VE, Cubase Expression Maps, and Polyphonic Voices

[johncmurphy]

Is Vienna Ensemble able to handle the use of Cubase Expression Maps with polyphonic notation in the Cubase Score Editor? Specifically, I have two flutes in one MIDI track, with each flute assigned to its own polyphonic voice in the Score Editor settings. The MIDI track is routed to an instance of VE which contains two instances of the Flute VST, on MIDI channels 1 and 2. The signal routing occurs correctly, with each instance (channel) only receiving the MIDI notes from their respective voices, but the Expression Map assigned to the track only seems to work for the first instance (channel 1), meaning I can see the patches changing in the matrix view. But the second voice (channel 2) stays stuck on the patch all the time...

[andi]

Hello John!

Of course Vienna Ensemble is able to receive MIDI data on different channels simultaneously. As far as I can see, the culprit is Cubase. [;)]  VST Expressions cannot be assigned to channels individually. So they work on the channel that's set up for the track and if the track is set to "All" MIDI channels, they work on channel 1.

Best regards,
Andi

[johncmurphy]

So is there any software other than Cubase that would allow me to easily control the VSL articulations from the notation (score) editor?

[andi]

You could use notation software like Sibelius or Finale instead, but keep in mind that notation programs usually can't offer as detailed MIDI editing and mixing tools as DAW software like Cubase.

Best regards,
Andi

[johnstaf]

If you have two voices on one staff, have you applied the expression to both voices in the score editor?

[johncmurphy]

@johnstaf said:

If you have two voices on one staff, have you applied the expression to both voices in the score editor?

Yes, and that is not the problem. The expression message is not getting transmitted to any channel in VE except MIDI channel 1, as evidenced by the failure of the patches in the matrix to change during playback. I get around this by creating separate channels for each voice of each instrument, but that means a lot of extra staves in the score.

[johnstaf]

You can send expressions to multiple channels at the same time, but you need to have a duplicate made for each of those channels.

I don't know your priorities or circumstances, but I'd go with different staves unless you really have to do otherwise -it gets messy very quickly.