Hi! I need help with this. Is it possible to merge playback templates? For my VSTs I am using Orchestral Tools “Berlin Strings”, “Special Bows I”, and “Special Bows II”, running in Kontakt.
I have bought Art Conductor, imported the Kontakt snapshot into Kontakt, and loaded the corresponding playback templates in Dorico. But the thing is, there are a bunch of different playback templates in the folder. I can see that they include different techniques, but I want to merge them somehow, since in my piece I am practically using all three libraries with the amount of different techniques included.
SInce it is possible to combine Noteperformer with other VST’s, it must be possible to combine your VSTs. You will need to create a combined Playback Template to tell Dorico which instruments or families to send to which VST.
You first need to save the endpoint. In Play mode, click the little cog wheel that will bring up the Endpoint dialog. Then click “Save Endpoint Configuration…”. By doing that, it will make the endpoint available in the edit playback templates dialog (Add Manual).
If you want to retain all the instrument assignments except for the Kontakt, then you would create a new playback template, Add Manual, the endpoint you created then add on of the factory templates. Make sure your endpoint is “above” the factory templates.
Maybe i should rephrase it, is there a quick way to add different elements from one expression map to another? say i have one where i col legno but not flautando and vice versa how do i best go about merging them?
One thought…
You could create a map with all possible switches (to act as a start point) and, for each use of it, disable the switches that are not relevant to the particular VST. This might save some time in the long run, but may be unwieldy.
(@dspreadbury It would be helpful if ‘disabled’ switches in an Expression Map could be colour coded or otherwise identified in the list of switches)
Yes/No. It’s a bit of thought experiment that I’ve been considering, but not done yet.
The problem is that every VST has a different set of possible articulations (often different between instruments within a single library), each of those is controlled by different switches. There is no standard.
I’m considering something like a blank template (or set of templates) that have placeholders for all common playing techniques (including combinations) - but the blank has every articulation disabled. This would allow the user to duplicate it and populate for a specific library, only enabling the applicable switches.
The genesis of this idea was from the Spitfire UACC template, where they produced a standard set of CC32 switches that works on all Spitfire products. The problem there is that not all Spitfire libraries support all those articulations. So you have to go through and disable (or remove) most of them!
As I say - a work in progress. But if anyone has ideas I’d welcome them.
that sounds interesting, especially if it fixes the lack of articulations with Spitfire, do share your findings!
How did you go about learning all of this? It seems so foreign and difficult for me. Could you share any good resources in particular?
Just bitter experience! Sorry, but I have no special insight.
TBH I keep reverting to NotePerformer and HSO (I dislike Iconica), despite their limitations. But most of my work is for live performers, so decent playback is a ‘nice to have’ rather than essential.
True, we can’t forget that, in the end, the goal should be to get our pieces performed by musicians rather than letting a machine play it and then throwing the piece into the abyss afterwards.
Regarding all this technicality, I guess I’ll either persevere like you or go insane from all the “technobabble”.
