Steinberg Dorico Pro 3 User Guide

4.3 (3)
Steinberg Dorico Pro 3 User Guide

Operation Manual

Cristina Bachmann, Heiko Bischoff, Lillie Harris, Christina Kaboth, Insa Mingers, Matthias Obrecht, Sabine Pfeifer, Benjamin Schütte, Marita Sladek

This PDF provides improved access for vision-impaired users. Please note that due to the complexity and number of images in this document, it is not possible to include text descriptions of images.

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. The software described by this document is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media except as specifically allowed in the License Agreement. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written permission by Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. Registered licensees of the product described herein may print one copy of this document for their personal use.

All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners. For more information, please visit www.steinberg.net/trademarks.

© Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, 2019. All rights reserved. Dorico_3.0.0_en-US_2019-12-06

Table of Contents

9New features

12 Introduction

12Platform-independent documentation

12Usage of musical terms

13Conventions

15How you can reach us

16First steps

16 Getting around

24 Starting a new project

26 Writing music

31 Dorico concepts

31 Design philosophy and higher-level concepts

38 User interface

38 Windows

49 Workspace setup

55 Preferences dialog

62 Project and file handling

62 Hub

66Projects from different versions of Dorico

67Missing Fonts dialog

68File import and export

83

Auto-save

85

Project backups

87 Setup mode

87 Project window in Setup mode

95 Project Info dialog

98 Layout Options dialog

100Players, layouts, and flows

101Player, layout, and instrument names

106Players

109Ensembles

110Instruments

127Player groups

130Flows

133Layouts

138Videos

144 Write mode

144 Project window in Write mode

152 Notation Options dialog

154 Note Input Options dialog

156Inputting vs. editing

157Rhythmic grid

158Note input

194 MIDI recording

200 Notations input

298 Editing and selecting

309 Navigation

312 Signposts

314 Arranging tools

320Splitting flows

321Comments

327 Engrave mode

327 Project window in Engrave mode

336 Engraving Options dialog

338 Master pages

355 Flow headings

359 Frames

381 Text formatting

396 Music symbols

399 Note spacing

411Page formatting

412Changing page margins

413Changing the page size and orientation

414Changing the default staff size

414Changing the default staff/system spacing

415Changing the vertical justification of staves/ systems

416Hiding/Showing empty staves

417Inserting pages

418Deleting pages

419Starting layouts on left-hand pages

419Allowing/Disallowing multiple flows on the same page

420Changing when the First master page is used

421Hiding/Showing flow headings

421Changing the margins above/below flow headings

422Hiding/Showing information in running headers above flow headings

423Changing the default music frame margins

424Changing the padding in music frames individually

424Changing the justification of final systems

425Enabling/Disabling condensing

426Casting off

427Staff size

431

Staff spacing

438

Frame breaks

440

System breaks

443

Tacets

446

Condensing

458

Part formatting propagation

462 Play mode

462 Project window in Play mode

468Playback Options dialog

469Event display

476

Tracks

493

Playhead

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Table of Contents

494 Playing back music

499 Swing playback

506 Mixer

508 Transport window

510 Playback templates

518 Endpoints

524 Expression maps

535 Percussion maps

541 Played vs. notated note durations

544 Print mode

544 Project window in Print mode

548 Printing layouts

551 Exporting layouts as graphic files

555Printers

556Page arrangements for printing/exporting

557Duplex printing

558Page sizes and paper sizes

560Graphics file formats

561Annotations

563Notation reference

564Introduction

565Accidentals

565Deleting accidentals

566Hiding/Showing or parenthesizing accidentals

567Project-wide engraving options for accidentals

567Stacking of accidentals

569Altered unisons

570Microtonal accidentals

571Accidental duration rules

575Articulations

576Copying articulations

576Changing articulations

576Deleting articulations

577Project-wide engraving options for articulations

577 Positions of articulations

581Articulations in playback

582Bars

582 Deleting bars/beats

584Changes to the length of bars

584Changing the width of empty bars

585Splits in bars

586Combining bars

587Barlines

589Project-wide engraving options for barlines

589Per-flow notation options for barlines

590Changing the barline shown at key signature changes

591Deleting barlines

591Barline spacing

592Barlines across staff groups

597 Bar numbers

597Hiding/Showing bar numbers

598Hiding/Showing bar number enclosures

601Hiding/Showing bar number ranges on multibar rests

602Hiding/Showing guide bar numbers

602 Bar number paragraph styles

604 Positions of bar numbers

608 Project-wide engraving options for bar numbers

608 Bar number changes

610Subordinate bar numbers

611Bar numbers and repeats

615 Beaming

615Beaming notes together manually

616Changing the direction of partial beams

617Beam groups

618Beam placement relative to the staff

619Beam slants

621Centered beams

622Creating cross-staff beams

626Beam corners

626Secondary beams

627Tuplets within beams

628Stemlets

629Fanned beams

631Note and rest grouping

632Conventions for beam grouping according to meter

632 Creating custom beat groupings for meters

634Brackets and braces

635Secondary brackets

636Sub-sub-brackets

636Project-wide engraving options for brackets and braces

637Brackets according to ensemble type

638Custom staff grouping

643Chord symbols

644Chord components

644Project-wide engraving options for chord symbols

644 Chord symbol appearance presets

653Transposing chord symbols

654Hiding/Showing chord symbols

655Hiding/Showing the root and quality of chord symbols

655 Chord symbol regions

658 Positions of chord symbols

660Changing the enharmonic spelling of chord symbols

661Chord symbols imported from MusicXML

662Chord diagrams

663Chord diagram components

663Project-wide engraving options for chord diagrams

664Project-wide note input options for chord

diagrams

664Hiding/Showing chord diagrams

665Changing the chord diagram shape

666Creating new chord diagram shapes

668Editing the chord diagram font style

670Clefs

671General placement conventions for clefs

671Project-wide spacing gaps for clefs

673Deleting clefs

673Default size of clef changes

674Changing the position of clefs relative to grace notes

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674Setting different clefs for concert/transposed pitch

