set the resolution for image output (e.g., PDF, PNG).
-n, --no-midi
Disable MIDI playback during score rendering (if applicable).
-j, --job
Process a job file, which contains a list of files to convert with specified options.
--export-to-pdf
Export directly to PDF. Useful for headless systems without a display server.
-T
Define the starting measure for measure range conversion (start at 1).
-R
Define the final measure for measure range conversion.
DESCRIPTION
MuseScore is a powerful and user-friendly music notation software. The mscore command provides a command-line interface to interact with MuseScore, enabling users to perform various tasks such as converting music files between different formats, printing scores, applying style settings, and rendering audio files. This allows automation of tasks that would otherwise require manual interaction with the graphical user interface. It's especially useful for batch processing and integration into scripting workflows.
The mscore command supports a wide variety of input and output formats, including MusicXML, MIDI, PDF, and audio formats like MP3 and WAV. It accepts several parameters to control the conversion, printing, and rendering processes. Users can specify input files, output file names, output formats, style settings, and other options to customize the behavior of the command. This provides flexibility to adjust the output to specific needs.
CAVEATS
The mscore command relies on a properly installed MuseScore application. The available options and behavior might vary slightly between different MuseScore versions. Some advanced features available in the GUI might not be accessible through the command line.
JOB FILE
The job file (specified with the -j option) is a text file that lists multiple input files and corresponding output specifications. This is useful for batch processing multiple scores with specific configurations. The format of the job file may vary depending on the version of MuseScore.
RETURN CODES
The mscore command returns a non-zero exit code on failure. This can be used in scripts to check if the conversion/rendering process was successful.
HISTORY
MuseScore was initially developed by Werner Schweer and others, and it has been continuously developed and improved by a community of contributors. The mscore command-line interface was introduced to provide scripting capabilities and automation, extending the software's usability in professional workflows and server-side applications. It evolved alongside the GUI, adding new features and format support as the software matured.
SEE ALSO
convert(1)