SoundFonts in MuseScore: SF2, SF3, and SFZ

In this MuseTube course lesson, you’ll learn how to use virtual instruments in MuseScore 4: from the basic sound bank (MS Basic) to installing and setting up Muse Sounds, and even importing external soundfonts (.sf2, .sf3, .sfz). A very complete class to improve the sound quality of your scores and make them sound much more realistic.

🎼 MS Basic: the default sound bank

MuseScore 4 includes the MS Basic sound bank, which is automatically assigned to each instrument in the Mixer. You can change it from the “SoundFont > MS Basic” dropdown, selecting another sound within the same bank.

For example, you can replace the trumpet or piano with other variants available in the package. The system automatically chooses suitable sounds, but you can always customize it.

🔊 Improve the sound with Muse Sounds

Muse Sounds is a library of realistic sounds integrated with MuseScore 4. To use it:

• Open the Muse Hub app
• Go to the “Sounds” tab
• Download the packs you want (percussion, strings, keyboards…)
• Restart MuseScore so it can detect them

Once downloaded, you’ll be able to select the sounds from the mixer: choose “Muse Sounds” and select the corresponding instrument (for example, “Trumpet” or “Grand Piano”).

If an instrument sounds too quiet (as is the case with some trumpets), you can raise its volume from the mixer or adjust the dynamics (for example, using fff instead of mf).

🌍 Import external soundfonts (.sf2, .sf3)

External soundfonts let you add new custom sounds. There are three main types:

• .sf2: classic format
• .sf3: the same as .sf2 but compressed
• .sfz: more modern, with higher-quality audio and separate samples

To install a .sf2 or .sf3:

• Download it from a reliable source (MuseScore recommends several)
• Drag it directly into the MuseScore window
• Or place it in the Documents/MuseScore4/Soundfonts folder

Once added, it will appear in the mixer as a new bank. You’ll be able to select it from the “SoundFont” drop-down.

🎹 Use .sfz files with an external VST (Sforzando)

To use .sfz files, you need an external VST such as Sforzando. It’s free and is installed like this:

• Download the program from its official website
• Install it (Next, Next…)
• Restart MuseScore

Now, in the MuseScore mixer, a new option will appear: VST3 > Sforzando.

To load an sfz file:

• Click the “Instrument” button in Sforzando
• Select “Import”
• Browse to the folder where you saved the sfz file and its samples
• Open it, and it will be loaded

You can now play back the score with that new instrument. You can do the same with other downloaded sfz banks, and also use alternative versions for other instruments (such as trumpets, guitars, etc.).

In short, MuseScore 4 lets you work both with its own sound banks and with external libraries, which offers enormous versatility to improve sound quality and realism.