Overview
Three main objects
When creating a score, you will specify or create the following types of objects in Dorico:
- Players:
- Solo instruments or sections
- Flows:
- Independent pieces of music that players are assigned to play
- Layouts:
- Formatting specifications for the score and parts
Five major modes
The major modes in Dorico are like five separate programs, each with its own distinct set of features and user interface.
Setup mode
- Set up instruments, players, flows and layouts
- Assign instruments to players
- Assign players to layouts
Write mode
- Input and edit music
- Change rhythmic position of items
- Change the pitch of notes
- Delete notes and other items
Because of the way Dorico handles note input in relation to the rhythmic grid, it is generally best to specify a time signature before you begin inputting notes.
Engrave mode
- Make fine adjustments to notes and other items
- Determine how the pages of your project are laid out
Play mode
- Change the playback template and assign VST instruments
- Input automation
- Adjust the mix
- Change the sounding duration of notes
Print mode
Print layouts or export them as graphics files or PDFs.
Important concepts
Note durations and implicit rests
- The notation and division of notes and rests is determined by a set of rules and conventions that you have little to no control over.
- This means that note and rest durations can change and appear differently later, compared to when you first input them.
- Notes are treated as a single unit, even if they appear as a tie chain that contains multiple notes tied together.
- Implicit rests automatically fill the gaps between the notes you input.
- In combination with time signatures, this allows you to input only the notes you want with the duration required. It is not necessary to input rests between notes or input ties for notes that cross the half-bar, for example.
Rhythmic position
- Notes and items exist at rhythmic positions, which are calculated using their place in musical time in the flow rather than their position in a specific bar that has a particular time signature.
- Because notes and items exist independently of bars and time signatures, you can change the time signature without changing when notes happen in relation to each other or adding rests at the end of each bar.
- Instead, the barlines simply move to different positions and the grouping of notes is updated as required, such as notating a quarter note as two tied eighth notes if it now straddles a barline or crosses the half-bar.
Using popovers
- Popovers are triggered by certain key commands and allow you to perform various tasks using shorthand syntax while remaining in note input mode.
- These include adding different types of notations to your score such as key signatures and dynamics, or transposing a selection of notes.
- For example, once you reach the position where you want to input a new key signature, you can open the corresponding popover using its key command Shift K, input the key signature you want, and then continue inputting notes.
Creating projects
Projects specify players and instrumentation, and contain one or more flows. Each flow may have various layouts for different versions of the score and its parts.
New project from template
- From the Dorico menu, select [select template], or
- From the , select a template category, then a template, and then click
This places you directly in .
New empty project
- Select or press Cmd-N, or
- From the , select
This places you in .