That's right. If you're using the Sibelius Essentials sound set you can also play around with changing the note head shapes as Dan mentioned earlier - this'll give you effects like standard hits and crossed sticks for snare drums, etc.. Best wishes. Tim Burgess Raised Bar Ltd Phone: +44 (0)1827 719822 Don't forget to vote for improved access to music and music technology at http://www.raisedbar.net/petition.htm -----Original Message----- From: sib-access-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sib-access-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Vytautas Jr Sent: 14 April 2009 14:32 To: sib-access@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [sib-access] Re: writing for unpitched percussion Thanks Dan. So if I change a pitch by arrowing up or down, I shall eventually find the correct line? Chheers Vytautas -----Original Message----- From: sib-access-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sib-access-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Dan Rugman Sent: 14 avril 2009 07:33 To: sib-access@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [sib-access] Re: writing for unpitched percussion Vytautas, This is a complex topic and I can't really summarise it in one email, but hear goes. Unpitched percussion staves don't work like other staves. Each line or space represents a physical instrument. For instance, a bongo staff will have two lines, with the top line for the high bongo and the bottom line for the low bongo. So, to get the right sound out of Sibelius, you must put the note on the correct line of the staff. Each unpitched percussion instrument has its own "map" which maps a line or space on the staff to a sound in the sound set. Each line or space is also represented by a specific pitch. Unfortunately, the pitch which represents each line changes depending on how many lines the staff has. You can summarise it thus, 1 line: B4. 2 lines: G4, D4. The Space between the lines is B4. 3 lines: G4, B4, D4. Spaces are A4 and C4. 4 lines, F4, A4, C5, E5. Spaces are G4, B4, C5 and E5. 5 lines: E4, G4, B5, D5, F5. Spaces are F4, A4, C5 and E5. EG: in a 2 line bongo staff, the top line is D5, the space between the lines is B4 and the bottom line is G4. The top line is mapped to the high bongo sound and the bottom line is assigned to the low bongo sound. I usually resist the urge to write equations in emails but in this case, it's the quickest way to make the point. D5 = top line = high bongo sound B4 = space = unassigned G4 = bottom line = low bongo sound To put this in flowery prose; you can't just use any pitch you like. You must stick to the pitches which represent the lines or spaces. So, in the bongo example, enter a G4 to get the low bongo and D5 to get the high bongo. The space note doesn't do anything in this example. There some very complicated mappings, especially the standard drum set, which needs you to use different shaped note heads to get at some sounds. Hope this helps (even just a little), Dan Rugman visit the new on-line resource for visually impaired musicians and home of Sibelius Access. www.musicaccess.co.uk -----Original Message----- From: sib-access-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:sib-access-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Vytautas Jr Sent: 14 April 2009 04:56 To: sib-access@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [sib-access] writing for unpitched percussion Hi All, In a score, I inserted some percussion staves (like cymbals or temple blocks or gong), but when I try to arrow onto a random note I write on them, I hear nothing. Is there any way I can assign some sound to each of these staves? You see, I need to hear the rhythmic effect of them in relation to other instruments. Thank you in advance. Cheers Vytautas If you wish to unsubscribe, send a blank message with the single word, unsubscribe - in the Subject line to: sib-access-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx If you wish to unsubscribe, send a blank message with the single word, unsubscribe - in the Subject line to: sib-access-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx If you wish to unsubscribe, send a blank message with the single word, unsubscribe - in the Subject line to: sib-access-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx If you wish to unsubscribe, send a blank message with the single word, unsubscribe - in the Subject line to: sib-access-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx