Hello,
During a two-month free trial of Dorico Pro, I generated files by letting the playback template automatically manage the sound libraries. I needed staves for violin, cello, and double bass, all played in pizzicato. Here’s how I proceeded:
- I specified my instruments in the “SETUP” panel.
- I added the “pizz.” abbreviation to a staff, available under “Playing Techniques”.
- If needed, I switched between “pizz.” and “arco” by indicating the technique along the staff.
Everything worked perfectly.
At the end of the trial, as I didn’t need to create large professional scores, I switched to Dorico Elements. Since then, I’ve encountered two major issues.
First Issue: Automatic Sound Library Loading
When I create new players in a new project, the software no longer automatically loads the corresponding sound library.
In the “Playback Template” window, “Auto” mode leaves the sound list empty in the HALION sonic window.
I must either:
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Manually load sounds for each staff, or
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Select HALion Sonic to see generic instruments appear (e.g., “[GM 041] Violin”).
In the Pro version, it seems to me I never had to manually specify a sound library; “Auto” mode found it automatically.
Second Issue: “Pizzicato” Playing Technique Not Working
After selecting the HALion Sonic library, the “Pizzicato” technique no longer works. A community member shared a workaround, but it’s cumbersome:
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Create a “Violin” staff for a single player.
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Create a “No Instrument” staff for multiple players.
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In the “Players” panel, drag the single-player violin into the multiple players section.
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In “Playback Template”, select “Auto” (this clears the list of instruments assigned to staves).
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Load “VIOLIN I”.
This finally enables pizzicato. I can then:
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Reassign a violin to the single player,
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Associate it with “VIOLIN I”,
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Delete the “multiple players” staff.
Result:
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The sound produced is that of an ensemble, not a solo.
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No other string instrument besides “VIOLIN I” seems to accept pizzicato.
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If I add “[GM 041] VIOLIN” to another staff, not only does pizzicato fail, but I also hear a “ghost sound” (a persistent bass).
Conclusion
To achieve a simple pizzicato in Dorico Elements:
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A series of complex steps is required, accessible only to experienced users.
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The technique doesn’t work with cello or double bass, and only with a violin ensemble (not solo).
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Depending on the configuration, ghost sounds (persistent basses) appear.
Question: Are these limitations intentional in the Elements version, or are they bugs?