Adding Different Voices

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sus4
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Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 4:05 am

Post by sus4 » Sun Feb 06, 2022 6:49 pm

I can write a drum part using the different voices: bass drum on voice 1, snare on voice 2 etc. But, now I'm trying to create a lead sheet with little cued in voices. There's the regular melody with lyrics but, on the repeat there is a second verse that mostly matches the first verse, but not always. The lyrics change a little and so does the melody. That's where those little cued in notes come in. That's what i'm talking about. So, when I start changing to a different voice to add in those cued in notes I get rests all over the place which is very confusing. I haven't looked in the manual yet and don't know if it will really explain it. Thought someone here has experienced this and can explain it easier. Thanks.


MikeLyons
Posts: 1631
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:20 pm
Sibelius Version: Ult. 2024.3.1/7.5
Operating System: Windows

Post by MikeLyons » Sun Feb 06, 2022 9:04 pm

1. I can recommend reading the manual - or, at least, having it open in the background so you can refer to it. It's a fully searchable pdf.
2. If you are putting snare in voice 2 and bass in voice 1, then you are doing it the wrong way round. Snare should be in voice 1 and bass in voice 2 unless there's a hi-hat or other symbol part (read the section on percussion notation - Chapter 4.13)
3. If this is a proper voice part and NOT a lead sheet, you would write he melody in voice 1 and then add the different notes for verse 2 in voice 2 and make them cue size. You would also write the lyrics using lyrics line 1 for verse 1 and lyrics line 2 for verse 2. It might help to temporarily use voice 2 ([alt]2) for the lyrics with different rhythm to help line them up properly with the verse 2 notes.
Do your best to ignore the rests in voice 2. When you have finished, or after each bar, HIDE - ie DO NOT DELETE - the voice 2 rests. If you delete them it will cause all sorts of other problems.
Sib 6.2, 7.5 and 2023.6, Windows 11, 32GB RAM, 16TB 7200RPM Storage, 2TB SSD, Note Performer 3.3.2, EWQLSO, EWQLSC, Harmony Assistant and some others. mike@mike-lyons.co.uk

sus4
Posts: 336
Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 4:05 am

Post by sus4 » Mon Feb 07, 2022 5:16 pm

I"m trying to read the manual and it's not working for me. I clicked on voice 1 on the Keypad and recorded a short melody. I then click on voice 2 on the Keypad and started to put in voice 2 with my mouse. When I did that voice 1 changed to voice 2. I stopped. Why is voice 1 changing to voice 2?

MikeLyons
Posts: 1631
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:20 pm
Sibelius Version: Ult. 2024.3.1/7.5
Operating System: Windows

Post by MikeLyons » Mon Feb 07, 2022 5:36 pm

I don't know what's going wrong because I'm not there peering over your shoulder.

Don't use the keypad to change voice, use [alt]1 and [alt]2 while in note entry mode. That will automatically change voice 'mid-stream' as it were. The numbers are the ones on the top row of the typing keyboard.

You can't put unison notes in different voices easily. Put in a higher or lower pitch and then use the up/down arrow keys to move it to the correct pitch.
Sib 6.2, 7.5 and 2023.6, Windows 11, 32GB RAM, 16TB 7200RPM Storage, 2TB SSD, Note Performer 3.3.2, EWQLSO, EWQLSC, Harmony Assistant and some others. mike@mike-lyons.co.uk

sus4
Posts: 336
Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 4:05 am

Post by sus4 » Mon Feb 07, 2022 8:05 pm

OK, I think we're making some progress. Here's what I found. I did what you suggested about using (alt, opt in Mac) and the numbers up top of the keyboard to change the voices and I can do what I want to do with no problem if I put the notes in using my mouse. If I use Flexitime it gets screwed up and the voices get switched. It's definitely quicker to insert notes via Flexitime, but that's not working for me. I'll have to use the mouse. There probably is a way of doing it the quicker via Flexitime way, but that'll take time to figure out. Thanks for you help.

MikeLyons
Posts: 1631
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:20 pm
Sibelius Version: Ult. 2024.3.1/7.5
Operating System: Windows

Post by MikeLyons » Mon Feb 07, 2022 10:22 pm

No prob. I never use flexitime. I always found it much more hassle and I'm very fluent with the typing keyboard.
Sib 6.2, 7.5 and 2023.6, Windows 11, 32GB RAM, 16TB 7200RPM Storage, 2TB SSD, Note Performer 3.3.2, EWQLSO, EWQLSC, Harmony Assistant and some others. mike@mike-lyons.co.uk

sus4
Posts: 336
Joined: Tue Dec 26, 2006 4:05 am

Post by sus4 » Tue Feb 08, 2022 10:21 pm

Mike, just to let you know I"ve completed half of the song I'm working on using the numbered keypad on my right with my right hand and the lettered keypad on the left with my left hand. WOW. This is not easy, I'm slow as mollasses, but I can see where if I keep working like this it will become faster and a good way to enter notes.

andyg
Posts: 1727
Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 8:55 pm
Sibelius Version: 7.1.3 and 6.2
Operating System: Windows

Post by andyg » Wed Feb 09, 2022 9:09 am

The bottom line is - practise it, just as you'd practise playing an instrument. I've no doubt you're familiar with that idea! :)

Keypad and keyboard input, with some time and effort, can be very fast indeed. Flexitime always takes a good amount of editing!

So now you've made a start, stick with it!

MikeLyons
Posts: 1631
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2016 7:20 pm
Sibelius Version: Ult. 2024.3.1/7.5
Operating System: Windows

Post by MikeLyons » Wed Feb 09, 2022 1:50 pm

@andyg - the force is strong with this one! :-D
Sib 6.2, 7.5 and 2023.6, Windows 11, 32GB RAM, 16TB 7200RPM Storage, 2TB SSD, Note Performer 3.3.2, EWQLSO, EWQLSC, Harmony Assistant and some others. mike@mike-lyons.co.uk

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