675Hiding/Showing clefs according to layout transpositions

675 Transposing clefs

677Octave lines

678Project-wide engraving options for octave lines

678Lengthening/Shortening octave lines

679Changing the angles of octave lines

680Positions of octave lines

683Deleting octave lines

684Octave lines in Engrave mode

685Tucking index properties

687 Cues

687General placement and notation conventions for cues

688Project-wide engraving options for cues

688 Rhythmic cues

691Hiding/Showing cues in layouts

692Changing the octave of cues

692Hiding/Showing octave transpositions in cue labels

693Moving cues

693Lengthening/Shortening cues

694Deleting cues

695Cue contents

695 Cue labels

698Notations in cues

699Stem direction in cues

700Ties in cues

700 Rests in cues

702Clef changes in cues

703Viewing options for cues

705 Dynamics

705Types of dynamics

706Project-wide engraving options for dynamics

706Positions of dynamics

711Showing dynamics in parentheses

712Erasing the background of dynamics

713Copying dynamics

713Deleting dynamics

714Voice-specific dynamics

714Niente hairpins

715Dynamic modifiers

717Gradual dynamics

726Groups of dynamics

728Dynamics linked across multiple staves

729Dynamics font styles

731Playback Options for dynamics

733 Fingering

733General placement conventions for fingering

734Project-wide engraving options for fingerings

734Changing fingerings to substitution fingerings

735Changing existing fingerings

736Moving fingerings graphically

739 Changing the size of fingerings

739Showing enclosures/underlines on fingerings

740Hiding/Showing fingering

740Deleting fingerings

741Fingering font styles

743Cautionary fingerings

744Fingerings for fretted instruments

750 Fingering slides

753 Fingerings for valved brass instruments

755Hiding/Showing string fingering shift indicators

756Fingerings imported from MusicXML files

757Front matter

757Project information used in default master pages

758Adding dedications in master pages

759Adding player lists

759 Editing running headers in master pages

761Grace notes

762General placement conventions for grace notes

763Project-wide changes to the position of grace notes

764Grace note size

764 Grace note slashes

766Grace note stems

766Grace note beams

767Holds and pauses

767 Types of holds and pauses

769 Project-wide engraving options for holds and pauses

769 Positions of holds and pauses

774 Key signatures

774Key signature arrangements

775Types of key signatures

776Project-wide engraving options for key signatures

776 Tonality systems

786Deleting key signatures

787Multiple simultaneous key signatures

787Positions of key signatures

790Transposing key signatures alongside selections

791Enharmonic equivalent key signatures

792Cautionary key signatures

793Lyrics

794General placement conventions for lyrics

794Project-wide engraving options for lyrics

794Filters for lyrics

796Types of lyrics

797Types of syllables in lyrics

798Deleting lyric lines

799Copying/Pasting lyrics

800Lyric text editing

802Positions of lyrics

807Lyric hyphens and lyric extender lines

810Lyric line numbers

813Verse numbers

814Changing the font styles used for lyrics

815East Asian elision slurs

817 Notes

817 Project-wide engraving options for notes

819 Notehead sets

832Changing the size of notes

833Moving notes rhythmically

834Changing the width of ledger lines

834Rhythm dot consolidation

836Specifying the string for individual notes

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Table of Contents

837Hiding/Showing colors for notes out range

838Harmonics

839Turning notes into harmonics

840Changing the harmonic partial

841Hiding/Showing or parenthesizing harmonic

accidentals

841 Appearances/Styles of harmonics

846 Ornaments

846Project-wide engraving options for ornaments

847Changing ornament intervals

848Positions of ornaments

851

Trills

854

Trill intervals

859

Trills in playback

863 Arpeggio signs

863 Types of arpeggio signs

866Length of arpeggio signs

867General placement conventions for arpeggio signs

869 Project-wide engraving options for arpeggio signs

869 Arpeggios in playback

872 Glissando lines

872General placement conventions for glissando lines

873Project-wide engraving options for glissando lines

873Glissando lines across empty bars

873Changing the style of glissando lines

874Changing glissando line text

875Moving glissando lines graphically

876Changing the default angles of glissando lines project-wide

878Glissando lines in playback

879Guitar bends

881Project-wide engraving options for guitar bends/pre-bends

881Hiding/Showing guitar bend hold lines

882Changing the direction of guitar pre-bends

883Hiding/Showing accidentals on guitar prebends

883 Moving guitar bends graphically

887Jazz articulations

888Jazz ornaments

889Project-wide engraving options for jazz articulations

889 Moving jazz articulations graphically

891 Changing the type/length of existing jazz articulations

891Changing the line style of smooth jazz articulations

892Deleting jazz articulations

893Page numbers

894Moving page numbers in master pages

894Page number paragraph styles

895Changing the page number numeral style

896Hiding/Showing page numbers

898Harp pedaling

899Project-wide engraving options for harp pedaling

899Changing the appearance of harp pedal diagrams

900Hiding/Showing harp pedaling in layouts

901Hiding/Showing borders on harp pedal diagrams

903 Positions of harp pedal diagrams

905 Partial harp pedaling

907Pedal lines

908Sustain pedal retakes and pedal level changes

913Positions of pedal lines

917Lengthening/Shortening pedal lines

918Project-wide engraving options for pedal lines

918Pedal line start signs, hooks, and continuation lines

922Text pedal line signs

924Pedal lines in playback

925Pedal lines imported from MusicXML files

926Playing techniques

927Project-wide engraving options for playing techniques

927 Positions of playing techniques

931 Adding text to playing techniques

931Erasing the background of text playing techniques

932Hiding/Showing playing techniques

933Lengthening/Shortening playing techniques

934Playing technique continuation lines

937 Groups of playing techniques

939 Custom playing techniques

948 Playing techniques in playback

950 Rehearsal marks

950General placement conventions for rehearsal marks

951Project-wide engraving options for rehearsal marks

954Positions of rehearsal marks

955Deleting rehearsal marks

956Changing the order of rehearsal marks

956Changing the rehearsal mark sequence type

957Adding prefixes/suffixes to rehearsal marks

957Editing the rehearsal mark font style

959 Markers

959Project-wide engraving options for markers

960Hiding/Showing markers

960Changing the vertical position of markers

961Editing marker text

961Editing the marker/timecode font styles

962Changing the timecodes of markers

962Moving markers rhythmically

963Defining markers as important

964Timecodes

965Changing the initial timecode value

965Showing timecodes on a separate staff

966Hiding/Showing timecodes in markers

967Changing the timecode frequency

968Repeat endings

968Changing the total number of playthroughs in repeat endings

969Project-wide engraving options for repeat endings

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970 Lengthening/Shortening segments in repeat endings

