I've searched around, but I haven't seen all of these specific issues on anyone else's questions.

Here's my info:

VDL 2.5: been using since 2006 (I've downloaded 2.5.2, but it's possible I haven't put something in the right place)
Kontakt Player 5: been using just recently (used Kontakt 2 and 4 prior)
Sibelius 7.1: just recently (been using Sibelius since 2003)
Write Score Template 7.0: just recently
Macbook Pro: 2 GHz Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM, Snow Leopard: I have always used a PC before a few months ago, so I still don't know my way around very well yet.
I use VDL as a plug-in.

I am having a few problems:

1)  Sibelius will not autosave my scores, and lately it's been shutting down without warning...causing me to lose all my new work. I just upgraded today from 4 GB of RAM to 16 GB...no change.
2)  I cannot save any files while using Sibelius 7 sounds and VDL 2.5 simultaneously.  If I want to write and save anything, I have to write in Midi mode.  Usually the program just quits, otherwise.  The message I get is: ";MESSAGE (While saving file)";
3)  When I'm able to listen to the scores in VDL, the sounds ";attack";, but then stop quickly.  Anything that has sustain does not sustain for the full length of the written value.
4)  I cannot export audio files.  When I try, I get an error saying: ";You can't use this playback configuration for exporting audio because it does not contain any virtual instruments. Please choose another playback configuration above.";  I've tried all kinds of trouble shooting ideas, but my frustration is increasing.  I do use 2 instances of Kontakt 5 AU and 1 of Sibelius 7 Sounds.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.  I think I've done everything correctly, but there must be some very simple detail that I've overlooked...I hope. 

Thank you,

Chris

Hi Chris

Can you post screen shots of your Playback Configuration and of whatever error messages you're seeing? That would help us a lot.

Here is the message I get when trying to save a score.

Here is the message I get when trying to export an audio file.

Here are my playback devices.

Here is Kontakt.  Let me know what you guys think.  Thanks.

Definitely something wrong with VDL in Kontakt. Go to the directory where the VDL library files are and what do you see? Should look similar to the image I attached.

The second image is what it should look like in Kontakt Player.

Agreed. Your Kontatkt Library doesn't look right. In Kontakt, when you click the little ";Cog"; icon (see screenshot), do you get the option to ";open containing folder?"; If so, the folder that appears should look similar to what Hugh showed you in his library folder. It would appear that perhaps you don't have all your library files in the right place.

As for Sibelius telling you you can't export to audio because you don't have any Virtual Instruments -- that's strange. Both Sibelius Player and Kontakt 5 ARE virtual instruments. There sounds like something screwy going on with your playback configuration. I would suggest you create a new playback configuration with a different name, re-activating your devices, then assigning your sound sets and saving it and trying again. If you're still having problems, I'd suggest you contact Sibelus support and provide them the screenshots of your ";Audio Export"; window and your ";Playback Configuration"; window. Those two aren't jiving currently.

[quote author=Jim Casella link=topic=4321.msg22594#msg22594 date=1334684580]
As for Sibelius telling you you can't export to audio because you don't have any Virtual Instruments -- that's strange. Both Sibelius Player and Kontakt 5 ARE virtual instruments. There sounds like something screwy going on with your playback configuration.
[/quote]

My guess on this is that Sibelius knows that nothing was loaded into Kontakt Player, which it knows it needed to do to export the audio.

I've seen this message in older versions of Sibelius when using (for example) a GM soundcard. In that case, it wasn't using any VI plugins, so the message made sense. In this case, whether there are patches loaded or not, the way I understand it, Sibelius should identify its own player or Kontakt Player as a virtual instrument plugins.

Since we can see that his VDL inside Kontakt Player is messed up, maybe Sibelius can also. I don't know, I'm just guessing.

Maybe if he gets that squared away, his export audio problems will be too.

Thank you guys for your help.  I still have not figured out what's wrong.  It sucks because I'm already heavy into writing for fall programs, so the limited time I have to use the software needs to be for writing.  I am able to use just the Sibelius 7 sounds, without Kontakt/VDL...  I may need to just survive through this for now, or maybe use any older template until I have to time to dig in.  Bummer... 

Again, thank you so much for your time...  I'll be back!

Chris-
I would highly recommend updating to Sibelius 7.1.2 which came out only a few weeks ago. It solved all of my problems related to the Sibelius ";MESSAGE-Cannot save"; prompt that kept coming up, as well as audio export issues. Hopefully that solves the problem!

Matt,

I don't want to celebrate too soon, but this may have solved it.  I'll work a little and see if things are stable, but you may have a free hug coming your way...

Thank you for the head's up on 7.1.2...

Chris