philip wrote:When I go into the editor for the score and click on certain instruments, it selects them but there is no sound...when I go to the mixer...here is what I see.
there are multiple instruments where this happens
I also can't get into any of the miroslav and other sounds listed (they don't even show up)
I looked at the instructions and it says to go into preferences, audio, locate samples (but there is no locate sample buttons)
I did an upgrade on the software right after initial install---is there a repair utility?>
There are two different things happening . . .
(1) For Miroslav Philharmonik (IK Multimedia), this is because you are running the 64-bit version of NOTION 4 but the virtual instruments and effects plug-ins are 32-bit . . .
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NOTE: However, you might be running the 32-bit version of NOTION 4 but have not enabled the IK Multimedia instruments, so it depends on information that I cannot determine precisely from your post. Nevertheless, the most likely explanation is that you are running NOTION 4 in 64-bit mode, in which case Miroslav Philharmonik will not be available. Yet another possibility is that while there is a button in NOTION 4 Score Setup for Miroslav Philharmonik it is just a mapping and a set of rules for use if you have Miroslav Philharmonik, so if you do not have Miroslav Philharmonik, then nothing will be available. This can be a bit confusing, but it makes sense once you understand the reason for providing the Miroslav Philharmonik button in NOTION 4 Score Setup . . . ]
(2) For the native NOTION 4 instruments this is because the specific instrument is provided in as an Expansion Sound that you have not purchased and installed, where this is the explanation for the "Cl. Sec." warning message, where for this another clue is that the instruments you have not purchased will be in italics . . .
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NOTE: The solution for the second problem is to purchase the respective Expansion Sounds package or instrument, noting that I think the Expansion Sounds are discounted by 50 percent until the end of this month (May 2014). Another solution is to use a different instrument, but there is merit to the Expansion Sounds, since they add more articulations, dynamics, and playing styles. Whether this makes sense for your needs depends on what you need to do, and there are other virtual instruments, but regardless the fact of the matter is that if you are on a budget--which certainly is the case for me here in the sound isolation studio--then it makes sense to wait for discount sales, since nearly everything is discounted every once in a while, where for example last year Native Instruments had a 50 percent discount sale for one week at the start of summer . . . ]
At present, Miroslav Philharmonik and all the other IK Multimedia virtual instruments are 32-bit only, which specifically maps to them not working natively in the 64-bit version of NOTION 4 . . .
There are two workarounds for this problem the first problem, where one is to run NOTION 4 in 32-bit mode, and the other is to use a "bridging" utility like JBridge (J's Stuff) or the more advanced Vienna Ensemble Pro 5 (Vienna Symphonic Library [VSL])
JBridge (J's Stuff)Vienna Ensemble Pro 5 (Vienna Symphonic Library [VSL])If you are doing digital music production on the Mac, then you have both the 32-bit and the 64-bit versions of NOTION 4 installed, since they are contained in the single application "package" as a Mac OS X Universal Binary, and the way you tell NOTION which mode to use is via the "Open in 32-bit mode" option which is part of "Get Info . . . ", hence you right-click on the NOTION 4 application "Notion.app" in the Mac "Applications" folder, and then click on "Get Info", where you will find the "Open in 32-bit mode" option. If it is checked, then NOTION 4 will run in 32-bit mode the next time you start it, but if it is unchecked it will run in 64-bit mode . . .
In the Windows universe, there are separate programs (one for the 32-bit version of NOTION 4 and one for the 64-bit version of NOTION 4), and they are installed separately to different directories or folders. You can run one at a time but not both simultaneously . . .
32-bit mode restrictions and limitations apply on the Mac and Windows, of course . . .
THOUGHTSIn some respects, all this stuff can be virtually mind-boggling, but the practical aspect is that with NOTION 4; a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) application; some VSTi virtual instruments and VST effects plug-ins; and some other stuff, you can do in your studio by yourself
everything Mozart and all those folks did, so while it takes a bit of time and work to understand all this stuff, it is well worth the effort.
And it is FUN, plus it is no more difficult than designing and building a nuclear fusion reactor or an interstellar spaceship . . . Based on what you wrote, I think it is accurate to suggest that you have the 64-bit version of NOTION 4 installed and working correctly, so have a bit of FUN with it as it is while you are getting more information on all this stuff, which takes a while. You can use 32-bit VSTi virtual instruments and VST effects with NOTION 4, but you need to run NOTION 4 in 32-bit mode or to use a "bridging" utility. If you want to use the instruments sold separately as NOTION Expansion Sounds, then you need to purchase and install them . . .
IK Multimedia is planning to release SampleTank 3 sometime this year, and it runs in 64-bit mode. SampleTank 3 uses a new set of sampled sound libraries but the sampled sound libraries for the current versions of all IK Multimedia 32-bit virtual instruments work in SampleTank 3, so the investment is good . . .
I like the IK Multimedia virtual instruments, and if I need to use them I run NOTION 4 in 32-bit mode, since I decided not to wander into using "bridging" utilities, but most of the time I use 64-bit VSTi virtual instruments with the idea that this is a good way to learn more about them while I am waiting for IK Multimedia to release SampleTank 3 . . .
Hence, I use Addictive Drums and Addictive Keys (XLN Audio), Cyclop (Sugar Bytes), Kontakt 5 (Native Instruments), MachFive 3 (MOTU), and Twin 2 (FabFilter Software Instruments), all of which run in 64-bit mode and are very nice . . .
I also use T-RackS (IK Multimedia), since it runs natively in 64-bit mode, hence does not require a "bridging" utility, and T-RackS is a personal favorite . . .
The visual cue for a problem with a virtual instrument or effects plug-in is the orange bar with the exclamation mark triangle for the track in the NOTION 4 Mixer, and it is telling you that the virtual instrument or effects plug-in (a) is not found; (b) does not run in the respective mode (32-bit or 64-bit); or (c) has some other problem . . .
For VSTi virtual instruments and VST effects plug-ins that are available in the correct mode (32-bit or 64-bit, respectively), the orange exclamation mark or a similar visual cue typically indicates that there is a problem, which might be that you have not enabled it, but it also can be that it simply does not work in the current mode . . .
Lots of FUN! P. S. Regarding locating Notion Music samples, this is done in NOTION 4 "Preferences", which is found on the "Notion" menu. The path for the "Samples Folder" is specified on the "Audio" tab of the "Preferences" dialog . . .
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NOTE: This is the way it looks on the Mac, where I outlined the button in red and the "Samples Folder" in yellow . . . ]
For VSTi virtual instruments and VST effects plug-ins, they need to be enabled, which you do via the "VST Manager" dialog in NOTION 4, which also is found on the "Notion" menu as a menu item below "Preferences" and also is found in the set of buttons for NOTION 4 Score Setup, but for example enabling Miroslav Philharmonik will
not cause it to work in 64-bit mode, since as noted (
see above) Miroslav Philharmonik only works in 32-bit mode . . .