VE Optimizing Sibelius Playback v2.6

Optimizing Sibelius
Playback
with Vienna Ensemble
A guide to get more out of your scores
By Andreas Olszewski / Vienna Symphonic Library
2014 Vienna Symphonic Library

Introduction
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Material for Sibelius users on the vsl.co.at website
At the following location you can find a video tutorial on how to work with Sibelius and Vienna
Ensemble:
http://www.vsl.co.at/en/Products/Software#!Video_Demos
The Sound Set Installer can be downloaded in the MyVSL area of the Vienna Symphonic Library
website under Notation related.
http://www.vsl.co.at/en/MyVSL
Currently we offer the following sound sets:
VE Special Edition: Works with the Special Edition Volumes 1 4, as well as with the
following Instrument collections: Bsendorfer Imperial, Vienna Imperial, Konzerthaus
Organ
VE Special Edition PLUS: Works with the Special Edition PLUS matrices for Volumes
1 and 2 and the Special Edition Volumes 3 and 4, as well as with the following
Instrument collections: Bsendorfer Imperial, Vienna Imperial, Konzerthaus Organ
VE Epic Orchestra: Works with the Epic Orchestra
VE Woodwinds + Brass: Works with the following Instrument collections: Woodwinds

I+II, Special Woodwinds, Brass I+II, Special Brass, Dimension Brass, Saxophones,
Recorders, as well as with all Woodwinds and Brass Single Instruments
VE Strings: Works with the following Instrument collections: Solo Strings I+II, Chamber
Strings I+II, Orchestral Strings I+II, Appassionata Strings I+II, Dimension Strings, Harps
VE Percussion: Works with the Percussion and Elements Instrument collections and
Single Instruments
VE Choir: Works with the Vienna Choir, the Soprano Choir, the Solo Voices and the
Vienna Whistler
In addition to the sound sets we offer Vienna Symphonic Library House Style files for Sibelius 5,
6 and 7.
Software
Please use Sibelius 6.2, 7.1.3 or 7.5.1, as the Sibelius team did a great job fixing playback bugs
with these latest versions. Also make sure to use the latest version of Vienna Instruments and
Vienna Ensemble software, which can be downloaded in the MyVSL are under Software
Installers. Vienna Instruments Pro and Vienna Ensemble PRO will also work with Sibelius.
Optimizing Sibelius Playback with Vienna Ensemble 2014 Vienna Symphonic Library
How to install and use Sound Sets
The Sound Set Installer can be downloaded in the MyVSL area of the Vienna Symphonic Library
website under Notation related.
It will install sound set files, the Vienna Symphonic Library House Style for Sibelius, VI presets and 3
two manuals. The path where the manuals get installed can be chosen during installation.
On Windows computers it may be necessary to point Sibelius to the VSTPlugins path. This can be
done in the Playback Devices/Audio Engine Options/Virtual Instruments and Effects folders menu.
Choose the path where the Vienna Ensemble VST plugin has been installed. Thats the path where
the file Vienna Ensemble.dll is located. If you are using Sibelius 7 64-bit, you will have to add the
folder where the 64-bit version of the Vienna Ensemble plugin ("Vienna Ensemble x64.dll") is
installed. Then restart Sibelius.
In Sibelius, create a
Playback Config-
uration and activate
Vienna Ensemble (or
Vienna Ensemble
PRO; for details
about how to use
Vienna Ensemble
PRO please also
check the according
manual) from the list
of Available devices.
Then choose the
appropriate sound
set in the right-hand
column.
On the Manual
Sound Sets page
check Use manual
Sound Set and
assign channels and
programs for all
instruments. If you
use instruments
more than once,
please also reserve
the according
number of channels
for them. Then save
your Playback
configuration.
In Vienna Ensemble, insert as many instruments as you need. Set the channels and load the
matrices that came with your Special Edition or Special Edition PLUS (Attention VI Pro users:
only the normal VI matrices will work correctly dont use the VI Pro matrices). If you are using
one of our bigger instrument collections or single download instruments, use the presets that
came with the Sound Set Installer. These presets can be found in the Sibelius folder. Then
save your Playback configuration in Sibelius. Be aware that some presets need lots of RAM. In
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order to save RAM you can load smaller presets (L1) or use the Learn/Optimize function of the
Vienna Instruments. VI Pro 2 users can disable cells or matrices they don't need.
More than one Vienna Ensemble

If you want to use more than 16 instruments or different collections (and therefore different
sound sets) at the same time, you will need more than one instance of Vienna Ensemble.
To do so, simply activate Vienna Ensemble more than once from the Available devices list.
Check Use manual Sound Set and set channels and programs for all VE instances on the
Manual Sound Sets page. You can switch between the instances in the Device line on that
page. Dont forget to save your Playback configuration after that.
For Vienna
Ensemble PRO 5
users it is possible
to have all loaded
instruments in one
instance, even if
5
more than 16
instruments and
different sound sets
are used in one
Sibelius Playback
configuration.
Any additional
Vienna Ensemble
(PRO) instance that
would be needed
with the free Vienna
Ensemble version can now be substituted with the Vienna Ensemble PRO Event Input Plug-in
which delivers up to 31additional MIDI ports with 16 channels each.
All instruments are

routed to the same
Vienna Ensemble PRO
instance now. MIDI
ports have to be set up
in Vienna Ensemble
PRO for every
instrument, which is not
necessary for Sibelius
users with the free
Vienna Ensemble
Version, as there simply
is only one available
port. Sound sets and
the settings on the
Manual Sound Sets
page have to be
configured in the same
way as explained
above.
More details about the

