In a parallel universe, where the Dorico team have already implemented an audio track, there is someone in your place, complaining that fermatas still don’t play back.
Yes, and also in 3D-audio please - spatial audio.
One could include it into the score .pdf file…
thank you (this is an order!).
cmon, I am waiting impatiently
I’ve recently begun to dig into using the MIDI-based instruments found under the VST and Midi tab, which allows me to notate music for my external hardware synths and sequencers! It’s very cool to be able to notate synths directly from Dorico, but then the issue I have is that I am unable to monitor their audio directly within Dorico. For now I have set my audio interface to live monitor. If I wish to record the end result, I open a project in Cubase and record the synths playing back in real time.
However if I wish to combine these sounds in a mixed media fashion alongside traditional orchestral instruments (using NotePerformer etc), the only way I’ve learned is that I would have to manually record the synths in Cubase as mentioned above, and then export the audio from the Flow as normally for all the internal orchestral sounds (NP), and then bring that export into Cubase where I have to manually line them up together.
It technically works, but I can see a use case for those of us who do modern hybrid scoring where it would be great to be able to do “real-time” audio monitoring and exporting. I’m sure it would be also beneficial to people like band directors who use midi setups with various external devices alongside internal sounds.
To be clear my request isn’t about turning Dorico into a DAW with a bunch of audio tracks, it would be merely to be able to monitor audio coming in from my interface and then bounce everything together, midi and audio sources.
Another benefit here is that one could use the Dorico mixer to add insert FX and also a basic mastering chain on the main output, to marry all the sources together sonically. Again this can be done after the fact in Cubase, but is more steps. One can dream!
Mac or PC?
I use Windows here, and ASIO Link Pro (free utility now) allows me to route audio streams anywhere I like.
Dorico doesn’t have a proper audio input, but I can route Dorico’s Master Audio outputs into the Cubase Mixing console, and then mix in my external synths (plus optional VST effects) over in Cubase.
There’s a bit of learning curve understanding how to use ASIO Link Pro in ‘multi-client’ mode with the loopback rails, but it’s not hard, and it works really well. The trick is understanding that in multi client mode each ASIO app gets a unique instance of ASIO Link Pro in the system tool tray. You connect ‘outputs’ in the main ASIO Link Pro instance, and deal with ‘inputs’ in the unique instances that pop up for each ASIO host.
No latency. It can even stream many audio tracks to other machines over a LAN that are also running ASIO Link Pro. Also possible to use localhost IPs to aggregate devices by running multiple instances on the same machine. Another huge plus of using ASIO Link Pro is that one can mix and merge WDM audio streams with the ASIO stuff. Easy way to get stuff like skype or whatever in and out of Cubase.
I can optionally host the TXL Timecode plugin in Dorico (connected to a virtual MIDI port) and slave the Cubase transport with Dorico.
(Edit - I can still get reaStream to work, but it requires more 3rd party apps to get a stream active and correct latency issues)
I have another method I use sometimes that involves hosting a plugin called reaStream somewhere in the Dorico Mixer as a VST effect (off the Master, or perhaps in an AUX bus). I host the sending side of reaStream in a stand alone instance of bidule. It works by creating a stream over a local IP address. I can either use something like bidule to divert the audio into the Dorico Mixer, or put it on the Dorico mains to get a stream out of Dorico. Problem with reaStream these days is that it’s a VST2 only option, there seems to be a bit of Latency involved. When I hosted it directly Dorico, I sometimes got crashes (sub hosting it in bidule is very stable though).
Bump for edits…and a PS…
On my way to work, but if you want to try ASIO Link Pro on Windows and need help figuring it out just let me know. I’ll check the thread again and hopefully be in a position to make detailed replies tomorrow.
(Edit - After revisiting I don’t recommend Wusik Audio Connect with Dorico. I can make it work, but it requires jumping through many hoops with 3rd party software)
Oh, I forgot about this one…I had success with it with my particular audio devices (M-Audio Delta 1010, and TASCAM 1200), but with a small amount of latency, because I have to have Audio Connect pull a signal from WDM instead of ASIO.
It can create a kind of loop back from a set of audio inputs on your audio device back into a plugin in a VST host.
It’s similar to the reaStream method, but instead of using a network stream, it attempts to loop back actual audio through the OSes audio control panel. It’s kind of like clicking the listen button for devices in the control panel with non ASIO apps.
Fudge a fake audio input onto the Dorico Mixer via VST effect slot.
