Hello. What is the current situation with Cantai Playback template. In the last Cantai update they said something about being included. But there is a download link in the Dorico site with some instructions to install it. What should I do?
Follow the instructions provided:
Download the template from the official Dorico blog and unzip the file (Cantai.dorico_pt).
Then, drag and drop the dorico_pt file into the Dorico Hub window (alternatively, go to Play > Playback Template > Import).
Ideally, create a combined template: duplicate your standard template (Auto), add the Cantai entries, and assign Cantai a higher priority for vocal parts.
Enable “Independent Voice Playback” in the Track Inspector to ensure each vocal part renders correctly.
Thank you. So the Cantai statement that the Playback Template is included is not a thing?
The Cantai site’s Changelog shows that it ships with the installer. I still need to install, so I can’t confirm.
— Jim
That is not part of the statement, it clearly says you need to download the template.
You can find the full blog post here:
I installed the Cantai playback template by hand a while ago, so I can’t test the new installer. But you can run the installer and then open Dorico to see if the template got installed. If it didn’t, you can follow the instructions on the Dorico site to install by hand.
Personally, I just use the Silence template and assign all instruments as needed. Templates are great for those who don’t want to do that. What I have found, though, is that Cantai typically assigns a “choral Soprano” as a “solo Soprano” with the template which requires about half the effort of just assigning manually. Most of my work is choir and organ using Cantai and Hauptwerk via Vienna Pro Ensemble 8 interface. I use a project template that already has those instruments assigned.
So, my point is this: if you do all kinds of composing and engraving work, the Playback templates are probably a time saver. If you do mostly one kind of work or one style for a publisher, it’s easier in the long run to use a project template that already has the instruments (inclusive of Cantai) setup and assigned than to fuss with changes after Cantai decides what’s what.
That’s the nice thing about Dorico: there are typically options to make life simpler for the individual user to customize their workflow if one knows and understands how most of the app works.