Newbie questions re Vienna and Sibelius

[robertcomposer]

I'm not by any means a beginner at using digital music software. Not a super expert, but I've been using computers, MIDI, samples etc. for many years.

That said, I am finding it very frustrating to get everything up and running with Vienna and Sibelius. In fact, I'm a composer and although I purchased VSL a couple of years ago, I don't try to use it because it is such a time suck to try to get it working. Now I've decided to start from scratch, and have updated all software, and will watch tutorials and read manuals.

My first question regards the installation of soundsets for Sibelius. It seems that the installation software has been updated so that it is no longer necessary to manually copy the soundsets and housestyle to their respective folders. But - the tutorial video stills shows these manual steps. I believe that once I have run the latest installation program (Sibelioussoundsets-MAC-1.0.37) I'm done. Is that correct?

Thanks in advance for your help. I'm convinced previous difficulties are due to my missing some basic step along the way and would much appreciate help from you more experienced users.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Mac OSX 10.6.8 Sibelius 7

• Vienna Ensemble

4.1.12844 – Nov 2012

• Vienna Instruments Standalone

5.3.12844

• Vienna Download Manager

V.2.1.12240 (updated 3/14)

• eLicense Control Center

v6.5.4.1117 (updated 3/14)

Orchestral String I & II, Vienna Special Edition Plus

[andi]

Hello Robert!

Your assumption is correct. With the VSL Soundset Installer it is no more necessary to copy sound sets, presets or the House Style file to the folders. This is done automatically. The video has not been updated yet in this respect.

Best regards,
Andi

[robertcomposer]

Dear Andi,

Thank you for helping me through the setup process for VSL and Sibelius 7.5.

The next difference I have encountered with the tutorial video (VSL_and_Sibelius 7800x450.mp4) and what I see on my screen is the setting up of instruments in Vienna Ensemble. When I select “add instrument” the list that appears at right is different from that show in the video.

My list appears like this:

- Special Edition PRESET – Files,

- A – Strings PRESET – Files,

- B – Woodwind PRESET – Files

Then there is a new section headed “Sibelius” followed by dozens of instruments listed. The first instrument in my score is the flute, but I’m not sure which to select (assuming I should pick from this long list). There are several options for flute listed: D36 Flute 1 Ext, D36 Flute 1, W1-01 Flute 1 L1, and W1-01 Flute 1 L2.

Under - Special Edition PRESET – Files, I also find an option for: VI Presets, .SE11 Preset Flutes.

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I’m at a loss as to which of these I select. (This is for a flute concerto so I want the most robust flute sample I can get).

Thank you in advance for your patience and support. I believe that once I understand this next concept I may be ok….Sorry for the lack of returns in this post - for some reason it is running all of my text together...

Best,

Robert

[Bill]

Be sure to download are read the PDF (written by Andi) "VE Optimizing Sibelius Playback". I think it will answer these questions.

As to how to get paragraphs to stay put, click on Profile at the top of this page, click on the Comminity tab, and change the contendt editor to Enhanced.

[robertcomposer]

Thank you for responding Bill.

I have read the PDF, "VE Optimizing Sibelius Playback", and there is helpful information in there, but I'm still puzzled as to which sounds to select for my score. I have Vienna Special Edition Plus and also Orchestral Strings I & II. What do I select as my sound set in playback devices in Sibelius so that I can access the woodwinds but also the Orchestral strings?

Do I need to create two devices and manual sound sets in Sibelius - one for my Woodwinds from the Special Edition Plus, and one for my strings so I can access the Orchestral String sounds? I believe this is correct - that two Vienna ensemble setups are needed so that I can use the two different sound sources - please confirm.

And, forgive me if I am being thick, but when selecting instruments in Vienna Ensemble (say for the flute) I have 5 different choices - 4 under the Sibelius heading and 1 under "Special Edition" preset files. Do I use the preset or will that limit the instrument.

Honestly, I have watched the videos, and read the documentation, but this is not clear to me. I'm not a beginner with computer music programs by any means, but for some reason the architecture is not clear to me. It's probably simple and obvious once explained, but I need help here and appreciate your patience and input.

Many thanks,

Robert

[andi]

Hello Robert!

In order to trigger the Orchestral Strings and the Special Edition PLUS in one score, you will need two Vienna Ensemble instances. In one use the VE Special Edition PLUS sound set and in the other one use the VE Strings sound set. For the Special Edition and Special Edition PLUS collections, please load the matrices that are preinstalled with the content. In the Sibelius folder you will find VI presets for the Instrument collections and Single Instruments.

Best regards,
Andi

[robertcomposer]

Thank you very much Andi!

Robert

[greger.hatt]

Hi Andi, 

(and thanks Robert for asking the questions)

does that mean that with two server instances it is impossible to set up the whole orchestra (for example with chamber strings and woodwinnds) on the same MIR stage since they come from different libraries? Or can two instances connect to the same VEPRO/MIR stage?

It seems Sibelius forces me to choose EITHER the chamber strings OR the Woodwinds. 

Best regards

Greger

[greger.hatt]

Whops, re-read the "optimizing Sibelius" pdf now and discovered things I hadn't seen the first time. My bad. 

Greger