Expression maps

Expression maps tell Dorico how to use appropriately the patches and sounds in the VST instruments that you have loaded into your project.

Expressing a range of dynamics on instruments means changing the volume and attack of notes. This is because loud sounds often require stronger attacks, and quiet sounds often require softer attacks, which changes the character of the start of the sounds as well as its volume.

Different patches and instruments have different approaches to changing dynamics and volume in playback. For example, some patches only change the velocity whereas others use a controller in combination with changing the velocity.

Dorico also uses expression maps to specify the playing techniques that are supported by each patch in your project. For example, string instruments such as the violin have different techniques, because they can play arco, pizzicato, and col legno, and their bow position can be anywhere between sul ponticello and sul tasto.

Dorico supports the following ways of sending information to VST instruments:

• Key switches

• Controllers

You can edit individual expression maps and import/export expression maps in the Expression Maps dialog.