Sibelius comes shipped with a basic sound library called Sibelius Sounds. It is not a particularly high quality library, but may be enough for reference audio recordings and proof listening your scores.
If you want to hear and export your Sibelius projects with a better quality sound, there are some options.
- Export the Sibelius file in MIDI format and import it into your DAW such as Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase and similar programs.
- Purchase additional sound libraries and/or Sound Sets.
- Use ReWire
This post focuses on number 2, above using other sound libraries within Sibelius.
Option 1: Create Your Own Custom Sound Sets
Read the Sibelius manual section 6.16 Virtual Instruments. The pages from the Sibelius 8 manual are attached. Sibelius Virtual Instruments Reference 6.16
Option 2: Purchase NotePerformer
www.noteperformer.com
NotePerformer is a one-of-a-kind sound library, specifically created for notation program playback. Our software overcomes the shortcomings of basic notation playback, by analyzing the musical context and generating suitable articulations, note transitions and other performance features on-the-fly. NotePerformer handles almost any musical figure, without asking you to add special commands or to resort to uncommon notation. It’s the perfect companion when writing or arranging scores, as it helps you make better notational choices than a regular sample library would.
http://www.scoringnotes.com/people/a-visit-with-arne-wallander-on-the-release-of-noteperformer-2-0/
Option 3: Purchase Ready-Made Sound Sets by Jonathan Loving
The Sound Set project: http://www.soundsetproject.com/
The Sound Set Project is the leading provider of Sibelius sound sets, integrations and related services for composers, producers and musicians using Sibelius notation software. We know the frustrations and challenges of working with quality sounds in a notation environment and recognize the importance of tools that help musicians of all backgrounds and aspirations work with the technology that is available today in a comfortable and familiar setting.
We believe solutions should extend beyond Sibelius, take into consideration computer farms, external hosting, compatibility with existing workflows, DAW integration and much more. This takes a special knowledge of the software and hardware, sample libraries and their programming, and, of course, Sibelius, which our team possesses at the highest level.
For more information on Jonathan Loving’s Sound Set project check out:
http://www.scoringnotes.com/news/sibelius-sound-set-round-up/
http://www.scoringnotes.com/tips/sound-sets-eastwest-quantum-leap-symphonic-orchestra/
Making the Most of Notation Software 
Erroneously assumed my Sibelius 7. 1 would work seamlessly with Garritan World Instruments and GPO 5 and bought it and the update from GPO 4 to 5 online last Thursday.
The reason I erroneously made this assumption is that it was easy to integrate Garritan Orchestra 4 a long time ago into Sibelius and both GPO 5 and GWI use the Aria Player which I have had installed in Sibelius for years. Great mistake. After reading this thread I really wish I had not bought anything.
My main question here is. Should some one like me just accept the mistake and admit I have trashed $200, continue using GPO 4 and forget about World Instruments? The alternative is not appealing. To have to spend much of the time I would prefer to use composing doing something which I have no talent for, trying to create a sound set for GWI and trying with the help the GPO 5 sound set to get GPO 5 to sound as good as GPO 4 already does.
I am at a point where I need to hear new exiting sounds to inspire my creativity and composition. That is why I bought GPO 5 and GWI. My best or least bad compositions are always the first ones on new sound libraries, when I bought Sibelius the first I wrote on Sib Sounds is the best, likewise when I bought GPO 4 and Vienna Instruments. New sounds are my favourite composing inspiration.
Perhaps following the instructions on Sibelius Sound Set Editor software and reading the Sibelius manual section 6.16 Virtual Instruments in the Sibelius help guide I and anyone could create a sound set for GWI in say 5 hours of intensive work?
Perhaps the GPO 5 sound set is not so cumbersome to install and can make GPO 5 much more exiting to work with than GPO 4?
Of course it is very rewarding and satisfying to have a composition play back so naturally that it is hard to tell whether a real live orchestra is playing, but I am not so interested in that as I am in composing, I believe that one can tell if a composition is good even if the playback is quite deficient, the satisfaction I get out of composing well is far greater than the satisfaction I would get from achieving near perfect playback.
Please do advice.
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Hello, Andres.
Thank you for your comment and question.
You could create your own manual Soundset for the GPO 5. That is a time consuming task as you mention. Unfortunately, Jonathan Loving does not currently offer a soundset of GPO 5, only the Garritan piano. http://www.soundsetproject.com/soundsets/garritan/.
Another idea is to contact Jonathan and ask if he is planning on offering a soundset for GPO 5. Link to his FAQ page: http://www.soundsetproject.com/support/faq/
Link to contact Jonathan: https://www.soundsetproject.com/company/contact/
Please reply here with an update of your progress.
Tom Rudolph
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