.MUS File Extension
Finale Notation File (Legacy)
Developer | MakeMusic |
Popularity |
3.6 | 110 Votes |
What is a MUS file?
A MUS file is a musical score created by MakeMusic Finale, a popular music notation program. It contains measures, notes, tempos, time signatures, and clefs. MUS files also contain MIDI data that Finale uses to play back the score.
More Information
MakeMusic Finale is a scorewriting program that composers use to create, edit, and listen to musical scores. For example, a composer might create an original composition, add lyrics to the song, and then play the song back via their computer's speakers to hear how it sounds.
Finale 2012 and earlier versions save composers' scores as MUS files. In addition to the score and data used to play it back, MUS files typically contain title, composer, and copyright information.
NOTE: Finale 2014 and later versions save scores as .MUSX files.
How to open a MUS file
You can open a MUS file with MakeMusic Finale (Windows, Mac). To do so, select File → Open... from the program's menu bar. Then, navigate to and open your MUS file.
How to convert a MUS file
Programs that open MUS files
Minecraft Music File
Developer | Mojang |
Popularity |
3.6 | 25 Votes |
Audio file used by Minecraft, a 3D open-ended sandbox construction game; saves background music played during the game; may also store music played by in-game Music Discs (i.e., virtual CDs).
More Information
MUS files may be plain audio stored in the Ogg Vorbis (.OGG) format, or they may use encryption that cannot be read by standard audio players. A Java tool called muscode.jar can be used to convert Minecraft MUS files to the OGG format.
Programs that open MUS files
Electronic Arts Game Music File
Developer | Electronic Arts |
Popularity |
3.4 | 20 Votes |
Audio file used by Electronic Arts games for the PlayStation 2 (PS2), PlayStation 3 (PS3), and PC; saves audio data for the game soundtrack and used for playing background music; often used by the Need For Speed series games.
More Information
Examples of Need for Speed games that use MUS files include Need for Speed: Most Wanted (NFS: MW), Need for Speed: Underground (NFSU), and Need for Speed: Carbon (NFSC). For the PC, NFS: MW stores MUS files in the \SOUND\PFDATA\ game installation directory.
NOTE: The NFSMW Music Extractor program can convert MUS files from NFSMW into many different .WAV files.
Programs that open or reference MUS files
Doom Music File
Developer | id Software |
Popularity |
2.9 | 18 Votes |
Audio file used by Doom and other games written with the original Doom engine; similar to a MIDI file but is limited by 9 channels and a file size of 65KB; used as a compact format for playing simple sound tracks during the game.