Note: The information on this page pertains to the older Hyperscore version 4.5. WE ARE UNABLE TO SUPPORT THIS VERSION. If you are looking for information regarding the web-based application Hyperscore version 5, released in May 2022, please see our Hyperscore FAQ page.

Hyperscore 4.5 System Requirements

CPU: 400MHz or faster
OS: Windows 8 / 7 / Vista / XP / 2000 / 98
Disk Space: 10MB
Memory: 64 MB or more of RAM
Sound: Sound card (or motherboard audio) with MIDI
Graphics: 16-bit graphics card supporting 3D acceleration
Other Software: DirectX version 8 or better download

Some installations of Windows 10 do not include a MIDI software synthesizer with the operating system as previous versions of Windows did. To hear sound with Hyperscore v4.5 on these systems, a third-party software or hardware synthesizer is required.

Does Hyperscore run on Macintosh? Does it work on Linux?

Version 4.5 of Hyperscore does not have explicit support for Macintosh® or Linux®, but may be run under virtualization. However, the new web-based version of Hyperscore does support these operating systems.

Does Hyperscore run on VMWARE virtual Windows OS or Virtual PC for Mac?

Some advanced users have been able to get the old version 4.5 of Hyperscore to run on VMWare, Parallels, etc. Unfortunately, however, we provide no guarantee that Hyperscore will run under these systems and do not offer technical support at this time.

Why isn’t the desktop version of Hyperscore starting up? Why are we having display problems?

If you’ve installed Hyperscore, tried to launch the application, and it doesn’t start up or starts up but doesn’t display properly, go through the following checklist:

Make sure that your system meets the minimum System Requirements.
Is Direct X installed? Is it at least version 8?
Is your display depth set properly? It should be 16-bit. Right-click on the desktop, and choose “Properties”. Choose the “Settings” tab, and change the “display depth” or “color quality” to 16-bit.
Is your graphics card driver up-to-date? Check with the manufacturer to make sure that your driver is the most recent one available.

What does “d3d8.dll not found” mean?

You haven’t installed DirectX on your computer. You can find a link to install it in our System Requirements.

Why can’t we hear anything?

Do you have strokes in your Sketch Window that don’t make any sounds? If so, check to make sure that there is a motive whose color corresponds to the stroke, and be sure the motive has at least a note or two in it.
Do you hear nothing at all, not even a motive window? If so, click here. Did you hear the sound file? If yes, go to step 3; otherwise, go to step 4.
YES. Make sure you have other multimedia applications closed (they might be hogging the MIDI port). In Hyperscore, choose “Preferences” from the “File” menu. Try out all of the MIDI devices that are available in the list. If all else fails, go to the Sounds Control Panel and make sure that the volume setting for your MIDI output device is greater than zero.
NO. There’s a problem with your computer’s general audio output. Is your volume up? Are your speakers on? Is your sound card working?
YES. A Windows Media Player bug may be causing the issue. Troubleshoot.

Windows Media Player Issue

The latest updated version of Windows Media Player (the default Windows application that plays MIDI files) sets the volume of the Microsoft Software Synth to zero every time you quit the Media Player application. This causes Hyperscore to play music at zero volume.

To fix the problem, follow the instructions below:

Go to the Start Menu.
Go to Control Panel (or Settings first, then Control Panel, depending on your Start Menu configuration)
Open Sounds and Audio
Go to the “Volume” tab
Click on the “Advanced” button under “Device Volume”

Make sure the volume is not muted and is set high for
“SW Synth”

Please note that this problem will recur after each time you use Microsoft’s Media Player. We are working on a permanent fix to the problem and will post information here on how to receive this update when it is available.

Please send any questions to support.

Is Hyperscore 5 available for personal use?

Absolutely! More information is available here.