Sibelius just released a maintenance update for users of Sibelius version 4. The free downloads and list of new features and fixes can be viewed at:
http://www.sibelius.com/helpcenter/updates/sibelius4/from_4_0.html

Of particular interest to VDL2 users is the ability to Create any MIDI controller change message via Play > Dictionary. This may prove helpful for controller messages such as ";snares at edge"; which used to need the ";~C1,127"; message attached as text. Creating a list of common VDL2 dictionary terms for VDL2 controller changes might be an interesting project.

Jim, (or anyone) I know this is a new update, could you briefly explain how to do this?  Here's a screenshot of the menu, and I'm not seeing how to enter the C1,127 etc.  Thanks!

[url=http://www.uploadfile.info][img]http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/2e41c6a9ca.jpg[/img][/url]

[quote author=Jim Casella link=topic=1324.msg5805#msg5805 date=1156365665]
Sibelius just released a maintenance update for users of Sibelius version 4. The free downloads and list of new features and fixes can be viewed at:
http://www.sibelius.com/helpcenter/updates/sibelius4/from_4_0.html

Of particular interest to VDL2 users is the ability to Create any MIDI controller change message via Play > Dictionary. This may prove helpful for controller messages such as ";snares at edge"; which used to need the ";~C1,127"; message attached as text. Creating a list of common VDL2 dictionary terms for VDL2 controller changes might be an interesting project.
[/quote]

Another great (free) update!  I will be creating my own controller dictionary.  Maybe we can share our additions as we add them  for our personal use.

[quote author=Jedi link=topic=1324.msg5806#msg5806 date=1156368524]
Jim, (or anyone) I know this is a new update, could you briefly explain how to do this?  Here's a screenshot of the menu, and I'm not seeing how to enter the C1,127 etc.  Thanks!
[/quote]

Jedi - I believe you have to first select ";staff text"; in the dictionary window (so it only affects the staff it's attached to). Once you've done that, you can set the controller value and the controller number (controller 1 for mod-wheel, controller 64 for sus pedal, etc).

Check this screenshot to see what I mean.

[img]https://www.tapspace.com/uploads/Sib415Dictionary.jpg[/img]

Awesome- thanks for the quick reply and the screenshot.

This rocks!!!

I was reading the features...  blah blah, then I saw that, and this popped in my head as it did for everyone!  A simple, standard nomenclature would be good...

Hey folks. I am rather new to midi and how things work. What I am understanding is that you can now type in a command in the dictionary along with the control number (mod wheel) and then on the staff type it in and it will change to that desired sound?

If that is the case...oh man I am in heaven.

Thanks guys for such a great product.

Chad Collver

[quote author=Collver link=topic=1324.msg5837#msg5837 date=1156865374]
Hey folks. I am rather new to midi and how things work. What I am understanding is that you can now type in a command in the dictionary along with the control number (mod wheel) and then on the staff type it in and it will change to that desired sound?

If that is the case...oh man I am in heaven.

Thanks guys for such a great product.

Chad Collver
[/quote]
Yes, this is the concept. Actually the dictionary has been capable of doing program changes for quite some time. The new ability to set any controller change is a nice enhancement though. The thing to be careful of is when you use words that may be shared by different staves. For example ";to dreadlocks"; would mean a CC1 change to 55 for tenors and bass. For snares, dreads are mapped to their own key. Snare track would still play dreads if you entered them, but the CC1 change to 55 would still occur, which will affect you when you use other notes (like normal RH/LH snare hits). In this case, snares with a CC1,55 setting would be playing in a different playing zone (halfway to edge of head). Of course, all you'd need to do is enter a ~C1,1 command prior to the next snare part to prevent it from happening, but it might not be the first thing on your mind when in ";writing mode.";

This seems like a cool update.�� I was just writing out some of my kids' oral tradition cadences and came across this issue.�� When I added the entry ";quad rims"; to the dictionary, I put the number up at 127.�� Works great.�� Only problem...every rimshot now sounds like a rim, even the ones before the controller change.

Do I need to add a ~C1,1 command just before the rimshots at the beginning?�� Can I enter that using plain text or small text?

Mike,

Yes, placing a MIDI message at the beginning would be the apporpriate course of action.  You'll also need to do that after the ";quad rims"; stuff if you want to have any more rimshot sounds playback.  You can enter them using the Technique Text (Ctrl + T) as usual.  The tilda (~) before the text hides the message, so it won't show up in the printed version of the music.  I believe it would also work using Expression Text, but most people tend to use Technique text.

Hope this helps.