VSL's Dorico Wizard: anomaly, bug or my memory?

[MarkSealey]

When I run Dorico Wizard in Vienna Assistant 1.2.561 on macOS 26.4 with Dorico 6.2.10.6140 (Mar 27 2026) to create and save PlayBack Templates for my Synchron Brass libraries, Yes - new or updated .doricolib files are saved in:

• ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/DefaultLibraryAdditions/Synchron Brass
• ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/EndpointConfigs/SY Brass (Synchron Player)
• ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/PlaybackTemplateSpecs/VSL Synchron Brass

But none of these is what I would expect: *.dorico_pt

No errors.

I get ‘Saved!” in Vienna Assistant.

But no apparent Playback Template files for Synchron Brass.

Nor can I see the corresponding Templates in Dorico Play > Playback Template… to select for use in a Dorico file.

Am I misremembering how it’s supposed to work; is there a change introduced with the recent updates of VA? A bug? Something specific to Synchron Brass?

TIA for anyone who has this figured out, please!

[FredGUnn]

The Playback Template will be at ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/PlaybackTemplateSpecs/WhateverNameYouGaveItInViennaAssistant/playbacktemplatespec.xml. This is the Playback Template that will be referencing the endpoint that contains your Synchron Brass. (I don’t have that library, so I’m assuming it’s one that is supported by the VSL Dorico Wizard.) That endpoint should then be found at ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/EndpointConfigs’

[MarkSealey]

Thanks very much, Fred!

Yes, those (XML) files are there; and named accordingly.

But there is nothing in any of those locations with what I understand to be the required EXTENSION, namely:

.dorico_pt

Nor, significantly, does any Playback Template appear in Dorico’s Play > Playback Template… menu.

So I can’t load one.

I’m obviously missing something here, aren’t I!

[FredGUnn]

@MarkSealey

But there is nothing in any of those locations with what I understand to be the required EXTENSION, namely:

.dorico_pt

That’s the extension that allows you to export and import Playback Templates. Once they are installed though that file is no longer needed. Test it. Download a PT from the Dorico Resources page, import it into Dorico, then delete the .dorico_pt file. The PT will still be installed.

As VSL has their own installer, they never need to generate a dorico_pt file. (I have no idea if they actually support Synchron Brass though as I don’t own it.)

EDIT: Actually, when I unclick Installed products only, Synchron Brass does in fact show up, so you should be able to include it in a VSL playback template.

[MarkSealey]

Thanks again, Fred!

How do I build a/my own Playback Template from those (VSL) files, which are indeed downloaded into that location, please?

[FredGUnn]

This link walks you through it:

Creating custom playback templates - Dorico Pro - 6.1

Basically, you create a new Playback Template, hit Add Manual, then add the Endpoint Configurations you want. These could be the Endpoint Configs that VSL created, or ones that you had previously saved. You might want to throw the Auto endpoint at the end to catch anything you didn’t account for.

[MarkSealey]

Thanks for that link and the updated info, Fred!

There does seem to be something odd going on here: I tried replicating (the process in) VA’s Dorico Wizard with other libraries. Strings Pro, for example.

They all result in Dorico Playback Templates where you would expect them to be, Play > Playback Template…:

But never Synchron Brass.

Meanwhile, do you actually see any PT’s on the relevant VSL page, please; I could use those until I get to a solution?

Secondly, when you kindly explain:

@FredGUnn

… create a new Playback Template, hit Add Manual, then add the Endpoint Configurations you want. These could be the Endpoint Configs that VSL created…

Those would be the ones downloaded from/by the Wizard at

~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/EndpointConfigs/SY Brass (Synchron Player)

wouldn’t they?

Your help appreciated

[mavros]

Yes the end point configurations are saved in the directory you mentioned.

I was wondering however why you make separate playback templates for each library you have. You can add all in one playback template in the wizzard and even when you only have strings in your piece only those instruments will be loaded. On the other hand if you have e.g. WW, Percussion and Strings in your piece and try to apply first a WW then a Percusiion and next the strings playback template you will most probably end up with only the strings having VST instruments linked. To get all linked you have to use a template with all instruments in.