970 Positions of repeat endings

972Editing repeat ending text

973Changing the appearance of individual final repeat ending segments

973Lengthening/Shortening repeat ending hooks

974Repeat endings in MusicXML files

975Repeat markers

976Project-wide engraving options for repeat

markers

976Repeat marker paragraph styles

977Changing the size of coda/segno symbols

977Changing the index for repeat markers

978Editing repeat marker text

979Changing the barline shown before codas

980Positions of repeat markers

982Including/Excluding repeats in playback after repeat jumps

982Changing the number of playthroughs at repeat barlines

984Bar repeats

985Project-wide engraving options for bar repeats

985Changing the length of the repeated phrase in bar repeat regions

986Moving bar repeat regions

986Lengthening/Shortening bar repeat regions

987Hiding/Showing bar repeat region highlights

987Bar repeat counts

991Bar repeat grouping

993 Rhythm slashes

993 Slash regions

995Project-wide engraving options for rhythm slashes

995 Slashes in multiple-voice contexts

997Splitting slash regions

998Moving slash regions

998Lengthening/Shortening slash regions

999Hiding/Showing stems in slash regions

999Slash region counts

1003

Rests

1003

General placement conventions for rests

1004

Implicit vs. explicit rests

1006

Per-flow notation options for rests

1006

Project-wide engraving options for rests

1007

Hiding/Showing rest colors

1007

Deleting rests

1008

Hiding/Showing bar rests in empty bars

1009

Multi-bar rests

1012

Moving rests vertically

1014

Slurs

1015

General placement conventions for slurs

1018

Project-wide engraving options for slurs

1019

Cross-staff and cross-voice slurs

1020

Nested slurs

1021

Moving slurs rhythmically

1022

Lengthening/Shortening slurs

1022

Slurs linked across multiple staves

1024

Slur segments

1025

Slurs in Engrave mode

1029

Short slurs that cover large pitch ranges

1030 Slur height

1032 Slur shoulder offset

1033 Slur curvature direction

1034 Slur styles

1038 Slur collision avoidance

1039 Slurs over system and frame breaks

1039 Slurs in playback

1041 Staff labels

1042 Instrument names in staff labels

1043 Staff label paragraph styles

1044 Project-wide engraving options for staff labels

1044 Changing the length of staff labels

1045 Changing the length of staff labels at specific positions

1046 Instrument transpositions in staff labels

1049 Hiding/Showing instrument change labels at the start of flows

1049 Grouping the staff labels of adjacent identical instruments

1050 Changing the staff label numbering style

1050 Showing vocal staff labels in uppercase/title case

1051 Staff labels for percussion kits

1052 Staff labels on condensed staves

1054 Staves

1054 Per-layout options for staves

1055 Changing the thickness of staff lines

1055 Deleting staves

1056 Extra staves

1060 Ossia staves

1067 System dividers

1068 System objects

1070 System indents

1072 Divisi

1073 Change Divisi dialog

1075 Inputting divisi changes

1076 Editing existing divisi changes

1076 Moving divisi changes

1077 Ending divisi passages

1078 Unison ranges

1079 Divisi on vocal staves

1080 Divisi staff labels

1083 Divisi in playback

1084 Tablature

1085 Project-wide engraving options for tablature

1085 Rhythms on tablature

1085 Hiding/Showing notation staves and tablature

1086 Changing the allocated string for notes on tablature

1087 Showing notes as dead notes

1088 Hiding/Showing enclosures around notes on tablature

1089 Changing the placement of rhythm dots on tablature

1090 Editing the tablature numbers font style

1091 Stems

1091 Project-wide engraving options for stems

1092 Stem direction

1096 Stem length

1097 Hiding stems

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Table of Contents

1098 Tempo marks

1099 Types of tempo marks

1099 Text in tempo marks

1101 Positions of tempo marks

1104 Lengthening/Shortening gradual tempo changes

1105 Hiding/Showing tempo marks

1105 Deleting tempo marks

1106 Project-wide engraving options for tempo marks

1106 Tempo mark components

1108 Metronome marks

1110 Gradual tempo changes

1113 Tempo equations

1114 Ties

1114 General placement conventions for ties

1116 Project-wide engraving options for ties

1116 Tie chains

1116 Ties vs. slurs

1117 Non-standard ties

1120 Deleting ties

1120 Splitting tie chains

1121 Changing the shape/angle of ties

1122 Tie shoulder offset

1123 Tie height

1125 Tie styles

1127 Tie curvature direction

1129 Time signatures

1130 General conventions for time signatures

1131 Project-wide engraving options for time signatures

1131 Project-wide spacing gaps for time signatures

1131 Types of time signatures

1133 Pick-up bars

1134 Large time signatures

1137 Time signature styles

1140 Positions of time signatures

1144 Hiding/Showing time signatures

1144 Deleting time signatures

1145 Time signature font styles

1146 Tremolos

1147 Tremolos in tie chains

1148 General placement conventions for tremolos

1148 Changing the speed of tremolos

1149 Deleting tremolos

1150 Rhythmic positions of notes with tremolos

1150 Moving tremolo strokes

1151 Project-wide engraving options for tremolos

1152 Tremolos in playback

1154 Tuplets

1154 General placement conventions for tuplets

1155 Project-wide engraving options for tuplets

1155 Nested tuplets

1156 Notations on tuplet notes

1156 Turning existing notes into tuplets

1157 Turning tuplets into normal notes

1157 Moving tuplets rhythmically

1158 Deleting tuplets

1159 Tuplet beams

1159 Tuplet brackets

