Hello! I’m copying a work in Dorico that has two different suspended cymbals (one small and one large). How could I achieve these two different sounds? Since I only see one suspended cymbal.
P.S. 1: I use noteperformer
P.S. 2: I will need cymbal rolls
Thank you!
Unfortunately NP doesn’t offer multiple cymbal types. Even if you were to add different sizes in the score – unfortunately you can’t really get micro control over the playback for each - in other words you pretty much just get a “one-size-fits-all” suspended cymbal. The same goes with all of the NP percussion; for example snare drums and bass drums, you only get one size, so you can’t have individual playback of a piccolo snare and a large snare for example (i.e., you just get a generic ‘snare drum’).
My workaround for this personally has been to use alternate libraries just for the task. One of my favorite and most diverse in terms of options and available expression maps is VSL’s Studio Cymbals & Gongs. Not only are there numerous sizes of cymbals and cymbal types (13 suspended cymbals alone! also splashes, china cymbals, finger cymbals, gongs, tam-tams), and plentiful articulations including the basic hits & rolls, but also with sticks, mallets, brushes, rods, scrapes, and bowed. Added bonus is they have already created expression & percussion maps to work in Dorico.
Alternatively, I have used Cinesamples CinePerc. It’s pretty good, though I think the quality is questionable at times. Hope that helps.
Thank you! And could I use this library while the other instruments are in Noteperformer? (I have also contemplated the option of equalizing the instrument so that it sounds different…)
Yes, you can use as many libraries your computer can handle, in the same project… NotePerformer can be used as the automatic library for everything, then you manually change whatever you want to any other vsti (Superior Drummer 3 or Groove Agent for drums, Iconica sketch or VSL or Spitfire for orchestral sounds… It’s infinite actually)
I’ve seen that there are three different types of Cymbal lines but they are VDL. How can I use this type of instrument? Need I Kontakt?