[MarkSealey]

Thanks, @mavros. Yes, I plan to have VA’s Dorico Wizard create and save one comprehensive PlayBack Template for all (my) VSL libraries - as soon as I get the Brass one working.

I follow your argument: the order would work against me…

[mavros]

I just checked and created a playback template with just VSL SY Brass and it is saved correctly in the PlaybackTemplateSpecs directory.

[MarkSealey]

@mavros,

Thanks. Yes. It is for me too; here it is zipped…

playbacktemplatespec.xml.zip (481 Bytes)

But it doesn’t work as is; and nothing appears in Dorico for it.

[MarkSealey]

@FredGUnn (and @mavros )

@FredGUnn

…As VSL has their own installer…

So is it the case that the (simply an XML) file,

~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/PlaybackTemplateSpecs/VSL Synchron Brass/playbacktemplatespec.xml

(which - in my case - is indeed being correctly (created,) downloaded and saved by the VSL’s Vienna Assistant’s Dorico Wizard just uses the reference there in the name/value pair near the end:

        <endpointConfig>
            <configID>endpointconfig.user.sy_brass_synchron_player</configID>
        </endpointConfig>

to somehow build another file elsewhere in ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6, which Dorico (6) is able to use as a Playback Template, and its contents?

I’d really like to understand how this works.

[FredGUnn]

@MarkSealey

playbacktemplatespec.xml.zip

That isn’t a terribly useful Playback Template as it only contains a single endpoint, the endpoint for your SY Brass. Any other instruments simply won’t have a sound assigned.

You can view what’s in that endpoint at ~Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/EndpointConfigs/WhateverTheEndpointNameIs. Inside that folder there will be an endpointconfig.xml file with the details of that endpoint.

If you want to mix and match libraries with VSL stuff and other manufacturers, you can simply create a new Playback Template, add the Synchron Brass endpoint to it, add whatever other endpoints you want, then place the Auto endpoint at the end to catch anything else. If you only have a single endpoint in your PT it won’t be very useful unless you are only writing for brass.

[MarkSealey]

Indeed. That’s why I posted it here.

All my other Dorico Wizard template creations do actually show up in Dorico itself.

There appears to be a bug or some other shortcoming just with the Synchron Brass one …

Thanks for your advice re multiple libraries. In fact by downloading them all into one comprehensive template I can get all my VSL ones to show in Dorico as @mavros says - thanks again.

@FredGUnn

…That isn’t a terribly useful Playback Template…

Over and above this particular exercise now, as I say, I really want to understand the relationship between files in the three directories:

• ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/DefaultLibraryAdditions
• ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/EndpointConfigs
• ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/PlaybackTemplateSpecs

It seems as though (XML) files in one refer to - and build something (internal to Dorico, in view of your comment here, @FredGUnn ?) - ‘somewhere else’?

[DaddyO]

@MarkSealey

Over and above this particular exercise now, as I say, I really want to understand the relationship between files in the three directories:

• ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/DefaultLibraryAdditions
• ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/EndpointConfigs
• ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/PlaybackTemplateSpecs

It seems as though (XML) files in one refer to - and build something (internal to Dorico, in view of your comment here, @FredGUnn ?) - ‘somewhere else’?

Agreed. I find these confusing. It would be nice to see a video or help file that really dives into the complex interactions of the files behind the User Library Manager, including custom instruments, both play and playback techniques, endpoints, and playback templates. Dorico knows what to do, apparently, but I’d like to know what that is and where the supporting files are stored. I also do not understand that there are multiple kinds of .doricolib files in different places? This lack of understanding is no doubt my density, but I’d like to have it all nailed down. Like a video called “Dorico User Library, Behind The Scenes.”

My concern is almost exclusively playback oriented.

[MarkSealey]

Agreed, @DaddyO !

