musescore / musescore/MuseScore

MIDI channels sometimes contain more than one instrument types even when there are less instruments than channels

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regression MS3
Dominant language
C++
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Description

Issue type

Import/export issue

Bug description

Whenever I try to export to MIDI I sometimes get a problem where multiple tracks use the same instrument type even though they don't have the same instrument type in Musescore. In a MIDI I exported with the list of instruments below, the piano, harpsichord, oboe and a few other samples ended up sounding like strings. I think this has something to do with pizzicato and tremolo channels being overlapped with other channels. I seem to have this issue with most scores with a couple of String instruments like violins, celli, basses, etc.

Also, in a music xml export, with the instruments in the screenshot, the harpsichord and the cello end up on the same MIDI channel.

Steps to reproduce
  1. Open a file that has about 10 instruments including a string quintet, electric guitar, bass or some FX synths,
  2. Export to MIDI
  3. Sometimes a track meant to be played by a specific instrument will be played by another instrument.
Screenshots/Screen recordings

No response

MuseScore Version

Musescore 4 and above

Regression

Yes, this used to work in MuseScore 3.x and now is broken

Operating system

Windows 10

Additional context

musicxml_extract.txt
Only 12 instruments

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with the attached musicxml_extract.txt and reproduce the issue using a score with about 10 instruments, including strings, then export it to MIDI and MusicXML. Compare the resulting channel and instrument assignments with the MuseScore score; done means distinct intended instruments remain distinct in both exports.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
cpp
Domain
desktop
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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