1163 Tuplet numbers/ratios

1166 Unpitched percussion

1166 Percussion kits vs. individual percussion instruments

1167 Percussion kits

1168 Project-wide engraving options for unpitched percussion

1168 Per-flow notation options for unpitched percussion

1169 Changing the playing techniques of notes on percussion kit staves

1170 Showing notes in percussion instruments as ghost notes

1170 Moving notes to different instruments in percussion kits

1170 Notations on notes in percussion kits

1172 Percussion kit presentation types

1174 Playing techniques for unpitched percussion instruments

1178 Percussion legends

1181 Voices in percussion kits

1183 Unpitched percussion in Play mode

1184 Universal Indian Drum Notation

1186 Voices

1186 Note positions in multiple-voice contexts

1187 Per-flow notation options for voices

1188 Hiding/Showing voice colors

1188 Unused voices

1189 Swapping the order of voices

1190 Notes crossed to staves with existing notes in other voices

1191 Slash voices

1193 Glossary

1205 Index

8

New features

NOTE

Documentation for this new version is ongoing. We recommend that you read the Version History for Dorico 3 for information about other new features not yet included in this documentation.

New Features in Version 3.0.0

Highlights

Inputting onto multiple staves

You can now extend the caret to multiple staves and input notes and notations onto all of them at once, including dynamics and playing techniques. When using a MIDI keyboard, this also allows you to explode chords across those staves as you input them. See Inputting notes and notations onto multiple staves.

Comments

This version introduces the ability to add comments as annotations as a way of adding notes or instructions without affecting the music. See Comments.

Condensing

After years of research, Dorico Pro has introduced a unique way of automatically producing condensed scores that still allow for separate parts for each player. You can enable condensing and set up custom condensing groups for each layout independently. See Condensing.

Playback templates

It is now possible to create custom playback templates and edit existing ones. You can include factory default playback templates and endpoint configurations and list them in your order of preference in a single custom playback template. See Edit Playback Template dialog.

Chord diagrams

You can now show chord diagrams alongside chord symbols in Dorico Pro. You can show the suitable chord diagrams for guitars with a variety of tunings and any other fretted instrument in the library and create your own chord diagram shapes. See Chord diagrams.

Fingerings for guitars and fretted instruments

Dorico Pro now offers comprehensive support for the complex fingerings required for music for guitars and fretted instruments, including automatically positioning right-hand and left-hand fingerings correctly. See Fingerings for fretted instruments.

Harmonics

Dorico Pro now supports various conventions for the notation of harmonics on stringed and fretted instruments, including both natural and artificial harmonics. Dorico Pro can also calculate the correct pitch to be notated for the second through sixth partials. See Harmonics.

9

New features

Guitar bends

Dorico Pro now supports the notation of guitar bends, including guitar pre-bends, holds, and releases. These techniques can be shown on both notation staves and tablature. See Guitar bends.

Harp pedaling

Dorico Pro now offers features designed to help write idiomatically for the harp, including harp pedal diagrams that you can show as a diagram or using note names, a tool to calculate the pedal positions required to play a passage of music, and highlights for notes that are unplayable with the current pedal positions. See Harp pedaling.

Playing technique continuation lines

You can now show continuation lines for playing techniques and differentiate between lines that show simply their duration and lines that indicate a gradual transition between playing techniques. See Playing technique continuation lines.

Tablature

Dorico Pro now provides tablature for guitar and other fretted instruments, including supporting a number of specific idiomatic notations for guitar, custom string tunings, different conventions for representing rhythms on tablature, and so on. Music can be shown on a regular notation staff and on tablature at the same time or separately, and they are linked, meaning edits to one staff automatically affect the other. See Tablature.

More New Features

Project Info dialog

This new version updates the Project Info dialog significantly. It can now stay open whilst you work, has a list of flows so you can select and change information for multiple flows at once, and also allows you to add and delete flows from within the dialog in addition to using the Flows panel in Setup mode. It also has a new default key command for quicker access. See Project Info dialog.

Custom endpoint configurations

Related to custom playback templates, you can now save any overrides you have made to endpoint configurations, such as changing the expression maps or instruments assigned to particular endpoints, as custom endpoint configurations. You can then reuse these in other projects and include them in custom playback templates. See Custom endpoint configurations.

Bar numbers at multiple positions

You can now show bar numbers at multiple vertical positions in the same system. This is often used in large orchestral scores so that conductors never have to look too far to see the bar number. See Showing bar numbers above specific staves.

