Tutorials

Tip: Rhythmic grid resolution

The rhythmic grid is used for many operations across Dorico.
Moving the caret with the arrow keys; moving notes; lengthening or shortening items; precise System Track selections.
The default resolution for the rhythmic grid is an eighth note.
This can be changed via the popup control; or the key commands Alt+[ or ].
Now items move by the new grid resolution value.
You can also set key commands or Jump Bar aliases for specific grid resolutions.

Sometimes, when working on projects with more than one flow, it can be useful print or export specific flows for collaboration or proofreading purposes.
In Print mode, there is an option to set the Print range to flows, where you can specify which flows you want to print or export.
Dorico will print or export the complete pages containing the flows you selected.

Editing text frames directly locks page layout in place.
This can lead to layout issues if the music changes.
Reset Page Overrides in Pro using the Pages panel, and using the menu command in Elements.
Set Project and Flow Titles using the Project Info dialog.
Now the layout responds to changes in the music.

When using Insert mode, you should be aware that later music can be affected.
Setting the Stop position means music beyond that point is not affected by Insert mode edits.
Use the System Track to show and hide the Stop position, or use the key command Shift+Alt+I.
You can also drag the Stop position to a new location, or drag it off the music to remove.

Single players can hold multiple instruments.
Section players can divide.
Single players cannot divide.
Create a new section player, and drag the instrument from the single player onto it. Its music moves with it. The single player—which is now empty-handed—can be deleted.
Now you can create a divisi staff for the section player.

1. There is a new option in Dorico 4.2 that will ignore punctuation when positioning lyrics.
2. Find the setting in Engraving Options, in the Spacing section of the Lyrics category.
3. The option is set to Ignore by default for new projects.

Use the Playing Techniques panel to open the editor and create your own playing technique.
Playing techniques can be either symbols or text. Use any Paragraph Style to set the format of text.
Set a continuation line, using a Dorico default or a line you have created yourself.
Choose a shorthand to use in the popover.
In the editor, Save as Default to save the playing technique to your User Library, and use it again in future projects.

Press the Add Ensemble button, or type Shift+E. Type the instruments you wish to create, typing a comma after each one, and press Add.
Dorico recognises orchestral shorthand to identify instruments, and you can specify how many of each instrument to add.
Press Tab to ‘bank’ the current instruments and clear search field, then continue adding more.
You can add entire orchestral sections at once, and even use numeric shorthand (e.g. 2222 for double woodwind).
Double-click instruments in the list to switch between creating them as single or section players.
Save your custom ensemble, giving it a name and category. It will now be searchable in the Build tab, and available in the Choose tab.

To select all notes in a specific voice across a selection, press J to open the Jump Bar and search for the filter commands.
There are filters available for each up- and down-stem voice.
Find a command in the Jump Bar even faster by typing just the first letter of each word.