Ok I am new with this stuff. First of all my laptop is on steroids so I have plenty of RAM and Prcessor speed.

1. I'm not getting any sound. I have the VDL2 midi yoke NT:1 on and all outputs off. In Sebelius I opened the playback/input devices window. In the USE column next to midi yoke NT:1 I clicked YES. In the input device tab, midi yoke NT:1 is automatically highlighted. Since it didn't work with midi yoke NT:1 highligted I tried to highlight a blank space, it wouldn't let me do that, so I highlighted midi yoke NT:8 and It still does not work. Help please.

2. When I open Sibelius4 I don't find a template for VDL2. When I open the VDL2 template that I downloaded it opens Sibelius but with more instrument staves than I need. I tried changing them to fit my needs but I can't find any other VDL2 templates except the first one that pops up and all I need are the battery instruments. When I go into CREATE and try to change the amount of staves ,by clicking on an instrument 'it gives me that instrument on four staves instead of 4 different instruments on 4 staves. Help please.

3. Lastly, when I open the mixer and reset the sounds the four battery instruments turn to 10 and it won't let me change the channel number. Do I even need to change the number and how do I know if it matches the same channels in VDL2? Also I'm running XP MEDIA.....I don't know if this would make a difference

This is day four that I have been trying to get all of this to work, I get a little closer everyday but obviously not close enough. I just want to write battery parts, hear them back and record them. Thanks in advance for any suggestions given.

[quote author=bluethunder link=topic=932.msg3754#msg3754 date=1135874385]
Ok I am new with this stuff. First of all my laptop is on steroids so I have plenty of RAM and Prcessor speed.

1. I'm not getting any sound. I have the VDL2 midi yoke NT:1 on and all outputs off. In Sebelius I opened the playback/input devices window. In the USE column next to midi yoke NT:1 I clicked YES. In the input device tab, midi yoke NT:1 is automatically highlighted. Since it didn't work with midi yoke NT:1 highligted I tried to highlight a blank space, it wouldn't let me do that, so I highlighted midi yoke NT:8 and It still does not work. Help please.

2. When I open Sibelius4 I don't find a template for VDL2. When I open the VDL2 template that I downloaded it opens Sibelius but with more instrument staves than I need. I trmied changing them to fit my needs but I can't find any other VDL2 templates except the first one that pops up and all I need are the battery instruments. When I go into CREATE and try to change the amount of staves ,by clicking on an instrument 'it gives me that instrument on four staves instead of 4 different instruments on 4 staves. Help please.

3. Lastly, when I open the mixer and reset the sounds the four battery instruments turn to 10 and it won't let me change the channel number. Do I even need to change the number and how do I know if it matches the same channels in VDL2? Also I'm running XP MEDIA.....I don't know if this would make a difference

This is day four that I have been trying to get all of this to work, I get a little closer everyday but obviously not close enough. I just want to write battery parts, hear them back and record them. Thanks in advance for any suggestions given.
[/quote]

1.  I am not ay my workstation so I can't help you with question 1, I am sure another user will pop in and assist.

2. The template for VDL:2 does not live in Sibelius.  The only one available is from Tapspace, which you already have.  Open the template and hit the letter ";I"; this will bring up your intstruments window.  highlight the instruments you want to delete and select ";Remove from Score.";  You can also triple click each stave you don't want and hit delete.  After you achieve that hit ";Save as"; and save your new template so you don't have to go in and delete again. 

3.  You shouldn't have to reset you rsounds, just select the appropriate sound source.  Yes, the channel number should match the channels of your loaded instruments on the VDL player.  Where are you trying to switch the channels?  There is a selection box on the right of the mixer that lists program, channel, etc.  You should be able to edit in that area.

Also, make sure that when you select your playback device in the playback device and settings menu, that you only select Yes to the device you are using and make sure everything else is switched to ";no.";

HTH,

Gabe

OK, let me see if I can help you on this one...

First, use MIDI Yoke NT 1 on everything.�� Don't change that number.

Assuming you have the 0.92 template, and you opened it for a new score (https://www.tapspace.com/updates/), what you need to do is have the only output of Sib set to Midiyoke 1, and then VDL2's KontaktPlayer set its input to NIDYoke 1.�� It seems from your feedback those are correct.

However, you need to notice one thing in your kontakt player.�� When you load an instrument such as a snare in the first slot, you'll see just below CPU usage is the channel indicator.�� It's likely ";1";.�� That's cool.�� Snare on channel 1.�� Go back to Sibelius, and press M for mixer, and then click the arrow to expand it so you see the device, etc.�� Click on the word Snare in the S/M/runner/output lane, and it turns blue.�� Then on the right hand side, manually change the Channel from 10 to 1 using the decrementer spinner button.

This should work.�� Add a notehead and play it back, and you should hear sounds.

As an aside, if you reset sounds, Sibelius will interpret the name of the instrument (snare) as a percussion instrument, and put the channel back on the traditional percussion channel of 10.�� If you weren't using VDL, it'd probably be a good idea.�� Since you're sampling, it's a bad end result.

Make sure that the channel in the slots of the KPlayer have different channels.�� Click the instrument that's loaded in the top row of the player, and you'll want to be sure that the channels are set appropriately.

