After some further health issues I am trying to return to my initial foray into NPPE, in my case, the Synchron library. I want to be sure I set things up in the best way possible for the design of NPPE, especially with regard to divisi strings.
For each section using divisi:
NPPE host, one “instance” per section, set up an extra staff for each desk? Or one NPPE host staff to support all desks?
Dorico Player Setup, one section player with separate voices for each desk, or a separate section player for each desk? Or no need for separate voices?
Dorico NPPE mixer, a separate slot for each desk to connect with each separate voice or player?
I’ve searched the Noteperformer user guide for “divisi” and got no hits. I’ve found no detailed discussion on the web.
Noteperformer emulates divisi by using the full section patches and lowering volume. So just use 1 staff and write “div.” or use Dorico’s multi-staff divisi. It doesn’t matter, Noteperformer will detect the divisi and do its thing in both cases. If you use the first option don’t forget to enable Independent Playback for the staff. IP is AFAIR enabled automatically with option 2.
My question is related to this, but approaching this issue from the opposite side: how to create small sections from soloists with NPPE?
With the native NP playback system, you can create an ensemble by using CC104. A value of 2 in a Violins section staff would make a small ensemble of two solo Violins.
What about with, for example, VSL SYzd SE’s Violins? If I add a CC104=2 event in a Solo Violin staff, does it make a two-Violins ensemble? In NPPE, should I only instantiate a single part, or should I create two parts (one for each of the Solo Violins making the ensemble)?
An update, after a few tests. It looks like CC104 is not doing anything, in the case I described.
I tried to create the two-Violin ensembles as solo and ensemble staves. In the first case, NP used the Solo Violin sound, in the second one it used the Section Violins.
The Solo Violin remained solo, and the Section Violins remained a full section. Apparently, NP needs its own internal system to build ensembles to make the CC104 control work.
Hi, just found this thread as I’m writing a lot of back and forth div(a2)/unison and preferring to keep it on the same staff rather than constantly adding formal multi-staff divisi.
I just want to make sure I understand these steps correctly:
Put the lower part of my a2 div into a new down-stem voice 1 (with upper voice in up-stem voice 1 obviously). Add a staff text label and manually write div.
Enable independent playback of voices in the play tab under the instrument.
It’s hard to say for sure if NP is recognizing this as divisi automatically or not, but I just want to make sure these steps are right.
Also, in theory I am wondering if when I want to use a different (non-NPPE) library with my expression maps, if I could cheat the same exact way: add the second string vst instance to the secondary voice (with independent playback enabled) and then most likely I’d have to manually automate the volume down when doing this using either hidden immediate dynamics or CC7. It sounds like that is effectively what NP does in order to fake divisi, but curious if anyone has tried this with success. (Or: maybe none of this is necessary? One vst will obviously get louder with extra voices but then simply lower the dynamic and hide it, without the need of a separate instance? Sure not exactly the same but perhaps close enough?)
I’ve thought about this, but not tried it. I expect other people have!
I would add, say, Spitfire chamber strings patches as VSTs, and create my divisi lines using voices routed to those instruments. I would set the relative volumes using the mixer.
I’m afraid at the current stage of NPPE, the thing you are asking about isn’t possible.
Some time ago I had a long discussion with Arne from @Wallander , here, on the forum on this topic.
Definitely it would be great if NPPE is able to handle libraries like VSL Dimension Strings Bundle (Synchron-ized, or VI Pro). This great library is allows per instrument divisions. One can even control how, exactly, the desks to be divided.
As NP evolving with every release, I hope Arne will change his mind and will dive deeper into the integration of the Dimension Strings and its full potential!
Currently NPPE is able to affect only one of the two divisi characteristics, the loudness level, but not the timber.