Vienna Ensemble PRO
Event Input can be found in the Vienna Ensemble PRO 5 manual, which can be downloaded in
the MyVSL area of our website under Software Manuals.
How to use the Vienna Symphonic Library House Style
What is a House Style file:
The Sibelius House Style defines various things. Some are layout related. For working with the
Vienna Instruments two items are very useful:
1. Playback dictionary: For some articulations there are special keywords in the Sibelius 6
playback dictionary needed. By importing the Vienna Symphonic Library House Style all these
keywords will be included in the dictionary. The dynamic values are also optimized for playback
with the VSL instruments.
2. Instrument definitions: (Mainly important for the VE Percussion and VE Strings sound
sets). For some switches to work correctly, it is necessary to have the instruments from the
Vienna Symphonic Library House Style loaded in your score.
So by importing the Vienna Symphonic Library House Style file, you will make the cooperation
of Sibelius and the Vienna Instruments smoother.
Importing the Vienna Symphonic Library House Style:
1. In Sibelius you can select a House Style when creating a new score or load it at a later point
in the menu House Style/Import House Style (Sibelius 5 and 6) or Appearance/House
Style/Import (Sibelius 7).
2. Select Vienna Symphonic Library
3. Under Import Options, keep at least Playback dictionary and Instrument definitions
selected.
How to trigger articulations with the
Sound Set
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VE Special Edition
This sound set works with all Special Edition collections:
Sustain: This patch is triggered by default.

If you want to switch back from a different articulation, use one of the following Technique
Text commands (<Ctrl>+T on Win, <Command>+T on OS X): ord., natural, normal.
Staccato: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

1) Use the keypads staccato mark.
2) Create the Technique Text command stacc or staccato.
Legato: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

1) Use slurs.
2) Create the Technique Text command legato.
To switch back to non-legato playing use the Technique Text command non legato.
Also see page 19.
Legato-sus: Create the Technique Text command sus. (Only available with Vienna
Symphonic Library House Style loaded.) This command can also be used in combination with
slurs.
Detache: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

1) Use the keypads tenuto mark.
2) Create the Technique Text command detache.
Portamento: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

1) A section where all notes are played portamento: Create the Technique Text command
portamento.
2) Two notes played portamento: Join the two notes with a portamento line from the lines
menu.
Also see page 19.
Tremolo: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

1) Create the Technique Text command trem or tremolo.
2) Use the tremolo symbol with 3, 4 or 5 beams across the stem from the Sibelius keypad to
switch to tremolo. (Only available with Vienna Symphonic Library House Style loaded.)
Pizzicato: Create the Technique Text command pizz or pizzicato.

To switch back to arco playing, use one of the following Technique Text commands: ord.,
natural, normal or arco.
Sforzato: Create an Expression Text command (<Ctrl>+E on Win, <Cmd>+E on OS X)

starting with sf (sf, sfz, sffz, sforz, ). (Only available with Vienna Symphonic Library House
Style loaded.)
Staccato/Sustain combined cell: Use the keypads accent mark. (Only available with Vienna
Symphonic Library House Style loaded.)
If you prefer accents to just trigger a higher velocity and not the Staccato/Sustain cell, remove
the Sound ID change entry of the Sibelius dictionary entry Articulations/Accent.
Vibrato (only guitars): Create the Technique Text command vib or vibrato.
To switch back to non vibrato, use one of the following Technique Text commands: ord., 8
natural, normal or senza vibrato.
Whammy Bar (E-Guitar): Create a w/bar line from the Lines menu. (Only available with Vienna
Motor on (Vibraphone): Create the Technique Text command motor on. To switch back to
playing without motor, use the Technique Text command motor off.
Sustain Pedal (Bosendorfer Piano): Create a Pedal symbol from the lines menu.
Cymbal sounds: For the Sibelius instrument Cymbals (=a2 cymbals) you have four different
variations.
C6 = Normal Variation 1; C#6 = Choked Var. 1; D6 = Normal Var. 2; D#6 = Choked Var. 2
C6 is played by default. The other sounds are only available with the Vienna Symphonic
Library House Style loaded. For C#6 create the Technique Text command choke, for D6
create 2 and for D#6 combine both commands. To reset the Sound ID of an instrument,
write ord. or normal.
If you want the suspended cymbal instead of the a2 Cymbals please use the Sibelius
instruments Cymbal A-D. (Only available with Vienna Symphonic Library House Style
loaded.)
With the commands written in the previous paragraph you can also switch to 2nd variations
and choked sounds with this instrument and you can also address the roll sounds with the
tremolo symbol.
Tam-tam: For the Sibelius instrument Tam-tam you have four different variations.
G6: triggered by default
The other sounds are only available with the Vienna Symphonic Library House Style loaded.
G#6: add tremolo sign (with 3, 4 or 5 beams)
A6: Technique Text "2" (without quotation marks)
A#6: Technique Text "scrape" (without quotation marks)
Drum rolls: There are two ways to trigger these rolls:

