How to use the file "Vienna Special Edition Percussion for Finale"?

[avarres_23614]

Sorry, but i really need to understand better how to use this percussion map. I did everything as in "readme" file but i cant make it work...

I can play and record for example tom-tom samples, but they appear in Finale really high (3rd octav above middle C). One can't give this kind of score to a percussion player...If i transpose the notes, the samples change also. What is the way to see right notes and hear right samples?

[andi]

Hello avarres!

If you record the percussion notes with a keyboard, they will be notated according to the keys you pressed. In order to get the right notation and sound, please use the Simple entry or the speedy entry tool.

Best regards,
Andi

[avarres_23614]

Ah-it's so simple? Thanks a lot!!!

[Newbis]

Okay, I'm having the same problem here. I put the XML file into C:\Program Files\Finale 2010\Finale MIDI Devices, as instructed in the Readme file. Then I closed and reopened my Finale file, and created a "New instrument" for my percussion tracks, assigning the Vienna percussion map from the dropdown, and giving it the channel number linking it to my Vienna Ensemble instance.

But then I have two problems:
1) When I reopen the Instrument List, the "Perc MIDI map" is gone; it doesn't "stick" from what I did. I can keep redefining the instrument and selecting it again and again, but when I come back to that screen, it's never there.
2) When I'm entering notes in Speedy or Simple edit, it doesn't tell me what instrument I'm playing when I click on a certain staff line. This is (from my standpoint) the only purpose of the percussion map. So I have to tell "by ear" what each line does.

Related to that, is there a "cheat sheet" that explains which line on the staff is being used for which instrument? When I try to read the XML file in IE, it's not that easy. I guess I could import the XML file into Excel and then use a formula to convert these note numbers into staff pitches...A cheat sheet would also be helpful for any percussion instruments that aren't on the map (if any)
...Hopefully, though, there's a way to just get the percussion map to work...
Thanks,
-Jonatahn

[andi]

Hi Jonathan!

Please add the according staff with the Setup Wizard. You won't need a "cheat sheet" then. Finale will let you choose, which sound to trigger just by adding the note and by moving your mouse up and down.

Best,
Andi

[Newbis]

The problem I'm having with that is that Finale's Setup Wizard doesn't "see" VSL. (Apparently, some special file is needed.) Please see my comment at http://community.vsl.co.at/forums/p/27677/180856.aspx#180856

  Thanks,

  -Jonathan

[andi]

Hi Jonathan!

I told you before, that there is no such file. Setup Wizard doesn't have to see VSL. Please check the readme, that comes with the file F2010_VSL-SE_Percussion_Map_v1.0.zip. If you still have problems then, please describe in detail what's going wrong.

Regards,
Andi

[Newbis]

Okay, sorry, I misunderstood because you said to use the setup wizard. The percussion map seems to be working now. However, if I use the Setup Wizard, I have to select another library, and then change it to VSL later.

Thanks,
-Jonathan

[andi]

Hi Jonathan!

I'm glad, that it's working now. You don't have to select another library with the Setup Wizard. Just leave "Instrument Set" to "SmartMusic Softsynth" and select your instruments. It's right though, that you have to load Vienna Ensemble in the VST Instruments or AU Instruments menu.

Best,
Andi

[Newbis]

Right, that's what I've been doing, thanks. :-)

I would mention though that as a feature request, it might be nice if sometime in the future, VSL were to provide the requisite TXT file for inclusion in Finale's Setup Wizard, just to make it easier and more convenient.

Here's a response that someone else got from Finale's customer support and just emailed me, which confirms that a TXT file would be nice, even though it's not absolutely necessary:

"A ".txt" file is required in order for additional sound libraries to show up in our Setup Wizard. Unfortunately the Vienna Symphonic Library does not come with a text file that allows it to automatically show up in the Setup Wizard. What you can do is set up your document using instruments that are closest to what you are looking for and then go to MIDI/Audio > Instrument Setup > Audio Units Instruments to manually load in the sounds you would like to use."

Thanks,
-Jonathan