Chord symbol regions

It is now possible to show chord symbols only alongside slash regions or in new chord symbol regions. This makes it easier to specify specific sections where it is helpful or necessary to show chord symbols for players who do not need them elsewhere. See Chord symbol regions.

Clefs according to layout transposition

You can now choose to show individual clefs only in transposed or concert pitch layouts. This is useful when, for example, some instruments require clef changes in the score but not in their part. Clefs hidden in this way do not affect note spacing. See Hiding/Showing clefs according to layout transpositions.

Lyric line vertical adjustments

It is now possible to make graphical adjustments to the vertical positions of lyric lines on individual systems. See Moving lyric lines vertically.

10

New features

Curved arpeggio signs

Dorico Pro now offers a curved arpeggio sign, which is used by some composers to indicate only gentle or partial arpeggiation. See Types of arpeggio signs.

Glissando playback

Glissando lines now affect playback. For harps, the pitches included in glissando lines automatically changes according to the current harp pedaling setting. See Glissando lines in playback.

Missing Fonts dialog

This new dialog informs you if a project you are opening contains a font you do not have installed on your computer and allows you to select replacement fonts. See Missing Fonts dialog.

Frame fullness indicator

Similar to the system fullness indicator already available in Dorico Pro, there is now also a frame fullness indicator to show whether frames are comfortably full or over-full vertically. See Frame fullness indicator.

Swing playback for 16th notes

Dorico Pro now allows you to use 16th notes as the unit for swing playback. See Swing playback.

Multi-bar rest count font

It is now possible to change the font used for counts on multi-bar rests to a plain font, rather than the default bold, Arabic font. See Changing the font used for multi-bar rest bar counts.

Continuous instrument numbering regardless of transposition

There is a new option that allows Dorico Pro to number instruments continuously even if they have different transpositions, such as Horn in F and Horn in D. See Numbering instruments with different transpositions separately/together.

11

Introduction

Thank you very much for purchasing Dorico Pro.

We are delighted that you have chosen Steinberg's scoring application and hope that you will enjoy using it for years to come.

Dorico is a next-generation application for producing beautiful sheet music, whether you are a composer, arranger, music engraver, publisher, instrumentalist, teacher, or student. Whether you want to print your music or share it in a digital format, Dorico is the most sophisticated program available.

Like all of Steinberg's products, Dorico has been designed from the ground up by a team of musicians who understand your needs and who are dedicated to producing a tool that is both easy to learn and use, but also capable of results of the highest quality. Dorico also integrates with your existing workflow and can import and export files in a variety of formats.

Dorico thinks about music the same way a human musician does and has a deeper understanding of the elements of music and musical performance than other scoring applications. Its unique design allows an unprecedented degree of flexibility, in music input and editing, in score layout, in rhythmic freedom, and many other areas besides.

Most sincerely yours,

Your Steinberg Dorico Team

Platform-independent documentation

This documentation applies to the operating systems Windows and macOS.

Features and settings that are specific to one of these platforms are clearly indicated. In all other cases, the descriptions and procedures in the documentation are valid for Windows and macOS.

Some points to consider:

The screenshots are taken from macOS.

Some functions that are available on the File menu on Windows can be found in the program name menu on macOS.

Usage of musical terms

This documentation uses American terminology for musical items.

The following table lists all the notes and notations that have different names in American and British English:

American Name

British Name

Double whole note

Breve

12

Introduction

Conventions

 

American Name

British Name

 

Whole note

Semibreve

 

Half note

Minim

 

Quarter note

Crotchet

 

Eighth note

Quaver

 

Sixteenth note

Semiquaver

 

Thirty-second note

Demisemiquaver

 

Sixty-fourth note

Hemidemisemiquaver

 

Hundred twenty-eighth note

Semihemidemisemiquaver

 

Two hundred fifty-sixth note

Demisemihemidemisemiquaver

 

Staff

Stave

 

Bar/Measure

Bar

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE

 

 

This documentation only uses “bar”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conventions

In our documentation, we use typographical and markup elements to structure information.

Typographical elements

The following typographical elements mark the following purposes.

Prerequisite

Requires you to complete an action or to fulfill a condition before starting a procedure.

Procedure

Lists the steps that you must take to achieve a specific result.

Important

Informs you about issues that might affect the system, the connected hardware, or that might bring a risk of data loss.

Note

Informs you about issues that you should consider.

Tip

Adds further information or useful suggestions.

Example

Provides you with an example.

13

Introduction

Conventions

Result

Shows the result of the procedure.

After Completing This Task

Informs you about actions or tasks that you can perform after completing the procedure.

Related Links

Lists related topics that you can find in this documentation.

Markup

Elements of the user interface are highlighted throughout the documentation.

Names of menus, options, functions, dialogs, windows, and so on, are highlighted in bold.

EXAMPLE

To open the Project Info dialog, choose File > Project Info.

If bold text is separated by a greater-than symbol, this indicates a sequence of different menus to open.

EXAMPLE

Choose Setup > Layout Options.

File names and folder paths are shown in a different font.

EXAMPLE example_file.txt

Key commands

Key commands are sets of keys that perform defined tasks when pressed together. They are also known as “keyboard shortcuts”. Many of the default key commands use modifier keys, some of which are different depending on the operating system.

When key commands with modifier keys are described in this manual, they are indicated with the Windows modifier key first, followed by the macOS modifier key and the key.

EXAMPLE

Ctrl/Cmd-Z means: press Ctrl on Windows or Cmd on macOS, then press Z.

Key commands in Dorico Pro

The default key commands in Dorico Pro depend on your keyboard layout.