1) Choose the tremolo articulation symbol with 4 or 5 lines crossing the stem or the buzz roll
symbol. If the Vienna Symphonic Library House Style is loaded, the 3 line tremolo symbol
can also be used.
2) Create the Technique Text command roll. (Only available with Vienna Symphonic Library
House Style loaded.) To switch back to single hits, use one of the following commands:
ord. or normal
Timpani rolls: like tremolo.
Left hand/right hand (drums, timpani): Create the Technique Text command L for left hand
strokes and R for right hand strokes.
Triangle: Use the Sibelius instrument Triangle and the Manual Sound Sets program
Percussion. By default the open single hit (C5) is triggered. The closed single hit (C#5) can
be triggered with the staccato or the + articulation symbol. With the Technique text
command 2 it is possible to trigger a variant of the same technique (open and closed). For
tremolo (E5) use one of the tremolo symbols.
Metal Chimes (Sibelius instrument "Wind Chimes [1 line]" from the "Other Unpitched 9
Percussion category): On the Manual Sound Sets page reserve a channel with the program
"Percussion".
The different sounds can be triggered as follows:

A3 (default): No Technique Text command or "ord." or "normal".
The other sounds are only available with the Vienna Symphonic Library House Style loaded.
B3: Technique Text "2"
C3: Technique Text "up" and "slow"
D3: Technique Text "down" and "slow
F3: Technique Text "up" and "fast"
G3: Technique Text "down" and "fast"
Cymbal, drum and percussion sounds in general: A different approach of using these
sounds would be by creating a Percussion [5 lines] system with Sibelius and editing the
instrument (Sibelius 6: House Style/Edit Instruments/Percussion [5 lines]/Edit
Instrument/Type of staff: pitched; Sibelius 7: Home/
Instruments/Percussion [5 lines]/Edit Instrument/Type of staff: pitched). You will also have to
choose a Sound ID or instrument under Playback Defaults/Best Sound and reserve a
program/channel for the chosen instrument on the Manual Sound Sets page. For example
you could choose a pitched percussion instrument (like Marimba, Vibraphone or Xylophone)
that you don't have in your score. Now you can trigger the samples according to the pitch you
enter.
VE Special Edition PLUS

Everything written for the VE Special Edition sound set applies to this sound set too. Here are
the PLUS articulations.
Staccato repetition: The perf-rep staccato (or spiccato) patches are played by default for
staccato notes, because they sound more natural with repeated notes than the normal
staccato patches.
If you want to use the normal staccato patch instead of the performance repetition, use the
keypads staccato mark and add the Technique Text command 1. (Only available with
Vienna Symphonic Library House Style loaded.)
Perf-rep legato: Create the Technique Text command rep. (Only available with Vienna
Fortepiano: Create the Expression Text command fp. (Only available with Vienna Symphonic
Library House Style loaded.)
Portato: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

2) Create the Technique Text command portato.
Detache short: Create the Technique Text command short.
Harmonics: Harmonics can be reached in three ways.

1) Add the Harmonic/Open articulation sign to the note (that's the small circle).
2) Write harmonics above the first note where a section of harmonics starts.
3) Notate a diamond notehead a fourth above the fingered note (only with "Vienna
Symphonic Library" House Style 2.0 or higher loaded). 10
Harmonics staccato: Just combine a staccato marking with one of the three ways of triggering
harmonics.
Pizz-snap: Add one of the symbols for snap pizzicato from the Symbols menu to the note(s).
Col legno: Create the Technique Text command col legno.
Trill 1 / Trill 2: Create a trill line from the Lines menu. Sibelius automatically triggers the right
trill (half or whole tone) according to the diatonic surrounding. You can also switch manually
between half tone and whole tone trills in the Inspector/Playback (in Sibelius 5 and 6 thats
called Properties/Playback) window. To do so, select the trill line and uncheck Diatonic.
Sul ponticello: Create the Technique Text command sul ponticello.

To switch back to normal playing, use one of the following Technique Text commands: ord.,
natural or normal.
Sul ponticello staccato: Use the keypads staccato mark during a sul ponticello section.
Sul ponticello tremolo: Use one of the ways to trigger tremolo during a sul ponticello section.
Con sordino (=mute): Create the Technique Text command con sordino or mute. To switch
back to senza sordino playing, use one of the following Technique Text commands: ord.,
natural, normal or senza sordino.
Con sordino staccato: Use the keypads staccato mark during a con sordino section.
Con sordino tremolo: Use one of the ways to trigger tremolo during a con sordino section.
VE Strings
This sound set works with the following collections:
Solo Strings I+II, Chamber Strings I+II, Orchestral Strings I+II, Appassionata Strings I+II,
Dimension Strings, Harps
Attention: On the Manual Sound Sets page, the "Chamber", "Orchestral", "Appassionata" and
"Dimension" programs only work correctly when the corresponding instruments included in the
"Vienna Symphonic Library" House Style are used in Sibelius. If you use the default Sibelius
instruments for string ensembles (Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Violoncello,
Contrabass, Double Bass), please use the "Ensemble" programs. The Dimension Strings only
work correctly with the [VSL Dimension Strings] instruments from the Vienna Symphonic
Library House Style and the Dimension programs on the Manual Sound Sets page.
Most of the techniques written above also apply to the dedicated string sound set. Here are the
additional articulations. Many articulations can also be combined with each other.
Vibrato/Senza vibrato: By default the vibrato articulations are used. To switch to non vibrato
create the Technique Text command senza vibrato. To switch back to vibrato, use the
Technique Text command con vibrato or vibrato. (Only available with Vienna Symphonic
Library House Style loaded.)
Strong vibrato: There are two ways to trigger these patches:

