Volume levels of exported audio files in Sibelius

[Popslaw]

When I export an audio file from a Sibelius score, the volume levels of the wav file are quite different from those of the playback within Sibelius. Specifically, the instruments are very loud when there are only a few instruments playing, but the volume drops when many instruments are playing, as if it is being automatically equalized to compensate for more instruments playing at once. Is there anything I can do to fix this so that the exported audio file sounds the same as the playback within Sibelius? As a completely separate issue, the Appassionata strings don't seem to recognize any of the dynamic markings in Sibelius. They simply play back at the same level regardless of whether the dynamic is p, ppp, fff, a hairpin, etc. As far as I can tell, this isn't an issue with any other SE instruments that I've tried. Brian

[andi]

Hello Brian!

Maybe you have activated Velocity XFade for the Appassionata Strings and didn't assign CC11. This way the dynamics will stay same.

I haven't heard about your problem with the automatic volume changes only for exported audio before and have no explanation for it. Could it be, that this effect is produced by the audio player you are playing the exported audio file with?

Best regards,
Andi

[Popslaw]

Thank you for your reply, Andi.

It turned out that the problem with the volume levels was an issue with my sound card. The volume levels are fine when using different external sound card. Thanks for the suggestion.

Regarding the Appassionata strings, I have indeed activated Velocity Xfade, and I did assign CC11 for each instrument (with Expression assigned to "none"). I did some experiments that made me think I may have a more fundamental problem. Namely, while I can get the strings to function properly when there is only one of each type of instrument in the score, the dynamics and articulations play incorrectly when there is more than one of each type of instrument. For example, I set up a score with just one Orchestral Violin, and everything works fine. When I add an Appassionata Violin (using a second instance of VE), it still works fine (including dynamics and the two different articulations). However, when I add another Orchestral Violin, the dynamics and the articulations of the Orchestral Violins play incorrectly.

I am also having trouble getting the Chamber Strings to play the correct articulations and dynamics. I think it's possible I may have missed an important step in initially setting up Vienna Instruments and Sibelius, because I'm not even able to select the "Chamber ensemble violins", for example, from the list of instruments in the Program Name field under Manual Sound Sets (the orchestral strings and appassionata strings are listed, but the chamber strings are not).

As is probably painfully apparent from my primitive questions, I am an absolute novice at this stuff, and I do appreciate your patience in walking me through this.

Best regards,
Brian

[andi]

Hello Brian!

For this kind of problem there are a few suggestions in the Troubleshooting section of the "Optimizing Sibelius Playback" manual.

It might also help to set back all string instruments in the Sibelius mixer to (Auto). Sibelius then reassigns the channels.

You don't need an extra program for the Special Edition Chamber strings. The matrices are built the same way as the Orchestral Strings matrices. You can take the Violin, Viola, Cello or Doublebass ensemble program.

I hope this helps.

Best,
Andi

[Popslaw]

I've had some success with your suggestions and the troubleshooting tips of the "Optimizing Sibelius Playback" manual, though my scores are still haunted by some corrupted articulations in the doubled instruments from time to time. Curiously, one technique that has helped a couple of times has been to select "Violin 1" when adding the first violins and "Violin II" (instead of "Violin 2") when adding the second violins. I haven't any idea why that should work, but it's straightened out the articulations a couple times when nothing else would work.

Thank you again for your help.

Best regards,
Brian