How can I get Sibelius to display multiple voices cleanly?

Discuss general Sibelius issues here. Get help with Sibelius and Sibelius Support.
Post Reply
patmaddox
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2017 7:03 pm
Sibelius Version: First 7.1.3
Operating System: Mac

Post by patmaddox » Thu Aug 30, 2018 5:50 am

Sibelius 7.1.3 – OS X 10.12.6

The first measure in this screenshot is a set of four notes, all assigned to voice 1. The second measure is those same four notes, assigned top-to-bottom voices 1-4.

For reasons that I don't understand, Sibelius has chosen to vertically align them all the same, so that I can no longer read the D and C.

Is there a setting to make Sibelius display the multiple voices the same as it displays the single voice? "Optimize layout" doesn't change anything.
Screen Shot 2018-08-29 at 11.47.05 PM.png
voices
Screen Shot 2018-08-29 at 11.47.05 PM.png (26.39 KiB) Viewed 9552 times


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 » Fri Aug 31, 2018 5:29 am

Put the two middle notes both in voice 2.

Is there some reason why you need to have voices 123&4 assigned in this way? Sibelius' voices are paored in terms of their stem direction defaults 1&3, 2&4. A simple chord like this doesn't need to be in all four voices.
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

patmaddox
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2017 7:03 pm
Sibelius Version: First 7.1.3
Operating System: Mac

Post by patmaddox » Fri Aug 31, 2018 5:03 pm

I'm writing four voices at a time, I'm only showing a single measure here to demonstrate the problem, but I'm writing four voices linearly.

I suppose I can write my four voices separately, and then change them all to voice 1 so it displays properly. I just don't see why Sibelius wants to display the notes in this unhelpful manner in the first place. I figured there's some way to tell it "make it display the same as if they were all in one voice."

If there were a way to add a note to an existing voice using my MIDI keyboard then I would happily do that. afaik the only way to add a note to an existing voice is to use the computer keyboard interval method.

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 » Fri Aug 31, 2018 8:42 pm

In my (admittedly limited) experience, it is usual to put the sop and alto on one staff and the tenor and bass on a separate staff with bass clef.
It's unusual to write all foour parts on the same staff.
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

patmaddox
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2017 7:03 pm
Sibelius Version: First 7.1.3
Operating System: Mac

Post by patmaddox » Sat Sep 01, 2018 12:18 am

MikeLyons wrote:It's unusual to write all foour parts on the same staff.
:) perhaps

I'm not asking if it's usual or unusual. I'm asking if I can get Sibelius to legibly display four voices on a single staff.

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 » Sat Sep 01, 2018 7:38 am

The reason I say tjhat is because you are in danger of making a rod for your own back!

Is this an instrumental piece or for actual voices? The reason I ask is that this will affect the way you approach the task. If this is a piece of complex polyphony where the four lines need to be kept clear and separate, then there is a plugin I can recommend called "Narrow two voices". This will allow you to change the way two voices interact in the staff.

If it's just a one-off chord, then you might want to consider just keeping all the notes in one or two voices (1&2 or 3&4).
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

bobp
Posts: 1182
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2012 12:53 am

Post by bobp » Tue Sep 04, 2018 2:34 am

I think Mike is correct. Without knowing just what you are trying to do, it just seems like what you what is confusing and unnecessary.
Bob Porter
Sibelius 7.5, W10,i5,16 GB ram,desktop

patmaddox
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2017 7:03 pm
Sibelius Version: First 7.1.3
Operating System: Mac

Post by patmaddox » Tue Sep 04, 2018 3:29 am

I'm trying to write four independent voices on a single staff, and have them displayed legibly.

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 » Tue Sep 04, 2018 6:34 am

OK.

Unless the parts are all playing semibreves throughout, you need to be aware of the way Sibelius will treat stemmed notes. Voices 1 and 3 will tend to be 'stems up' and voices 2 and 4 will tend to be 'stems down'. This can make the music less readable unless you intend to colour the notes. I would offer a suggestion: keep the top two lines in voice 1 and the lower pair in voice 2 unless their rhythms are significantly different to each other.

If there's a lot of crossing of parts going on, as in complex polyphony, then you will need to take extra care with your voicing or it will look a mess.
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

horttanamusix
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2021 4:03 pm
Sibelius Version: 7 First
Operating System: Windows

Post by horttanamusix » Tue Apr 20, 2021 4:10 pm

I had the same problem, while creating reharmonization for a song using three notes per melody note. I had to create it one stem at a time, so therefore instead of writing all notes all over again when new stem was created, I put all stems on their own "voices". Then I was stuck with this same dilemma, some notes being written over others.

I tried some things, and as a happy accident I selected everything on that stave (all notes on all voices) and just clicked the Voice1 button on the keypad. Every note was transferred to voice 1. :D I hope this helps others too!

Post Reply