1) Create the Technique Text command vib or vibrato and create a second Technique 11
Text command heavy.
2) Create the Technique Text command molto vibrato or espressivo. . (Only available
with Vienna Symphonic Library House Style loaded.)
To switch back to vibrato, use one of the following Technique Text commands: ord.,
natural or normal. To switch back to non vibrato use the Technique Text command senza
vibrato.
Progressive vibrato (Dimension Strings): Create the Technique Text command

progressive. (Only available with Vienna Symphonic Library House Style loaded.)
Staccato/Stac-rep/Spiccato: See the staccato entry in the VE Special Edition sound set
section. Vienna Ensemble automatically chooses the best fitting patch according to speed
control.
(For the "Dimension Strings" staccato is triggered with the staccato mark. In order to trigger
the spiccato-repetition either use the staccatissimo mark or create the Technique Text
command spiccato.)
Legato/Fast legato: See the legato entry in the VE Special Edition sound set section. Vienna
Ensemble automatically chooses the normal or the fast legato patch according to speed
control.
Marcato: There are two ways to trigger these patches:

1.) Use the keypads marcato mark.
2.) Create the Technique Text command marcato.
Sforzatissimo: Create the Expression Text command sffz. (Only available with Vienna
Repetitions: Create the Technique Text command rep. Vienna Ensemble automatically
chooses the best fitting repetition patch according to speed control. (Only available with
Harmonics repetition: Create the Technique Text command rep and use one of the ways for
triggering harmonics (see VE Special Edition PLUS section). (Only available with Vienna
Harmonics tremolo (Dimension Strings): Just combine a tremolo marking with one of the two
ways of triggering harmonics.
Sul tasto (Solo Strings extended): Create the Technique Text command sul tasto.
natural or normal.
Sul tasto and sul ponticello can also be combined with the following articulations: staccato,
tremolo, sfz and detache
Sul C, G, D, A, E (Dimension Strings): Create one of the following Technique Text commands:
sul C, "sul G", "sul D", "sul A" or "sul E".
To switch back to the regular patches, use one of the following Technique Text commands:
ord., natural or normal.
Custom cells (A6, B6, C6 of the basic matrices; Dimension Strings: K1 to K6): Its possible to
use additional patches, that are not included in the VI presets for Sibelius by default. Just add 12
the desired patch(es) to one of the free cells. To switch to these cells from your Sibelius
score, use one of the following Technique Text commands: custom or custom1 for cell A6
(Dimension Strings cell K1), custom2 for cell B6 (DimStr. K2) and custom3 for cell C6
(K3). The Dimension Strings matrices have three additional custom cells (K4, K5, K6), which
can be triggered with the commands "custom4", "custom5" and "custom6". (Only available
Most articulations can also be used con sordino (Solo Strings II, Chamber Strings II, Orchestral
Strings I+II, Appassionata Strings II): Create the Technique Text command con sordino or
mute. To switch back to senza sordino playing, use one of the following Technique Text
commands: ord., natural, normal or senza sordino.
Which presets to load with the Dimension Strings:
If you are notating the whole instrument section on one staff, use the "All" presets (only VI Pro).
If you are using Vienna Instruments (as opposed to VI Pro) and want to notate the whole
section on one system, you can do so by loading two instruments in Vienna Ensemble with
the same channel. In the first one load the "G1" preset and in the second one load the "G2"
preset.
If you are notating two to four groups of players on different staves, use the "G1" and "G2"
presets.
If you are notating every player on his own staff, load the according P1, P2, ... presets.
In the "All" and Group presets you can additionally change the amount of players playing with
the following Technique Text commands:
"a8": 8 players unisono
"a7": 7 players unisono
...
"a2": 2 players unisono (1st Desk)
"a2.2": 2 players unisono (2nd Desk)
"solo": Only player 1 (or player 2 in the "G2" preset)
"div" or "divisi": The first voice will be played by player 1, the second voice by player 2, the
third voice by player 3 and so on.
"div2": All loaded players will be separated into two groups to play two different voices
notated on the same staff.
Harps:
Normal: This patch is triggered by default.

If you want to switch back from a different articulation, use one of the following Technique
Text commands (<Ctrl>+T on PC, <Apple>+T on Mac): ord., natural or normal.
Harmonics: Harmonics can be reached in two ways:

13
1) Add the Harmonic/Open articulation sign to the note (that's the small circle).
2) Write harmonics above the first note where a section of harmonics starts.
Bisbigliando: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

1) With tremolo (see the tremolo entry in the VE Special Edition sound set section)
2) Create the Technique Text command bisb or bisbigliando.
Mute: Use the keypads staccato mark.
Normal+RS-mute: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

1) Use the keypads staccatissimo mark.
2) Create the Technique Text command mute.
To switch back to normal playing, use one of the following Technique Text commands:
Damp: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

