Hi VDL users. Those that purchase Finale 2010 will notice some nices changes to the percussion mapping, but will also notice some handy features from previous versions that have been removed. Please comment on this thread about what you like in Finale 2010 (for percussion features) and what has been removed that you wish to have restored.

I'll ";get the ball rolling."; There used to be a ";Listen"; feature in the ";Percussion Map Designer."; Now, in the new equivalent ";Percussion Layout Designer"; that feature has been removed. It made it easy to quickly locate sound using the MIDI controller. Also, there was a ";check box"; for ";View Only Named Notes"; which really helped to narrow things down. That feature has also been removed.

Anyone else have some pros and cons they wish to mention?

David

Percussion in 2010 is not really 'finished' when it comes to VDL.

If you are using a basic drumset (like from the softsynth, for example) the new percussion functions in a much better way than the old system.  You simply select the sounds you want from the layout and have at it.

When it comes to more complicated libraries such as VDL, there are a few issues that can arise.

First is that Finale 2010 has a number of MIDI Note Types that are included with the program.  Unfortunately these are not editable at this time (you can edit the text file, but it will 'break' the program, prompting a nasty error on open).  That makes it a bit difficult to edit a layout that contains 'odd' note names (such as the snare duts, or rods).  From what I am told, every note name in VDL will be added at some point to Finale in the near future so this will become a non issue.  All you would have to do is start a normal score, and choose the sounds you wish to have on your snare staff for example.

The idea was to remove the need for even having a 'listen to' function.  Unfortunately this caused some bumps in the road for the more complex libraries like VDL...

I think once the maintenance release is out, most of these issues will have been resolved.

What I have found extremely helpful so far is the ability to quickly narrow down and remove bloat from my layouts.  I can go into the layout designer and select the 10 sounds or so I actually use for the snare map.  Then using Simple/Speedy entry, enter them on the run with my laptop without having to worry about using a MIDI Keyboard anymore to save time.

[quote author=TylerDurden link=topic=3147.msg16628#msg16628 date=1245121710]
Percussion in 2010 is not really 'finished' when it comes to VDL.

If you are using a basic drumset (like from the softsynth, for example) the new percussion functions in a much better way than the old system.  You simply select the sounds you want from the layout and have at it.

When it comes to more complicated libraries such as VDL, there are a few issues that can arise.

First is that Finale 2010 has a number of MIDI Note Types that are included with the program.  Unfortunately these are not editable at this time (you can edit the text file, but it will 'break' the program, prompting a nasty error on open).  That makes it a bit difficult to edit a layout that contains 'odd' note names (such as the snare duts, or rods).  From what I am told, every note name in VDL will be added at some point to Finale in the near future so this will become a non issue.  All you would have to do is start a normal score, and choose the sounds you wish to have on your snare staff for example.

The idea was to remove the need for even having a 'listen to' function.  Unfortunately this caused some bumps in the road for the more complex libraries like VDL...

I think once the maintenance release is out, most of these issues will have been resolved.

What I have found extremely helpful so far is the ability to quickly narrow down and remove bloat from my layouts.  I can go into the layout designer and select the 10 sounds or so I actually use for the snare map.  Then using Simple/Speedy entry, enter them on the run with my laptop without having to worry about using a MIDI Keyboard anymore to save time.


[/quote]

There is truth in the fact that I am set in my ways. I usually use the MIDI controller because I like to visualize the key maps from VDL, but I recognize that I can improve some of my usage efficiency with simple entry. I started in the days when simple entry was very tedious and painful. As a result, I tend to shy away from it, though I saw a simple entry demo by one of  Make Music reps at NAMM that was very impressive.

I think the fact that some of the percussion issues are now being addressed is going to create a dialogue with ";creative friction"; because many folks who sort of gave-up on the percussion aspects will now resurface (I am one of them!). That is not a bad thing, though it could be a bit tedious for the good folks at Make Music.

