Dorico playback - volume change without instruction?

Dorico
1

I have a piano score where, with no dynamic markings, the left hand is suddenly louder in playback (and this higher volume continues). Testing I’ve done shows:

  • one note seems to cause it - removing the note means none of the following notes are louder
  • replacing the note had no effect - the volume still changed
  • If I re-input the two bars surrounding this note elsewhere, there is no volume change, but surprisingly (and frustratingly) if I replace the original bars with these, the problem remains
  • If I change the playback template, the same occurs

I start a new flow from scratch, and I thought I’d solved it by pasting in the original start of the piece, then my re-input of the troublesome 2 bars - no volume increase. But then I add the next note, and the volume change (in the previous bar!) now occurs.

I don’t know where you might see the volume associated with a note apart from listening (though I assume there must be a setting somewhere?).

Does anyone have any similar experience or suggestions? I’m at a bit of a loss, and don’t know where to look.

Thanks.

2

Try adjusting the polyphonic instrument settings (Playback>options>Polyphonic Instrument)

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3

Anything in the Key Editor that might explain this?

4

Hi, I switched that setting off, and I thought it resolved the issue, but now (having switched it on and off a few times), the issue seems to have disappeared..

BUT I was also having other problems with the right hand being far too soft, and switching this off solves that. So I’ve marked this as solved, even though I’m not sure what’s going on.

I’ve not knowingly experienced this before - or not to this extent - and I’m guessing that the algorithm might help some musical patterns but not others, and better for me to not use it, as I expect the piano parts to be essentially neutral, except where I add an effect.

Many thanks.

5

Hi Derrek - not something I normally look at, but no, I couldn’t see anything. I think, as Janus suggested, it was the polyphonic instrument settings. Thanks.

6

I agree. I’ve not explored it’s affect very closely as most of my Piano parts sound better without it, so it’s off by default.

7

Hi again Derrek - I don’t think my slow brain grasped your point. I was simply looking for a trigger that changed the volume, but of course looking at the piano roll I can see the actual volumes of each note, and can both in principle alter them individually, and also see the effects of changes such as switching on and off automatic polyphonic voice balancing without having to listen. That’s useful - thank you.

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