1) Use the keypads plus/closed mark.
2) Create the Technique Text command damp.
To switch back to normal playing, use one of the following Technique Text commands:
Pres de la table: Create the Technique Text command pres, pdlt, or pres de la table.
natural or normal.
Nail: Create the Technique Text command nail or fingernail.
VE Woodwinds + Brass
Most of the techniques written for the Special Edition and the Special Edition PLUS also apply
to the Woodwinds and Brass sound sets. Here are the additional articulations.
Vibrato (not with Dimension Brass): Create the Technique Text command vib or vibrato.
To switch back to non-vibrato, use one of the following Technique Text commands: ord.,
Strong vibrato: There are two ways to trigger these patches:

1) Create the Technique Text command vib or vibrato and create a second Technique
Text command heavy.
2) Create the Technique Text command molto vibrato or espressivo.
To switch back to non vibrato, use one of the following Technique Text commands: ord.,
Progressive vibrato: Create the Technique Text command progressive vibrato. (Only
available with Vienna Symphonic Library House Style loaded.)
Blare (only Horns, Dimension Brass): Create the Technique Text command blare. (Only
Marcato (not with Dimension Brass): There are two ways to trigger these patches:
1) Use the keypads marcato mark.
2) Create the Technique Text command marcato.
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Staccato repetitions, Portato repetitions, Legato, Fast legato, Marcato, Fast marcato: See
the respective entries in the previous paragraphs. Vienna Ensemble automatically chooses
the slower or faster patches according to speed control.
Legato+vibrato: Legato and vibrato can also be combined
Flutter tongue: Create the Technique Text command flutter tongue or frullato.
Glissando (Alto + Tenor Saxophone, Tenor + Contrabass Trombone, Clarinet-Bb): Join

two notes with a glissando line from the lines menu.
Also see page 19.
Slap (Flute, Saxophones): Create the Technique Text command slap.
Falls (Saxophones, Trumpet in Bb, Flugelhorn): Use the Fall articulation mark from the
keypad. With the Technique Text command long or slow you can switch to a longer bend
(only saxophones).
Slides (Trumpet in Bb, Flugelhorn): Use the Scoop articulation mark from the keypad.
Sforzatissimo (Dimension Brass): Create the Expression Text command sffz. (Only
Legato repetitions (Dimension Brass): Create the Technique Text command rep. (Only
Custom cells (A7 to A12 of the Special matrices): Its possible to use additional patches, that
are not included in the VI presets for Sibelius by default. Just add the desired patch(es) to
one of the six free cells. To switch to these cells from your Sibelius score, use one of the
following Technique Text commands: custom or custom1 for cell A7, custom2 for cell A8,
custom3 for cell A9, custom4 for cell A10, custom5 for cell A11 and custom6 for cell
A12. (Only available with Vienna Symphonic Library House Style v.1.9 or higher loaded.)
Which presets to load with the Dimension Brass:
If you are notating the whole instrument group (4 players) on one staff, use the 4 player presets
(only Vienna Instruments PRO): Sib_DimBr_4_Horns_PRO; Sib_DimBr_4_Trumpets_PRO;
Sib_DimBr_4_Trombones_PRO; Sib_DimBr_LowBrass_all_PRO
If you are notating three players on one staff, use the 3 Player presets (only Vienna Instruments
PRO): Sib_DimBr_3_Horns_PRO; Sib_DimBr_3_Trumpets_PRO;
Sib_DimBr_3_Trombones_PRO; not applicable for the Low Brass
If you are notating two players on one staff, use the P1-2 (TTB1-2 for the Low Brass) presets.
For a second system with two players of the same instrument use the P3-4 presets (BTB+TU
for the Low Brass).
If you are using Vienna Instruments (as opposed to Vienna Instruments PRO) and want to
notate the whole 4 player section on one system, you can do so by loading two instruments in
Vienna Ensemble and routing them to the same channel. In the first one, load the P1-2 preset,
and in the second one, load the P3-4 preset.
If you are notating each player on a separate staff, load the according P1, P2, P3 or P4 (TTB1,
TTB2, BTB or TU for the Low Brass) preset.
Please notice that Bass Trombone and Tuba of the Low Brass group will sound one octave
15
lower than notated. If you want to notate these instruments on separate staves, you can load
the corresponding "loco" presets in order to have them sound "loco" (not transposed).
The 4-,3- and 2-player presets contain different matrices. In order to play the right one, please
don't forget to always state with the following Technique Text commands which players are
playing a sequence:
"a4": Played by 4 players unisono

