Our support contact form is found
at the bottom of this page.

QUICKSTART GUIDE

MAC INSTALLATION

  • If you've purchased NotePerformer, please download the full version installer using your personal download links.
  • Run the installer and proceed through all steps. The full version overwrites the trial version.
  • Open Sibelius, and switch to your new Playback Configuration named "NotePerformer".
  • NotePerformer may be uninstalled by running:
     
          /Library/​Application Support/​NotePerformer/​Uninstall NotePerformer.command
  • Our installer overwrites previously installed NotePerformer versions.

PC INSTALLATION

  • If you've purchased NotePerformer, please download the full version installer using your personal download links.
  • If you've manually overridden Sibelius's VST plug-in path, or if Sibelius was installed to another drive than C:, you must take extra caution. Our installer targets only the default plug-in paths:
     
          C:\Program Files\​Avid\​VSTPlugins
          C:\Program Files (x86)\​Avid\​VSTPlugins
          C:\Program Files\​Sibelius Software\​VSTPlugins
          C:\Program Files (x86)\​Sibelius Software\​VSTPlugins
     
    Sibelius must remain configured to use one of these paths for plug-ins. The folder must also exist on your hard drive, prior to installing NotePerformer.
  • Run the installer and proceed through all steps. The full version overwrites the trial version.
  • Open Sibelius, and switch to your new Playback Configuration named "NotePerformer".
  • NotePerformer may be uninstalled from "Add/Remove Programs".
  • Our installer overwrites previously installed NotePerformer versions.

