MusicXML: octave-change element in Finale MusicXML

Hi all,

I've been using Finale for years, but recently switched to MuseScore. Best decision of 2014 so far!

After using Finale for years, I also have a rather big collection of Finale scores. No problem I guessed. Just export them to MusicXML and load them in MuseScore.

But the MusicXML created by Finale 2012 contains the octave-change element for various instruments: tenor saxophone, baritone (treble clef), B flat bass tuba. MuseScore ignores the octave-change element though; MuseScore only uses the diatonic and chromatic elements.

Some example XML code

Finale 2012 XML for tenor sax:

<transpose>
          <diatonic>-1</diatonic>
          <chromatic>-2</chromatic>
          <octave-change>-1</octave-change>
</transpose>

MuseScore XML:

<transpose>
          <diatonic>-8</diatonic>
          <chromatic>-14</chromatic>
</transpose>

While both examples try to do the same, MuseScore doesn't interpret the Finale code right (part is playback an octave too high) and Finale doesn't interpret the MuseScore code right (not transposed at all, octave too high).

As far as I understand from the MusicXML standard, both ways are correct although the MusicXML documentation states the following:

The chromatic element represents the number of semitones needed to get from written to sounding pitch. This value does not include octave-change values; the values for both elements need to be added to the written pitch to get the correct sounding pitch.

According to this specification, the octave-change should be added to the chromatic/diatonic element.

Of course, the sounding pitch is rather easily corrected in MuseScore by setting, but it would be nice if MuseScore could interpret the octave-change element correctly.