I am experiencing a slightly opaque detail malfunction: When playing scores with the Sibelius Sound library, "pizzicato" has recently stopped to be implemented. The sound just stays the standard arco string sound despite of "pizz." being written in the score. When switching to MIDI sounds, pizzicato is recognised and implemented. Nothing has been changed in the score, and until shortly ago, pizzicato had been played correctly in the Sibelius Sounds settings as well.
I have checked the settings in the playback library and "pizz" corresponds to the sound ID "+pizzicato" (ticked "until next sound ID change"), as I think it should be.
My Sibelius version is 7.3.1, and I am using it on a MacBook Air (2012) and on an iMac (2015) under MacOS X El Capitan v10.11.6.
The instruction "pizz." is written in style "Kleiner Text". In the Text Style definition for "Kleiner Text", the option "Interpret during playback" is unchecked. Therefore, Sibelius will ignore all text written in "Kleiner Text": it will not respond to "pizz." or "arco".
--
Sibelius 8.4/7.5.1/7.1.3/6.2/5.2.5, PhotoScore Ult 8.0.4, Dolet 6.6 for Sibelius, Windows 10 64-bit 16GB. Desktop no-name, Microsoft Surface Book.
I am sorry, yes, that is correct - and by the way also explains why in that case "pizz." is rendered neither in MIDI nor in Sibelius Sounds. That score was the wrong example thus.
I do have other scores where "pizz." is in technic text (Cmd + T).
Then, as I initially said, "pizz." is correctly played in MIDI, but not in Sibelius Sound. I just checked a few scores and also just created a new one. In some and as well in the newly created one everything worked fine now. However, in one - a very big score with large orchestra and about two hours duration - the problem persists. (Please understand that I would prefer not to attach complete scores here.)
> Then, as I initially said, "pizz." is correctly played in MIDI, but not in Sibelius Sound.
It's possible that the score has too many staves per system to be playable correctly by Sibelius on Mac OS. It will possibly play back correctly on Sibelius for Windows.
Try selecting playback configuration "Sibelius 7 Sounds (Lite)" and see whether that is any better.
--
Sibelius 8.4/7.5.1/7.1.3/6.2/5.2.5, PhotoScore Ult 8.0.4, Dolet 6.6 for Sibelius, Windows 10 64-bit 16GB. Desktop no-name, Microsoft Surface Book.
I duplicated one of the problematic scores (originally 47 instruments and 43 pages) and modified different parameters. Here is what I found:
1. original, Sibelius Sounds: pizz = arco (both high strings and double bass)*
2. original, Sibelius Sounds Lite: pizz = pizz in high strings, pizz = arco in double bass
3. reduced by 7 instruments, Sibelius Sounds: pizz = pizz in high strings, pizz = arco in double bass
4. reduced by 7 instruments: Sibelius Sounds Lite: pizz = pizz (both high strings and double bass)
5. reduced to 17 pages (complete instruments), Sibelius Sounds: pizz = arco (both high strings and double bass)
6. reduced to 17 pages (complete instruments), Sibelius Sounds Lite: pizz = pizz
7. reduced to 7 pages (complete instruments), Sibelius Sounds: pizz = pizz in high strings, pizz = arco in double bass.
7. reduced to 1 page (complete instruments), Sibelius Sounds: pizz = pizz
*The interesting thing is that the very same score had played correctly before. No more instruments or bars had been added before it stopped playing correctly.
The symptoms listed by Christian are entirely compatible with previous reported experience with Sibelius Player on Mac OS. Sibelius Player is simply incapable of correct playback of a score with more than 20-30 instruments: various articulations will steadily stop working as the number of instruments gets higher, and the bad effects will be worst with staves at the bottom of each system/page. With 47 instruments, as claimed, correct playback should be expected to be almost impossible.
The problems will be mitigated by the use of playback configuration "Sibelius 7 Sounds (Lite)" because the Lite configuration uses samples for fewer articulations, instead using synthesised articulations. But, with too many instruments, even that will stop working.
A better solution is to use a more professional sample library and player devices, avoiding the limitations of Sibelius Player altogether.
Sibelius is primarily a notation application, and Sibelius Player is a cheap and cheerful way of obtaining playback of small demos. But to expect Sibelius Player to manage playback of a complete symphony orchestra is unreasonable with the current implementation of Sibelius Player.
--
Sibelius 8.4/7.5.1/7.1.3/6.2/5.2.5, PhotoScore Ult 8.0.4, Dolet 6.6 for Sibelius, Windows 10 64-bit 16GB. Desktop no-name, Microsoft Surface Book.
Thanks, Robin, for that very helpful, though slightly frustrating reply.
To create provisory simulations circumvening the errors in the lower part of the score, it might also be an idea to duplicate the score, splitting up the instrumental line-up in two halves and putting the two resulting audio exports together.
> With respect, Christian, it's no use showing us a score that works. We need to see one that doesn't.
Obviously, my reasoning was that the mistake be on my side, e. g. in notating the pizz., or in a setting, it will be perfectly visible also from a trunkated score.
> You can use the very useful plugin developed by Bob Z that disguises a score. It's under Note Input->Plugins->Composing tools.
Thanks for the hint, will bear this in mind.