Sibelius??

[So Hyun Jung]

Hello!!

 

I have a question for you all. I am using Sibelius 3, and I'm on the verge of purchasing Sibelius 6. But I kind of understood that Sibelius is not the best thing to work with? I have no knowledge about the market of files in which to create your music. Does anyone have this knowledge? I do like to have better sound for my stuff that I'd like to post on my page, but I don't know how.

Then there is another question. I'd like to put some sheet music on my page as well. I can make a PDF file of my scores, but how do I put them on my page? 

Thanks a lot for the help!!

 

Hyun Jung

[Alpa]

As far as i know, there are two basic ways to produce a good sound:

 

1 - By writing the a midi track and add a soundfont wich emulates a particular sound (violins, cello etc.)

 

2 - Playing with a midi controler (like a midi keyboard) combined with a VSTi plugin and a DAW.

 

If anyone knows another (even better) way, please, don't hesitate to say it, unless you're about  to say: going to a professional studio.

 

[Doug Lauber]

3- play an instrument, like a guitar or piano, record the sound with a microphone > preamp > computer.

[So Hyun Jung]

Dear Ray, Alpa and Doug

 

Thanks for the reply!! i think it will work!!

 

Best regards, Hyun Jung

[Ansgar Kreutz]

I use Sibelius 6 and logic prof. and the most things are very well

 

[Jeremy Stewart]

Sibelius 6 is great. Makes notation a breeze, and they finally made formatting SIMPLE! Woo! The sounds are fantastic, but you can either plug in another VST or AU instrument or export the midi into another sampling program. 

 

[Fredrik Aske Blikeng]

With Sibelius 6 you can export the score as a midi, and then easy put the midi file into for example cubase.

Jeremy Stewart said:

Sibelius 6 is great. Makes notation a breeze, and they finally made formatting SIMPLE! Woo! The sounds are fantastic, but you can either plug in another VST or AU instrument or export the midi into another sampling program. 

 

[Doug Lauber]

A score must have perfect timing which has a non-human feel in a sequencer, like Sonar. I'm guessing that best results require TWO versions of the same composition. For a recorded demo, via a DAW/sequencer, I would perform all of the parts using a MIDI keyboard, keeping all of it in its imperfect form for a human feel. Then I would convert these 'human' sequences into recorded audio. Then I'd tweak these audio tracks with EQ, compression, FX, etc.

Then, for a score, I would go over all of the MIDI sequences and quantize them so that the timing is perfect for the proper production of a score, with exact 16th notes, etc.

 

Anyway, that's just a suggestion for a working method. ...food for thought for those who want a human recording AND a perfect score. It would require two projects for each composition.

[Alpa]

Doug, i must agree with your opinion about the importance of the human touch on the music, but the question is: What you do when you don't have a midi controller or a good equip such as good microphones, good instruments or a good pc and hardware. I'd rather to do it in the analogic way, sure, but it's hard to work with no resources. I think that this discussion started by the view of those who can't do it another way. In any way, your observation is very relevant.

Hugs

 

[Doug Lauber]

You must work with the best equipment you can afford. That's always the case. Use free or inexpensive sample libraries. Equipment is always a factor, even for electricians, plumbers, and carpenters...

When my parents bought me a Kay electric guitar in 1965, it started my adventure into composing. So, save up for a MIDI keyboard and a few OK samples. It's a start. Work a second job for a while to buy nicer equipment. Sometimes having minimal equipment can force one to be more creative with just a few tools. Even if you only have a notation program and a few samples, you can experiment with making various kinds of arrangements and see what chord structures strike a chord with you.

[Chris Alpiar]

if you are even a little serious about trying to make 'real live' music with your samples based computer setup, you just need some things, a midi keyboard is one of them, so that you can spent a LOT of hours getting in tune with your sample libraries so you can understand how the attacks lay down exactly, how different libs of the same sounds stack against each other, how to humanize your performances. If you cant afford a MIDI controller for a hundred bucks, you are pursuing the wrong thing. Its like asking how can I get a car that I dont need to use one of those expensive steering wheels...

[F Gordon Kennedy]

You can start with only five things.

A high speed Internet connection.

The latest greatest of Cakewalk 'Music Creator' The Roland softsynth makes great sounds (you'll have to learn to use it - its there, but there are no instructions) Creator 5 is out now, 6  should be out for the school year. $40.00

computer - best advice all around is the most powerful machine you can afford. Micro Center is reliable and the sell 'refurb'
computers.

speakers or ear phones (to your taste - they don't have to be big and loud, best quality you can get).

Wave Table card - 'synth' card- is soooo last century. Sound Blaster by Creative Engineering (not the game model). Get the one with the six  plug-in ports on the back (sorry, I don't have the model number for this - Sound Blaster or Creative Engineering is on the Internet). $112.00 to $199.00 (for the Platinum model).

 

I recommend Micro Center - it's on the Internet. Very knowledgeable staff. Go a time or two - smile - talk to them.

Alpa said:

Doug, i must agree with your opinion about the importance of the human touch on the music, but the question is: What you do when you don't have a midi controller or a good equip such as good microphones, good instruments or a good pc and hardware. I'd rather to do it in the analogic way, sure, but it's hard to work with no resources. I think that this discussion started by the view of those who can't do it another way. In any way, your observation is very relevant.

Hugs

 

[F Gordon Kennedy]

Hi, (I'm repeating this - possibly - I'm not sure the 1st attempt got through).

Here are three suggestions to keep you composing. Make of them what you will:

Composersite.com (contests) 

IndabaMusic.com (contest opportunities - re-mix contests)

FilmMusic.com - for a small membership fee - (forum/membership/learning opportunities/clearing house for composition jobs)
Reverbnation.com (membership/learning opportunities)

I'm just getting started with Sibelius 6 - I like it. As with anything else there is a learning curve, take your time. Try things, you can't break it! The stuff I have tried on Sibelius has already saved me a bunch of writing time.

Use FILE/Import for the PDF. I think that will work. The Sibelius 6 package I got came with Audio Score Lite, that might solve your problem and Photo Score Lite. I'm saving lots of time with these. Just be sure to keep track of your files and versions of files. I've bounce MIDI files back and forth between my current DAW and Sibelius have gotten good results.