Expression maps and unique playing techniques

I use BBCSO for playback. Some of it’s percussion has rather unique playing techniques (like the timpani has “soft hits” or “damped hits”).

I set up my expression maps with the playing techniques available. So for example, for simple “hits” I use the “Natural” playing technique. For normal rolls, this would be “roll”.

But how do I trigger the more unique samples like soft hits or damped hits when writing my score? There is no corresponding playing technique available. Is there another way to manually trigger the keyswitch in write mode?

Check out the percussion map. If you find the line that triggers dampen hits, check out the last information on this line: the playback technique that triggers it. Then, either find the playing technique that triggers that playback technique (and I think there is a kind of target glyph that is a dampen playing technique that triggers that same playback technique), or create whatever playing technique, making sure it does trigger the needed playback technique.
I hope I am clear :sweat_smile:
Note that if there is no line with that sound in the percussion map, it is not available. You then need to create a line (instrument, playback technique) in Dorico and make sure in the plugin that it is the correct MIDI note

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Thanks, that helped a lot. I found a few playing techniques via your suggestion in regards to the percussion map. I currently don’t have the Pro version of Dorico, but once I got it, I’ll just add the missing playing techniques.

I hoped there is a command for changing a keyswitch at a certain note (e.g. trigger keyswitch D-2 in measure 4) or something like that.

John Barron has created playback templates for the BBC Symphony Orchestra, which include an expression map for the timpani: