Hey all, hopefully quick and simple question here - dynamics.
So, in creating expression maps for Dorico 5 with HOOPUS from EWQL (hollywood orchestra opus edition) I’m wondering how to properly control dynamics (and how they’re controlled by default).
I’ve written my expression map as such that there are primary and secondary dynamic controls, CC1 controls volume and CC11 controls expression. This was under the advisement of another helpful soul on the forums.
But, I don’t have an “expression controller” or a mod wheel/slider to control dynamics of my midi keyboard, so I’m wondering - will setting up the expression map in this way allow my dynamics to be controlled by the expressive dynamic markings that I’m placing into the score, or is there some way that I need to prgram it to do that? Or is this not possible, and I must manually adjust expression values after note entry somehow?
All you need to do is write the dynamics in the music as normal, either using the Dynamics panel on the right in Write mode, or the Shift+D popover. If you then want to adjust the fine details of the dynamics as performed, you can do so in the dynamics editor in the Key Editor.
This is from an older manual, but I think it also holds true for the OPUS edition: “Volume (CC1) should be used to set a loudness level relative to other instruments. And Expression (CC11) should be used to shape the continually changing dynamics, timbre, and expressiveness of each instrument. Neither Volume nor Expression change the timbre of the instruments, only the loudness.”
Unlike most other labraries CC11 should be the primary dynamics controller then, and CC1 be left at a suitable static level (min and max values identical)
yes, it’s true that HOOPUS seems to primarily control dynamics, including cross-fading on longer notes with CC11 rather than the more common CC1 so it would make some sense to me to make that the primary controller which is controlled by the dynamics lane and score markings. CC1 has different functions depending on the library and instrument type – sometimes it controls vibrato for instance and in other cases (the MOD patches) can switch between different articulations. You’ll need to check the specific instrument documentation. CC7 is the master volume and should not generally be altered within the project.
Either way, as Daniel says, simply putting the dynamics in the score will get you most of the way there.
Like I wrote in the other thread on Opus expression maps: Although Opus edition normalized the dynamics chaos from the Play edition, there are still things to pay close attention to. The keyswitch articulation names correspond to individual articulations, e.g. in 1st Violins KS, the first articulation is Sus MAX which corresponds directly to 1st Violins → Long → 1st Violins Sus MAX. If you click on that individual articulation, you can see everything it has to offer:
Dynamics: CC11
Vibrato: CC1 (I used it as a secondary dynamic in my expression maps)
Finger Position: CC70
Whereas, Pizzicato:
… uses velocity to control the 4 dynamic layers and CC11 overall loudness. For shorts like pizz, I used velocity as main dynamics and CC11 as secondary.
So you need to pay close attention to each articulation in the KS instrument.
