I’m beginning to learn my way around Dorico, and am trying to work out how endpoints work. Here’s the scenario:
I’ve set up projects for expression map and endpoint editing, and after working through the library instruments (VSL) I save an expression map as, for example, “My Timpani”
I then save this as an endpoint with VSL Timpani, naming the endpoint “My Timpani - VSL”
After closing this project, I then open a new blank project, set up a timpani track, load in VSL timpani. But, the expression map “My Timpani” is not in the menu.
I would have thought Dorico would link “My Timpani” expression map to the corresponding VSL library. However, it seems this is not so, and furthermore, I can’t access the expression map I created in my setup project without opening that project.
Can I can save an endpoint for each instrument in my library in such a way that it is recalled each time I load the instrument, across any new projects?
You need to combine your Endpoints into a Playback Template (and probably set that as your default). It is the Playback Template that loads new instruments into a project.
(If I understand the process correctly) When you add a new instrument to a project in Setup, Dorico refers to the default Playback Template in order to find and load a suitable Endpoint for it.
If you apply a different Playback Template, Dorico unloads everything and reloads according to the new Playback Template, which will restore a particular set of VST states and associated Expression Maps.
It is simpler to save Endpoints for groups of instruments (if you need that granularity) or just create one for the entire library you use. And even then it is a good idea, when creating the Playback Template to add one of the automatic factory endpoints as a fallback in case a score uses a novel instrument that is not included in your custom endpoint.
That does help, thanks Janus. However, I’m still not sure I understand the relationship between endpoints and playback templates. I understand what to do when you say “save Endpoints for groups of instruments”, but for this to be transferrable to new projects don’t I then need to save the playback template, which locks all the individual instrument endpoints into this one combined endpoint, which is only recalled when the same combination of instruments is used in a new document. Meaning if I create a document using only a couple of instruments from this group, I need to set these up as in a new document, create new endpoints and a new playback template specific to this new ensemble.
I’ve just realised while typing that the process of creating endpoints and playback templates is the simple part of the process. It’s the expression map creation that takes the most time, especially with the level of detail in the VSL library. My original topic should have been “Expression maps not appearing in new projects”. I’m going to start a new topic with the correst title…
No. The Playback Template is like a long list of Instruments together with their appropriate VST settings and Expression Maps. Dorico runs down that list and finds the ones it needs for the score you have set up (It ignores all the others).
When you create the playback template, you are specifying “if you find this instrument in the project, please load this Endpoint…” Which is why it is important to include a factory default as a backstop, in case you haven’t provided an endpoint for a particular instrument.
Yes, creating Expression Maps can be tricky. It’s best to start from ones that others have already created!