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  • Synch SE 1 Plus Ex Map Issue in Dorico

    Hi. Since my previous post o this issue I've discovered another problem Here's the problem. I'm using Dorico 3.5 with the VSL SE 1 Plus Ex Map - Orchestral Violins & Violas. To play spiccato the KS is C1+E2 (Short Notes+Spiccato). This works fine if I'm not using an Ex Map but soon as I tell it use the exp map this particular KS no longer works - it plays Short Notes+Detache. If I repeat the KS 1 bar later the spiccato works fine from that point - is this a problem with Dorico or the ex. map?

    I've checked the ex map and the keyswitch for spiccato is as shown in the player but something is forcing it to detache and I'm not sure what. 

    Is the solution not to use an expression map and just rely on key switches instead?

    Thanks, Colin


  • Hi Colin, Something comes into my mind what perhaps should solve this problem.You could try this: go in Dorico in the file you are working on to the Expression Maps, then to "VSL SYzd SE PLUS - Orchestral Violins and Violas".Now uncheck in Mutual Exclusion Groups the Auto option.Take care to place the "Natural" Playing Technique in the same Mutual Exclusion group as the "Spiccato" Playing Techniques.I hope this helps.If this doesn't work, you can also try to place thePlaying Techniques "Natural" in the music on a place before you start the "spiccato" Playing Techniques. (Be aware, that the changes you make in Expression Maps, only work in the specific Dorico file, the specific music piece. If you start a new Dorico file, you have to make the changes again. Solution: export the edited Expression Map and import it in the new Dorico file.) (Some explanation. In the Expression map the standard Playing Technique is of course Natural. For this Playing Technique "sustain" is the standard sample. But in Dorico there is a possibility to give short notes another sample. When you click for instance in the list of switches of "VSL SYzd SE PLUS - Orchestral Violins and Violas" on "Natural, Note Length == Medium ==", you see in the neighbour window "Conditions" the Note Length for this Switch (in this case Medium and Short). So if a standard note (Playing Technique) is medium or short in length, another sample is triggered thanif you play a long note.)

  • Hi. I added "Natural" as you suggested and it seems to work ok - all I need do now is add "spicc" on the staff, no need for KS's. Is there anywhere I can find a bit moredetailed and explanatory info on how vsl ex maps work with dorico?

    Thanks for your time & patience. Colin


  • Hi Colin,

    Great to hear that placing the "natural" playing technique did the job.

    I found 2 good places with explanation you asked for.

    This one is an explanation of Expression Maps in Dorico: https://www.rpmseattle.com/of_note/expression-maps-and-play-mode-improvements-new-features-in-dorico-3-5/ 
    At the end of the text you can open a video, that explains exactly, what is written on this page. So you can choose to scroll first to the video to listen and look, and after that read the text if necessary.

    And this one is specific for the Expression Maps of VSL in Dorico: https://www.vsl.info/en/tutorials/guides/dorico-integration/quickguide

    When you search on the internet for more information, you will find also explanations of older versions of Dorico. These can help to understand some basics of the expression maps, but some things of newer versions aren't implemented yet of course, e.g. https://steinberg.help/dorico/v3/en/dorico/topics/play_mode/play_mode_expression_maps_dialog_r.html
    o
    r
    https://steinberg.help/dorico/v2/en/dorico/topics/play_mode/play_mode_expression_maps_c.html

    Good luck!
    Questions you can ask on the forum of VSL or the forum of Dorico. There is a learning curve to use the expression maps in Dorico, but in my opinion, it is totally worth spending some time on learning it.