Cymbals+Gongs in Sibelius...Please Help

[JamesIII]

Hello friends,  I'm setting up a score in Sibelius 6.2 and noticed that in the VSL Special Edition, the matrix for "Cymbals+Gongs" doesn't show up in the Sibelius Sound Set list; there is only "Cymbals" and "Gongs".  Am I missing something?  Thanks!

[andi]

Hello James!

It's quite simple. If you want to use cymbals, choose the cymbals program and if you want to use gongs, choose the gongs program. In the Special Edition these instruments share one patch, but in Sibelius they are different instruments. You will find more information on how you can use the Special Edition cymbals with Sibelius in the "Optimizing Sibelius Playback" manual on page 8. If you haven't done so yet, you can download it at the following location:
http://vsl.co.at/en/68/141/460/576/655.htm

I recommend using the Vienna Symphonic Library House Style. You will have all the Sibelius instruments and Dictionary entries optimized for VSL there. For example the instrument Cymbals for piatti, Cymbal A-D for a suspended cymbal and Gongs [grand staff] in the family pitched percussion instruments for the Gongs

Best regards,
Andi

[Michel Mudde]

Hi Andi,

In the latest version of Sibelius (2020.01) the 'Gongs [grand staff]' are no longer available in the 'Add Instrument|Orchestral Instuments' section. As a result the gongs in the score (developed with a previous version) remain silent. The Gongs [bass staff] in the 'All instruments' - as substitution - won't trigger the samples in VE Pro 7.
Trying to trigger the samples by means of explicitly pointing the Sibelius Mixer to the sample instance is of no effect.

What can I do to 'restore' the gongs?

Best regards,
Michel

[andi]

Hello Michel!

The "Gongs [grand staff]" instrument has been replaced by the "Gongs [bass staff]" instrument. This instrument works fine with our Gongs here, but I should update the entry in the "VE Percussion" manual.

Generally it is recommended to leave the output device and channel settings in the Sibelius mixer alone. Making settings there can mess up the playback. If you have already made settings there, reset all outputs in the Sibelius mixer to (Auto)

Further possible reasons for your problem can be found in the Troubleshooting chapter of the "Optimizing Sibelius Playback" manual. I would go through this chapter point by point
https://www.vsl.co.at/en/Notation_Related

Best regards,
Andi

[Michel Mudde]

Hi Andi,

As always, in times of trouble, the first thing I'll do is checking the troubleshooting chapter you mentioned. ;)
Today it didn't solve my problem right away, and that was why I took to e-mailing you about my problem situation regarding the gongs. By the way, will they ever be available in a Synchron version of the percussion instruments?

After restarting the VEPRO server, opening Sibelius, and after all instances were finally loaded, the Gongs (via 'Gongs [bass staff]', as I did try earlier today after having used the 'Gongs [grand staff]' for years) did sound as expected. I really have no idea why it didn't work in the first place, and why a restart was necessary.

Thanks anyway for the quick reply,
Michel

[andi]

Hello Michel!

Good to know that the problem has solved itsef. I can't give you a definitive answer to your question, if there ever will be Synchron Gongs, but chances are godd. ;-)

Best,
Andi