Hey everyone

I inputted tenor music with rim sounds.  I turned my modulation wheel to the appropriate setting, as described by the key maps, and while inputting the notes I heard the rim sound.  Yet during playback, I get rim shots.  How can I lock the rim sound on specific notes so they are heard during playback?

I'm running:
Sibelius 6
VDL 2.5.2
M-Audio KeyStudio 25

Mac OSX, 10.6.8

Thanks!!!

Simply moving the mod-wheel during your step-time entry will not cause Sibelius playback to instantiate that mod-wheel action. If you're using a Sibelius template, it's probably a matter of ensuring the noteheads are correct for rim clicks, and aren't the rimshot noteheads. Refer to your Template documentation for specific information on what noteheads (or dictionary text) to use for any given sound controllable via the mod-wheel.

Oh so moving the mod wheel will not lockthe sound for playback? I have to manually go in and change the notehead?

This is a function of the notation or sequencer program you use, not Virtual Drumline. If you were recording in real time, those modwheel controller messages would be recorded. Entering notes into Sibelius in step time, you'd need to tell Sibelius what you want it to do in a way it can translate it.

If you're using a Sibelius template, this information is contained in the template documentation. For more information, check into the documentation that came with your template.

Ok will do.

Is there software out there that can utilize VDL and won't require me to go in and do things manually? 

Also, if I have to manually tell Sibelius what notehead to use, why are the mod wheel options even mentioned?

Sibelius will do this if you record the music in (in real time, not step time). Of course, this will probably negate any benefits you're getting from the template. Finale also does this. So does Logic, Cubase, Performer, etc. But the music may not end up ";looking"; the way you want it to print. It all depends on your goal (printed detail vs. audio detail). Achieving both simultaneously, without some manual tweaking, isn't very doable.

The mod-wheel is used to layer four different sounds (rimshot, dreadlock, rods, rim click) onto one pitch. Without this, we would have run out of midi pitches to which to map all the necessary tenor sounds.

Be sure to learn the keyboard shortcuts for changing noteheads in Sibelius. If you use them, it's very quick and easy.

I'm going to search the documents to learn the shortcuts for changing noteheads. Since there are a few sets of documents between Sibelius and VDL, it may take me a while to find an answer!  Haha. That's why I prefer coming to this forum for answers to my questions.

Thanks for the help!

I'm reading the Read Me Document from the Sibelius 6 VDL Template I purchased.  I'm having a very tough time finding information on how to use keyboard shortcuts for certain noteheads. 

While looking through the document, I came across this statement:

Entering Modwheel Changes & Keyswitches
As mentioned earlier, you shouldn't have to manually enter controller changes or keyswitches. The articulations, noteheads, staff placement, and text (from the Playback Dictionary) should handle all these switches for you.


Doesn't this mean that I don't have to manually change the notehead?  The modwheel setting when I inputted the note should take care of that, shouldn't it?

If you want to learn Sibelius keyboard shortcuts, read the Sibelius documentation. This is a function of Sibelius.

If you want to learn about the function of the templates, read the template documentation. The template requires you to use functions of Sibelius (like changing noteheads, adding articulations, entering technique text, etc.) that would be good to know how to implement. So both pieces of documentation would be good to become familiar with.

A controller change is not the same as a notehead change. In the past, we used to have to tell Sibelius to enter a modwheel (controller) change by entering the command into the score (~C1,127). With the newer versions of Sibelius, this is no longer necessary. All you need to do is use the correct noteheads (or in some cases, have the correct articulation or staff placement) to ensure the proper sounds are being used.

Ok this helps. There's quite a lot of documentation to read just to hear the correct sounds. But if that's what it takes, then that's what it takes.

Do you know if it's possible for Sibelius to know what the midi keyboard modwheel settings are set at when the note is entered? If that was possible, then manually changing noteheads would never need to happen.

Sibelius can do this if you record the music in (in real time, not step time).

Well I'm doing your standard battery arrangement that will be printed and handed out to high school kids.  I also teach drum corps, so I'm traveling all the time.  It's much more manageable from an education standpoint to enter things myself so I can ensure that they are notated correctly.  So the sound being played back correctly isn't the most important thing I need.  However, when listening back to it, and handing out mp3's for my students to practice with, it would be awesome for the sounds to be accurate.  I'm just looking for the easiest and most efficient way to get the job done.  If changing the noteheads one by one, manually, when needed, is currently the most efficient way, then I'm happy!

:-)

Change them all at once (by command-clicking the notes you want to change), then simply enter the keyboard shortcut for the desired notehead. That'll be much faster than doing them one at a time!

Sibelius keyboard shortcut for changing noteheads: ALT+SHIFT+[notehead number].

I usually write rhythms one or two measures at a time and then quickly go back and change noteheads. The Sibelius ";Re-input pitches"; option (CTRL+SHIft+i) can also be handy when you've got unison battery phrases, especially since the templates have been set up to use the same or similar noteheads for similar sounds on different battery instruments.