1. Write your music in Sibelius using the VDL2 Template.  Don't use Finale because it's ugly, cumbersome and bloated :)

2. Export a MIDI file

3. Drag-n-drop the MIDI file into Garage Band

4. Double-click each layer to assign VDL2 sounds to each track:

    a. Expand ";details";
    b. Under ";Generator"; select Virtual Drumline 2
    c. Click the edit button (looks like a little pen) and it opens the VDL2 Player Interface
    d. Pick the instrument you want for this track only.  Do not load multiple instruments into the VDL2 player.
    e. Save this instrument and pick a name for it and you can use it again later!

[img]http://jesse.barkanimation.com/images/gb.jpg[/img]

5. Open the Track Editor (the scissors looking icon) and fine-tune your MIDI data.  Adjust velocities to improve your dynamics.  It's a fairly simple interface and easier to understand than most other audio software.  Tweaking the velocities is a tedious process but necessary for a realistic recording. 

6.  When you are done, choose File > Export to iTunes.  Garage Band will then create a mixdown audio file and open it in iTunes under a new playlist.  You can find the file by right clicking it and selecting ";show audio file"; and it should end up in your iTunes music library in a folder called ";import.";

The only drawback to this method is you need a separate VDL2 player for each instrument track.  The bonus is you can save the instrument settings for use in other projects.  Garage Band is also a little more sluggish than other programs and you may experience more drop-outs on a slower computer.  On my Mac mini I had to export the pit and battery separately and mix them back together again.  The best part is Garage Band is FREE with OS X and your final project will sound A LOT better than recording straight from your notation software.

Great stuff Jesse. These easy-to-follow instructions will be of great help to many Mac folks out there. Garage Band is a very cool program, and it's pretty incredible that it's free on all new macs.

It's worth mentioning...
Until Garage Band 2 (available in iLife 05), Garage Band was not able to import MIDI files. So anyone who's interested in doing this, verify you have Garage Band 2 or greater.

Thanks for putting this together Jesse!!

If you are using Garage Band, and have not upgraded to version 2, you can still import your MIDI files.

Use ";Dent du Midi"; to convert your MIDI files to Garageband-readable files.

[url]http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/audio/dentdumidi.html[/url]

Dent du Midi is freeware.

[quote author=denete link=topic=767.msg3016#msg3016 date=1123554684]
If you are using Garage Band, and have not upgraded to version 2, you can still import your MIDI files.

Use ";Dent du Midi"; to convert your MIDI files to Garageband-readable files.

[url]http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/audio/dentdumidi.html[/url]

Dent du Midi is freeware.
[/quote]
David - you never fail to deliver on the good ideas. Thanks!

I'm sure it's something obivous that I'm missing, but after searching I found this thread looking for help. 

Virtual Drumline 2 is not in the ";generator"; list.  I've installed the AU plugin, is there something else?

Thanks!

Hmm - yes, I didn't see VDL as an option in the Generator list...any clues to help?

Since VDL2 is not a ";universal"; application, its plugin will not appear as an Audio Unit within universal programs. The best option would be to upgrade to VDL 2.5 which comes in the universal Kontakt Player 2. It just started shipping!
https://www.tapspace.com/vdl2/index.html

Some universal programs will allow you to force it to launch under Rosetta, which will then allow non-universal plugins to be used. To check this, select the application icon, and do a ";get info."; In the Get Info window, you'll see a checkbox that allows you to force it to launch in Rosetta. Unfortunately, I don't think certain Apple apps give you this option (like Garage Band).

Hope this explains the case of the missing plug-in. :)

'Tapspace' replied before I could with a better answer :)
There is discussion about the Rosetta checkbox here: https://www.tapspace.com/forums/index.php?topic=1210.0

Man this is cool!  Love it.

With VDL 2.5 are we able to use the plug-ins with GB?  I could see several uses for that.  How are people using GB and VDL?

Mike

I was able to use the AU plug in with Kontakt player 2 (and VDL 2.5), export a MIDI from sibelius and make a recording (using Audacity) in Garage Band.  Although, I'm sure Garage Band can make a recording, I just haven't tried that yet.  Still learning...

Eventually, I'd like to make a full band (or percussion ensemble) recording using GB.

I just realized that non-standard sounds such as buzzes, clicks etc are not coming through when a MIDI exported from Sibelius is played in GarageBand using Kontakt Plaer 2/VDL 2.5.  Is there something I can do to make this work?

when you export as a MIDI you are not going to be using anything VST/AU. You will need to save as Audio and then import that into GB     

[quote author=shekhar link=topic=767.msg9787#msg9787 date=1188072057]
I just realized that non-standard sounds such as buzzes, clicks etc are not coming through when a MIDI exported from Sibelius is played in GarageBand using Kontakt Plaer 2/VDL 2.5.�� Is there something I can do to make this work?
[/quote]


I did not have this problem. I exported a cadence quickly to see if it would work. It played stick clicks, shell hits and everything.

Would making an mp3 of each track and then combining them in GB be a viable option for getting a better final product?
I";m having trouble getting GB to recognize my library and don't really have the free time to mess with it at the moment (I know, I'm as lazy as my kids sometimes).

I thought I saw this option posted somewhere else but couldnt' find it.