I just wrote this an another thread but it seems relevant here:

On a Mac you can use Finale in conjunction with another application such as DP or Logic acting as a host for virtual instruments. You access the virtual instrument host app using OS X's built-in IAC (Interapplication) drivers (found in Audio-MIDI Setup). I have been doing this succesfully for several years using Logic to host virtual instruments. With this setup, one's access to samples and effects is limited only by available RAM and CPU power. In other words, I regularly use Vienna Instruments samples, EXS 24 samples of various manufacturers, "powered by NI" samples, Altiverb 6, Izotope Ozone 3, etc. - - all running in Logic 7, but being played by Finale running on the same G5 with Logic.

Hi stevesong,

Happy to hear that!

I use both DP an Finale and I have try what you are speaking about but I have to confess that I can not really figure how it is working!

I also try with AU Lab software included into Xcode...

Could you explain or give and exemple or guide me on a tutorial...

Thanks in advance

PS working on a G5 dual 2.7, 8G ram... OS X 10.4.10

As I said I ususally do this with Logic rather than DP, but I did set it up with DP for a friend a few monts ago. Also I am working with DP 4.6.3 rather than DP 5.x - -so things might be different.

1. Open Audio MIDI Setup, click on the MIDI Devices tab. You will see the IAC driver Icon. Double click on the icon. A dialog box will open. Make sure the "Device is Online Checkbox is checked. Click on the Ports tab. It will show "IAC Bus 1. " This bus can carry 16 MIDI channels. If you need more than that use the "Add Port' button and name the port.

2. Go to Finale. Open the MIDI Setup dialog box. The input device for channels 1-16 should be set to your MIDI controller. The output device to IAC bus 1 for channels 1-16. If you are using more than 16 channels and have created additional IAC buses then set the outputs for these appropriately.

3. In DP create an instrument track in which you instantiate whatever virtual instrument (e.g. the VI plugin). From the Studio menu choose multirecord.Assign Vienna Instruments 1-1 to Track 1, Vienna Instruments 2-1 to Track 2 in the list of output devices. In the list of input devices, assign IAC Driver Bus 1-1 to Vienna Instruments 1-1, assign IAC Driver Bus 1-2 to Vienna Instruments 2-1, etc. Use whatever effects inserts you want. Create an AUX track if you wish multiple virtual instruments to share an effect such as a reverb and send the signal from the instrument tracks to the aux track.

4. Write something in Finale assigning the appropriate channels to the staves you are writing on. Play back and you will hear the instruments instantiated in DP playing.

Hope this is helpful.

stevesong,

Thanks very much.
It is working very well!

Regards

Glad to have been able to help. Good luck and good composing! [:)]

Thanks Alain and Stephen for your interest and input.
I am using logic with Vienna instruments.
1. I opened logic with a current track setup assigned to various instruments in VI.
2. I opened Audio Midi Setup and clicked on the IAC icon and opened a bus 1.
3. I opened finale and in midi setup I assigned my keyboard to the input and the IAC bus to the output.
4. when I play the keyboard I hear the VI voice and the notes appear on the staff.
5 Playback however plays the voice in finale not the VI voice.
6. In the finale program I tried to find a AU instance that would allow me to assign the track to a VI voice. no luck.
I must be missing something.
Regards,

Stephen W. Beatty

Great,

Playback VI...

In Finale under
Midi / Midi thru... Fixed channel or Smart.
Midi / Internal speaker playback / Off.

To assigned instrument to channel go to
Window / instrument list
You may create new instrument (Track) and give them there own channel #..
Must be possible to give Track voices 1,2,3,4, different Channel #?
Lets try!

So,
you must be familiar with this!

Hope its helping

Hi Alain,
I tried your suggestions and finale still plays back the GM voices. I think the problem is in Instrument Definition window >Core midi menu should give the IAC bus as an option but it does not.
Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Stephen W. Beatty

Stephen,

Finale under Midi Menu:
Midi setup / Midi system / Core midi, must be set.

Under Instrument definition:
Write the name of a new instrument,
Put the channel # exp.3 and
Do not take care about Core midi IAC bus it must be
set automatically on the right Channel # 3

Let me know

PS I suggest that you remove default intruments into the
Instrument list and build your own.

Viola Alain!
It works. For Logic users the channel designation in Finale is the instrument channel in Logic. I have not used Finale in this mode before so this will be interesting. By the way this is Finale 2008 that I am using. Thanks for your help.
What are your musical interest and how are you applying the Vienna Instruments voices? I am back in the fooling around mode trying to find a way out of the tertian harmony Box. I realize that there is always serial composition however it always sounds like a robot composed it. If you just set down and improvise something without a definite tonal center it is hard to orchestrate. It is curious how humans are wired to hear melody and the elements that must be present before a coherent melody appears. Oh well , there has to be something coherent and new out there somewhere.
Regards,
Stephen W. Beatty

One other, very important, thing I forgot to mention:

If using Logic as the host, create a No Output track and select this track in Logic's arrange window.

This avoids creating a MIDI feedback loop.