CoScribe

Shared MuseScore projects, kept in sync with the people you write with, and automatic part formatting.

Latest version 2.1.0 · released 2026-11-01 · macOS, Windows and Linux

macOS

Apple Silicon and Intel · macOS 12 or later

Paste one line in Terminal, or download the app.

Open Terminal (Spotlight → “Terminal”), paste this line and press Return:

curl -fsSL https://coscribe.anthony-tong.com/install-mac.sh | bash

It downloads the right build for your Mac, puts CoScribe.app in Applications and opens it. No password needed. Read the script.

Or download manually
Apple Silicon129 MB Intel133 MB
  1. Apple menu → About This Mac shows which chip you have.
  2. Double-click the download to unpack CoScribe.app and drag it into Applications.
  3. In Terminal, run these two lines, or macOS will call the app “damaged”: 
    xattr -cr /Applications/CoScribe.app
codesign --force --deep --sign - /Applications/CoScribe.app

Windows

Windows 10 and 11 · 64-bit

Download the installer, or a portable .exe.

Download installer112 MB
  1. Run CoScribe-Setup-2.1.0.exe.
  2. If “Windows protected your PC” appears, click More info, then Run anyway.
  3. Pick a folder (the default is fine) and click Install.
Portable version

A single .exe that runs from anywhere without installing. It tells you when a new version is out but can't update itself.

Portable .exe112 MB

Linux

x86_64 · most current distributions

One line in a terminal for any distribution, or a .deb package.

Any distribution: paste this in a terminal (no sudo; it keeps itself up to date):

curl -fsSL https://coscribe.anthony-tong.com/install-linux.sh | bash

Installs the AppImage in ~/Applications with a menu entry (opening .mscz and .mscx files) and an engrave command. Read the script.

Ubuntu, Debian, Mint: the .deb package

Download .deb100 MB

Open it with your software installer, or run sudo apt install ./CoScribe-2.1.0-linux-amd64.deb. CoScribe tells you when a new version is out.

The plain AppImage, MuseScore, uninstalling

Or download the AppImage itself, make it executable (chmod +x) and run it from anywhere:

AppImage126 MB

CoScribe finds MuseScore Studio installed from your distribution, Flathub, the Snap Store, or as an AppImage in ~/Applications or ~/Downloads; otherwise point to it in Settings → MuseScore.

On Ubuntu 23.10 and later an AppImage only starts with --no-sandbox (the install script sets that up; the .deb doesn't need it). To uninstall: curl -fsSL https://coscribe.anthony-tong.com/install-linux.sh | bash -s -- --uninstall, or sudo apt remove engrave for the .deb.

MuseScore Studio

CoScribe reads and writes MuseScore files itself, but it uses MuseScore Studio 4 (free) in the background to measure every measure exactly, check the finished pages for overlapping text, and export PDFs. It finds MuseScore in the usual place; if yours is elsewhere, point to it in Settings → MuseScore. Without MuseScore it still formats, from estimates.

Updates

Once installed, CoScribe keeps itself up to date. It checks shortly after it opens and every few hours, downloads new versions in the background, and asks whether to restart now or install when you next quit. To check by hand: CoScribe → Check for Updates… on a Mac, Help → Check for Updates… on Windows and Linux (the AppImage updates itself; the .deb tells you about a new version).

What's new in 2.1.0

  • Unsaved work is no longer only in MuseScore: each autosave is kept on this computer and sent to the server as a draft every 10 minutes; after a crash, CoScribe recovers it at the next start (Versions → “unsaved work”). A reminder after 20 minutes unsaved
  • Shared projects work offline: saves are kept on this computer and go up when you're back (as the next version, or a separate copy if someone else saved meanwhile; nothing is written over)
  • Drag a shared score out of its card for a copy; drop a .mscz on it to make it the next version
  • Score reduction: pick bars or notes on the score (click a note, Shift-click another) and Add: CoScribe chooses the lines. The reduction is shown beside the score as its pages. Every note is written where it sounds, up to four voices a line; anything that can't be shown is named
  • The score window says whether your changes are saved, and asks before closing with unsaved changes
  • A score is in CoScribe or in MuseScore, never both at once
  • The server's part PDFs: just whether they're ready; formatting notes under the score's ⋯ menu
  • macOS: no more Keychain prompts
  • Sidebars can be tucked away (⌘\); a log for when something goes wrong (Help → Show Logs)

What it does

Page turns in restsLine and page breaks are chosen together so every turn lands where the player rests.
Lines that follow the phraseFour measures a line where they fit, starting on phrase boundaries and rehearsal marks.
Full, even pagesConsistent spacing, pages filled evenly, multimeasure rests sized right.
Text that readsSpacing that leaves room for markings; overlapping, stacked or cramped text is pointed out on the page.
ChecksMissing starting dynamics, entries after long rests without a dynamic, hairpins without a target, and more.
Page setupParts on 9 × 12 in, the score on 11 × 17 in, staff sizes to match, all adjustable.
PDFs in section foldersThe score in the folder you pick; parts in Woodwinds/, Brass/, Percussion/, Strings/, Choir/ and Other/. Your choice per instrument is remembered.
Choir partsSoprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass parts made from S/A and T/B staves, with lyrics and markings. Parts are created for scores that have none.
Score reductionThe main lines on a few staves for following along (camera, lighting): instruments that move together merged onto one staff, named on every line, as a MuseScore file or a PDF on 11 × 17, 9 × 12 or your own size.
Back and forth with MuseScoreSave the formatting into the score, adjust it in MuseScore, open it again and update the PDFs without reformatting.