How to use Iconica Sketch in NotePerformer | Discover Dorico

[@timparkin9805]

A very helpfull session which I shall continue to reference as I start to setup Iconica and other library templates with Noteperformer.

[@MikhailRimskyKorsakov]

Thanks John. You are amazing teacher as always! I have NP for so long and never know I could do this.

[@agorgedslug]

Just caught this today after searching specifically. Exactly what I needed, thanks John.

[@dennislarson4960]

Extremely helpful video -- thanks, John!

[@maxtofone]

Thanks a lot John for this excellent session. Mx 🙏

[@zoran.rosendahl]

This was great, thank you John!

[@chrismcc68]

This is fantastic, John. Thank you!

[@abagatelle]

Very clear explanation.👍

[@Rollinglenn]

tremendous help - don't mind the waffling!

[@dorico]

I'm shocked! (Not really, I know I waffle :) )

[@sttrumpet]

Excellent, John!!!

[@dajie3197]

it is so surprise how useable iconic sketch is

[@EricGoetzMusic]

One thing I'm confused about it why you would want to do this? Is Iconica Sketch playback better via note performer than directly. I realize that I can just try it, but before I commit to watching an hour-long video and then probably another hour's worth of fiddling around in Dorico to find out this answer myself, I'm wondering if someone else has tried this and come summarize the advantages?

[@tom-w-hall-tunes]

I have a few pieces that I composed with Dorico and NotePerformer. I recently upgraded to Dorico 5 and I tried out a couple of my pieces using 1) Dorico into Iconica Sketch, and 2) Dorico into NotePerformer into the Iconica Sketch playback engine. I didn't spend much time on it, but my first impression was that NotePerformer improved the Iconica Sketch playback a lot, adding more realism and nuance, but it still fell well short of NotePerformer's own playback. At least for the instruments I focus on - mostly strings and brass.

[@arbous65]

Hi John. Would you be able to share the Dorico file with the ensemble that has quite a few instruments? And if you don't mind to point out which areas show improvements with Iconica Sketch in NP Playback engine that otherwise we won't be able to find convincing enough using Note Performer without Iconica Sketch? Rather than the whole demo pieces which are too large to pinpoint the differences. Same analogy is also valid for comparing Iconica Sketch with or without Note Performer. I was in communication with Alexander from Wallander and he mentioned NP uses their own articulations that are not included in the sample library which would be quite a few if we consider all the shorter and longer samples and accents in the beginning of sfz, etc. etc. so if they are using their own things does it mean they bypass using the sample library for those situations or they still use the sample library as a base and build it further and manipulate those samples from that point to create those articulations? The other question I have is if you compared Iconica+NPPE vs. Iconica Sketch+NPPE. Are they sound pretty much the same? If you found any difference what would it be?

[@dorico]

The aim of the session was to show people who already have NotePerformer how they can set it up. You can then do your own comparisons of your projects to see the difference between running Iconica Sketch in Dorico or in NotePerformer as the NotePerformer playback engine is a free addition if you own NotePerformer. Iconica Sections and Players (or Opus) are completely different - they cost a lot more, have many additional articulations/techniques and microphone positions available for each instrument and require much more computing resources.

[@RichardSchletty]

​@@dorico Would you be able to share all or part of the Dorico file for Korngold Sea Hawk?

[@dorico]

@@RichardSchletty I think it's still in copyright, sorry

[@profrat]

I was looking forward to trying this - have been pretty impressed by NotePerformer but some instruments are better than others. However, even though HALion/Iconica works fine when running directly in Dorico, and NP works fine when using its own samples and when using the playback engine with Musio, and I can start/use the Halion Sonic7 app directly, NP Playback Engine produces an error "HALion Sonic: Some audio files are missing. Please check installation". I assume it's looking in the wrong place - but am struggling to figure out what is causing that.

[@_danvibes_]

Firstly, thanks for the in-depth video. It is appreciated! I am at a red light because I can't locate the Iconica Sketch FREE version in the NPPE app. It only shows Iconica Sections and Players, which is humungous and costs money. I have downloaded the version of Iconica Sketch that comes with Dorico Pro 5, and have it running with HALION on Dorico Pro 5. Could it be that because I am using a Rent - to - own version of Note Performer that it is not showing me the free version of Iconica Sketch to use with Note Performer? I have no idea where to look or how to get the free version of Iconica Sketch on the Note Performer Playback Engine.

[@dorico]

Maybe you need to update NotePerformer as Iconica Sketch was added later? Otherwise I would get in touch with NotePerformer and see what they say. I don't think the rent to own version is any different.

[@Moein_Soleimany]

Thank you for the explanation. I have a request though.. can we have an expression map mainly in Dorico for the Iconica sections and players to use as a Playback??

[@dorico]

There's one available already here in: blog.dorico.com/playback-templates/

[@MadMusicologist]

And how is this going without NotePerformer, please?