Denemo vs MuseScore Studio

Denemo is a free desktop music-notation program for composing, transcribing, arranging, and listening to music. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with MusicXML, MIDI, parts extraction, and tablature support. Music can be entered through a computer keyboard, MIDI controller, mouse, or microphone. Denemo opens its own files and imports MIDI, LilyPond, and MusicXML. LilyPond typesets notation in the background while you work, and the program supports figured bass, historical noteheads and barlines, chords, and tablature. It can create exercise sheets, aural-training materials, note-reading exercises, and playing exercises. Scores may be printed or exported as images, MIDI, OGG, or WAV files. MIDI or audio can be routed to other applications such as JACK, and LilyPond text and commands can be included in a score. Denemo is free to use, share, and change under the GPL; the listed plan costs nothing. Version 2.6 is listed as the current stable release, dated March 11, 2022. Some download links still point to version 2.2.

MuseScore Studio is free, open-source desktop software for composing, playing back, and printing sheet music. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows, with a free download that requires no account or subscription. Scores can have unlimited length and unlimited staves per system, with up to four independent voices per staff. The software imports and exports MIDI and MusicXML, imports Capella and other formats, and exports scores as PDF, PNG and other graphics formats, WAV and other audio formats, and LilyPond. Playback tools include a mixer, SoundFonts, MuseSounds, swing playback, and VST/VSTi support. MuseSounds are installed through Muse Hub on Windows and macOS, then assigned to instruments through playback profiles or the mixer. Users can publish scores to MuseScore.com and share playback audio through Audio.com. MuseScore Studio includes a Braille keyboard. Its audience includes schools, conservatories, choirs, and orchestras; desktop support is provided on MuseScore.org by an open-source project supported by volunteers and Muse Group employees.