Endpoint Setup: Assigned Instrument is wrong and can't be corrected?

[SharksOnThePotomac]

Hello,

[I’m using the Cantai VST if that makes a difference.]

Basic problem: I’m re-configuring my endpoints and “Assigned Instrument” is picking up a part name that is (a) incorrect and (b) unchangeable.

What I did. I have 22 vocal parts. I installed into my Dorico project 22 instances of the Cantai VST, customized each VST, and assigned them to the individual tracks. Notably I did this in the order the parts appear in Setup, with “Soprano” being first. Also notably, the Soprano part was tied to the 6th VST instance in my project.

All was working fine, until it didn’t (one voice produced no sound). My troubleshooting made things worse, so I started over.

• I deleted all instances of the Cantai VST in my project.
• I decided to add the VSTs one-by-one in order of appearance in the score (rather than the order in Setup). In this situation, the first is named “WO Evening”.
• I installed an instance of Cantai VST.
• I assigned the part (“WO Evening”) and chose the Cantai voice.
• I go to Endpoint Setup (the gear icon) to rename the VST instance and the Assigned Instrument reads “Soprano”.

I’ll note that once I started over, the first Cantai VST instance is again in “slot” number 6; it is the 6th VST in my project. The one previously assigned to “Soprano”. I don’t know if that is a coincidence or not. But there is no way to change the Assigned Instrument, and it’s incorrect. This does seem to simply be a labeling problem, but I’m hesitant to go through 21 more install-configuration steps to find out it isn’t.

I did check the suggested related threads and think this is not related? One suggestion was to use the Setup | Edit Names dialog, but the name for my “WO Evening” part remains correct there.

On playback, the correct VST is used for the correct part. So I really don’t know what “Soprano” as the Assigned Instrument has to do with anything (but I’d love to learn!).

I’m including a screen shot in Play mode with the Endpoint Setup dialog box open and the related bits circled in red.

Thank you so much for any time you spend thinking about my situation! v/r, Jim

[kasky1]

So, I don’t think that Endpoint will get you where you want to go although I could be wrong.

You should be able to select any VST in the Track Inspector after clicking on the instrument (voice) of interest by selecting the appropriate VST.

[SharksOnThePotomac]

Thank you for your reply.

As you suggest, I am indeed able to

select any VST in the Track Inspector after clicking on the instrument (voice) of interest by selecting the appropriate VST.

That works, and I hope I was showing that in my picture, although maybe I’m misunderstanding? I do indeed have the “WO Evening” VST playing on the “WO Evening” part; it’s the Endpoint labeling that is throwing me off.

I’m sorry, I’m not sure what you mean by

don’t think that Endpoint will get you where you want to go

? Perhaps it is possible to edit Endpoints somewhere else so I could get the labeling correct?

[kasky1]

I don’t mess with the endpoints for Cantai at all. I don’t think it is necessary. All of my voices sound without issue.

With that being said, I do not use the Cantai playback template at all. I tend to use “Silence” template and assign each part manually such that I have full control over all the voices/instruments. That may not be the Kosher way or recommended way by Dorico and long-time users but it works for me and keeps me from getting into VST issues.

Once I have a setup with VST instruments that I think I will use again. I create a copy, delete any notation and save it as one of my templates. That way, I don’t have to redo the manual VST setups again.

So, this is what works for me. If it doesn’t work for anyone else, that’s OK. I’m just very prescriptive about what I want for playback. Hope this hellps explain my approach a bit.

[SharksOnThePotomac]

OK; thank you for your reply!