Virtual Drumline 2 QuickStart Guide

Transcription

1 Virtual Drumline 2 QuickStart Guide Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of Virtual Drumline 2 by Tapspace the world s most powerful, complete marching battery and concert percussion sample library ever recorded! Soon you ll be making amazing new sounds with your computer with the help of VDL:2. First, there are a few important concepts to wrap yourself around. Many composers/arrangers use VDL:2 in conjunction with a notation program such as Sibelius or Finale. For many, this will require running VDL:2 by itself, and virtually linking it to your notation program so they are both working together to create the end result. Think of this process by comparing the workflow to that of a symphony orchestra. The diagram illustrates this analogy. Find your setup (i.e. Windows - Sibelius) on the following pages for a quick, step-by-step guide to configuring this workflow on your computer. For more details, be sure to read pages in the VDL:2 User Guide. Note that Finale 2006 users have another option to use VDL:2 as a plug-in which will bypass the need for a virtual midi cable. Contents Introduction page 1 Important Concepts page 2 Choose your setup Windows - Sibelius page 3 Windows - Finale page 4 Windows - Finale 2006 page 5 Macintosh - Sibelius page 6 Macintosh - Finale page 7 Macintosh - Finale 2006 page 8 pg

2 Important Concepts Your VDL:2 Serial Number Your unique VDL:2 serial number is located on the DVD envelope. You will need this number to install the software. Once you ve installed the software, you should run the Registration Tool immediately to register with Native Instruments and permanently authorize the software for your computer. Do not lose your serial number! Software Updates Virtual Drumline 2 is constantly evolving. In fact, the software you install on this DVD is already out of date. So we recommend you update your Kontakt Player software as soon as possible. Also, we occasionally release Library Updates (these are different than the Kontakt Player software updates). To download the latest updates for the player and/or the library, go to: DFD Extension If you have limited memory (RAM) or plan on loading a large number of instruments at once, you should download the free Native Instruments DFD extension (this stands for direct from disc ). This extension enables your VDL:2 Kontakt Player software to stream samples from the hard drive rather than loading them entirely into RAM. To download the DFD Extension, follow the links at:. Once you ve installed the DFD extension, optimize its performance (before loading any instruments) by clicking the Options button on the VDL:2 player and setting the number of reserved voices to 256. Then be sure to click the Apply button so these settings are retained. Soundcard Settings VDL:2 will demand some heavy lifting from your soundcard. Some soundcards (and their drivers) perform better than others, particularly when playing dense scores. We encourage you to spend some time fiddling with your VDL:2 soundcard settings at File>Settings>Soundcard. When possible, Windows users should use ASIO as the Interface selection as these audio drivers perform the best. It s also a very good idea to set the latency at a level that s not too low. We recommend 40ms as a good starting point. Setting latency too low can sometimes place much more burden on your CPU, resulting in undesirable audio pops, clicks, and dropouts. More info on ASIO and other audio driver formats (such as Direct Sound or MME) can be found in the Glossary of the VDL:2 User Guide. Getting Help Unlike many software programs you ve used, VDL:2 will likely require you to learn some new skills as you go. Please be patient and carefully read the User Guide. The results will be worth it! If you find yourself with unanswered questions along the way, the best place to go for help is The Tapspace Forum an online community of VDL:2 experts. Use the Search feature to find answers to your questions there. If you can t find an answer, feel free post your questions there. By participating in the forum, you ll hear the latest demos and always be up to speed with the most current Virtual Drumline news. You can find the forum at: pg 2

3 Windows - Sibelius 2. Install a Virtual MIDI Cable This is a small piece of software that will allow Sibelius and VDL:2 to speak to each other. Once you ve installed this, you ll see it as an available device in any MIDI programs you run. Since you re a Windows user, download and install the free MIDI YOKE driver (this will be your virtual midi cable ) from Note: When you click the download link, you may see a few different versions of MIDI Yoke to download. It s easiest if you download the NT installer (which works on Windows XP). There s one that says manual install, but it s probably easier if you avoid that one and just use the one with an actual installer instead. 3. Configure VDL:2 to receive MIDI INPUT from Midi Yoke Launch Virtual Drumline 2 and go to File>Setup>MIDI. Under Input Interface, set MIDI Yoke NT: 1 to ON. For now, everything else in this entire window should say off. Click OK. 4. Download Sibelius VDL:2 Template This template is an important tool because it contains numerous staff types that are customized for VDL:2. More info on staff types can be found in your Sibelius documentation. Download the template from: 5. Set Sibelius to send MIDI OUTPUT through Midi Yoke Launch the Sibelius template and go to Play>Playback and Input Devices (or just Devices if you re still using Sibelius 3). Under PLAYBACK DEVICES be sure that MIDI Yoke NT: 1 is set to Yes in the USE column. It s OK if other items in this list say Yes as well. Under INPUT DEVICE, be sure you ve selected (highlighted) your MIDI Keyboard (i.e. M-Audio Keystation). While you re here, also check that MIDI Thru is checked. 6. Set instrument MIDI Channels in VDL:2 and Sibelius Mixer Configure Sibelius staff channels using the Mixer window. More details are on page 21 of the VDL:2 user guide and in your Sibelius documentation. That s it! You ve now connected Sibelius and VDL:2 to each other! pg 3

