Logic Midi Dynamics/articulation not recognised by Sibelius6

[moozarteum]

Here it is:

 

I programmed all the midi in Logic and now I want to export the MIDI information so I can import it to Sibelius 6. (This is done by File-Export-Selection as Midi File)

 

When I open the MIDI file in Sibelius the notes are recognised but the dynamics and articulation (f,p,crescendo, staccato etc) do not appear in the score; therefore all the notes play with the same velocity.

 

The reason I need to transfer the notes to Sibelius is because I have to make final specific adjustments (only possible with sibelius) and print the parts for the instrumentalists.

 

Best Regards

[ski]

What kind of dynamics/articulation MIDI data are you referring to?

[moozarteum]

What kind of dynamics/articulation MIDI data are you referring to?

 

 

check this score for example: it has all the dynamics such as ff, p, crescendo, accents etc. My score appears with none of those, just with the simple notes which all now have the same velocity.

 

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ktpercussion.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/spiritssamp6.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ktpercussion.com/ensemblemusic/demusic/spirits.html&usg=__ke8LyEY6SvaxIiYbi-76W-6prHQ=&h=430&w=500&sz=35&hl=en&start=58&zoom=1&tbnid=TYtdGPbyfOCbgM:&tbnh=130&tbnw=151&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dscore%2Bdynamics%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D720%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C971&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=395&ei=pending&oei=3cIJTe6cGsmYhQfxz-iQDw&esq=3&page=3&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:58&tx=85&ty=76&biw=1440&bih=720

 

 

 

I need my score to appear as the in the picture above. Of course there are different velocities performed in Logic but they dont seem to be recognised by Sibelius!

 

I appreciate your help.

[ski]

In general, dynamic markings you enter in Logic are graphical in nature only. None of them are translated into any kind of MIDI data, with one set of exceptions: those symbols which are available for the "MIDI Meaning" function. And unless that function is activated (by entering values for the available symbols), the velocities of your notes will remain exactly as you entered them. So if all of the notes you entered into your score have the same velocity, that's what's going to be reflected in the MIDI file.

 

I don't recommend using the MIDI meaning function anyway. It's extremely rudimentary. And it doesn't provide for any kind of MIDI-->velocity alteration function for cresc/dim anyway.

 

So if you want dynamics in your music, I strongly suggest that you play in your parts using standard keyboard technique, followed up -- if necessary -- with manual editing to perfect it.

 

But if that's not an option, and sticking with cresc/dims, you can draw in consecutive increases in the velocities of a series of notes notes (to simulate a crescendo) by using the velocity drawing capabilities of hyperdraw. Here, you start off by viewing velocities in the hyperdraw display. Then click/hold in the hyperdraw area in the vicinity of the first note of your crescendo figure until the click "anchors". Then drag a line from that point to the end of the notes which complete the crescendo gesture.

 

Same technique can be similarly used to create a dim.

[ski]

One last thing...

 

You say that your notes all have the same velocity when you see them in Sibelius. Hmmm... Well, there's no feature of Logic's generation of MIDI files that would somehow "neutralize" velocity. So I'm not sure what that's all about.

[bailhe]

As someone explained, dynamic, cresc, stacc. and other markings you might enter in Logic's SCORE window are graphic only. They have no effect on velocity -- unless you've defined midi meanings, which I don't recommend simply because it's not very efficient. Since they're only graphic, they are not midi messages and don't get exported as part of the midi file. Logic does, however, export all midi date precisely, including velocities, so if you're getting the same velocity for all notes in Sibelius, you've done one of two things:

 

1. If you wrote all notes in Logic at one velocity, that's what you're going to get when you export since that's the velocity for each note in the midi file.

2. If actual note velocities do vary in Logic (as opposed to only graphic dynamic indications), do the following:

 

a. In Sibelius, go to PLAY and select LIVE PLAYBACK. That tells Sibelius you want to play the velocities that are in the imported midi file. Often, people don't set that to on because they want all notes played back at one velocity and they adjust them with Expressions and symbols in Sibelius that, unlike Logic, DO playback.

b. Now go to VIEW and select LIVE PLAYBACK VELOCITIES. You should then see vertical blue bars above every note indicating its velocity. If they're all the same, its because they're all the same in Logic. Otherwise, you'll see variations in the blue bars.

 

You can adjust the blue velocity bars in Sibelius, but personally, I don't think its very efficient. Better to go back into Logic and make your velocity changes, cresc, dim, etc. in SCORE or PIANO ROLL. You can use Hyperdraw or any other function to do so. I do a lot of this in SCORE or PIANO ROLL on individual notes.

 

Then, re-export and re-import to Sibelius. Remember this however: Sibelius will play all notes at the same velocity UNLESS you go tell it to play the velocities in the midi file by selecting LIVE PLAYBACK in the PLAY menu.

 

In addition to velocity, Sibelius will import any midi message (i.e. midi message C7 for volume), or any other controller or patch change information -- provided they are indeed part of the midi information in the Logic file. Be sure to select HIDDEN OBJECTS from the VIEW menu in Sibelius to see volume and other controller messages.

 

I've attached a screen shot showing the blue velocity bars and some midi messages.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Jacques Bailhé

Sibelius import screen shot.pdf

[bailhe]

Sorry, previous attachment NG. Here's one that will open.

Logic import to Sibelius screen shot.pdf