I'm trying to understand the part when you add the .xml files to the sounds folder. Im using sibelius ultimate and theres a s"Sibelius Sounds" and a "Library" folder. The library folder contains a sibelius soulds xml file already, but the sibelius sounds folder only has patches. Would i add the xml files of the bundle I purchased to the library folder instead of the sibelius sounds folder? Thanks for the help!

Did you add more instances of VDL to your Playback Configuration?

having this current problem trying to switch from rack combo A to Wind chimes and it works for a little bit and then it plays a sound from rack combo A

Is there a quick fix to getting the correct noteheads to display in the newest versions of Finale that use the Standard Music Font Layout (SMufFL)?  I know it's possible to edit each one individually and choose the correct notehead, but that will be a very big project.

Thanks!

-Josh

Can you send me one or more files that has that behavior? Let's see if we can figure out if that is an issue with the Template itself, something buggy in Sibelius, or both.

i sent you a PM.

After recently becoming part of a group of arrangers for a local high school front ensemble, I have just realized that one of the quirks I’ve been dealing with in Sib with VDL is not normal. Any time a crescendo or diminuendo is added to a score using a TWS VDL template that has graced one of my computers, it must be manually moved upwards on the page to be reflected in playback. Any help with this is appreciated, as it is quite an annoyance for everyone writing music for this show. Thanks!

Steven,

I believe that the Staff Styles were dropped from the templates around that time as they were not needed. This was around the same time as the introduction of the Score Manager and the Change Instrument Utility.

I would suggest you use the Change Instrument Utility, especially when working with non-pitched percussion. Switching from one rack combo to another (Cymbals to Metal for example) lets you select the measures, set up the channels in Kontakt, apply the Percussion MIDI Map and set the Percussion Layout without moving between too many tools. Add a Text Expression (those are built in to the templates) to indicate to the performer/instructor/director about the changes.

Let me know if this helps or if you were looking at other types of changes, say soft to hard mallets or mallets to non-pitched. Just about everything is possible via Change Instrument and Text Expressions.

Greetings Hive Mind,

In Finale 25, when I try to switch staff styles within the Staff Styles dialog box, VDL options are not populating. I am only seeing the generic option available within Finale.

I've loaded the FIN14_VDL255_Percussion.lib file into both the Common and User options of the Application Support/Make Music/Finale/Libraries.

All other VDL/WriteScore options seem to be functioning as normally. I am able to select alternative VDL sounds via layers, I simply can't get the appropriate visual representation within the score. Playback is working seemingly as it should. Additionally, within the score I even tried loading the appropriate FIN14_VDL255_Percussion.lib, but other than the spinning color wheel, I get no result.

Any feedback or suggestions are most welcome at this point. The innerwbz and YouTubez have yielded nothing helpful as of yet.

Many thanks in advance,
Steven

MBP 2019
2.4 x 8 i9
64gb/

There are 2 parts to percussion in Finale, the MIDI Maps and the Layouts. MIDI Maps must be copied to the MIDI Device Annotation folder, location varies depending on OS. Check the ReadMe files that came with the templates for specific locations. The Layouts are built into the template files.

Because you mention that the MIDI Map column in Score Manager doesn't display the VDL options, then I'd say that is where you'd need to look. If you upgraded Finale versions then copy/paste the XML (Percussion MIDI Maps) from the previous version to the new version. Just moving them will give you the same problem but with that older version of Finale.

I've upgraded to Finale 27 but the Percussion MIDI mapping isn't working. (I can input notation and it sounds right but looks wrong). The drop down menu under Percussion MIDI Map in Score Manager does not show the VDL options I'm used to seeing except for the "Tapspace Drumline for Finale" generic options. I'm using the latest Write Score ensemble template (2014). Any ideas? Thanks.