Okay, I have a thought that’s a bit “fancy”, but I think would be pretty great for my template. I want to be able to choose different instruments for “unis.” and “divisi” (say a2 for now), then also for solos. I understand this can be done, but would there be a way to choose an instrument for anything involving glissandi or microtones? Probably not, but just curious. I could probably create some more “manual” approach with a hidden articulation/set of articulations, which would be fine, too. Basically, I want to use SWAM for solos and for sectionals with glissandi/microtones, because I find it far more convincing for any pitch bend stuff than samples, but then use samples (BBCSO and Studio Strings for unis and div). Mostly I’m just tired of a heavily SWAM-based template blowing out my CPU, but I also wouldn’t mind benefitting from the simplicity of articulation key switches in Dorico.
Any thoughts?
PS - I should mention that I’m using Vienna Ensemble Pro 7, so I can set up my channels in such a way as to take advantage of the “relative channel” option in the expression maps (if I understand that option correctly).
Ah, I see that I can’t have totally separate unison and divisi assignments. That’s kinda too bad, but I get it. I wanted to use BBCSO for unis only, then Studio Strings for divisi 1/2.
I did this for the EW Diamond divisi A and B samples. You have to enable independent voice playback in Play mode. Then, create a playing/playback technique as a “direction” and in your expression map, create an Add-On that changes channel. So assume you have 3 channels in VEP, 1: 1st violins (full) keyswitch, 2: 1st divisi A keyswitch, 3: 1st divisi B keyswitch. Staff (a) will be assigned channel 1 and staff (b), channel 3. The Add-on will get assigned at divisi and simply change the channel to 2. A ‘nat’ resets everything.
Excellent, thanks for the tip! I’ll look into this today. I think the main issue might be with different libraries and expression maps; i.e., different overall switching logic. I will likely just add extra tracks/staves for the libraries I want in my composition template, then condense down parts for the printed score.
If needed I use 7 different VSL libraries for each string instrument. Full section, Div. 1 and Div. 2. with and without sordino and a solo.
The divisi are in separate VEP instances with 5 string instruments each using the same library as the full section but at more or less half the CC7 setting.
To avoid a mess with the order of the different voices (e.g violins 1 first voice is full section but celli first voice is divisi 1 CS) it is best to set up all voices first using a few dummy bars which you can later delete rather than defining the voices as they occur in your piece.