NotePerformer vs Muse Sounds - Orchestral Excerpts

Here is a quick and dirty comparison of Wallander NotePerformer and Muse Sounds playback, using 6 orchestral excerpts from a couple of pieces I'm in the process of writing. Everything was originally written in Sibelius 7.1.3 (NotePerformer 3.3.2 playback) and then exported to MuseScore 4.0.0 via XML to get the Muse Sounds playback.
This isn't a perfect comparison as I just used what the XML spit out on MS4 (I only know Sibelius), so there are a few inaccuracies with the MuseScore playback. But, it should give a decent idea of both playback engines as they are now. I also tried to normalize the volume level between the two on each excerpt, but the two engines treat dynamics pretty differently so there are noticeable volume differences.
1:00 - Excerpt 1, NotePerformer
2:55 - Excerpt 1, Muse Sounds
4:52 - Excerpt 2, NotePerformer
6:34 - Excerpt 2, Muse Sounds
8:16 - Excerpt 3, NotePerformer
10:03 - Excerpt 3, Muse Sounds
11:41 - Excerpt 4, NotePerformer
13:12 - Excerpt 4, Muse Sounds
14:44 - Excerpt 5, NotePerformer
16:59 - Excerpt 5, Muse Sounds
19:02 - Excerpt 6, NotePerformer
21:23 - Excerpt 6, Muse Sounds

[@Finetales]

1:00 - Excerpt 1, NotePerformer 2:55 - Excerpt 1, Muse Sounds 4:52 - Excerpt 2, NotePerformer 6:34 - Excerpt 2, Muse Sounds 8:16 - Excerpt 3, NotePerformer 10:03 - Excerpt 3, Muse Sounds 11:41 - Excerpt 4, NotePerformer 13:12 - Excerpt 4, Muse Sounds 14:44 - Excerpt 5, NotePerformer 16:59 - Excerpt 5, Muse Sounds 19:02 - Excerpt 6, NotePerformer 21:23 - Excerpt 6, Muse Sounds What do you like about each playback engine?

[@K_J_Coleman_Composer]

Thanks for the timestamps! Put it in the description and you'll have timecards to click on!

[@AriannaCunningham]

I honestly think Muse Sounds does it a whole lot better, because they have really good legato transitions, dynamics, and round robins.

[@K_J_Coleman_Composer]

They just got to do some backbreaking big repair and it will beat out Noteperformer

[@javiermedina5313]

not really, noteperformer behaves better, but MS has better audio quality. The biggest problem with musesounds is the brass section, it's just not that good, also it has several problems in dynamics and balance of the instruments in general. The biggest problem with NP is their tiny strings, but the brass is so good.

[@K_J_Coleman_Composer]

@@javiermedina5313 Now that I have tried it I figure the problem is it's very circumstantial. It's almost like its made for Hans Zimmer. It's very blare-y and harsh. But put that in a symphony and play Pirates or something and it works like a charm. I'm gonna upload a piece to my channel soon that utilizes that sound. The BIGGEST thing about Muse Sounds is it DOES NOT work with pre-written material. You have to write from scratch or re-arrange it to fit. On every piece I tried to give it, it failed. It was only when I wrote music for it it started working for me.

[@antonpyvovarov9401]

Really cool music! ☺️one of the excerpts literally got stuck in my head. Lol. Would love to sneak peak into your scores dear wind-player-arranger-composer colleague! Best wishes to you

[@MichelBarbaro]

Note Performer is still better (except for the Choir). But Note Performer developers really have to hurry up LOL It is incredible that Musescore is free!

[@Finetales]

My thoughts: once the rough/abrupt dynamics and articulations get fixed, I think Muse Sounds will have the edge in woodwind and string sounds as well. The choir is no contest, NotePerformer's is awful lol. But NotePerformer is the clear winner for brass IMO. Muse Sounds doesn't even have a euphonium sound!

[@K_J_Coleman_Composer]

​@@Finetalesexactly my thoughts

[@javiermedina5313]

@@Finetales yes the brass is way better in NP, let's see what they are going to do with np4

[@CortMarshal]

Euphonium isn't real.