Assigning Your Own Sounds to Instruments in Dorico | Play Mode in Dorico

While Dorico will load sounds automatically from its installed sound libraries, this video shows you how to load any third-party VST 3 libraries you may own and assign them to your project's virtual instruments. You can also set up an external MIDI instrument to play your music. Finally, learn how to set your chord symbols to play back, using a sound of your choice.

Also watch how to whitelist VST 2 instruments to be used in Dorico here:

We hope you find this video entertaining and useful. If you like what you see, please leave a comment and tell us what you think. Thank you.
Your Steinberg YouTube Team

Check out the trial version of Dorico and lay hands on the exciting features Dorico has to offer:

Get more detailed information on Dorico products from our website:

Buy Dorico in the Steinberg Online Shop:

Whether you require assistance with registration and activation/re-activation through our support forums and Knowledge Base support articles or simply want to read the latest support news, you can find all information in one place:

Also make sure to...

Like our Facebook page and stay informed on insights, news, announcements and updates, events and live streams. Follow us on Facebook:

Subscribe to our dedicated Dorico YouTube channel and learn the ropes of using Dorico by watching practical video tutorials and other interesting features:

On Twitter, stay up to date with latest news, updates and special offers anytime and anywhere:

Follow us on Instagram for full picture coverage on launch events, trade shows and other exciting occasions:

[jordanchohawno]

been using Sibelius for years but, after watching this very informative video, im going to try Dorico pro 2 now. thank you very much for the video

[kgb-files]

Privet Anthony. You are brilliant. Thank for the hard work you (and all you team) have done to provide the world with this amazing software!

Mikhail

[MeowfaceMusic]

2:53 Multiple VSTs firing simultaneously!!! Oh bless this day.

[nicholas.biondo]

thank you Anthony, I switched from Finale to Dorico Pro 3.5 and your explanation for assigning the VST 3 instruments has been very helpful.
I bookmarked this page for further reference. Thank You again and God Bess

[MorisoniProductions]

super-clear explanations of some quite complicated aspects. Thank you!

[jakubrojek]

If I’m understanding correctly the difference between Sibelius and Dorico working with VST is that here one assigns instruments by loading a particular set for the score with matching channels, not an entire library into playback configurations first.

[pianomnn]

In regard to the part of your video where you talk about adding an external midi instrument; I purchased Dorico elements 3.5 a few days ago and I love the application, however I am experiencing a problem with the instrument sounds not playing correctly in my Yamaha CP 300 when receiving midi information from Dorico. Instead of the correct instrument sounds being activated when play mode is scrolling, I get a piano sound from every note being played.

The drum sounds in the keyboard are playing correctly because I was able to configure that in the play mode under midi instruments in the endpoint set up for the keyboard. The vst HALion sounds are working just fine, but I would like to be able to also work with the other sounds that are in my keyboard. I do not see any place where I can put in data regarding LSB or MSB or any other information regarding program numbers or banks such as 0 or 127 as I have had to do when I used to use Encore. I went onto the Dorico forum, but the best answer that I got was :

“I’m not sure you can control the sounds of your device remotely — through Dorico. These are informations you should find in your device user guide.”

I have looked through the guide but have not found anything relating to my situation. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

[ScoringStageEu]

well if it really means the world to you - here it is - thumbs up

[SebSquonks]

I never cared about playback, as I was always using the notation software with the only goal of visually making parts. But now I'd like to provide the musicians I work with mp3 files to practice the tunes. I have zero knowledge of this topic, and I cannot understand the tutorial shown. Any suggestions on where to go to begin understanding how midi and such things work?

[ComposerConductor]

I have Hollywood Orchestra Diamond Edition. Does that Sound Library play on Dorico?

[lyleastang]

can dorico display guitar fretboard real time playback like it does with piano....? I have not figured that out. Fretboard dots only display when I use the arrow keys to move across the notation. Piano keyboard dots on keys display in real time playback

[dummag]

OK, But Now (ver 5) is all different, is not any more possible to assign instruments at players in play section. Why?

[dandmcolletto]

@Dorico I'm limited to only changing 16 instruments but I have 19. How do I upload the sound to my last 3 instruments if it only let's me dona max of 16?

[slayroller]

Am on iMac Catalina, Dorico 3.5, when I change from plugin headphones back to built in speakers, there is silence. I need to go 'Device Setup/ Device Control Panel' then reselect the "iMac Speakers" for the, despite the setting stating . I got to the very end of Anthony's most informative video (still no playback) and in desperation opened the tab to the device control panel. Voila

[nicolasjchaanine]

Okay and how about a tutorial for Dorico 4

[wizendweaver]

Is there a Dorico 4.3 update for how to add VST sounds?

[bartmuz]

No expression maps in Dorico 5. What now?

[theswissmusic]

Looks so great... but I don't understand why it's not included in the Cubase Product... it looks quite similar - except no production stuff is in it (audio etc.).Would be so great to have Dorico and Cubase together...

[saidazh]

I have a problem, maybe someone can help me here. So my standard Halion SE plugin does not work when I open a new project. It works with other premade projects by the company but not with selfmade projects. So i assigned my east west vst plugins. The only problem is, I only have 16 channels but need sounds for a full orchestra, which has about 32 individual instruments. Is there a way to use several instruments on one channel so that both instruments can play independently? Thanks!

[feigasiedler]

If you already made a score and you want to change the library to a new one that is not from Dorico, how you make it worked because, I just got East West Sound library and Dorico is not recognizing it. Please advise.