Who knows - once Finale becomes more elegant with percussion, there may even be a day when Smartmusic will have a technological breakthrough and ALSO include percussion features!

David 

To those following this thread, while there are some good folks at Finale working on issues, I suggest to the issues that need to be worked out regarding both the ";on board"; VDL sounds and using VDL 2.5 with Finale 2010 are high maintenance to the point that you are better off sticking with a previous version of Finale. I am sticking with 2008a because there are VDL templates available from Tapspace. A big part of any software package for me is the usability. With any given software, if my learning curve has to be severe to the point that it lowers my productivity - I avoid that software. While I am optimistic that Finale 2010 will end up being a good thing (especially if they refine these features in 2011), currently VDL 2.5 with Finale 2008a (if you are Finale user) seems to be the most stable set-up.

My opinion!

David

Just an addendum to David's thoughts, mine are with respect to Finale 2009. Finale 2009 is also a stable platform for using VDL 2.5 and the VDL templates for Finale 2008 seem work very well without needing any major changes, or at least I didn't hit any major snags, and there are some nice enhancements to expression and articulation functionality.  I found having the on-board VDL sounds nice, but not especially useful since I prefer using the whole package, but I can see how they could be a big timesaver, depending on what you are creating.  Aria leaves ALOT to be desired compared to KP2... but again, it is simpler to use and a timesaver, but so much less versatile.

Todd 

Thanks for adding that. Since I did not buy Finale 2009, your input very credible.

David

David and other Finale09 users,

The Finale09/VDL templates will be posted shortly. Finale09 had many changes to how expressions function and organized. These changes are now a part of the VDL template. Also included in the templates will be percussion maps for all of the VDL 2.5 instruments and indoor and outdoor scores. The score formats now include battery at the top of the score and a version with battery at the bottm of the score layout. This was a request which seemed to have a strong voice.

Templates for Finale10 are being constructed now and will include the new percussion mapping system. If you have any requests for additional features please post them here or email/pm me.

[quote author=ted_boliske link=topic=3147.msg16744#msg16744 date=1245971977]
David and other Finale09 users,

The Finale09/VDL templates will be posted shortly. Finale09 had many changes to how expressions function and organized.
[/quote]

I have had problems with flams/cheeses playing back properly (Using Finale 2009b with the 2008 template). Is this an issue that others have had, and is this problem fixed with the new template?

[quote author=mike_eub link=topic=3147.msg16756#msg16756 date=1246015946]

I have had problems with flams/cheeses playing back properly (Using Finale 2009b with the 2008 template). Is this an issue that others have had, and is this problem fixed with the new template?
[/quote]

Mike,

Those aren't problems with the template, but have more to do with playback settings.

Mike -

Ted is exactly right.  I have tried everything I could think of, everything Finale users could think of, everything Finale support has told to do and anything I have read here on the VDL Forum .... and I STILL cannot get my flams to articulate like tight flams in Finale (2008 & 2009 - cannot speak to 2010 yet but I don't see anything so far that would make it any different), and with HP it just crushes the passages.  If I discover a new technique, will post it on the forum.

Ted - terrific news about the templates and thanks for all your work!

Todd

[quote author=ted_boliske link=topic=3147.msg16744#msg16744 date=1245971977]
David and other Finale09 users,

The Finale09/VDL templates will be posted shortly. Finale09 had many changes to how expressions function and organized. These changes are now a part of the VDL template. Also included in the templates will be percussion maps for all of the VDL 2.5 instruments and indoor and outdoor scores. The score formats now include battery at the top of the score and a version with battery at the bottm of the score layout. This was a request which seemed to have a strong voice.

Templates for Finale10 are being constructed now and will include the new percussion mapping system. If you have any requests for additional features please post them here or email/pm me.

[/quote]

Ted - thanks for the news!  I don't have Finale 2009, only 2008 and 2010. Progress, however, is progress! I look forward to new percussion mapping system in 2010.