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VST and Endpoint Setup in Dorico for Musical Theater Projects

When creating playback setups for musical theater in Dorico, understanding the relationship between Instruments, Endpoints, and VST assignments is key to achieving consistent and flexible playback—especially in scores that involve many characters and instrument changes. This guide explains how to create, route, and save VST Endpoints, and how to integrate them into Playback Templates for future reuse.

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Understanding VSTs, Endpoints, and Instruments in Dorico

In Dorico:

  • VST Plugins are virtual instruments (like NotePerformer, HALion, Kontakt. Aria Player, Opus, & others).
  • Endpoints are channel-based connections between your VST plugins and Dorico’s Instruments.
  • Instruments are attached to Players in Setup Mode and assigned Endpoints in Play Mode.

Each unique character, voice, or instrumental doubling should ideally have its own dedicated Endpoint to avoid routing or renaming conflicts.

Why Separate Endpoints Matter in Musical Theater

In theatrical scores, you may have multiple characters using the same vocal range (e.g., multiple tenors), and pit players who double on other instruments. If different vocalists are routed to the same Endpoint, renaming or customizing one affects all others. To preserve separation:

  • Create unique Instruments for each singing character.
  • Duplicate and rename the VST instance.
  • Assign a separate Endpoint and custom expression map (if applicable) to each Instrument.

Step-by-Step: Creating and Routing Endpoints

  1. In Setup Mode:
    • Add each character as a separate Player with a unique Instrument.
  2. In Play Mode:
    • Add a new instance of your VST (e.g., another copy of HALion, Aria Player, Kontakt or NotePerformer).
    • Assign a unique Endpoint (channel) to each Instrument.
    • Use the Routing panel to connect Instruments to their respective VSTs and MIDI channels.
  3. Customize Expression Maps (Optional):
    • You may assign different expression maps for specialized articulations, if needed.

Saving and Reusing Endpoints

Once you’ve configured your routing:

  1. Go to Play > Playback Template > Endpoint Setup.
  2. In the Endpoint Setup dialog, click Save Endpoint Configuration.
    • Name it descriptively (e.g., “Act I Cast – Full Score”).
  3. This saves your instrument-to-VST routing map for reuse in other projects.

Adding Endpoints to a Playback Template

To integrate your saved setup into a custom Playback Template:

  1. Open Library > Playback Templates.
  2. Click Add Playback Template.
  3. Assign it a name (e.g., “MT Show Template”).
  4. Under Endpoint Configurations, click Add and select your saved configuration(s).
  5. Optionally assign a matching expression map group.

Now your routing configuration is accessible from Play > Playback Template, and can be applied to new projects instantly.

Tips for Workflow Efficiency

  • Save separate configurations for rehearsal piano, full score, vocal-only previews, etc.
  • Use consistent naming conventions to keep templates organized (e.g., “Scene 1 Cast + Piano”).
  • When collaborating or using external sample libraries, include a note about which VSTs are required.

Summary

Setting up VSTs and Endpoints correctly is essential when scoring for musical theater in Dorico. With proper routing, unique character Instruments, and saved configurations, you can build robust templates and playback systems that scale with the complexity of your show.