I’d be happy to collaborate in any way with anyone who’s also interested in putting together, say, a single, clear (unofficial, for reference/FAQ etc) document which sets all of this out for Dorico users wanting to understand where (and to some extent how) - and why - these (sets of) (third party) files belong in this directory.

Pinging @dspreadbury, @Lillie_Harris @John_at_Steinberg @Anthony_Hughes, please…

[FredGUnn]

@MarkSealey

Over and above this particular exercise now, as I say, I really want to understand the relationship between files in the three directories:

• ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/DefaultLibraryAdditions
• ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/EndpointConfigs
• ~/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/PlaybackTemplateSpecs

Here’s my understanding. I’m obviously not on the dev team so any or all of this may be wrong:

DefaultLibraryAdditions is basically what it says. Additional non-Steinberg files that will be loaded by default when the program boots up. I’ve written quite a few doricolib files that live here that are pretty essential to my workflow. Factory Steinberg files have dedicated locations in other folders so anything in this folder is not from Steinberg.

PlaybackTemplateSpecs is also is basically what it says. Inside this folder are the folders with the names of all your Playback Templates, and inside those folders are the playbacktemplatespec.xml files for each particular PT. These files contain the details about the Playback Template and list the Endpoint configIDs in the order that they are addressed by the PT.

EndpointConfigs contains the actual details about each Endpoint. I’m not sure about the nuts and bolts about how this works but in the enpointcofig.xml file the pluginID specifies the VST plugin that is to be used and the instrumentData / entityID specifies what instruments these will be used for. There will additionally be as many slotXX.pluginstate files in this folder as you have specified assignments, counting from 0. So my VSL Studio Saxophones (Synchron Player) endpoint has 5, as it accommodates Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, and Bass saxophones.

[DaddyO]

Here’s my quick attempt using a spreadsheet to present what I see as an overview of the elements and the information needed to thoroughly understand all this. This attempt is by no means definitive, just want to get the ball rolling.

[MarkSealey]

Thanks very much, @FredGUnn and @DaddyO!

That’s exactly the kind of thing I for one was hoping for

Here’s my first pass (corrections most welcome, please) tabulating Fred’s information above and in your earlier posts, thanks.

Could we enlist the help of the Dorico team to confirm how accurate we have all three been; then perhaps turn the two sheets (available as Numbers documents ‘on request’!) into a single simple sheet of some sort?

[FredGUnn]

@DaddyO

This attempt is by no means definitive, just want to get the ball rolling.

I don’t have a Windows computer to look these up anymore, but there are definitely file paths for this stuff. Tinker around with these files at your own risk, as if you mess up the syntax, Dorico won’t start. On Mac, you’ll need to right-click the Dorico app and select Show Package Contents. Here are some of the paths on Mac:

Instruments: Applications/Dorico 6.app/Contents/Resources/instruments.xml. This can be overridden with doricolib files or userlibrary.xml modifications.

Playing Techniques: Applications/Dorico 6.app/Contents/Resources/playingTechniqueDefinitions.xml. Again, can be overridden as above.

Expression Maps: Applications/Dorico 6.app/Contents/Resources/expressionMapsDefinitions.xml

Basically all the factory settings are in that Contents folder. Almost anything here is hackable with a doricolib file or can simply be saved in your userlibrary.xml file. I really would not recommend manually editing anything in here, and if you do, it will be overwritten with any update.

All your User Library stuff is at Users/YourNameHere/Library/Application Support/Steinberg/Dorico 6/userlibrary.xml.

@MarkSealey

Could we enlist the help of the Dorico team

I’d sorta be surprised if the team is eager to help with this as they certainly don’t want users tinkering with this stuff, any tinkering is unsupported obviously and can cause Dorico to fail to start, and theoretically this should all just work seamlessly through the interface. (I have quite a few doricolib files to accomplish things NOT available through the interface, but that’s unrelated to PT stuff.)

PT stuff should just work so I’m not sure what exactly is the issue with Synchron Brass.