Setting Up Custom VST Instruments in Dorico: Endpoints to Expression Maps

In today’s livestream, I’ll demonstrate how to set up VST instruments in Dorico and get accurate playback with any third-party sample library. Whether you’re new to Dorico or just want to streamline your workflow, this video will walk you through the process of configuring endpoints and creating a playback template that uses any sample library on your hard drive :)

I’ll cover everything from the initial setup to ensuring your instruments play back correctly. I’ll also share some important tips for working with expression maps, particularly when dealing with instruments that don’t use CC1 (Dynamics) but instead rely solely on volume control. You’ll learn how to adjust your settings to achieve the expressiveness and realism you need in your compositions.

By the end of this livestream, you’ll have a step-by-step reference video guide for setting up any 3rd party VST in Dorico and fine-tune it for ideal playback, making your workflow smoother and more efficient. Let's dive in!

[topsymusic]

Hello, thank you for your great work and your very useful videos on dorico.

I’m here because I’m at the crossroads to figure out which way will be more suitable for my workflow.

I am a Logic user, plus I own Dorico Elements 5 when I want to write music, which I am going to do more often.

In this writing process, I choose not to perform the input of notes, nuances, articulations, etc. but write everything on the staves and then playback automatically. But :

Would You advice me to :

Write down music in Dorico, then export individual midi files batch with some CCs I don’t know about by the time, then import in Logic where I maybe could tweak articulations sets and CCs automation, then bounce and mix ?

or

Write down music in Dorico, learn and build expression maps, playback templates and endpoints, export batches of individual audio files (mostly dry or closed miked) into Logic or Protools so as to eventually mix my tracks ?

Where in my case would the MIDI programming be more valuable ?