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
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 |
3
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
4
Table of Contents
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
5
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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Table of Contents
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
7
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
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
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
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.
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
|
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.
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.
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 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.
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
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
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
The following sections give you an overview of the user interface and introduce you to how Dorico Pro is structured.
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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First steps
Getting around
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
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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First steps
Getting around
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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First steps
Getting around
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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First steps
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
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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First steps
Getting around
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
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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First steps
Getting around
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 |
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
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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First steps
Getting around
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
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
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
Starting a new project
RELATED LINKS
Windows on page 38
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
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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First steps
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
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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First steps
Writing music
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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First steps
Writing music
●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
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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First steps
Writing music
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.
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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First steps
Writing music
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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