"3.+4.": Played by player 3 and 4 unisono (4 player presets)
"2.+4.": Played by player 2 and 4 unisono (preset Sib_DimBr_LowBrass_all_PRO)
"2.+3.": Played by player 2 and 3 unisono (3 player presets)
"1.": Played by player 1
"div" or "divisi": The first voice will be played by player 1, the second voice by player 2, the third
voice by player 3 and the fourth voice by player 4
"div2": The first voice will be played by player 1 and 2, the second voice will be played by player
3 and 4
Note: If you combine Dimension Brass instruments with the same kind of instruments
from another Brass collection, you may have to correct the MIDI channel settings in
the Sibelius mixer.
VE Percussion
The VE Percussion sound set works with the Instrument collections Percussion and Elements,
as well as with the Single instruments. When using the Percussion sound set, make sure that
you also import the Vienna Symphonic Library House Style. In the Import House Style menu at
least keep Playback dictionary and Instrument definitions selected.
Lots of instruments will not work properly or only with some articulations if you dont import the
House Style.
Please note that because of the big variety of instruments and articulations not every available
sound can be covered with this sound set. Dont worry though, you will get pretty much all the
important ones and even will be able to change beaters with commands from your score.
The list of all included instruments and articulations is too long to be covered here, as this is the
most complex sound set of all. You will find this list in a separate manual.
VE Choir
The VE Choir sound set works with the Instrument collections Vienna Choir and Solo Voices,
as well as the Soprano Choir and Vienna Whistler Single instruments. Some of the techniques
written for the Special Edition also apply to the Choir sound set. Here are the additional
articulations.
16
Vibrato: Create the Technique Text command vib or vibrato.
To switch back to non-vibrato, use one of the following Technique Text commands: ord.,
natural, normal, senza vibrato or non vibrato.
The longer notes for the Solo Voices are always sung with vibrato.
The Vienna Whistler triggers the vibrato articulations by default. For triggering non vibrato
samples, use one of the following Technique Text commands: senza vibrato or non
vibrato.
Legato+vibrato: Legato and vibrato can also be combined.
Performance trills: These patches work well for fast phrases. They can be triggered with the
Technique Text command fast. (Only available with Vienna Symphonic Library House Style
loaded.)
Performance trills+vibrato: Performance trills and vibrato can also be combined.
Glissando: Join two notes with a glissando line from the lines menu.
Also see page 19.
Cluster (only Vienna Choir): Create the Technique Text command cluster. (Only available
Creepy (only Vienna Choir): Create the Technique Text command creepy. (Only available
Breathing: Create one of the following symbols: Vertical line or Comma. (Only available with
AA + UU: If you have loaded one of the AA+UU VI presets, you can switch between these
articulations. By default the "AA" articulations are triggered. To switch to "UU" create the
Technique Text command oo. To switch back to AA use "ah" or "ord."
Additional patches for the Vienna Whistler:
Portato medium: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

2) Create the Technique Text command portato.
Portato short: In addition to one of the marks for portato medium, create the Technique Text
command short.
Portato long: In addition to one of the marks for portato medium, create the Technique Text
command long.
Portato long strong vibrato: In addition to one of the marks for portato medium, create the
Technique Text command espressivo.
Marcato: There are two ways to trigger these patches:
1.) Use the keypads marcato mark.
2.) Create the Technique Text command marcato.
Portamento fast: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

1) A section where all notes are played portamento: Create the Technique Text command
portamento. 17
2) Two notes played portamento: Join the two notes with a portamento line from the lines
menu.
Also see page 19.
Portamento slow: In addition to one of the marks for portamento fast, create the Technique
Text command slow.
Legato repetition: Create the Technique Text command rep.
Portato repetition: In addition to one of the marks for portato medium, create the Technique
Text command rep.
Staccato repetition: Create the Technique Text command rep and put staccato marks on the
notes.
Trill 1 & 2: Create a trill line from the Lines menu.
Bend up: Use the scoop symbol from the Jazz articulations menu.
Fall release samples: Some articulations (sustain, marcato, legato, portamento, performance
trills) offer an alternative release in form of a fall. These release samples can be triggered by
adding a fall symbol from the Jazz articulations menu to the note. In addition the Live duration
of the note has to be shortened with the Sibelius Inspector by at least 1 tick.
General optimization tips
18
A different approach to dynamics
For dynamic changes Sibelius sends CC11 (MIDI Control
Change 11) values. By default these values trigger the Vienna
Instruments Expression slider, which will only alter the volume
but not the timbre of the notes. In order to get more realistic
crescendi and diminuendi you can do as follows: In the Real-
Time Controller Area add a fader for Velocity X-Fade. Assign
ControlChange/Controller 11 as source and turn it on. In order
to not have double dynamics (Expression and Velocity X-
Fade), it is also recommended to set the source for Expression
to none or a different free Control Change number.
The VI presets for the Woodwinds+Brass sound set, the

Strings sound set and the Vienna Choir have Velocity X-Fade
already activated with CC11 assigned by default.
(Velocity X-Fade will not work for percussive instruments, because CC11 is not implemented for
these instruments in the sound set. Lots of the percussion sounds don't blend well when
crossfaded.)
Dynamic drum and percussion rolls
If you also want to use Velocity X-fades for drum and percussion rolls (included in the Special
Edition matrices 12S Drums, 13S Cymbals+Gongs and 14S Percussion), you have to add CC11
MIDI commands (written as Technique Text) to your Sibelius instrument like this:
~C11,0 (for silent)

~C11,127 (for loudest)
There is a Sibelius plugin to create these messages (Plug-ins/Playback/Cresc./Dim.