GETTING STARTED IN SIBELIUS

  • To get NotePerformer playback in Sibelius, switch to the NotePerformer configuration.
  • This configuration should appear automatically if you've installed NotePerformer.
  • If NotePerformer playback isn't working, step one is to open the Audio Engine Options dialog and review your settings.
  • When troubleshooting, please always use the Primary Sound Driver (DS) on PC, and the Built-in Output (CoreAudio) on Mac.
  • When troubleshooting, please use a buffer size of at least 1024, and a sample rate of 44100 Hz.
  • Make sure "Use virtual instruments and effects" is selected.
  • Please note that General MIDI playback in Sibelius works irrespectively of these settings, and cannot be used to determine the status of the audio engine in Sibelius.
  • NotePerformer's instruments respond to reverb, pan and volume from the Sibelius mixer.
  • Mixer settings are saved with your score.
  • By default, reverb is 39%, while pan and volume may vary.
  • This variation in default volume was meant to counteract imbalances in Sibelius 6's built-in sounds but now often produces unwanted volume differences between instruments.
  • Make a habit of always checking the volume levels, as you want your instruments to all have the same volume.
  • Double-clicking a volume slider resets it to the baseline value of 95.
  • You can also use our included plug-in to reset all instruments to a volume of 95.
  • Run this script when starting a new score, or when adding staves.
  • This script also resets pan to the staff's default.
  • If you want Sibelius to strictly follow the dynamics in your score you must lower the espressivo setting to meccanico from the performance dialog.
  • The "espressivo" feature makes Sibelius humanize the dynamics, for better or worse. Use only with care.
  • If you experience problems with higher notes being louder than lower pitched notes during a melody, you are using Espressivo.
  • You can also change our global reverb level from the performance dialog.
  • This is done by changing from Ambient hall to another room type.
  • The "Use reverb" checkbox must always be selected.
  • You can turn off the reverb by using the "Dry" room type.
  • You can have early reflections only by using "Small room".
  • The room type setting works in combination with the reverb sliders in the mixer (which have a baseline value of 39%).
  • You can turn off playback for any item in Sibelius.
  • This is done by deselecting "Play on pass" from the Inspector dialog.
  • You can use this feature to correct improper playback in Sibelius, such as nested slurs.
  • You can also combine this feature with hidden items (such as hidden slurs or accents) to improve playback for scarce or unconventional notation.
  • Occasionally when opening an older orchestral score created with Sibelius Sounds, the first plug-in instance is -6 dB lower than it should be.
  • The result is that the first 16 staves are considerably lower in volume. This is a problem if your score uses more than 16 staves.
  • Double-click this slider in the mixer to reset the volume for the first plug-in instance.
  • You can customize playback of individual trills in Sibelius, from the Inspector.
  • Speed means number of notes per second and is useful for fine-tuning playback of a trill.
  • This problem is resolved from Sibelius 2019.4.
  • Unpitched percussion trills in Sibelius occasionally play the wrong sound for every other note.
  • This happens when Sibelius incorrectly performs it as an interval trill within the percussion map rather than a tremolo.
  • Problem is solved by setting the "fixed" trill type with an interval of zero half steps
  • Trill lines are automatically performed legato—when using NotePerformer—but trill symbols aren't because they are missing the appropriate Sound ID change.
  • Problem is solved by manually adding the +trill Sound ID change to the symbols in the Dictionary.
  • Scores using an old House Style may be missing Sound ID changes for articulations such as tenuto and marcato.
  • Without a Sound ID change, the articulation will not playback correctly.
  • Problem is solved by manually adding Sound ID changes named after the articulation.
  • Or alternatively, by importing an up-to-date House Style.
  • If you see only "MIDI" type playback devices in Sibelius, you may not have an audio interface configured.
  • In this state only General MIDI playback works.
  • Problem is solved by opening the Audio Engine Options dialog and selecting an audio interface.
  • Sounds in NotePerformer that lack a staff definition in Sibelius may be accessed by overriding the sound from the mixer.
  • If you manually override a sound from the mixer then Sibelius also overrides the device—whether you like it or not—by assigning it to the first NotePerformer instance (N. 1-16).
  • This is a common source of error with larger scores using sound overrides. You should immediately change the device to "auto" after a manual sound override, or you may start experiencing problems with the wrong sounds being assigned.
  • Dynamics should include voice 1 when possible.
  • Dynamics or hairpins in the wrong voice is a common source of error with Sibelius playback of dynamics.
  • If you want to mix sounds from different plug-ins you add these additional plug-ins to the NotePerformer playback configuration.
  • This is done from the Playback Devices dialog. You select the plug-in you want to add under available devices and click activate.
  • Save the configuration using a different name. The NotePerformer configuration reverts to its original state on a regular basis.
  • With a mixed configuration—like this one—you must manually specify the playback device for each staff, from the mixer.
  • The advanced user can instead use Playback Devices ▸ Preferred Sounds to specify how sounds should be distributed over different devices.
  • If sounds are not assigned correctly (or always playback as a trumpet sound) you may have inadvertently deselected Send program changes in Sibelius's playback preferences.
  • NotePerformer relies on bank and program MIDI messages, so you must not deactivate these features.
  • Our Plug-Ins for Sibelius unlock additional features.
  • The Orchestral Tuning Plug-In adds support for tunings other than 440 Hz.
  • The Pipe Organ Stops Plug-In provides easy access to custom registration.
  • The Tenuto Always Plug-In forces all notes to be performed for their full written length, overriding natural interpretation.
  • The Vibrato Amount/Speed Plug-Ins provide in-depth control over vibrato.
  • The a2, a3, ... Plug-In creates sections for woodwinds or brass, and reduces the sizes of string sections.
  • We include a range of percussion sounds with no natural mapping in Sibelius, such as the Suspended Cymbal and Opera Gongs.
  • These must be manually mapped to a percussion staff of your choice, if you wish to use them.
  • 1. Add a percussion staff with the right appearance.
  • 2. Select a full bar on that staff, and click the small arrow next to Instruments on the ribbon to open the Edit Instruments dialog.
  • 3. If you selected a bar on that staff, your instrument is automatically highlighted. Please click Edit Instrument...
  • 4. This opens another dialog, where you may edit the properties of that instrument. Please click Edit Staff Type...
  • 5. From the Edit Staff Type dialog you may manually assign percussion sounds to any notehead or pitch of your choice.
  • 6. Close all dialogs and save your changes when prompted. Your customised percussion staff is now ready to be used.
  • Videos may be out of sync in Sibelius due to NotePerformer's one-second latency.
  • This is easily corrected for by opening the Timecode and Duration dialog, and starting the video one second into the score.
  • Alternatively, you can start the video from a negative offset. By setting the video to start from minus one‑seconds into the video.
  • Unexplainable playback errors in Sibelius are often caused by the 'Playback single appoggiaturas at the attached note position' setting.
  • You access this setting from the Performance dialog.
  • If a score behaves strangely in playback we recommend unchecking this setting as a first resort.
  • If you have a Mac and NotePerformer is missing from your available devices, we suggest resetting your Sibelius Audio Engine. Here's how to do that:
  • Close Sibelius, open Finder, and press SHIFT+CMD+G (Go to folder).
  • Paste exactly the following path, and press enter:

