It is probably me. I am using the VDL update with Finale 2012a, but when I load and instrument in layer 2 of the Finale Score Manager, it is not playing back though I am able to enter in layer 2 and when it is set to layer 2 I can here the appropriate sound (castanets in layer 2 of Bell stave) when I play my MIDI controller. I don't know what I am missing.....

David Vita
Finale 2012a w/ VDL 2.5.5 on Windows 7 w/Oxygen 8 Keyboard

I'm not 100% sure of this, but I believe this is a new problem with finale 2012.  It should work if both layers are the same instrument, but if you are trying to do different instruments on separate layers, I think there is a problem.

In order to use separate instruments on the same staff I would highly suggest using the new ";change instrument"; command under the Utilities drop-down.

I believe that you have to use the change instrument utility in Finale 2012 to combine a non-pitched percussion instrument and a pitched instrument on the same stave.  Far from being a problem, this was an enhancement to Finale beginning with 2011 that was not possible in prior versions.  Good luck!

Todd

The advice about using the change instrument utility was right on. It is a shame that the configuration cannot be such that both layers and ";change instrument"; are equally effective. The big difference is that the change instrument utility creates a assignment timeline within the scoremanager while use of layers was static.

While I wish layering was as practical, the ";change instrument"; procedure ends up providing practical staff notation.

As I get used to the scoremanager, I am finding it effective as long as I remember to use it as a master module for all things to so with instruments and and their presence on the score.

David