I previously asked if it was possible to load audio files into Dorico, and I found a simple way to do so. I usually create orchestral music, but this time I’m working on a song with vocals, and I wanted to use Logic’s Session Player for the accompaniment. However, I want to do the orchestration in Dorico, which I’m familiar with. So I want to import Logic’s performance file into Dorico, and I found a simple way to do it. I use a vocal plug-in called Synthesizer V for the vocal parts, and I decided to load an audio file into this plug-in. Now I can work on the orchestration in Dorico while listening to the backing of Logic’s Session Player. I don’t know how good the audio quality is, but for now I can orchestrate in a good environment.
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There are several VSTs that can load an audio file and play it back when ‘triggered’ appropriately. Kontakt and the full HALion player will both do this.
You may be able to trigger the audio sample with a MIDI Trigger Region, if necessary.
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So there is a useful plug-in that allows you to import audio files into Dorico. Is it a paid plug-in?
The samples are loaded into the VST plug-ins, and you can then trigger them from Dorico.
Yes, the full Kontakt and the full HALion are commercial products that you have to buy.
I have the full version of Kontakt 7. Is this included?
As far as I know.
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I’m not sure how to do this right now, but does this mean that if I import an audio file into Kontakt itself and trigger it with Dorico, the audio file will play at any time?
Yeah, just add it as a VST in Dorico, then drag the audio file into Kontakt, and assign the VST to the player. Middle C will trigger the original sample without pitch alterations.
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I’ve tried using an audio track in Kontakt, but I’m not sure if I’m doing something wrong. When I write a 100-bar middle C and press play in bar 20, the track only triggers from the beginning. Is there a way to sync the audio track so that if I start playback from bar 20 in Dorico, Kontakt will play the audio file from that corresponding point? I hope that makes sense.
Are you triggering your audio sample just once at the beginning of the Dorico flow (bar 1?) with a "100-bar middle C, I take it? Is the sample the entire duration of your flow?
My understanding of how this works is that the sample has to receive a MIDI NOTE ON message in order to be triggered to play in Kontakt or HALion. It’s not like an audio track in a DAW or audio editor that can be accessed at any point along the way.
If I’m correct about that, then converting your audio file to a (blank-image) MP4 video is the way to make it work for flexible playback.
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FWIW converting an audio file to a video file that Dorico can play is about the same effort as converting a wav to an mp3 - lots of free programs to do it. That’s the only option I’ve found that keeps in rock solid sync for any random moment you start playback in Dorico.
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Thank you for your advice. At first I thought I could load it from the file menu of Kontakt, but it doesn’t recognize wav files. When I reread your description, it said drag and drop. I can read it when I try it. Then I assign it to a track and make it sound, but I have to write a note that is long enough for the sound duration! I wish there was a smarter way to do this! If you think about it, Kontakt is a sampler software, so it seems like it could be done, but I’m grateful for teaching me a good method. Thank you!
Yes, that’s what I’ve been doing. Thanks anyway!
I’m new to Dorico and sounds silly that we have to go through does"workaround" to be able to score in context of wave file reference, is this not a common enough workflow to have out of the box solution?
Disclaimer: I’m just a humble user who follows this forum, not a Steinberg employee.
What I’ve gathered from earlier threads on this subject (this is by far not the first one!), there are technical and organisational hurdles.
Dorico makes use of Cubase’s Audio Engine, which seems to be quite mature and well-organised, given that other applications can access its possibilities as well, like Dorico does.
However, some functionality in Cubase is not yet part of this Engine, but is legacy code in Cubase itself that should need to be rewritten. It would be a huge waste of resources if the Dorico team started programming it on their own from scratch inside Dorico. They have to coordinate with the Cubase team when and how it will be integrated into the shared engine. This no doubt is a tremendous task for both teams. A lot depends on it: they obviously don’t want to cripple two big applications.
You can find a few insights from within the team itself in this recent thread: Importing WAV or MP3 into Dorico.
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