    ~/Library/Application Support/Avid
  • Finder will open a folder. Navigate from there into the folder named 'Sibelius' (if you have an older version of Sibelius, it may be named e.g. 'Sibelius 7').
  • Navigate from there into 'PlogueEngine'
  • You're now in a folder with a number of .cache files. Please delete those files.
  • The operation will completely reset the audio engine in Sibelius, and prompt a rescan of all plugins and the audio interface the next time you start Sibelius.
  • If you have a PC and NotePerformer is missing from your available devices, we suggest resetting your Sibelius Audio Engine. Here's how to do that:
  • Close Sibelius, and press WINDOWS+R (Run).
  • Paste exactly the following shortcut, and press enter:

    %appdata%\Avid
  • File Explorer will open a folder. Navigate from there into the folder named 'Sibelius' (if you have an older version of Sibelius, it may be named e.g. 'Sibelius 7').
  • Navigate from there into 'PlogueEngine'
  • You're now in a folder with a number of .cache files. Please delete those files.
  • The operation will completely reset the audio engine in Sibelius, and prompt a rescan of all plugins and the audio interface the next time you start Sibelius.
  • With a Rent-to-Own subscription, you will receive a subscription-related monthly email.
  • There's a link beneath "X Additional Payments of $10.75 every Month".
  • Please follow this link to manage your subscription.
  • This is how you update your payment details or cancel your subscription.
  • If installation on macOS fails unexpectedly, Apple's Installer application may have insufficient disk privileges.
  • Installing from a Dropbox folder is a potential cause.
  • Granting Full Disk Access privileges in System Settings resolves it.

KNOWN ISSUES IN SIBELIUS

  • Prior to Sibelius 2019.4, you cannot do Live Recording with NotePerformer as your playback device, due to latency compensation issues.
  • The workaround is to temporarily switch to General MIDI playback when you wish to do live recording.
  • You cannot use Rewire with NotePerformer in Sibelius, due to latency compensation/timing issues.

ARTICULATIONS IN SIBELIUS

USE OUR PLUG-IN
FOR SIBELIUS


Home ▸ Plug-Ins ▸ ...
USE OUR PLUG-IN
FOR SIBELIUS


Home ▸ Plug-Ins ▸ ...
USE OUR PLUG-IN
FOR SIBELIUS


Home ▸ Plug-Ins ▸ ...
USE OUR PLUG-IN
FOR SIBELIUS


Home ▸ Plug-Ins ▸ ...
USE OUR PLUG-IN
FOR SIBELIUS


Home ▸ Plug-Ins ▸ ...
Range: X=1...64...127
(-63 cents ... 0 cents ... +63 cents)

~C102,X ······ ~C102,0
Range: X=1...64...127
(shift -2 ... +2 dynamic levels)

~C110=X ······ ~C110,0
USE OUR PLUG-IN
FOR SIBELIUS


Home ▸ Plug-Ins ▸ ...
Use portamento for legato

~C111,1 ······ ~C111,0
USE THE MIXER IN
SIBELIUS


And manually override
with the (bowed) sound.
USE OUR PLUG-IN
FOR SIBELIUS


Home ▸ Plug-Ins ▸ ...

SUPPORT FOR SIBELIUS

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NotePerformer by Wallander Instruments
Copyright © by Wallander Instruments AB and original authors. NotePerformer™ is a trademark of Wallander Instruments AB. Windows® is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Mac®, Apple® and macOS® are trademarks of Apple Computer Inc. Sibelius® is a trademark of Avid Technology, Inc. Intel Core™ is a trademark of Intel Corporation. Finale®, Dolet® and MusicXML™ are trademarks of MakeMusic, Inc. DORICO® is a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.