If you move the mouse over a tool or a function, the information in brackets shows the key command that is used to activate or deactivate a tool or a function.

You can also do one of the following:

Choose Help > Key Commands to open the Dorico Key Commands window, which provides an overview of all available key commands.

Search for key commands of specific functions or menu items in the Preferences dialog. In this dialog, you can also assign new key commands or change default key commands.

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Introduction

How you can reach us

RELATED LINKS

Interactive Dorico Pro key commands map on page 57

Searching for the key commands of functions on page 58

Preferences dialog on page 55

Key Commands page in the Preferences dialog on page 56

Assigning key commands on page 59

How you can reach us

On the Help menu you find items linking to additional information.

The menu contains links to various Steinberg web pages. Selecting one of these menu items automatically launches your web browser and opens the page. On these pages, you can find support and compatibility information, answers to frequently asked questions, information about updates and other Steinberg products, and so on.

This requires that you have a web browser installed on your computer and a working Internet connection.

15

First steps

This chapter helps you to get started with Dorico Pro.

When you start Dorico Pro for the first time, we recommend that you open one of the templates first to have a look at the user interface and the functions that Dorico Pro provides before you start your own projects. You are welcome to skip this part and explore the program for yourself.

The following sections inform you about the following topics:

Overview of the most important workspaces

Setting up a new project

Writing your music and adding notation items to your score

Laying out and formatting pages

Playing back what you created

Printing and exporting

Getting around

The following sections give you an overview of the user interface and introduce you to how Dorico Pro is structured.

Opening a template

Before you start your own project, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the user interface of Dorico Pro. To prepare for this, open one of the templates that are provided with the program.

PREREQUISITE

You have started Dorico Pro. The Hub is open.

PROCEDURE

1.In the Hub, select one of the listed template groups. For example, select the Choral and Vocal templates.

2.Select one of the listed templates.

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3.Click New from Template.

RESULT

The template opens. The players in the template are added to the project and their staves appear in the music area.

RELATED LINKS

Hub on page 62

Quick tour of the user interface

The user interface of Dorico Pro consists of different modes that represent different phases in the workflow of preparing a score.

The user interface has a structure that is the same in each of the application’s modes. There is always a large area for editing your music in the center of the project window. In every mode, there are collapsible panels on the left, right, and bottom of the project window, depending on which mode you are using. The contents of these panels change according to the selected mode.

When you open the template, the first view shows the project window in Write mode:

The project window when you open a template

The project window contains the following areas:

Toolbar

The toolbar is located at the top of the project window.

Toolbar

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On the left side of the toolbar, the modes are displayed. By changing the mode, you change the workspace and the available panels. The current mode is highlighted in a different color. In the middle of the toolbar, layout options allow you to switch between the different layouts in your project and to show/hide panels and tabs.

On the right side of the toolbar, you can open a Mixer and use basic transport controls that, among other functions, allow you to play back and record your music.

Show Mixer button

Music area

The music area is the main part of the project window in Setup, Write, and Engrave modes where you set up, input, edit and format your music. In Play mode, this area is called event display, in which every note is displayed as an event. In Print mode, this area is called print preview area, which shows a preview of what is going to be printed or exported as a graphic.

The music area in Write mode after starting a new project from a choral template

The music area displays the scores or the instrumental parts that you create. Above the music area you can activate several layouts in tabs and switch between them. Layouts in Dorico Pro allow you to show different presentations of your music. If you have a full score with different instrumental parts, such as a violin part and a bassoon part, you can switch between that full score layout and the layouts of each part. To save space on the screen or to focus on a specific layout, you can hide the tabs.

Toolboxes

Toolboxes are the columns on the left and right edges of the project window. They contain different tools and options according to the current mode, but in general they allow you to input and modify notes, notation items, and frames, and to determine which options are shown in their corresponding panels.

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Notes toolbox in Write mode

Notations toolbox in Write mode

Panels

Dorico Pro provides panels with various functions in all modes. When you open the template, there is a panel on the left of the music area. This is the Notes panel in Write mode. It contains all the durations, accidentals, slurs, and articulations that are most commonly used when inputting notes.

Notes panel in Write mode

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Getting around

Status Bar

At the bottom of the project window, a status bar allows you to select different views and page arrangements for the music area. It contains different options in different modes.

Status bar

RELATED LINKS

User interface on page 38

Mixer on page 506

Transport window on page 508

Functions of the modes

Each mode represents a different phase in the workflow of preparing scores and parts, so contain different toolboxes, panels, and functionality from each other.

Setup mode

In Setup mode, you can set up the fundamental elements of the project: instruments and the players that hold them, flows, layouts, and videos. You can also determine how they interact with each other, for example, by changing the players assigned to layouts.

You can view music in the music area and switch between viewing other tabs and layouts, but you cannot select or interact with anything in the music area in Setup mode.

You can switch to Setup mode in any of the following ways:

Press Ctrl/Cmd-1.

Click Setup in the toolbar.

Choose Window > Setup.

Write mode

In Write mode, you can input and edit your music, including changing the rhythmic positions of items, changing the pitch of notes, and deleting notes and items. The available toolboxes and panels allow you to input all the notes and notation items that are most commonly used.

By design, you cannot move notes and items graphically in Write mode. Graphical adjustments are only possible in Engrave mode.

You can switch to Write mode in any of the following ways:

Press Ctrl/Cmd-2.

Click Write in the toolbar.

Choose Window > Write.

Engrave mode

In Engrave mode, you can make fine adjustments to notes and items and determine how the pages of your project are laid out. By design, you cannot delete any notes or items, change their rhythmic positions, or change the pitch of notes in Engrave mode; this prevents mistakes when engraving.

