I’m not sure what all support SE and Elements has for manipulating Expression Maps. Assuming you can, there are some rudimentary sounds for pizzicato and tremolo string sections included in the Sonic Selection library that ships with all Steinberg Hosts (Including Dorico SE and Elements).
See if you can make this work… (If not, follow up with a post, I might can build a kind of template for you that would work with Elements that’d give you proper string sections with tremolo and pizzicato).
- Make a new instance of Sonic 7 in the Play/VST and MIDI tab.
a. Click the plus button here:
b. Click here and load a new instance of Sonic…
c. Click the e button to open your new instance of sonic.
- Load the String Instrument you want in slot 1. I.E. Violin for a solo violin, or String Ensemble 1 for a Violin section (fine to simulate a violin section. Use it again for Violas, again for Cellos, Again for Bass, etc).
In the second slot load Tremolo.
In the third slot load Pizzicato.
- Create an expression map that will use channel bouncing to get at these articulation choices.
a. Go to Library/Expression Maps… in the top menu.
b. Choose CC11 Dynamics and tap the add a copy icon at the bottom.
c. Rename the new Expression Map to String Sections (or whatever you like).
d. Add an Abs. Chan Actions of 1 for the init and Natural Types.
e. Add a new base switch for Type Tremolo and click OK.
f. Create a Channel Switch for Tremolo for channel 2.
(edit [not in pic above]: Also set the dynamic type for tremolo to CC11)
g. Add another switch for Pizzicato and set it up to use channel 3. Use velocity control for dynamics.
Click OK in the lower Right of the Expression Map pane when done.
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Click the Settings Cog of your new Sonic Instance and choose the expression map you’ve just made. Also tick the Number of audio outputs to show in Mixer: 1. If you like you can change the name so it’s easier to Find this stuff later.
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Set the end point of your String Section to use your new instance of Sonic.
Now you have a Violin Section with Tremolo and Pizzicato.
Duplicate the instance for Violin II, again for Violas, Again for Cellos, and again for Basses. (Highlight the Violins Instance your just made and click the duplicate button 4 times).
Click the settings cog for each one and rename them. Eventually you end up with something like this:
Back in the Track Inspector tab, connect the rest of your string section staves to these new instances.
Now you have all your sections covered and get tremolo and pizzicato articulations.
If you need Solo Strings, just duplicate more of these, and change slot 1 in Sonic to the Solo Instrument of your choice. Connect the staves that need connecting.
Note, there are no ‘solo’ versions of tremolo or pizzicato in the Sonic Selections library that comes with Dorico SE, but it’s better than nothing.
Here is a Score I made in Dorico Pro that should have everything set up for Sonic 7 using the basic GM sounds from the Sonic Selection Library.
Mozart - Symphony No._41 - Jupiter - 1st Mvt - Sonic Selection.dorico (3.7 MB)