I use noteperformer with the single output playback template (Playback Template: Individual Mixer channels for NotePerformer)
Another thing with NP settings - set cc 108 to value 1 in the automation lane for “always tenuto” on each wind instrument. Also set cc 104 to value 8 to have a full “a8” or section sound on each staff. I change these back to 1 or 2 if there is a solo or duet, but levels can get quiet.
For trumpet solos, i’ll sometimes play those out and record them myself for the mockup. A lot of writing I do is very stylistic and not just long tones and lip slurs, lots of triplet subdivision/swing articulation.
This all just gives a little more control of the stems, and i’ll run all of them into valhalla room reverb. Once the show is done, I export my stems without any reverb and import into my DAW. Don’t personally use VDL too much but I have it to listen to files that perc guys will send me. Typically I just line up their audio with mine in the daw and mix. Try to get stems for all the perc parts as well. I also have a hardware synth for a group I write for, so for their stuff (and anyone else using an FA-08), i’ll connect the keyboard to my computer, and play back the midi data from the synth part on the keyboard while recording the audio output.