What exactly does '1.10 octave' mean

Dorico
1

This has been in the name of Timpani (No Keysig) for as long as I can remember. What does it mean?

2

It is describing the default range of the instrument: 1 octave and 10 half-steps (semitones).

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3

That’s what I guessed. But I tried both instruments with the HSSE+HSO template and they both play from low C to middle F, an octave + 5 semitones. (Of course the GM Timpani patch will play any note.) I suppose this is the limitation of the HALion samples, rather than the instrument definition.

4

Instrument definitions in Dorico do not map onto the capabilities of any specific sound library or virtual instrument.

5

I guess my real point of confusion is the key signature version is "2.0’ octave.

6

I examined the instruments.xml file in the application package, and found:

  • on the 1.10 instrument, low C & C♯ show in dark red (below that, bright red)
  • on the “2-octave” instrument with key sigs, any notes below low D show in bright red
    (which doesn’t make as much sense, but whatever)

At least now I understand that the names are intended to be about the range for display purposes.