Sibelius + VSL SE: section, solo, divisi on one staff?

[sbkp]

Is there any way to have a single staff represent the following?

Let's take flutes for example. I want to write for three flutes on one staff. Each has their own line.

* Without any additional markup, play solo flute for all lines
* If I write "a 2" or "a 3", I get the flute ensemble
* If I write "solo" I get back to solo flute
* (For bonus points... If I write "a 2" on one voice and "solo" on a different voice, I get both... :-)
* (For extra bonus points... If I write for two flute voices, have the second voice use "Flute 2")
* If I'm writing individual lines, can each line have its own legato? In other words, can I write polyphonically and have legato?

I'm guessing that for at least the first three parts, it might work the way mutes work (thanks andi!) but I just haven't tried it yet... Sorry for being lazy.

For strings, there'd be the additional case:
* write "div" (or even "a 4" or some such) and I could use the Chamber Strings matrix

Thanks!

[sbkp]

I added "a 3" and "solo" to the playback dictionary, and got the first three things working. I have some unexpected CC1 messages going, so I get strange dynamics, but I think that's unrelated. That last point in the flute example (writing multiple solo lines with legato) I can't get to work on one staff. Any recommendations? Thanks!

[andi]

For those who are interested in what to add to the dictionary to switch between a solo and an ensemble 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.
2.) Go to Sibelius/Play/Dictionary/Staff Text
3.) Create a new keyword (a2, a3, all, ensemble or whatever you want)
4.) Choose Effect: Sound ID Change and as Sound ID enter "+ensemble" Until next SOund ID change
5.) To switch back to the solo instrument, you can either use the Technique Text "ord." or create an additional entry in the dictionary (e.g. solo) with the Effect: Sound ID Change  "[reset]" Until next SOund ID change

It is not possible in Sibelius to play two different voices in one staff on two different channels. So if you want more than one legato phrase at the same time, you will have to create more than one staff. Also if you want to play solo Flute and Flute Ensemble at the same time.

You can exclude slurs from playback in the Sibelius/Properties/Playback window. This way you avoid that Vienna Ensemble switches to the legato patch and you will hear at least all voices played. But in this case with the sustain instead of the legato patch.

I don't understand your CC1 problem. CC1 has nothing to do with dynamics, but switches vertically between cells in most of our matrices.

Best,
Andi

[sbkp]

Thanks, Andi. The approach I came up with was slightly different than yours in step 5. For my "solo" dictionary entry, I made the Sound ID change "-ensemble". Does "[reset]" have an advantage I'm not seeing? Thanks for the tip on excluding slurs. Just generally... Thanks thanks thanks!

[andi]

In this case both "-ensemble" and "[reset] will do pretty much the same. The Sound ID change "[reset]" sets the Sound ID back to its initial value (e.g. wind.flutes.flute), while the change "-ensemble" just removes the sound ID ".ensemble".

Andi