Updated May 10, 2025: NotePerformer has reversed its decision to support third-party VSTs, and removed support for them in NotePerformer 5.0.1. Please see this post for additional information.
Wallander Instruments has released NotePerformer 5, a major update to NotePerformer, its user-friendly solution for realistic-sounding playback of Dorico, Sibelius, or Finale projects.
For users of NotePerformer core – the lightweight, high-quality modeled sound library NotePerformer has been famous for since its first release — today’s release is straightforward enough: There are 24 new instruments, multi-output routing in Dorico, and numerous improvements, bug fixes, and enhancements to playback quality and usability.
However, NotePerformer 5’s most significant change is to its NotePerformer Playback Engines (NPPE), which allows you to leverage the musical intelligence of NotePerformer with the robust sample libraries that are commonly used in DAWs and sequencers. NPPE 5’s underlying architecture has been overhauled, and it is now possible to create custom engines to integrate any compatible VST3 instrument. There is also a new method for hosting VST3 instruments in a notation-friendly way, significantly reducing the resource demands of sample libraries. This makes it possible for NPPE 5 to enable high-quality playback even on basic consumer laptops, according to Wallander Instruments.
In addition, NPPE factory Playback Engines are now included with NotePerformer without further surcharge, although having a valid license for the third-party VST3 sample library is still required.
The NotePerformer YouTube channel is updated with new videos that demonstrate NotePerformer 5 used in medley of excerpts of popular film scores and other large orchestral works. You can compare NotePerformer 5’s core sounds alongside its use with the supported third-party libraries. John Williams fans will have much to enjoy here.
NotePerformer 5 core updates
New instruments
- Aluphone (mallets)
- Aluphone (bowed)
- Bagpipes (uillean)
- Bansuri
- Clavinet
- Dulcimer
- Electric piano 1 (stage)
- Electric piano 2 (FM)
- Erhu
- Guzheng
- Hand bells
- Koto
- Shamisen
- Shakuhachi
- Sitar
- Steelpan
- Synth bass 1
- Synth bass 2
- Synth lead 1 (square)
- Synth lead 2 (sawtooth)
- Synth pad 1
- Synth pad 2
- Temple blocks
- Upright piano
Other updates to NotePerformer core
- In Dorico, instruments can now be routed to different stereo outputs.
- The NotePerformer mixer now displays orchestral percussion names.
- MIDI CC 112 now controls timing humanization.
- For Dorico, unused channels can now be manually removed.
- In Sibelius, the MIDI pitch bend range is now fixed to two octaves.
- New Sibelius plug-in for quarter-tone playback.
- Updated message box for Windows.
- Added “scoop” and “plop” techniques for non-sustaining instruments.
- In Dorico, pizzicato+harmonic now plays pizzicato.
- In Dorico, “tam-tam” now defaults to the large gong.
- The drum set’s timing humanization was reduced.
- Fixed mistuned harp F1.
- Fixed incorrectly mapped tom-toms in Dorico drum set.
- Minor adjustments to volume, legato playback, and vibrato playback.
NPPE 5 updates
NPPE users will want to start by visiting the NPPE Quickstart Guide, which explains the process of using your notation software of choice, like Sibelius, Dorico, or Finale; NotePerformer; NotePerformer Playback Engines (NPPE); and your chosen third-party VST3 instrument(s).
From there, a thorough read of the Version History is important, to understand the many changes in NPPE 5, along with the rationale for the change to the preloading system, which is explained in great detail.
Architecture overhaul
NPPE 5 may initially look very similar to NPPE 4, but it introduces a new architecture for Playback Engines, where users can create or edit Playback Engines, integrating virtually any third-party VST3 sample library into NotePerformer’s framework.
Another key difference is that NPPE 5 engines introduce “preloading” technologies, enhancing VST3 integration. Unlike traditional VST3 plugin hosting, NPPE5 now preloads a subset of samples from the VST3 instrument, converting them into a NotePerformer-powered instrument that’s a hybrid of NotePerformer and the underlying VST3 instrument. According to Wallander, this results in:
- Improved performance: NPPE 5 instruments load quickly and use little RAM and CPU. Samples are hosted in RAM with modern audio compression technologies, eliminating disk streaming.
- Greater stability: Since real-time playback is now under the NotePerformer umbrella, Wallander owns most bugs and problems and have the means to fix them. VST3 developers no longer need to optimize their software specifically for NPPE compatibility.
- Better playback consistency: By having samples preloaded and analyzed in advance, NPPE gains a complete overview of the available sounds, including their tuning, duration, and volume. This allows NPPE to make informed musical decisions, selecting the most suitable samples for a passage before playback begins and adjusting their tuning, timing, and execution.
- Stronger integration: Although the NPPE 5 Playback Engine is generated from the VST3 instrument, it’s comparable to a NotePerformer-specific sample library; an optimized version created specifically for notation playback.
Using a NPPE for the first time
Before using a Playback Engine for the first time, it must be preloaded, which is a resource-intensive process with the VST3 instrument that can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the size and complexity of the VST3 library, according to Wallander. This process preloads samples and analyzes the sample library, detecting timing, dynamics, and articulation data to optimize playback.
Preloading requires several gigabytes of hard drive space, as it builds a library of NotePerformer-compatible instruments stored as .np_preload files, but once the library is preloaded, the sounds are resource-friendly and fast-loading.
Included with NotePerformer and redistributable
As of NotePerformer 5, factory Playback Engines are included with NotePerformer. As long as you have a valid license for a VST3 sample library, and a valid license for NotePerformer, you can use NPPE without further charge.
