Hi Joel. Thanks for the files you sent me - that was all I needed. And the Playback Configuration looks good too.
The examples in the PlayTest files show what's available in the library for a given instrument. And you hopefully noticed that the mallet patches in the S7S library don't have sampled rolls, as in, they don't have that variation for a sound ID change. (Make sense?)
However, there are work arounds for producing good/better sounding rolls. Which one of these you would employ will most likely depend on the tempo of the section and/or the exact instrument:
1) Just place a 2-slash on an eighth note or 3-slash on a quarter. Avoid the "z". This is still "the generic Sibelius tremolo", but may be enough in a given situation.
2) Meter the roll yourself. For example, instead of putting a 3-slash tremolo on a quarter note - which produces 8 evenly subdivided sounds - turn that note into a sextuplet.
3) When doing a two mallet roll across two pitches, separate out each hand/mallet onto its own layer. See attached 'Mallet_1' image.
4) Three/Four mallet rolls across three/four pitches: a more complex version of number 3.
5)
Use a Trill: "
..., another handy method that works is to use a trill. Write the left-hand note (let's say it's middle C) and put a trill on it (create>line). Then if you want the right hand rolling on E (for example), select the trill, go to the "playback" section of the properties window, and type in a 4 in the "half steps" field for the interval. The nice thing about doing this is that you can alter the speed of the trill (say around 9 or 10 depending on range) which can give you a way to make it sound less metered and mechanical." --> See attached 'Mallet_2' image. Optional: check/uncheck Start On Upper Note.
This can even be used for single pitch rolls. Once in the Inspector, with the trill line selected, uncheck Diatonic, then change Half Steps to 0 (zero). And again, the trill Speed can be adjusted.
6) If the playback version of the roll is not what you want to display, put it into either other layers or another stave. Hide the playback version and uncheck the Play On Pass checkboxes for the display version.
TIP: once you've figured out what you may be able to "reuse", those can then be added to the
Ideas palette for future accessibility.
If you'd like to have actual sampled mallet rolls, as well as way better drumline sounds, I suggest looking at
Virtual Drumline - if you haven't already.
Let me know how you get on.
Hugh