How To Setup Atomic Big Band
To Work In Sibelius
1. Find the Sibelius Atomic Big Band Integration Tools in the SUPPORT>Resources section of the website.
2. Download and install from Pulse and click "Open."
3. Make sure Sibelius is CLOSED before starting this process.
4. The folder will open and display all the files you need to get Sibelius up and running with Atomic Big Band.
5. Copy all the files inside the "Playback Configurations" folder to:
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Windows = C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Roaming\Avid\Sibelius\Playback Configurations\
(if you don't see this folder, click "View" and then "Show Hidden Items")
Mac = <username>/Library/Application Support/Avid/Sibelius/Playback Configurations/
6. Copy the .xml file from inside the downloaded "Sounds" folder to:
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Windows = C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Roaming\Avid\Sibelius\Sounds\
(if you don't see this folder, click "View" and then "Show Hidden Items")
Mac = <username>/Library/Application Support/Avid/Sibelius/Sounds/
7. Make sure you have Kontakt 6.7.1 or higher installed and Atomic Big Band installed and authorized in Native Access. As well as our Smart Delay Sync plugin also available for free in our Resources section.
A note about Sibelius & Windows: Sibelius does NOT currently support VST3 plugins and Kontakt moved on to VST3 in Kontakt 7. On a Mac, Kontakt 7 and above will work because Sibelius CAN use the AU version of the plugin. But, if you are on a PC, you'll need Kontakt 6. Instructions here on how to get Kontakt 6 if you are on a PC.
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8. Go back to the folder you downloaded from Pulse and open the Atomic Big Band Template.sib file. A popup will ask: This score uses the playback configuration 'Atomic Big Band v1.0'. Do you want to switch to that configuration now? Click Yes.
9. Now we'll double-check that everything is setup correctly. If we have to fix any issues in these next steps, rest assured, you will only have to do this once and then it will load automatically from then on.
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10. Click the 'Play' tab and then the small arrow next to 'Setup.' This will open the Playback Devices window.
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11. Make sure some version of Kontakt is in "Available Devices" and under "Active Devices."
12. If you don't see a version of Kontakt available, click 'Audio Engine Options' at the bottom and then click "Folders" and then click "Add" and navigate to where your Kontakt is installed.
On Mac it is usually Applications/Native Instruments.
On Windows it is C:\Program Files\Native Instruments.
Then click "Rescan." Close and re-open Sibelius and it will scan your plugins and make Kontakt available.
13. Now click 'Manual Sound Sets' and make sure your window looks like the one below. If it doesn't you'll need to click each midi channel and assign it to the correct program name and click 'Apply' for each instrument. This is a bit of a tedious step, but again, you will only have to do this once.
14. Next to 'Device: Kontakt' click 'Show...' This will open Kontakt.
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15. Navigate to Atomic Big Band in the browser, go to Multis and load "Sibelius Playback" multi. Give it a few moments to load. You can close the Kontakt window.
16. Notice that next to the 'Configuration: Atomic Big Band v1.0' there will be a small asterisk. This is reminding you to press Save before you exit Playback Devices.
17. Now you should be good to go. If you find that the instruments are playing back in a weird order (i.e. Alto 1 is playing as a trombone, etc). There is a little quirk in Sibelius that is fixed by going to the 'Play' tab and then click "Configuration' and select ANY OTHER configuration. Give it a second and then switch it back to the Atomic Big Band v1.0 configuration.
18. Make sure to save the .sib file and even make your own Manuscript Paper inside of Sibelius and then everything will load automatically the next time.