Home now, so here’s a bit more info on my favorite approach to mixing outboard gear with Dorico.
On my Windows rig, the most stable method with the least latency is to use ASIO Link Pro.
I’ll gradually demonstrate different approaches using different bits of software (ASIO Link Pro vs reaStream vs Wusik, etc) as I get time, but I’ll start with ASIO Link Pro, and your Tracking DAW of choice (Showing Cubase 13, but pretty much any DAW can work).
Concept 1:
When you install ASIO Link Pro, it sets up a new device driver that serves as an ASIO back end. You’ll associate ASIO Link Pro with your audio device (preferably one with native ASIO drivers, or use the Steinberg Generic driver, or ASIO4ALL if your interface doesn’t have native ASIO drivers).
Now all of your ASIO and WDM hosts can connect to ASIO Link Pro as a driver.
I.E. In an ASIO Host like Dorico:
I.E. Windows default audio output, WDM apps, etc. These can use special ASIOVADPRO drivers. You get 4 of them supporting up to 8 channels (surround sound) each by default.
Concept 2
The first channels listed correspond directly to the Audio interface.
I.E. My Delta 1010 has:
8 analogue inputs
2 digital inputs (Stereo SPDIF)
2 Monitor/Mixer inputs.
8 Analogue Outputs
1 Stereo SPDIF output
So, The first 12 channels of input correspond to my audio interface.
The first 10 outputs correspond to my audio interface.
All channels beyond these, I can use as extra channels to reroute things ‘ASIO’ as I see fit.
Concept 3
When working with ASIO Link Pro in the multi client mode, you’ll make any connections you want going to actual audio interface outputs, or from hosts connected to ASIO Link outputs to loopback rails in the main asiolinktool.exe instance.
Any time you launch a new ASIO host, it gets a unique instance of ASIO Link Pro with a name that references the host in the system tray. You’ll connect ‘inputs’ to your ASIO hosts in these special instances.
So…
First thing I do is enable LOOPER looback racks, Enable multi-clients, and connect a bunch of channels beyond the range of my AUDIO Interface to the loopback rails.
Here you can see that I’ve connected looopback rails for channels 15-18.
I have Dorico set to use ASIO Link Pro as the ‘audio device’ and to transmit over channels 15 and 16. My reason for diverting Dorico to these side channels is because I like to leave the direct outputs of my audio device (1-10) open for my main DAW.
My Roland Fantom XR is connected via SPDIF (Channels 9 and 10) to the Delta 1010.
So, in the simplest setup of all, I could just do this directly in ASIO Link Pro to get a simple mix to my Speakers.
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Connect My Fantom SPDIF inputs (9 & 10) directly to the speaker outputs.
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Connect the loopback inputs for channels 15 and 16 to the speaker outputs.
If I also want to hear my ‘system sounds’ I can connect them too. I don’t have surround sound speakers, and sometimes videos and stuff stream with loads of audio channels, so I can hook it up like this.
I can even adjust the mix I hear directly within ASIO Link Pro if I like, as it has an independent mixing matrix for each ‘rail’.
You can also record directly to flac files straight away with ASIO Link Pro (up to 8 tracks at a time).
This is a very simple example, but chances are you might want to route things into some other host so you can get more control over recording, easily play it back instantly, and even stack up your favorite VST effects on top of your external synth’s output.
So, you’d open your favorite DAW, and set it to use ASIO Link Pro as the audio device.
In my case I’ll be using Cubase Pro 13, which is also an ASIO host.
I’ll tap F4 and put those Dorico channels on the mixing console.
In my case I’ve my Fantom XR set up in the instrument Rack like so:
Remember that I have the XR plugged into the SPDIF inputs on my Delta 1010 (Channels 9 and 10).
Personally I like to Monitor off the control room so I can hear everything to my speakers or headphones here:
In the main asiolinktool.exe instance of ASIO Link Pro, I’ll go back to a mostly blank ASIO Link Pro profile. Note, since Dorico is using 15 and 16, I still in the least need the loopback connections for those channels. Since Cubase is going to connect directly to my audio device on the ASIO OUT rail, and I do NOT want system sounds and stuff routed directly to my speakers at this time, I don’t need to ‘draw’ any other connections here. I just need the looper connections for those Dorico outputs.
I also notice in my system tray, a new instance of ASIO Link Pro specifically for Cubase 13. There are several ASIO Link Pro icons showing on my rig at the moment because I have some other ASIO hosts running the in the background (ignore them in this case).
