I was curious if anyone has found a more efficient way to volume balance various sample libraries with expression maps in Dorico. Right now for my libraries that NPPE doesn’t support, my approach has been to use NP as a baseline for comparison and modify the fader level in the mixer for the sample library and adjust the min/max dynamic level in the expression map until the volumes in the mixer look like they’re about equal in both pp and ff passages, but this requires a bunch of trial and error to get right, and my results so far haven’t been satisfying. There are always dynamics or passages where the sample library sounds quieter or louder than NP despite whatever settings I use. And this doesn’t include various articulations like staccato that are louder or softer in the sample library than the sustains. It doesn’t really get close to the volume balance that NPPE achieves, let alone stock NP.
Have any of you found more efficient methods to get expression maps set up properly so that volume balancing is mostly set and forget? Would something like VE Pro make this process easier somehow? Does anyone use some sort of plugin which measures dB volume to more accurately compare volume levels? I’m willing to do the difficult work of getting it right, but I don’t feel like my trial and error process is getting me the results I want, and it’s been frustrating so far.
Thanks, yeah from what I understand, CC7 is a way to set the volume at the plugin level, similar to adjusting the fader in the Dorico mixer. I think my bigger question isn’t about how to find the right CC7/fader level, but a way to find the right setting for the dynamic/volume curve so that each dynamic level (pp, mf, ff, etc) are the same for every staff. In a lot of libraries you can set the faders or volume so that mf is the same volume, but one library might have a more extreme volume range so that pp is quieter and ff is louder than the other library.
So, it seems like there are two steps. Finding the correct fader/CC7 setting so that mf has the same volume for all libraries. Then, setting the dynamic range in the expression map so that pp and ff are also the same volume. And my process getting there is really slow and frustrating, and the min/max dynamic level setting seems to have jumps that are too big for me to get the dynamic/volume range correct. Just curious if people have shortcuts for these two steps.
I’ve used the Volume Dynamic values to balance instruments from different libraries. The default is 1 - 127, but you can, say, lower the top value which will have a limiting effect (the loudest not being really the loudest). Likewise, raising the bottom value will “boost” the quietest markings.
It’s definitely trial and error to get things right.
Also, each expression map has playback overrides where you can set the dynamic curve per-expression map.