While writing for different instruments in an orchestral score, (Apple MacBook) and skipping from instrument to instrument, I would like to get a sense of how things are sounding together using my MIDI keyboard without having to PLAY the score. However, the only sound I hear of course is the sound of the instrument I am currently in. Is there a way to ignore all the sounds of the different instruments as I move from instrument to instrument, and to have a default sound, for example, a piano, for all instruments? That way I could test different instrument combinations of the orchestral score on my MIDI keyboard without moving to an instrument that has a sufficient range. (Like the cello)
The easiest way is simply to have a ‘standalone’ MIDI player app, with a piano sample loaded on channel 1.
The Dorico installation includes a standalone app for HALion Sonic, which functions identically to the VST version.
(However, on Windows, this may depend on whether your MIDI driver lets multiple applications work at the same time.)
In addition to what benwiggy said, you’ll also want to uncheck Preferences / Play / Enable MIDI Thru.
On Win you’ll need to create multiple MIDI ports, then use a software MIDI router to route the signal to both Dorico and your Piano VST at the same time.
(This has been a longstanding feature request. It would be nice to see this ability implemented within Dorico so additional workarounds aren’t required.)
I’m somewhat of a novice in terms of setting up VST and sounds. Is there a video that can demonstrate how to do the steps you describe?
If you’re on a Mac, then just launch the HALion Sonic app from the Applications folder. Double click on an Etudes Elements piano sound on the right-hand side – and you’re done!
Thanks. Not familiar at all using the Halion Sonic app. Solved, It’s working! Many thanks.
Thanks, this helps.