I’ll call it up and make some connections. My XR inputs come directly off the device rail on channels 9 and 10. I’d routed Dorico to use auxiliary channels 15 and 16 and connected them in line to looper channes 15 and 16, so I can connect them here as well.
And now I have the Master audio out of Dorico coming into Cubase. I also have my Fantom XR coming into Cubase.
I like to use a virtual MIDI port to get MIDI from Dorico over to Cubase, and then use empty MIDI tracks to route things into my outboard gear. It gives me a ton of flexibility in where I send things, as well as a bunch of nice ‘real-time’ MIDI transormation abilities. The MIDI track AUX sends are nice to have as well.
Personally I like the free loop MIDI as a virtual port solution, but others do exist. Another reason for going through a virtual port is that some MIDI drivers don’t do so well with multiple clients trying to address them at the same time. Using a virtual MIDI port can help avoid potential multi-client pitfalls with various MIDI drivers.
Alternatively, you could try making direct MIDI connections from Dorico to your outboard MIDI gear, and just get the audio output through your DAW.
Now if I tick the Listen button on the Cubase Mixer for my Dorico Fader, I’m ready to power mix whatever comes through the Dorico Mains with anything I like on the Cubase Mixer.
(Optional Method to sync a MTC compatible DAW transport with Dorico)
Next I’ll load up an instance of TXL timecode plugin in Dorico and set it to send MTC over another virtual MIDI port that I’ve named MTC.
Over in Cubase I set it to slave to MTC over that virtual port.
Enable External Sync in Cubase (alt-shift-t, or click the icon for it at bottom right of the transport bar, or use the main Transport menu at the top of the main project window).
Now the Cubase transport is in sync with Dorico.
I can have all the external gear I like set up inside Cubase. I can set up effect chains on that kit if I like. I can trigger sounds on that gear through empty MIDI tracks (armed for monitoring or recording). They can be used alongside whatever is being hosted/played/mixed by Dorico.
Recording MIDI or Audio is a breeze.
Playing back Audio or MIDI in sync with Dorico is possible.
Some extra tricks for a more accurate ‘looking’ sync involve first tapping play in Dorico while Recording a bit in the tracking DAW in order to get a reference point and force the grid to match. In some cases it can help to ‘offset’ the time code a few frames in the DAW.
It’s even better if you can have at least one Dorico track also send a midi event on beat one of the flow. This way you can see if there is any kind of latency between the first ‘MIDI’ event, and the first ‘audio’ event on the Cubase grid. If you get something more than 40ms or so, there are settings in Cubase to offset things in Cubase (latency correction) to match up with whatever source you want.
In my case it looks like an adjustment of about 17 frames is in order to make the grid align, and the latency from Dorico to Cubase isn’t enough to my ears to bother.
So I’ll do that in the Cubase Project/Project Setup (shift s) menu.
Note, if you want the time signature and grid/tempo in the DAW to match your score, you’ll need to export a tempo map from Dorico and import it into your DAW.
Ultimately I end up with a Cubase template like this for my Fantom XR…
Note, many MIDI controllers that connect via USB can only connect to one host at a time. A solution here is to start your DAW first, and let it grab your MIDI controller. Use an empty and armed (for monitoring) MIDI track to ‘route’ the signal to a virtual port. Have Dorico, and any other hosts you might also run in the background, listen to that virtual port to get MIDI input. At this stage, you can use that empty MIDI track(s) and virtual MIDI ports to do all sorts of interesting and useful things with the stream. Transpose stuff, swap or echo channels, heck, you can even invert CCs, make keyboard zones. Let your creativity go wild. You might have a track routed to Dorico, another routed to Band in a Box, etc. Mute/Solo the ones you want to use in and out as needed.
Note with the TXL setup, I have to use the transport controls in Dorico since he can’t be a slave, and always treat him like the Master. The Cubase transport simply follows what I do in Dorico.
I’ve fudged some mouseless/computer keyboardless ability to control both transports from my Arturia Keylab 61 mkII MIDI controller, but that’s a whole new thread.
I have revisited the Wusik Audio Connect and reaStream options…
I can’t really recommend them with Dorico at this time. I can get them working, but it requires jumping through quite a few hoops with extra bits of software (such as bidule, kushview, minihost, etc).