You can switch to Engrave mode in any of the following ways:

Press Ctrl/Cmd-3.

Click Engrave in the toolbar.

Choose Window > Engrave.

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Play mode

In Play mode, you can change how your music sounds in playback, including by changing the playback template and assigning VST instruments, inputting automation, adjusting the mix, and changing the sounding duration of notes in playback without affecting their notated duration.

You can switch to Play mode in any of the following ways:

Press Ctrl/Cmd-4.

Click Play in the toolbar.

Choose Window > Play.

Print mode

In Print mode, you can print your layouts or export them as graphics files. When printing layouts, you can specify the paper size and other options, such as duplex or booklet printing. When exporting layouts, you can specify different graphics file types, such as PDF or PNG, and the information you want to include in their exported file names.

You can switch to Print mode in any of the following ways:

Press Ctrl/Cmd-5.

Click Print in the toolbar.

Choose Window > Print.

RELATED LINKS

Setup mode on page 87

Write mode on page 144

Engrave mode on page 327

Print mode on page 544

Play mode on page 462

Hiding/Showing panels

You can hide/show individual or multiple panels. This is useful if you want to see more of the music area, for example.

PROCEDURE

Hide individual panels or all panels in the following ways:

To hide/show the left panel: Press Ctrl/Cmd-7.

Click the disclosure arrow on the left edge of the main window. Choose Window > Show Left Panel.

To hide/show the right panel: Press Ctrl/Cmd-9.

Click the disclosure arrow on the right edge of the main window. Choose Window > Show Right Panel.

To hide/show the bottom panel: Press Ctrl/Cmd-8.

Click the disclosure arrow at the bottom of the main window. Choose Window > Show Bottom Panel.

To hide/show all panels: Press Ctrl/Cmd-0.

Click Hide/Restore Panels.

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Choose Window > Hide/Restore Panels.

RESULT

The corresponding panels are hidden/shown. Panels are hidden when no tick is shown beside the corresponding panel in the menu, and shown when a tick is shown in the menu.

If you hide all active panels, the Hide/Restore Panels button in the toolbar changes its look and indicates which panels were active but are now hidden.

EXAMPLE

Appearance when panels are shown

Appearance when all panels were previously shown

 

but are now all hidden

Working with tabs and windows

Dorico Pro enables you to set up your workspace according to your working style.

Dorico Pro allows you to open multiple tabs to display multiple layouts in the same project within the same window. You can also open the same project in several windows.

RELATED LINKS

Workspace setup on page 49

Opening a new tab

You can open a new tab to display a different view or layout within the same project window.

Each tab can contain a separate layout or a different view of a layout already open in another tab or window. Whenever you open a new tab, you are prompted to select a layout that you want to display in the tab.

You can find tabs in the tab bar, located at the top of the music area, below the toolbar. If you do not see any tabs, click Show Tabs in the toolbar.

PROCEDURE

To open a new tab, do one of the following:

Press Ctrl/Cmd-T.

At the right end of the tab bar, click New Tab.

Choose Window > New Tab.

RESULT

A new tab opens that shows several icons at the top and a list of layouts at the bottom.

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Options available in the music area when you open a new tab

AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK

You can click one of the icons or select a layout from the list at the bottom. Alternatively, you can select a layout from the layout selector in the toolbar. The layout that you choose opens in the active tab.

RELATED LINKS

Tab bar on page 42

Toolbar on page 39

Opening a new window

You can open another window for the same project, for example, if you want to work on multiple layouts at the same time. You can also show a different mode of the same project in each window, such as having one window show Write mode and another show Play mode.

PROCEDURE

Open a new project window in any of the following ways:

Press Ctrl/Cmd-Shift-T.

Choose Window > New Window.

RESULT

A duplicate of the window opens. It contains the same tabs and the same view options as the original window.

RELATED LINKS

Opening multiple project windows on page 53

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First steps

Starting a new project

Starting a new project

After getting a first impression of the Dorico Pro user interface, you can get started with inputting your own music. In this section, you learn how to set up a new project.

PREREQUISITE

NOTE

All inputs that are made and the images that are used to accompany the steps in this chapter are intended merely to be helpful examples. Therefore, there is no need to make the same entries in order to get the depicted results.

Close the template without saving to reopen the Hub.

PROCEDURE

Start a new project in any of the following ways:

Press Ctrl/Cmd-N.

Click New Empty Project.

RESULT

A new project window opens.

By default, new projects start in Setup mode. This allows you to specify players and assign instruments straight away. The area in the middle, known as the project start area, allows you to start your project with different types of players. Once you have added at least one player, this area becomes the music area.

On the right, the Layouts panel shows a Full score layout card. This layout is automatically created in every new project.

At the bottom of the window is the Flows panel, where you can specify separate spans of music for your project.

AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK

Start your project by adding a player and assigning an instrument to them. You are free to assign any kind of instrument. The following examples use a single piano player.

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First steps

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RELATED LINKS

Windows on page 38

Adding a solo player

In this section, you learn how to add a player and assign an instrument.

PREREQUISITE

You have started a new project. You are in Setup mode.

PROCEDURE

1.Click Add Solo Player to open the instrument picker.

2.Enter piano into the instrument picker search box.

3.Click Add.

RESULT

You have added your first player. In the music area, the required piano staves including their respective clefs are displayed.

AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK

Save your project. You can do this at any time.

Optionally, you can now edit the project title or add more players.

The following sections help you to create flows and layouts. If you want to start composing, you can skip those sections.

RELATED LINKS

Writing music on page 26

Creating a flow

Flows are separate spans of music within your project, for example, movements or songs. In this section, you learn how to create a flow.

