Help please! - Sibelius 6.1 and VSL cymbals

[MikeHC]

I don't seem to be able to get the VSL cymbals sounds to work properly - can anyone help me?  Steps taken so far:

- create new, blank score in Sib 6.1

- import the VSL house style (downloaded today from this website)

- create new playback configuration with VE Pro, using "VE Special Edition" soundset (as downloaded today from this website - not the Sibelius one)

- checked "manual sound set" and created a channel with program name "Cymbals"

- set up VE Pro with Cymbals matrix on corresponding channel

- in Sibelius, create new instrument, selecting Cymbals from "unpitched percussion"

I get a single line stave.  Notes input on this line do indeed make a cymbal sound - great!  But the roll (tremolo or roll Z) doesn't work - just get fast repeated single notes.  And how do I get other cymbal sounds?

Tried creating a new stave, as above, but selecting Tam-Tam instrument.  This makes a gong sound!

OK, so given the time I can probably delve into the sound IDs in House Style / Edit Instruments ... but surely, if I've downloaded the latest VSL House Style and the latest VSL sound set, it should all work automatically?  Shouldn't it?!

Mike

[andi]

Hello Mike!

The "Cymbals" instrument is for a cymbal pair (piatti). With this instrument you can't play a roll.
For a cymbal roll please choose the instrument "Cymbal A-D".

Please take a look at the "Optimizing Sibelius Playback" manual (page 8) for information on how to trigger other cymbal sounds.

To get a Tam-Tam sound, please choose the Sibelius instrument Tam-tam. This instrument will also need the "Cymbals" program on the Manual sound sets page.

I hope this clarifies your cymbal questions.

Best,
Andi

[MikeHC]

 OK thanks - all working now.  Don't know how I missed that section in the "Optimising Sibelius" manual ...

[Rachmaninoff3]

I don't suppose anyone can offer me a step by step walkthrough of how to change my cymbal sound from the default C6 cymbal to the D6 one? I have looked at the optimizing manual and it's hard to understand. If I go into the dictionary I get lost from there. I just want a longer cymbal crash and the default is far too abrupt

[andi]

Hello Rachmaninoff3!

If you want the cymbals to sound longer, just trigger them longer. This can be done by either writing a longer note value or by changing the Live duration in the Sibelius/Performance/Playback window.

Best regards,
Andi

[Rachmaninoff3]

Hi Andi, On my VE keyboard there is a cymbal on D5 (I believe) which I want to sound on my cymbal stave in sibelius rather than the initial default sound. From the manual it looks like I have to go into dictionary and put the command "+2" or something to get the sound I want. I've been into dictionary and don't know how to set up cymbal changes/ articulations etc.

[andi]

Hello Rachmaninoff!

If you use the "Vienna Symphonic Library" House Style, you don't have to make any settings in the Sibelius dictionary. The House Style file can be downloaded here:
http://www.vsl.co.at/en/68/141/460/576/655.htm

In this case you can use the Sibelius instrument "Cymbals" for a2 Cymbals (=Piatti) and the Sibelius instrument "Cymbal A-D" for the suspended cymbal. To switch to the variation on D5 (or D6 for the Piatti) simply write "2" (without quotation marks) above the note.

Best,
Andi

[stevetrumpet]

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