4 Windows - Finale Install a Virtual MIDI Cable This is a small piece of software that will allow Finale and VDL:2 to speak to each other. Once you ve installed this, you ll see it as an available device in any MIDI programs you run. Since you re a Windows user, download and install the free MIDI YOKE driver (this will be your virtual midi cable ) from Note: When you click the download link, you may see a few options of items to download. It s easiest if you download the NT installer (which works on Windows XP). There s one that says manual install, but it s probably easier if you avoid that one and use the other one (with an actual installer) instead. 3. Configure VDL:2 to receive MIDI INPUT from Midi Yoke Launch Virtual Drumline 2 and go to File>Setup>MIDI. Under Input Interface, set MIDI Yoke NT: 1 to ON. For now, everything else in this entire window should say off. Click OK. 4. Download Finale VDL:2 Template This template is an important tool because it contains numerous percussion maps that are customized for VDL:2. Download the latest template from: 5. Set Finale to send MIDI OUTPUT through Midi Yoke Launch the Finale template and go to MIDI>MIDI Setup. Under MIDI In Device:, you should set this to your MIDI Keyboard (i.e. M-Audio Keystation). Under MIDI Out Device: be sure that MIDI Yoke NT: 1 is selected. Click OK. Next, go to MIDI>MIDI Thru and check the Smart option. Click OK. 6. Set instrument MIDI Channels Configure Finale s staff channels using the Instrument List and Instrument Definition windows. More details are on page 23 of the VDL:2 user guide and in your Finale documentation. Staff channels in Finale s Instrument List window should correspond to instrument channels in VDL:2. That s it! You ve now connected Finale and VDL:2 to each other! pg 4

5 Windows - Finale 2006 Since VDL:2 was first introduced, MakeMusic has released Finale 2006, which introduces a new way to use VDL:2 by hosting it (as a plug-in) directly in Finale. This can be a very convenient way in which to work since all your instruments will be directly available within your notation file (rather than running VDL:2 and Finale as two separate programs). As this is a new development, you will not find any documentation about it in the VDL:2 User Guide. It s a very simple process though, so don t worry. Below are the steps to getting this configured. 2. Copy your VDL:2 VST Plug-in to the FinaleVST folder Locate the file - VirtualDrumline2VST.dll. This file is the VST plug-in for Virtual Drumline 2. Usually this is located on your computer at C:\Program Files\Tapspace\Virtual Drumline 2\VSTPlugins. Once you ve located the file, right-click it and select Copy. Then, go to: C:\Program Files\Finale 2006\FinaleVST. Right-click in this folder, and select Paste. Pasting this file here will now allow Finale 2006 to host VDL:2 as a VST plug-in. 3. Download Finale VDL:2 Template This template is an important tool because it contains numerous percussion maps that are customized for VDL:2. Download the latest template from: 4. Set Finale to host VDL:2 as a Plug-in Launch the Finale template and go to MIDI menu. Select Play Finale through Native Instruments VST. There should now be a checkmark by this menu option. Now go to: MIDI>Native Instrument VST Setup. Next to Finale Channel 1-16 select Virtual Drumline 2 from the pull-down menu. Click the Edit button to view this instance of the VDL:2 player window. This is where you will load your desired instrument sounds and set their channels. 5. Set instrument MIDI Channels Configure Finale s staff channels using the Instrument List and Instrument Definition windows. More details are on page 23 of the VDL:2 user guide and in your Finale documentation. Staff channels in Finale s Instrument List window should correspond to instrument channels in VDL:2. That s it! You ve now configured Finale to playback using VDL:2! pg 5