MidiYoke NT# and Channel need to be the same -- for example, MidiYoke 4, channel 1 will not get to your sampler set on MidiYoke 1, channel 1.�� With MidiYoke having the 8 virtual ";cables";, each capable of 16 channels, it's allowing you to do 128 discrete outputs that way.�� It's a monster setup, and it's not recommended.�� The point here is that which yoke number you choose does matter.

BTW, I'm assuming you're with the Seahawks...�� I saw you guys after the game, and you looked like you were having a lot of fun!�� I was the one guy standing there just watching, not bobbing around or cheering.�� I had my drum zone on, checking everything out.�� Lots of fun stuff!�� Nice to see you have a specific sponsor next year, too!�� Go 'hawks.

THANKS SO MUCH GUYS! it took a little figuring out but you both got me pointed in the right direction. I'm all set now hopefully for my last question. [b]How do I improve the sound quality? The sounds are coming back very distorted.[/b]

BTW I am with the Seahawks blue thunder drumline I am the snare on the left end of the snare line and we have a total blast. If you get to a playoff game come see me I'd like to meet you.

Thanks again guys and keep makin' music!

Cool.  If I can get the tickets, I'll stop by and actually bug you!  I'd like to meet you guys and your staff -- if I didn't know better I'd think it was a UNT-style group, but who knows...

Anyhow, about your sound quality...  there are a few things that can cause problems.  If it's describable here, give it a shot.  If you need to record it and send it, I'd be glad to listen.  Let me know.

-Mat Chavez
mat@cityofrain.com

hi drumcat, i wasn't able to send you a recording of what i have written so you can hear the distortion.....just another thing i have to learn how to do. I'm still trying to figure out how to get the bass drums in order from top to bottom and on what lines and spaces they are on and the same with the tenors. A couple of guys have VDL1 I think i'm going to have to sit down with them and take some lessons. I can only describe the sound as distorted as if you're playing music and your speakers are blown and you get a lot of cracking and the sounds aren't very clear at all.
Thanks again for all of your help and I hope to get to meet you at a game some time.

FYI: Blue Thunder tryouts are in April

Craig

There's a new entry on the VDL:2 troubleshooting page. Click the ";troubleshooting"; link at:
https://www.tapspace.com/support/

Let us know if any of those suggestions help.

Thanks Jim that helped and the distortion is gone. how do I assign a particular sound to a specific line or space in a measure.? I have been clicking on each line and space and it gives me a different sound for each but not how I would llike it. of course I would llike to write on one line for the snares and add rim shots and rolls on that same line, and I only get 4 bass drums sounds when I want to be able to use all 6 and pick if I want to use the lines or the spaces for each drums.

Thanks again for your help

Is the staff type you're using the same as the sound library you've loaded?

[quote author=bluethunder link=topic=932.msg3795#msg3795 date=1136225438]
Thanks Jim that helped and the distortion is gone. how do I assign a particular sound to a specific line or space in a measure.? I have been clicking on each line and space and it gives me a different sound for each but not how I would llike it. of course I would llike to write on one line for the snares and add rim shots and rolls on that same line, and I only get 4 bass drums sounds when I want to be able to use all 6 and pick if I want to use the lines or the spaces for each drums.

Thanks again for your help
[/quote]

For starters, you should be using the Sibelius VDL template created by Tapspace. Available at:
https://www.tapspace.com/updates

Using this template, you should be entering your pitches with a MIDI keyboard so Sibelius knows exactly which sound you intend for it to play back. For example (using full/lite snareline), type in a G#4 on your midi keyboard and a regular RH snare hit will sound. Type in a G-natural, and a RH rimshot will appear (with 'x' notehead as well).

If your next question is, ";Do I really need to use a MIDI keyboard with VDL2?"; please click the FAQ link at:
https://www.tapspace.com/vdl2

Ok, I went and got a usb MIDI controller. It's got some rattleing inside so i'm going to have to send it back but it's working for now. I believe I have all the settings correct, when I strike the keys they make sounds and the VDL2 keyboard lights up like it's supposed to. when I open the template I don't get any sound back when I try to play what's on the score. I don't get any sound when I put notes on the score either.
this is how much of a novice I am, I don't even know how I'm supposed to use the MIDI controller to input the sounds on the score. [b][b]Do I press the sound I want on the controller and then It's supposed to show up on the score?
Thanks for any advice given.

Hey Craig,

Send me an email with your IM info.  I'll chat you through it.

-Mat
mat@cityofrain.com

I've finally written a couple of pieces and I'm getting used to using the programs. Two questions though......sometimes when I play a piece back it plays back very jittery, the last time I played the song back it sounded great now it sounds like a drumline riding a bike on railroad ties! Secondly does anyone know how to get the flams to open up, when I play back flam passages they sound like ruffs.

Thanks for your help in advance

Sounds like it might be a soundcard issue. What are your soundcard settings in the VDL2 setup window? What kind of soundcard are you using? One that supports ASIO drivers will be your best option. ";ASIO"; would be what you select under ";interface"; when setting up your soundcard options in VDL2.

As for flams, it might seem silly but the best way to adjust them is to move the grace note left and right in relation to the ";main"; note it is ";attached"; to.  The note will sound closer or farther based on its relative distance.

It's not a good way to deal with it; the practicality of changing engraving for playback is very limited.  Generally, it's easiest to amend thost things together, but selecting them is done manually.  You can grab and move them in a group [ctrl-click] but that's about it.

Of course, Finale has a switch to tell it.  Can't in Sibelius, AFAIK.