Expression Maps - Make it simpler

Dorico
1

Please consider adding an “auto-combine groups” checkbox to the Expression Map editor.

Why this is coming up:
I don’t want to list “Staccato” 50 times. By the time I get to Sul G I’ll have gone crazy a bit. By the time I get to brass (Harmon Mute stem in, stem out, half out, bucket, plunger, cuivre, bell up)… multiplied by Stac, Tenuto, Legato, Trill, etc… I’ll probably jump off a cliff. :angry:

Functionality to first consider:
Mute + Stac DOES need defining, but Dorico should already know this. I now see that groups are also needed for playback to chase properly (e.g. playing from bar 30 when you marked “mute” on bar 1).

How it should work:
If I check “auto-combine groups”, then once I add “Mute” as a keyswitch (or in my case, CC33 value 4), then Dorico should 1) chase the last used technique from each group upon playback and 2) if two techniques are used simultaneously, then read from group 1 first (or last?)

The benefits:

  1. Setting up a new sample library in Dorico would be 100x easier.
  2. Editing / adding to Expression Maps would be 100x easier. (i.e. buying new samples = not a major pain)
  3. Sean would be very very very happy.
  4. Paul Walmsley can rest better at night knowing Sean will finally shut up.

Thanks!!
-Sean

P.S. Again, Dorico 2 freaking rocks! So this my complaint about maps doesn’t reflect on Dorico usage overall, just the entry/setup process. I’m still dumb-founded though. The software is absolutely genius and exactly what I’ve been waiting for! :smiley:

2

Here’s a picture, cause reasons.

Hopefully this at least illustrates why it’s redundant. I obviously don’t have a half-muted pizzicato patch in my Violin 1 sample library. But I still have enough core techniques and possibilities within each technique that I believe this feature would go a long way toward getting the larger sample libraries into Dorico more easily. :smiley:

3

Thanks Sean, this is something that we can take into consideration.