TUTORIALS

Tip: Convert the first bar of a flow into a pick-up bar

by | Feb 18, 2020 |

 

  1. In Dorico, there is no penalty for changing your mind. If you decide that the first bar of your piece should be a pick-up bar, it is very easy to edit.
  2. Remove the unwanted time at the beginning of the first bar. You can do this either by using the System Track (hold down Alt/Option in order to be able to select beats rather than bars), or by using the Shift+B Bars and Barlines popover. The syntax for removing time is a minus sign followed buy a number and the unit (q = quarter note, e = eighth note and so on).
  3. Edit the time signature/meter to include a pick-up bar by double-clicking it, and adding the number of beats the pick-up should have after a comma.
  4. It doesn’t matter which order you perform these two actions.

Tip: Specify the tuplet unit in the popover

by | Feb 11, 2020 |

 

    1. During note input, press ; to open the tuplet popover.
    2. Type the ratio, followed by the shorthand for the unit (separate by a space).
    3. The unit can be written as a letter: generally the first letter of the duration value (e.g. q = quarter note, e = eighth note, x = sixteenth note and so on).
    4. Or you can use the number that corresponds to Dorico’s default key command (e.g. 6 = quarter note, 7 = half note, 8 = whole note and so on).

Tip: Fine-tune the playback of dynamics

by | Feb 4, 2020 |

 

    1. Use the new dynamics lane in Play mode to emphasise a phrase without changing the written dynamic.
    2. Use the Play mode tools to draw in new dynamic levels, including gradual dynamics, to add nuance to your music.
    3. This can be very useful when needing to call out a phrase of music that is otherwise directed to be at the same dynamic level as other parts.
    4. Editing the dynamics lane does not affect the written notation at all, it purely serves to add nuance to playback.