The NPPE 5 format is open and redistributable. Its likely that most users won’t be modifying or creating their own Playback Engines, it’s possible to do so, and is permitted.
The NPPE 5 factory engines serve as a reference for creating new Playback Engines. Users can edit VST3 presets, add or remove articulations, instruments, and microphones, or make other modifications to the factory engines independently, then redistribute the updated engines.
Price and availability
NotePerformer 5 is currently free for all existing NotePerformer users. Current registered users can request a new download link at the NotePerformer web site, which will provide the user with NotePerformer 5.
The latest edition of the version history is found by scrolling down to near the bottom of NotePerformer’s home page, or you can download it directly from this link. The User’s Guide is also available.
If you don’t already have NotePerformer, a single-user license is the same price as it’s always been: $129 for a perpetual license. That one license gives you the ability to not only use it in Dorico, Sibelius, and Finale, but it also allows you to use it on as many computers that you personally use.
Supported notation software and versions are:
Further, NotePerformer offers a rent-to-own option, where you can rent it for $10.75 per month, and, once you’ve paid a total of $129, it turns into a perpetual license, making this effectively an installment plan for those unwilling or unable to commit the entire cost of the product at once.
Site licenses are available; pricing starts at a very reasonable $200 for up to 5 seats, with each additional seat costing $40. This is a one-time, perpetual license. This differs from the individual license; whereas the individual license is valid for one user running on any computer that the customer personally uses, the site license is reserved for any computer owned by the licensed organization, but can be used by multiple people on a single site.
As mentioned earlier, as of NotePerformer 5, all factory NPPE Playback Engines are included with NotePerformer. No additional purchase from Wallander is needed, although, of course, you still need to have the third-party VST3 installed on your computer, a valid license to use it, and uninterrupted access to it when using NotePerformer.
Finally, there is a 30-day trial available, which runs for one hour. You need to restart your notation software to keep using NotePerformer after one hour, if you’re in trial mode.
Chris Best
Very generous for NP5 to be free to current users. A little disappointed that some of the additional instruments are very niche, and would have prefered some current ommissions to have been addressed first, e.g. suspended cymbal rolls with soft sticks, tom-tom rolls, tambourine thumb rolls and shakes, small gongs, bowed and scraped gongs and tam-tam (okay, maybe some of those are a biit niche too!)
david toub
Agreed. Still odd that there is only one piano (yes, an upright was now added, but I’m not sure that’s as critical a need). And the cello output is often problematic (I’ve had to go back and use my GPO5 samples when NP’s solo cello was not playing notes with the correct pitches, or just sounded off). But I have produced several recordings on Bandcamp, Spotify, etc using the stock NP sounds and overall, they are amazing. The main draw for me is their string harmonics, which are really authentic. I could never get GPO5 in Finale to sound like that. Same with the col legno sounds; really helpful.
Keith Walls
While I applaud the release of Note Performer 5, I still see no NPPE suport for a jazz & big band library. There was a rumor that NPPE would soon support the Atomic Big Band library, but it currently doesn’t. As a big band musician, I know that there are a lot of articulation styles that need to be supported for authenticity.
David Marshall
Agree one is very much needed!
At least it looks like someone (Atomic themselves perhaps?) can now build and distribute a NPPE 5 Big Band Performance Engine.
This new open NPPE 5 engine does look exciting — a lot to get your head around.
David Marshall
Of course, Atomic have their own “Smart Delay” technology which appears similar to NPPE in purpose.
It’s be interesting to see how NPPE enabled Atomic would compare to “Smart Delay”
Of course “Smart Delay” and NPPE are not integratable, integrating atomic instuments with other libraries would be offer up a lot of potential.
Mike Halloran
Since the Garritan instruments are not available as VST3, it’s no surprise that they are not supported in NotePerformer 5.
david toub
Hi Mike! Good to see you here.
I’m confused by your comment, since I am able to use GPO5 via the Aria VST3 in Reason as well as in Dorico. So while I haven’t yet tried it in NP5, I would have thought it would work and there does seem to be a NPPE there for GPO5. Let me know if I’m misunderstanding.
Mike Halloran
Hi David, I agree, that was confusing and written before my morning coffee. To clarify, Finale does not support VST3, Man or Windows. If NP5 is a workaround for this restriction, that would be great. I’m not going to be able to test this soon, however. I hope someone does and reports back.
Tu Nguyen Hong
Cách sử dụng C112 trên Sibelius như nào? Có ai hướng dẫn tôi không?
(How to use C112 on Sibelius? Can anyone guide me?)
Simon Rodwell
A new podcast interview with Arne Wallander would be great at this stage. The print one a few years back was very interesting and Arne’s comments on the directions of music tech software are of course prophetic.
Damon Sink
This update may be great for those who want to make new templates from their existing libraries, but for me it was a bust. The pre-loads that I built for BBCSO and SSO 2024 were both MUCH less expressive and functional than the templates that I purchased to use in NP4. It is also disappointing that all of the old template functionality has to disappear if you want to use NP5. Just a fair warning for others maybe in the same boat. You can always revert to 4.5.1, as I have done.
Frank Toward
I highly recommend to first read the engine tools instructions because you can get back alot of the quality of 4.5.1. in 5.0. You can also take a look at various online Forum posts such as in Vi-Control. People have already started to share optimized playengine presets which really improving the quality of sound.
Greg
Is it me, or have they introduced an amount of ‘swelling’ in the strings (NP playback – no additional sounds)? Comparing v4.5.1 to 5.1, I can hear unnecessary swelling on string (section) notes (resulting in a slight, eneven seasick effect)?
I’m sticking with 4.5.1 for the moment. No other reason.