Forgive me if I can't see the obvious answer. I've been chasing this problem around for a couple of days.
I'm a new user of MuseScore 2.0.2. I have over a thousand midi files from an old Windows application (Midisoft 3.1). This old application will not run on Windows 10. The import of the midi files to MuseScore works great! The conversion gets me pretty much the exact notation that I want. Much better than the 3 other software packages that I downloaded to evaluate (Finale, Sibelius and Magic Score).
But the big issues is the playback sound in MuseScore. Very unpleasant and tinny. I just can't listen to it. If I play these same Midi files from within Sibelius or using Quick Time or Windows Media the sound is fine. FYI, I use mostly Piano and Organ.
I've read about SoundFonts and was using the default (FluidR3Mono_GM.sf3). As I said, very unpleasant. I then installed GeneralUser GS MuseScore v1.442.sf. This was even worse. Unpleasant and now distorted.
So I don't think the issue is the Soundfont. As I mentioned, the midis play fine with the sound quality I expect with Sibelius, Quick Time, and Windows Media player.
I've played around with the mixer (Pan, Rev, and Cho) but that didn't seem to have any effect at all.
On the MuseScore Preferences I/O, I have Windows Direct Sound and Primary Sound Driver.
I appreciate help from anyone out there. I have this great notation tool, but can't bear to hear the playback.
Thanks
Rich W.