I never really used the mod wheel on VDL1 and am having trouble getting it to work now. I understand that it controls a value which corresponds to different ways to play a marimba for instance. I even hear the rolls, edge, puffs, and whatever else when I'm entering parts. However, I can't seem to figure out how to make the playback work with it. Everything plays back like the mod wheel is at zero. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Which program are you using, Sibelius or Finale?

Think of the Mod-wheel as another element of MIDI information that needs to be ";performed";. When you're entering your parts into Finale or Sibelius, you're not actually entering in mod-wheel values (regardless of where the mod-wheel may be physically set to). Rather, you're simply entering pitches and rhythms. You'll hear those mod-wheel changes on the fly (when you're entering parts) if you manually move the mod-wheel, however you haven't actually told Finale or Sibelius to send a value to that controller. Instead, you must enter the controller change into your score, so when it's playing back, the notation program ";performs"; the mod-wheel changes.

In Finale, this is done with the MIDI tool by entering the controller value in the desired measure.

In Sibelius, this is done by typing in a MIDI message with technique text at the spot where you want the change to occur.

Of course when these mod-wheel changes are being performed by your notation program, you won't see the mod-wheel physically moving (sorry if I'm stating the obvious).

That makes a lot of sense. Are program changes done in a similar fashion? I use Finale 2005 and Sibelius 3 about equally.

I just got an m-audio keyboard. I'm also trying to change mod wheel functiions in Sibelius 3 using the command 'ctrl t' so that I can change the snare voicing to ";edge of head";. Now I'm supposed to write in a value I'm guessing. I am not sure what to type in at this point.

The value you choose is dependent on the sound and the number of options for that one note. Using the marching snare as an example.

1)Select the note you want the change to begin on and click on it so that it's now blue.
2)Press CTRL+T and you will see a blinking cursor above that note.
3)Enter ~C1,127 and the parts will play back at the edge of the head.
4)To move back to the center of the head, you would enter ~C1,1.

Note that there are no spaces in there. the ~C1 will always remain constant. It is the number after the comma that will change. Refer to the back of the help manuals where the keymaps are for specific ranges for each instrument.

Awesome! I know what to do now, and it works for me. Thanks

I was just playing wth my mod wheel setting for some play back in Sibelius 3.1.3 and the mod wheel change seems to occur about 1 beat after I actually specify it to occur.

For instance, I have the soft marimba set to roll the first not of a song and every note after but the roll in the play back does not begin until the 2nd note of the song.

Is that due to a latency setting I need to adjust?

Lemme clarify my last post a little bit. Put the controller change a note or rest before you want the change to actually happen. Otherwise, you're right gbass, it will wait until the next note.

How should I set the controller change for the first note if I want it to be a roll?

If it's for a keyboard, I'll typically put in a flam and make the grace note a rest and put the controller change on the rest.

Okay I have tried to set the mod wheel settings w/ finale's (2004) midi tools with no real success. Once I make the settings with the midi tool the setting (Timp. Tremolo) takes over more measures than needed.
I've also tried disabling the ";Human Playback Style";. Can anyone give me any more details about making the mod wheel settings work between VDL2 and Finale 2004.

-D

[quote=";D.Suarez";]Okay I have tried to set the mod wheel settings w/ finale's (2004) midi tools with no real success. Once I make the settings with the midi tool the setting (Timp. Tremolo) takes over more measures than needed.
I've also tried disabling the ";Human Playback Style";. Can anyone give me any more details about making the mod wheel settings work between VDL2 and Finale 2004.

-D[/quote]
If you've entered a Mod-Wheel change (i.e. for timp roll), be sure to do ANOTHER Mod-Wheel change when you want it to go back to normal hits.

There will be some tutorials posted soon on sending controller changes (i.e. mod-wheel) from Finale and Sibelius.

Will these mod-wheel tutorials be posted any time soon. I have tried a few things w/o much success. Tutorials would be a big help.
-D

[quote=";D.Suarez";]Will these mod-wheel tutorials be posted any time soon. I have tried a few things w/o much success. Tutorials would be a big help.
-D[/quote]

My best advice would be to consult your Finale documentation. Look for: MIDI Tool, controller changes, continuous data, and you should find lots of good information on how to use Finale's various advanced MIDI features.