Seattle composer Bill Panks posted this question about missing notes during Sibelius score playback on the Seattle Composer’s Alliance Discussion email list, which I thought I would share here:
Hi All!
When playing back scores in Sibelius 7.5, I frequently have notes cut off suddenly throughout a score. This is especially a problem with larger scores (30+ instruments).
My guess has been that given the number of midi channels available, multiple instruments are placed on each channel, and instruments on the same channel occasionally play the same note – and the note-off signal from one instrument is cutting off both/all of those unison notes. (For example, a harp arpeggio might cut off a sustained choral note on the same channel).
My question is whether there is a quick work around for this, or do people generally custom-route their instruments to channels in a way that avoids conflicting notes (i.e., pair bass instruments with treble – but then might you encounter key-switch conflicts when you export to a DAW for mockup? – so perhaps pair instruments that share similar rhythms and would therefore have similar note-off times if they do happen to cross)? (To date, I’ve been using the channels that Sibelius automatically assigns to each instrument – maybe that’s my mistake).
Or, do others not experience this? Is there something else happening that’s causing the notes to cut off?
I appreciate any thoughts or feedback.
Thank you,
Bill Panks
Hi Bill,
Regardless of whether you are using the Sibelius 7 Sounds, Sibelius 7 sounds (light) or Sibelius 6 sounds, only one iteration of the Sibelius Player can be included as a sound set. This shouldn’t be a problem, though, since the Sibelius Player supports up to 128 channels. Check Preferences > Playback > Sibelius Player Options to make sure this hasn’t been inadvertently changed to a lower value:
Perhaps obvious, but I would also check to make sure that the complete Sibelius Sounds library was installed. On my hard drive, the Sibelius 7 Samples folder is 36.85 GB (installed from 4 DVDs).
If you are using a third party VST or AU plugin for sounds such as NotePerformer (in Sibelius’s PLAY>SETUP), you can add as many iterations of the sound set as your computer will keep up with:
In addition, you can mix and match other sound sets with Sibelius Player, for instance, to combine a GM sound set, NotePerformer and Sibelius Player all active at once:
When using Sibelius Player by itself, I’ve had good luck with not trying to manually allocate the sounds to specific channels etc, but rather, let the program sort out the voice allocation automatically (although in your case, it sounds like that may not be working for you):
I often prepare my Sibelius scores with additional separate parts staves, which brings an additional consideration into the mix (pun intended). For these scores, I need to make sure that the staves which are not visible in the score, but are available for the parts are not also playing back. Use the Mute button on these mixer channels so they aren’t stealing voices.
Finally, it’s worth taking a look at whether Live Playback could be a factor in voice stealing. If you have Live Playback incorporated, try selecting the bars or regions that are problematic and turn off Live Playback for start time and duration to see if this restores playback for the problem area.
What looks like two quarter notes in succession may actually be overlapping notes which can eat up available voices.
Hope that helps!
~Robert
P.S. There was a documented issue with Sibelius 7.1.x for Mac only where playback would hit the wall at 28 staves w/ many different articulations per instrument, each one using up a channel. This was supposed to have been fixed, but if after all of the above you are still having problems, I recommend you contact Avid Tech Support.
I had a similar experience where long tied notes were cutting off part way through on playback. The notes were accented, and removing the accents solved the problem.
Note Performer for Sibelius 6.2 improved the sounds of orchestra woodwinds and brass, as compared with Sibeilus sounds.. Saxes sound like mellow french horns, and are a bit muddy with no edge to the sound. , but it is still an improvement over the Sibelius sounds. My problem is how to make group of four quarter notes sound semi-legato and not marcato. I must place a slur mark over the notes to get a legato, otherwise marcato notes result.
I use my Garritan Big Band Sound Library for any swing or jazz scores. NP cannot give me a tenuto (line over a note) and it sounds stilted and stiff when used for a jazz feel. The reverb is very broad and full, but can be effective if controlled. I use NP for my concert band and orchestral scores and small legit ensembles only.
If anyone can tell me how to obtain a sem-legato or tenuto…I would really appreciate it.
Vince
Hi Vince,
If you are actually getting the sound you want with the slur, but don’t want the visible slur, you can apply the slur to the phrase and then hide it.
You can use the same technique in a more custom way (e.g. to define more “semi-legato” by making a duplicate of a line (e.g. base a new line on an existing line like a dashed line and call it “semi-legato”). You can then go into the Playback Dictionary and define the parameter for your new line called “Adjust durations of note under line” to your taste. Hide this custom line same as above.
Before you do all of that, though, go into the Performance dialog and check to make sure that the % currently set for Unslurred Notes is something close to 100% (if not 100%). Sometimes this is set to less than 100% to make everything sound more Marcato.
Hope that helps!
~robert
Note Performer for Sibelius 6.2 improved the sounds of orchestra woodwinds and brass, as compared with Sibeilus sounds.. Saxes sound like mellow french horns, and are a bit muddy with no edge to the sound. , but it is still an improvement over the Sibelius sounds. My problem is how to make group of four quarter notes sound semi-legato and not marcato. I must place a slur mark over the notes to get a legato, otherwise marcato notes result.
I use my Garritan Big Band Sound Library for any swing or jazz scores. NP cannot give me a tenuto (line over a note) and it sounds stilted and stiff when used for a jazz feel. The reverb is very broad and full, but can be effective if controlled. I use NP for my concert band and orchestral scores and small legit ensembles only.
If anyone can tell me how to obtain a sem-legato or tenuto…I would really appreciate it.
Vince
norvin22@verizon.net
There’s a problem with the playback of accents on quarters- the sideways accents- on strings. Played back at moderato, they’re fine, but at a faster tempo, the notes are cut in half value . I want the accents without the shortening. Tried editing in the Dictinary window but no luck. In the middle of a project – need guidance asap.
Jimmy
Hi James – if you are playing with the dictionary settings (which is a logical place to edit the playback of accents), make sure the +accent Sound ID change is cleared to make sure you are hearing any edits you make to “Adjust dynamic, attack and/or duration”. Maybe you are already doing that, but worth mentioning. Hopefully, of help.