Simply put, a VDL template is basically just a blank file you launch in your notation program. While this seems unspectacular, this file is super useful because it understands how your Virtual Drumline instruments are mapped. What does that mean? Well, "percussion mapping" is an important concept to understand when writing unpitched percussion music using notation programs like Sibelius, Finale, or Dorico.

Here's an example. Let's say your VDL snare drum sounds a right-handed strike by entering a G#, and it plays a left-handed strike by entering an F#. Naturally, you don't want your snare music to appear on two lines (let alone with sharps!). Using percussion mapping, your notation program will play those F# and G# notes so you'll hear the right-to-left playback (or rim shots, buzzes, rim clicks, press strokes, stick clicks, or countless other options!), but they'll display on the score as a typical one-lined snare part with suitable noteheads.

Since much of VDL consists of unpitched percussion instruments with deep detail, VDL templates have been invaluable to users of notation software. Sibelius, Finale, and Dorico all have their own powerful ways to control percussion mapping yourself. It's a tedious process but the functionality is there for users to build their own mapped staves. For those who'd rather not fuss with all the time it takes to build these, VDL templates can be purchased from the following third-party template developers:

The Write Score – for Sibelius & Finale templates
Score Sauce – for Dorico 5+ templates