MuseScore 4.4.0

What's new in this version:

Playback features and improvements:
- Support for Muse Sounds Drumline* libraries, including score migration from MDL, and ability to trigger different playback samples via sticking text
- Support for Muse Sounds choral libraries, including lyric text to trigger different phoneme samples
- Dynamics now apply independently to voices and staves (N.b. varies depending on sound technology used. Please consult the handbook for details)
- Dynamics now use optimal playback parameters (varies depending on sound technology) for more realistic playback
- Significant audio engine optimisations (including lower buffer sizes), significantly reducing note input latency when using a MIDI keyboard, and massively reducing audio export times
- Hidden instruments can now be muted/soloed in the mixer

Engraving features and improvements:
- Items such as dynamics/hairpins, text, and line objects no longer have to be attached ('anchored') to a note or rest, but can also be attached to rhythmic subdivisions within any duration
- Dynamics/hairpins can be assigned to specific voices with appropriate default placement, and can also be centered between a grand stave. There are also new style options to control the default positioning of dynamics/hairpins.
- Dynamics and hairpins now snap more intelligently to each other, enabling better horizontal alignment. There are new controls in Properties for snapping and unsnapping these objects.
- The layout system for accidentals has been rewritten, and SMuFL cutouts are now being used. This results in a more elegant and compact layout, especially in complex chords. New style options allow further configuration.
- New style options for lyrics
- New style options for fretboard diagrams, including the ability to add fingerings
- Header and footer improvements, including the ability to add multi-line copyright text
- New option for "French-style" beams
- New options for hiding/showing instrument labels
- Improved alignment and interactions for ghost/dead notes in guitar notation
- New style options to show/hide double barlines before time and key signatures
- Cross-stave beam improvements, including better vertical spacing and new options to set beams above or below staves
- Many small improvements to how shapes and skylines have been calculated, allowing a more flexible layout
- Increased use of SMuFL symbols within text for pedal markings, ottavas, codas/segno markings, and tuplet numbers
- Frames can now be scaled with stave size
- Percussion sticking is now centered on the notehead and aligned to a common baseline across the system
- New option for separating layout of similarly-stemmed voices
- Thickness of slurs and ties can now be set independently
- Grace note slashes can now be toggled on or off in Properties
- The 'Explode' and 'Implode' functions now copy dynamics and text annotations, also taking their voice assignment into account. Grace notes are now also taken into account when exploding measures.
- Many other improvements, including MusicXML improvements (See this detailed summary on our forum)

Interaction improvements:
- Multiple selected notes retain their selection after their durations are changed
- Notes can be entered into different voices without having to start at the beginning of the bar
- Palette objects now snap more intelligently to their applicable in-score objects when being dragged

Backend updates:
- Update to Qt version 6.2.4
- macOS builds have moved to universal binary, providing native support for both Intel and Apple Silicon chips
- Linux support for Wayland has been improved. The AppImage can now be launched in Wayland mode by setting the QT_QPA_PLATFORM=wayland environment variable. Additionally, a positioning issue with popups, menus and tooltips has been resolved.