Problems that pop up…
Dorico has an odd way of putting VST3 channels to sleep if it doesn’t perceive notes constantly coming in from a stave endpoint. With pretty much all VST3 plugins, after a few seconds it simply stops sending ASIO samples and the whole Mixer channel can more or less go to sleep. There seems to be some ways to ‘force’ them to stay awake, but it’s a mess requiring extra staves do deal with, and more.
For now I can get around some of this by using a VST2 plugin instead, but Steinberg is discouraging using VST2 these days. It works ‘for now’, but there are no promises for future VST2 support.
Another issue is latency. With the right third party software (bidule and ASIO Link Pro) it’s possible to correct this, but it’s another pain in the rear to set up, and can have a pretty big impact on system resources required.
It is possible to host Wuisk or reaStream on the Main output of Dorico and more or less divert EVERYTHING away from Dorico, get outboard gear into the mix, and then bring it back into the ASIO down-line. At least that way latency is more ‘uniform’ and the outboard gear isn’t heard many milliseconds behind the VST instruments hosted in Dorico. Aside from maybe being able to put a few VST effects down stream on the Dorico main, I don’t see much advantage to it though. Too much trouble for little benefit.
With all that in mind, I think for Windows Users, ASIO Link Pro is the best option.
With that you can divert your Dorico output into any sort of audio Mixing APP or DAW you like, and get a nice mix with your outboard gear hosted in that secondary app.
Any update on a timeline for this? It’s an essential feature for my use case (arranging to basics).
No. The Dorico Team does not pre-announce any features until they are ready for release. Often one only learns about a feature on its release date.
Wow, the functionality of audio in Staffpad is incredible. And especially the tempo mapping function brought tears to my eyes as an old transcriber. For me personally, this would be a game changer and a dream come true. The simplicity of operation is pure digital beauty… When it comes to transcribing, I still work online with Soundslice at the moment, but the whole process of importing into Dorico is quite complicated, even though Soundslice works very similarly to Staffpad. By the way, I have already asked for exactly this functionality in earlier posts (see: Post of April 2021 and Post of December 2023)
I have no idea how challenging it is to implement such a function in Dorico, but if it could be possible, then I really wouldn’t have any more wishes for Dorico.
For transcription, the fastest tool for me is an app called ”audiostretch”. I find that having dorico control the playback of the audio actually slows me compared to an external app.
Or even trusty old “Transcribe!”… 
I have StaffPad but hadn’t used it in years until I learned about its Audio functionality via this thread. This is amazing.
I mainly use Dorico for notating transcribed music, and if I didn’t have to juggle different apps (I personally prefer the Amazing Slow Downer from Ronimusic - nothing comes close in terms of audio quality in my opinion), I would be very happy. Things can get mixed up easily (will the space bar start playing the audio file or the Dorico score?), and if one could focus on a section of the music, play the audio, slow it down, try some notes or chords before writing them down etc., that would be wonderful.
I hope there is option for two audio tracks like if there are two lyrics line and after D.C. the song will repeat and then second audio track will activate.
Of course, there are an incredible number of apps for transcribing audio, be it audiostretch, soundslice, amazing slow downer, transcribe, anytune, etc… But the really difficult part is always the synchronisation of audio and notation. As I often create notated playalongs to originals, I still wish I could do all this in one app. If staffpad offered a suitable and high-quality notation, I would switch today. Because the same simplicity, user-friendliness of synchronisation and working with tempo changes and of cause seamless integration of audio and notation can only be offered by soundslice and none of the other programs mentioned. Unfortunately, both of these apps are rather weak as far as notation is concerned. And unfortunately again, Dorico is still in the Stone Age when it comes to audio … but hope dies last (German proverb) 
Multiple audio formats like Ogg, mp3 and flac would be a nice addition to audio track.
My use case for wanting this feature is the re-score competitions I do. Typically you get a silent video, and separate fx and narration tracks. Because I can’t add these two audio tracks in Dorico I have to create my own before I can start. It would very helpful if I could just drop the two MP3s in (as I could then also independently alter the volume on them.)
I sometimes want to include a short wav file for percussion instruments that will be available in a real symphony performance, but not necessarily available in the sample libraries Dorico uses for playback and audio export. My workaround has been to put the audio export in a DAW and then add the sounds, but that is not ideal. Examples: Thundersheet, wind machine, rattle.
(Trivia: The first piece I scored in Dorico needed a cuckoo clock in two places. In the DAW version, I used a wav file of a real clock. In Dorico, I ended up using a clarinet and a triangle, which actually worked out well.)