Sibelius: Why does VelocityXfade reduce the overall dynamic range of an instrument?

[Wim Dijkgraaf]

The manual "Optimizing Sibelius playback with Vienna Ensemble" says under the heading "A different approach to dynamics" chapter 14, the following:

"This way, you also reduce the overall dynamic range of an instrument.".

My questions are:
1) Why is this?
2) Is it mainly the the ppp that gets louder or also the fff that gets less loud?
3) How can this be compensated?

Again thanks a lot in advance for your help.

Abraços,

Wim

[andi]

Hi Wim!

Sibelius automatically sends CC11 data with your score. This way you are doubling the dynamic range. Low dynamics are of low volume by themselves, but get softened additionally by CC11. You have the same problem, if you send CC11 to Vel Xfade and CC11. So if you turn off CC11 for the Expression slider, you are reducing the overall dynamic range by that. Which is good.

Best,
Andi

[Wim Dijkgraaf]

Hi Andi,

Ah, I see. Didn't interpret the text that way but now it's clear to me.

Thanks again for your quick reply.

Best,

Wim