Percussion Racks and VDL Combo Instruments

No files, tests, or entry points are identified. Start by reviewing how MuseScore currently represents percussion instruments and handles MuseSounds or Virtual Drumline playback. Done would require an agreed, testable scope for custom racks, mixed pitched and unpitched staves, and pre-built VDL combinations.

Your idea

Percussion Racks and VDL Combo Instruments
I am sharing an idea for enhancing the percussion features in MuseScore, specifically to make it more flexible for composers and arrangers who work with diverse unpitched/pitched percussion setups.

Problem to be solved

1. Custom Percussion Racks with Flexible Instrument Assignment

It would be beneficial to have a way to create custom percussion racks by combining multiple unpitched instruments into one staff. For instance, if we could choose instruments like temple blocks, a suspended cymbal, and a triangle and assign them all to a single staff, composing would be much easier for complex parts. Ideally, we could also set specific staff lines and noteheads for each sound, with options for playback through MuseSounds or Virtual Drumline (VDL) / other percussion libraries. This feature would help those needing a highly customizable setup, especially for concert percussion or pit parts in marching music.

2. Combining Pitched and Unpitched Instruments

Another potential feature could be combining pitched and unpitched instruments into a single staff. For example, using a marimba alongside a suspended cymbal in the same part would provide even more versatility. This could allow for easier notation of complex multi-percussion setups, where players often switch between melodic percussion and auxiliary instruments.

3. Pre-built VDL Rack Combos

Another idea is adding all the standard rack combos to the Virtual Drumline library. A great example would be the 'Bass Drum and Tam-tam' combo. This would make it easy to accurately notate and playback common combinations found in orchestral and marching percussion racks, giving composers a more authentic sound without having to piece together individual instruments manually every time.

These features could bring MuseScore closer to the flexibility and playback quality percussion composers need.

Prior art

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Additional context

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Checklist

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