6 Macintosh - Sibelius 2. Activate your Virtual MIDI Cable This is a small piece of software that will allow Sibelius and VDL:2 to speak to each other. The cool thing about OSX is that there s already one built into the operating system. It s called the IAC Driver (IAC stands for Inter-Application Communication ). To activate the IAC Driver: A) Go to: Macintosh HD>Applications>Utilities and double-click the program, Audio MIDI Setup. B) Click on the MIDI Devices tab, and you should see and icon for IAC Driver. Double-Click it to open. C) Click to put a checkmark in the box that says Device is Online. D) Click the Apply button, close the IAC Driver window, and Quit Audio MIDI Setup. Once you ve done this, you ll see IAC Driver Bus 1 as an available device in any MIDI programs you run. 3. Configure VDL:2 to receive MIDI INPUT from IAC Launch Virtual Drumline 2 and go to File>Setup>MIDI. Under Input Interface, set Apple IAC Driver Bus 1 to ON. For now, everything else in this entire window should say off. Click OK. 4. Download Sibelius VDL:2 Template This template is an important tool because it contains numerous staff types that are customized for VDL:2. More info on staff types can be found in your Sibelius documentation. Download the template from: 5. Set Sibelius to send MIDI OUTPUT through IAC Launch the Sibelius template and go to Play>Playback and Input Devices (or just Devices if you re still using Sibelius 3). Under PLAYBACK DEVICES be sure that IAC Driver Bus 1 is set as the default device by clicking once on it (its name will be in blue letters). Under INPUT DEVICE, be sure you ve selected (highlighted) your MIDI Keyboard (i.e. M-Audio Keystation). While you re here, also check that MIDI Thru is checked. Once you ve completed these steps, click OK. 6. Set instrument MIDI Channels in VDL:2 and Sibelius Mixer To set VDL:2 instrument channels, read page 26 of the user guide. The part about MIDI IN is particularly helpful here. Configure Sibelius staff channels using the Mixer window. Exact steps are on page 21 of the VDL:2 user guide and in your Sibelius documentation. That s it! You ve now connected Sibelius and VDL:2 to each other! pg 6

7 Macintosh - Finale Activate your Virtual MIDI Cable This is a small piece of software that will allow Sibelius and VDL:2 to speak to each other. The cool thing about OSX is that there s already one built into the operating system. It s called the IAC Driver (IAC stands for Inter-Application Communication ). To activate the IAC Driver: A) Go to: Macintosh HD>Applications>Utilities and double-click the program, Audio MIDI Setup. B) Click on the MIDI Devices tab, and you should see and icon for IAC Driver. Double-Click it to open. C) Click to put a checkmark in the box that says Device is Online. D) Click the Apply button, close the IAC Driver window, and Quit Audio MIDI Setup. Once you ve done this, you ll see IAC Driver Bus 1 as an available device in any MIDI programs you run. 3. Configure VDL:2 to receive MIDI INPUT from IAC Launch Virtual Drumline 2 and go to File>Setup>MIDI. Under Input Interface, set IAC Driver Bus 1 to ON. For now, anything else in this entire window should say off. Click OK. 4. Download Finale VDL:2 Template This template is an important tool because it contains numerous percussion maps that are customized for VDL:2. Download the latest template from: 5. Set Finale to send MIDI OUTPUT through IAC Launch the Finale template and go to MIDI>MIDI Setup. Under MIDI In Device:, you should set this to your MIDI Keyboard (i.e. M-Audio Keystation). Under MIDI Out Device: be sure that Apple IAC Driver Bus 1 is selected. Click OK. Next, go to MIDI>MIDI Thru and check the Smart option. Click OK. 6. Set instrument MIDI Channels Configure Finale s staff channels using the Instrument List and Instrument Definition windows. More details are on page 23 of the VDL:2 user guide and in your Finale documentation. Staff channels in Finale s Instrument List window should correspond to instrument channels in VDL:2. That s it! You ve now connected Finale and VDL:2 to each other! pg 7

8 Macintosh - Finale 2006 Since VDL:2 was first introduced, MakeMusic has released Finale 2006, which introduces a new way to use VDL:2 by hosting it (as a plug-in) directly in Finale. This can be a very convenient way in which to work since all your instruments will be directly available within your notation file (rather than running VDL:2 and Finale as two separate programs). As this is a new development, you will not find any documentation about it in the VDL:2 User Guide. It s a very simple process though, so don t worry. Below are the steps to getting this configured. Run the VD2 Installer.app on the enclosed DVD. To be complete, select CUSTOM INSTALL, and be sure to check the Basic Installation, Audio Unit, and Library options. This will ensure you properly install the AU Plugin which Finale 2006 will require. Be patient, it can sometimes take up to 20 minutes or so to load the final three.nks files which are quite large. 2. Download Finale VDL:2 Template This template is an important tool because it contains numerous percussion maps that are customized for VDL:2. You can learn more about Finale percussion maps in your Finale documentation. Download the latest template from: 3. Set Finale to host VDL:2 as a Plug-in Launch the Finale template and go to the MIDI menu. Select Play Finale through Native Instruments AU. There should now be a checkmark next to it. Now go to: MIDI>Native Instrument AU Setup. Next to Finale Channel 1-16 select Virtual Drumline 2 from the pull-down menu. Click the Edit button to view this instance of the VDL:2 player window. This is where you will load your desired instrument sounds and set their channels. 4. Set instrument MIDI Channels Configure Finale s staff channels using the Instrument List and Instrument Definition windows. More details are on page 23 of the VDL:2 user guide and in your Finale documentation. Staff channels in Finale s Instrument List window should correspond to instrument channels in VDL:2. That s it! You ve now configured Finale to playback using VDL:2! pg 8