Thanks, Andi!

Is it safe just to delete those older versions in the Finder, please?

I also emailed you overnight about the best/prefered way to set up Manual Sound sets when I need to use instruments from two or more collections: I could not get that to work.

The Optimizing manual suggests using 'Event Plugin…' but even then I had to remove them re-add the clarinet to get it to work.

Is that nmormal, please?

Hello Mark!

If you didn't save any files you need in the duplicate VI preset for Sibelius folders, you can delete the older version.

It seems that you were trying to mix a string collection and a woodwind collection in the same device and with the same sound set. That's not possible. How to have instruments from different instrument collections in one Sibelius playback configuration is explained in the "Optimizing Sibelius Playback" manual, pages 4 and 5. I recommend deleting your playback configuration and creating it anew.

Best,
Andi

Andi,

Thanks so much for clarifying that it's safe to delete earlier presets from the /Users/Shared/VSL Custom Data/Sibelius directory; that seems to be working nicely 😊

Yes, I was trying to mix two collections. I need to use two Devices - one for each, I can now see 😳.

Pages 4 - 5 in Optimizing…  (e.g. the two images top right, page 5) suggest that I use Vienna Ensemble Pro Event Input. Is that correct; or can I (also/better?) add just another simple Vienna Ensemble Pro, please?

I can get that working - but only by deleting my clarinet Instrument in Sibelius and adding it again after I have set up Woodwinds+Brass on Port 2, Channel 1 in the VEP6 Mixer. Is that what you'd expect, please, Andi?

Hi Mark!

You can either use a VE Pro Event Input for the second instance or add another VE Pro instance. I would prefer the VE Pro Event Input, because you can have all your instruments in the same VE Pro instance then.

It shouldn't be necessary to delete the clarinet and re-add it.

Best,
Andi

Thanks, Andi - Yes, I finally got it working with VE Pro Event Input.

It is a little tricky to get every single parameter set up in the right order, isn't it?

Are there plans to update Optimizing… with screenshots from VEP 6, please; and perhaps a slightly more detailed explanation of the steps needed to get this working?

Once it is confirgured, it's a great combination of software: Thanks!

Hello Mark!

Maybe you are using an old version of the "Optimizing Sibelius Playback" manual. The current version already includes screenshots of Vienna Ensemble Pro 6.
http://www.vsl.co.at/en/MyDownloads/Notation_Related

Which detail or step do you miss in the manual?

Best,
Andi

Andi - thanks, as always, for your help!

I'm using pages 4 and 5 of Optimizing… version 3.3, starting at 'More than one Vienna Ensemble'.

This is how I understand the process to work:

If you need to use instruments from two or more different VSL collections (e.g. Strings then Woodwinds), the best scenario is:

 1 - assign channels (from channel 1 to a maximum possible channel 16) to each instrument in your score in the Sibelius (6, 7, 8) Play > Setup Manual Sound sets tab. By default these will be using MIDI Port 1 (one) in Vienna Ensemble Pro 6 (VEP 6)

 2 - connect to the VEP 6 Instance by single-clicking on 'Show' in either the Active Devices tab or Manual Sound sets tab of Play > Setup

  3 - for instruments in the other/second VSL collection add one or more new instance(s) of the Plug-in, 'Vienna Ensemble PRO Event Input' in the Active Devices tab of Play > Setup

  4 - for each of these instruments likewise assign channels (also from channel 1 - do not continue from one greater than the highest channel number from the previous step - also to a maximum possible channel 16) to each such (second/new VSL collection) instrument in your score in the Sibelius (6, 7, 8) Play > Setup Manual Sound sets; these will use the next available MIDI Port… '2' if you did not change the Port of first VEP6 instance from the default '1'

  5 - this time, single-click on 'Show' in either the Active Devices tab or Manual Sound sets tab of Play > Setup to Assign these to the relevant instance of VEP6 using the Assign window (as in the existing screenshot)

  6 - be sure to select the new MIDI port (probably '2', see step 2, above) in that window, at its top right. Nothing in the Sibelius Manual Sound sets tab of Play > Setup needs to be changed to reflect the use of this (new/second) MIDI port.

I found that sometimes this is is a bit hit and miss and requires me to Cancel to force the necessary Assign box to appear; I was then a little confused about the difference between the 'ASSIGN' button under the blue bar (reads '(unpreserved)' in that same screenshot) vs the 'Assign' legend bottom left after you have clicked on that first button.

I'd also find a table of some sort directing the user as to which settings in each instrument for the 'Master', 'Bus', 'All/nn' etc. I usually get there. But by trial ane error.

I believe the procedure differs with Vienna Ensemble (not Pro).

Have I got most of this right, Andi?

I hope some of it might be useful. If not, just discard. It reflects the step-by-step way in which I think. Whereas Optimizing… is very good at describing the concepts behind the way the software has been designed and built.

Not a single word of criticism here, Andi. I love (using) this product. But I know it can be confusing at times - because of its richness and power.

Thanks for listening!

Hello Mark!

On the whole it's correct what you write. Here are a few comments.

4.) You have to set the MIDI port in the Vienna Ensemble Pro Event Input window and in the Vienna Ensemble Pro instance manually. Port 2 would be the most obvious choice for the first Vienna Ensemble Pro Event Input to get routed to.

Output settings and bus routings are explained in the Vienna Ensemble Pro manual. I wouldn't add that to the "Optimizing Sibelius Playback" manual.

In general the setup procedure in Sibelius doesn't differ between Vienna Ensemble and Ensemble Pro. Only the connection to the VE Pro Server doesn't happen automatically, but has to be done manually and if VE Pro Event Inputs are used, the MIDI ports have to be assigned.

Best,
Andi

Great! Thanks, Andi.

Yes, of course - it's necessary to set the MIDI Port in both places. Thanks.

Regarding the Assign window, when do I (only have to) use the 'ASSIGN' button under the blue bar (reads '(unpreserved)' in that same screenshot on page 5 of Optimizing…) and when do I use the 'Assign' legend at the bottom left after you have clicked on that first button?

Pages 71ff of the VEP manual [version 3.01] do cover Ports and Channels in VEP6, thanks; that's the place to look.

As always, your help much appreciated.

Hi Mark!

When you first show the VE Pro Event Input window, select the MIDI port at the top right and click "Assign". Then select the VE Pro instance you want to connect to and click "Assign". When the blue bar with the name of the VE Pro instance (or "(unpreserved)") appears, it is already assigned and you don't have to click "Assign" again.

Best regards,
Andi

Just want to say a big Thank You to Andi (and his colleagues at VSL) for all your help here.

All seems clear now.

You work so hard to help us get the most out of this excellent product line - and it is so greatly appreciated 😃