Playback/Use C11) for hairpins. So you only have to type in MIDI values for the first note and
immediate dynamic changes manually, but not for hairpins. It may also be useful to turn Velocity
X-Fade on and off from within your score like this:
~C28,0 (Velocity X-Fade turned off)

~C28,127 (Velocity X-Fade turned on)
Monophonic Patches
Our Performance Interval patches (legato, portamento, performance marcato, performance
trills) are monophonic due to the necessity of interval recognition. So if you write a slur (which
triggers the legato patch), you are limited to one voice.
If you want to notate more voices in one staff with a slur, you can exclude the slur from playback 19
and thus avoid switching to legato. To do so, select the slur and go to the Inpector/Playback
window. (In Sibelius 6 thats called Properties/Playback.) Uncheck the boxes for play on pass 1
8.
The Vienna Instruments PRO player offers a polyphonic legato mode. So excluding slurs from
playback is not necessary with this player.
Optimizing legato, portamento and glissando

To make a note start a new legato phrase, select the preceding note. Then go to the Inspector/
Playback window (Sibelius 6: Properties/Playback). Activate Live duration and make it shorter
than the preset value (the amount depends on the tempo, for example at least -30 ticks at 120
bpm).
Now this note ends the phrase and the next note should be a start-up note in a new legato (or
portamento or glissando) phrase.
Special hint for better portamento and glissando performances: Without any note editing the
portamento (glissando) starts when the second note is played. In reality the portamento
(glissando) would be finished by that time. To get this effect right, edit the Live start position of
the portamentos (glissandos) target note in the Inspector/Playback (in Sibelius 5 and 6 thats
called Properties/Playback ) menu. Enter a negative value. The exact value depends on the
playback tempo and interval.
Solo and ensemble on the same staff
It is possible to switch between a solo instrument and an ensemble of the same instrument on
one staff.
1) Reserve a channel for the solo and the ensemble instrument on the Sibelius Manual
Sound Sets page and in Vienna Ensemble.
20
2a) For wind instruments switch with the Technique Text commands tutti (or a2, a3, a4)
and solo. (Only available with Vienna Symphonic Library House Style loaded.)
2b) For strings create an instrument change (for example from Viola to Solo Viola).
Con sordino (mute) and natural sounds on the same staff

For the VE Strings sound set refer to page 12.
For the sound sets VE Special Edition, VE Special Edition PLUS and VE Woodwinds + Brass
you can do as follows:
1) Reserve two channels for the instrument on the Sibelius Manual Sound Sets page, one
with the normal program and one with the mute program.
2) In Vienna Ensemble also add two instruments. Use the same channels you set up on the
Manual Sound Sets page.
3) In one Vienna Instrument load the natural instrument, and in the other one the muted
instrument.
4) To switch from normal to muted, just use the Technique Text con sordino or mute.
Note: The Technique Text command stopped for the Horns only works with the Vienna
Symphonic Library House Style loaded.
To switch back, use ord., normal, natural or senza sordino.
Fine tuning note lengths and velocities

The velocity and note length of a single note can be adjusted in the Playback section of the
Sibelius/Inspector/Playback (in Sibelius 5 and 6 thats called Properties/Playback) window.
Select the note(s), check Live velocity and/or Live duration and edit the values.
A/B-Select
For patches with included A/B-Selection, you can use MIDI commands for switching.
The easiest way is as follows: Set A/B Select to a free controller lets take CC4 in our
example. Now create MIDI commands (Technique Text) as follows:
~C4,0 (will trigger A samples)

~C4,127 (will trigger B samples)
How to use collections without a sound set
There is also a way to use our Collections with Sibelius when there is no sound set available.
Activate and open an instance of Vienna Ensemble for the instruments in your score without a
sound set. Choose none as sound set.
For every instrument, create a matrix of the patches you need with the X-Axis set to 21
Keyswitches or Control Change. To switch between patches, write the following Technique Text
in Sibelius.
Keyswitches:
~Nxx,64 followed shortly by ~Oxx,64

These are MIDI commands for Note On and Note Off, where xx stands for the MIDI number
of the Keyswitch. (24=C1, 25=C#1, 36=C2, )
Control Changes:
~Cxx,yy
xx stands for the MIDI Controller; yy stands for the value
See the Sibelius Reference chapter 4.17 (Sibelius 6) or chapter 6.18 (Sibelius 7) for more
information.
Troubleshooting
Vienna Ensemble not found in the list of available devices (PC)
22
If you have installed Vienna Instruments/Vienna Ensemble properly and they do not appear in
the list of available devices, you will have to tell Sibelius the path where your virtual
instruments and effects are located. To do so, go to Playback Devices/Audio Engine
Options/Virtual Instruments and Effects Folder and choose the path where you installed the
Vienna Ensemble VST plugin (= the path where the file Vienna Ensemble.dll is located). If you
are using Sibelius 7 64-bit, you will have to add the folder where the 64-bit version of the Vienna
Ensemble plugin ("Vienna Ensemble x64.dll") is installed. Then restart Sibelius.
Playback configuration / VE settings dont get saved with the score
The playback configuration (including all settings in Vienna Ensemble) is saved separately. If
you make changes on the Sibelius/Manual Sound Set page or in Vienna Ensemble, please
always save your playback configuration afterwards.
Solo strings dont switch
You have to be careful to choose the right instrument in Sibelius. Use Solo Violin, Solo Viola,
for solo instruments and Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin I, Viola, for ensemble strings. The program
you select on the Manual Sound Set page has to match the instrument.
Ensemble strings switch wrongly (sound set VE Special Edition)
If you mix up ensemble strings (chamber or orchestral) with Appassionata strings in one score,
this may lead to wrong switches. If this happens, you can do the following:
Create two instances of Vienna Ensemble (see page 4, How to use more than one instance of
Vienna Ensemble). Load the ensemble strings in one instance and Appassionata strings in the
other. In the Sibelius mixer, choose the Vienna Ensemble instance (Initial Playback device) for
the string instruments manually.
Chamber and Orchestral strings together should be no problem.