PREREQUISITE

You have added at least one player. You are in Setup mode.

PROCEDURE

In Setup mode, click Add Flow in the Flows panel at the bottom of the window.

RESULT

A new flow is added to your project each time you click Add Flow. All existing players are assigned to new flows, and new flows are automatically assigned to all existing full score and part layouts.

AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK

You can double-click the flow card to rename the flow.

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You can also remove players from the flow by deactivating their checkboxes in the Players panel, and remove the flow from layouts by deactivating their checkboxes in the Layouts panel.

RELATED LINKS

Flows on page 130

Renaming flows on page 132

Creating a layout

Layouts define how music for one or more players in one or more flows is presented, including page size, margins, staff size, and so on. In this section, you learn how to create a new layout.

PREREQUISITE

You have added at least one player and one flow. You are in Setup mode.

Several layouts are often used in ensembles with multiple players, where each player may require a layout of the individual instrumental part. Dorico Pro automatically creates a full score layout that contains all players and all flows as well as individual part layouts that each contain one player and all flows. If you require a different combination of players and flows, for example, a part containing the music for two players, you can create your own layouts, as follows:

PROCEDURE

In the Layouts panel, click Add Instrumental Part Layout.

RESULT

An empty part is created on the Layouts panel. AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK

You can double-click the empty part card to rename it.

You can also assign flows to the layout by activating their checkboxes in the Flows panel, and assign players to the layout by activating their checkboxes in the Players panel.

Writing music

Once you have set up your project, you can start writing music.

In Write mode, you can input notes and insert other notations into your score.

TIP

Throughout Dorico Pro, most tasks can be accomplished using only your computer's keyboard. You do not need to use the mouse or touchpad. Learning key commands allows you to use Dorico Pro most efficiently. The fastest way to input music is using a MIDI keyboard. If you do not have a MIDI keyboard, you can use your computer's keyboard. Of course, you can still use the mouse or touchpad if you want.

In the following sections, you learn how to input notes and notation items.

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Inputting your first notes

In this section, you learn how to input notes. You can start inputting notes without having to first add a time signature or key signature.

PREREQUISITE

You have set up your MIDI keyboard. NOTE

If you have not set up a MIDI keyboard yet, you can start inputting notes with the computer keyboard.

You have added a piano player in Setup mode.

You are in Write mode.

PROCEDURE

1.Select the rest that was automatically inserted next to the clef when you added a solo player.

2.Start note input in any of the following ways:

Press Shift-N or Return.

Double-click the rest.

The caret is activated and appears on the staff.

3.In the Notes panel, click a duration. NOTE

By default, Dorico Pro selects a quarter note (crotchet) for you.

4.Start playing notes on the MIDI keyboard, or press A, B, C, D, E, F, G on the computer keyboard to input the corresponding pitches.

If you want higher or lower pitch for the note that Dorico Pro inputs for you, you can force a different register.

To input a note above the previously input note, press Shift-Alt as well as the letter for the note.

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To input a note below the previously input note, press Ctrl (macOS) or Ctrl-Alt (Windows) as well as the letter for the note.

NOTE

You must press Ctrl on Mac, not Cmd.

RESULT

The pitches you enter or play in are input as notes.

EXAMPLE

Input notes with the caret still active after the final note

RELATED LINKS

Write mode on page 144

Register selection during note input on page 165

Adding a time signature

In this section, you learn how to add a time signature at the beginning of the staff. You can add a time signature before or after inputting a melody.

PREREQUISITE

Press Esc to deactivate the caret.

PROCEDURE

1.Select the first note on the staff.

2.Press Shift-M.

The time signatures popover opens above the staff.

3.Enter a typical time signature into the popover, such as 3/4.

4.Press Return to close the popover.

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RESULT

The time signature is automatically input to the left of the note, and the required bar lines are automatically inserted at the correct positions. If you want to insert a key signature, proceed to the next section.

Adding a key signature

In this section, you learn how to add a key signature. You can add a key signature at any rhythmic position on the staff.

When you start a new project from scratch, by default, there is no key signature shown. Depending on the kind of music you are writing, the key signature might be taken to mean C major or an open key with no specific tonal center.

You can change the key anywhere on the staff. To add a different key signature at the beginning of the staff, for example, D major, proceed as follows:

PROCEDURE

1.Select the first note on the staff.

2.Press Shift-K.

This opens the key signatures popover on top of the staff.

3.Enter a key signature into the popover. If you want to enter D major, enter an uppercase

D.

For D minor, enter a lowercase d.

4. Press Return.

RESULT

The key signature is inserted between the clef and the time signature. Dorico Pro automatically adds accidentals where necessary.

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Inputting your first chord

In this section, you learn how to input a chord with the computer keyboard, using chord mode. If you want to use a MIDI keyboard instead, you can input the chord with your keyboard, and you do not need to use chord mode. Dorico Pro automatically inputs the correct notes.

PREREQUISITE

Select the last note or rest on the staff, and press Return. This shows the caret.

PROCEDURE

1.Start chord input in any of the following ways:

Press Q.

In the Notes toolbox, click Chords.

The caret shows a plus sign at the top.

2.Optional: In the Notes panel, select a duration.

3.Input the notes that you want in your chord by pressing keys from A to G, one after the other. For example, for a C major chord, press C, E, and G.

By default, Dorico Pro adds each new note above the previous note. You can select the register of notes manually.

The example shows a possible result.

4.Press Space to advance the caret to the next note position and continue with the next chord.

Dorico Pro expects further chord input until you deactivate it.

5.Optional: To stop chord input, press Q or click Chords again in the Notes toolbox.

RELATED LINKS

Register selection during note input on page 165

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