Fine-tuning Dynamics

[QuinTheComposer]

Is there a way to set individual dynamics value’s in Dorico 4? I am currently in the process of making a very detailed expression map for the entire Cinematic Studio Series line of products. I want to have something where I can basically say something along the lines of;

When playing legato:
PPP - CC1 = 1
pp - CC1 = 50
F - CC1 = 100
FFF- CC1 = 127

Is this a feature? If it isn’t is there a way I can fine-tune the dynamic curve other than just changing its scaling? Is there a better way that I should be thinking about this? Any help is appreciated!

[dko22]

there isn’t yet such a feature in Dorico. I also think it could be useful particularly with libraries where it’s known at what CC1 level or whatever a velocity layer change takes place so that libraries can be programmed appropriately.

Another thing which could be useful is being able to change the global level per articulation as many libraries have dynamic level imbalances between the articulations. Yet another thing would be the ability to scale dynamics according to pitch as some libraries (mainly with patch combinations such as in choirs or string ensembles) are much louder or quieter in a particular part of the range.

For what it’s worth, with Cinematic Studio, which is my current preferred orchestral template, the dynamic transitions are pretty smoothly programmed so I rarely run into practical problems but I nonetheless do think it’s something which could be considered for Dorico (of course the team will know that Sibelius for instance has such a facility).

[SampoKasurinen]

@dko22

I also think it could be useful particularly with libraries where it’s known at what CC1 level or whatever a velocity layer change takes place so that libraries can be programmed appropriately.

Another thing which could be useful is being able to change the global level per articulation as many libraries have dynamic level imbalances between the articulations.

These would be very helpful indeed, there would be a possibility to reduce the amount of manual editing.

The way I have gotten around this is that I once edit manually the dynamic level of a certain dynamic until it sounds about right - then I simply copy and paste around that marking. But usually after a while I find that I need to adjust every new dynamic marking…

[SampoKasurinen]

Here is a proposition for the Dynamic curve:

besides a single number, dynamic curve could be expressed as row of values between 0 and 127. The length of this row could be any even number between 4 and 14.

For example, besides “2,5”, one could type:

“4, 20, 60, 100”

and the dynamic curve would be formed as linear lines between 0, 4 (p), 20 (mp) 60 (mf) 100 (f) and 127.

likewise, “4, 10, 30, 60, 70, 100” would set the values for pp, p, mp, mf, f and ff.

The remaining values would be always set linearly.

Here is little graph, hopefully it will clarify the idea:

and here is how it currently works:

This would be a very useful tool for creating properly balanced expression maps. At the moment setting the dynamic curve is always a compromise between (too) many factors. If the curve could be set also per articulation (expression map entry), that would be of course even better.