23
Ensemble strings switch wrongly (sound set VE Special Edition PLUS)
If you mix up different ensemble string types (Chamber, Orchestral, Appassionata) in one score,
this may lead to wrong switches. If this happens, you can do the following:
Create one instance of Vienna Ensemble for each ensemble string type (see page 4, How to
use more than one instance of Vienna Ensemble). Load one ensemble string type in one
instance and the other string type(s) in the other(s). In the Sibelius mixer, choose the Vienna
Ensemble instance (Initial Playback device) for the string instruments manually.
Ensemble strings switch wrongly (sound set VE Strings)
On the Manual Sound Sets page, the "Chamber", "Orchestral", "Appassionata" and "Dimension"
programs only work correctly when the corresponding instruments included in the "Vienna
Symphonic Library" House Style are loaded from the Sibelius Instruments menu. If you use the
default Sibelius instruments for string ensembles (Violin 1, Violin 2, Violin I, Violin II, Viola,
Violoncello, Contrabass, Double Bass), please use the "Ensemble" programs. The Dimension
Strings only work correctly with the [VSL Dimension Strings] Sibelius instruments and the
Dimension programs on the Manual Sound Sets page.
The switches will only work correctly when the VI presets that came with the Sibelius sound set
are loaded. They will not work correctly with the preinstalled VI presets.
Instruments switch wrongly or dont switch at all (1)
Generally it is recommended to leave the output device and channels settings in the Sibelius
mixer alone. Making settings there can mess up the playback. If you have already made
settings there or are not sure, reset all outputs in the Sibelius mixer to (Auto).
The Manual Sound Set page needs to be defined for all instruments used in the score. If one (or
more) instruments are left out, some instruments might not switch correctly.
From time to time it can happen that too many Sound IDs sum up. If the switches in an
instrument start behaving strangely at some point, it can help to reset the Sound ID of the
instrument with an ord. technique text command.
Beware of the Click! If not muted, it can mess up an instrument. If you want to use the Click,
reserve a percussion channel for it (on the Manual Sound Sets page and in Vienna Ensemble).
After changing (or updating) the sound set for a score, it may be necessary to reassign all
programs on the Manual Sound Set page. Dont assign the program at the bottom of the list.

24
Sometimes problems occur when the same instrument is used more than once. Often it helps to
create a new version of the problematic instrument, cut out the content of the old instrument and
paste it into the new one.

VE Optimizing Sibelius Playback v2.6

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Optimizing Sibelius

2014 Vienna Symphonic Library

Currently we offer the following sound sets:

VE Epic Orchestra: Works with the Epic Orchestra

VE Woodwinds + Brass: Works with the following Instrument collections: Woodwinds

More than one Vienna Ensemble

All instruments are

More details about the

Importing the Vienna Symphonic Library House Style:

2. Select Vienna Symphonic Library

Sustain: This patch is triggered by default.

Staccato: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

Legato: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

Detache: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

Portamento: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

Tremolo: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

Pizzicato: Create the Technique Text command pizz or pizzicato.

Sforzato: Create an Expression Text command (<Ctrl>+E on Win, <Cmd>+E on OS X)

Drum rolls: There are two ways to trigger these rolls:

Timpani rolls: like tremolo.

The different sounds can be triggered as follows:

VE Special Edition PLUS

Portato: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

Harmonics: Harmonics can be reached in three ways.

Col legno: Create the Technique Text command col legno.

Sul ponticello: Create the Technique Text command sul ponticello.

Strong vibrato: There are two ways to trigger these patches:

Progressive vibrato (Dimension Strings): Create the Technique Text command

Marcato: There are two ways to trigger these patches:

Which presets to load with the Dimension Strings:

Normal: This patch is triggered by default.

Harmonics: Harmonics can be reached in two ways:

Bisbigliando: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

Mute: Use the keypads staccato mark.

Normal+RS-mute: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

Damp: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

Nail: Create the Technique Text command nail or fingernail.

Strong vibrato: There are two ways to trigger these patches:

Legato+vibrato: Legato and vibrato can also be combined

Glissando (Alto + Tenor Saxophone, Tenor + Contrabass Trombone, Clarinet-Bb): Join

Slap (Flute, Saxophones): Create the Technique Text command slap.

Which presets to load with the Dimension Brass:

"a4": Played by 4 players unisono

Legato+vibrato: Legato and vibrato can also be combined.

Performance trills+vibrato: Performance trills and vibrato can also be combined.

Additional patches for the Vienna Whistler:

Portato medium: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

Portamento fast: There are two ways to trigger this patch:

Legato repetition: Create the Technique Text command rep.

Trill 1 & 2: Create a trill line from the Lines menu.

The VI presets for the Woodwinds+Brass sound set, the

Dynamic drum and percussion rolls

~C11,0 (for silent)

There is a Sibelius plugin to create these messages (Plug-ins/Playback/Cresc./Dim.

~C28,0 (Velocity X-Fade turned off)

Optimizing legato, portamento and glissando

Con sordino (mute) and natural sounds on the same staff

Fine tuning note lengths and velocities

~C4,0 (will trigger A samples)

~Nxx,64 followed shortly by ~Oxx,64

Playback configuration / VE settings dont get saved with the score

Solo strings dont switch

Ensemble strings switch wrongly (sound set VE Special Edition)

Chamber and Orchestral strings together should be no problem.