TUTORIALS
Tip: Position poco and molto text over hairpins
- By default, poco and molto text is positioned next to hairpins.
- Change this in Engraving Options by setting an option found on the Dynamics page, under Gradual Dynamics.
- You can choose to position modifier text on hairpins either: above or below the hairpin, at the start; or inside the center of the hairpin.
- There is also a corresponding property that affects individual instances.
Tip: Add dynamics in the middle of tied notes
- Selecting any tied note selects the entire tie chain, meaning dynamics and other items are created at the start of the tie chain.
- You are able to drag the dynamic to the desired position if you like, however you are also able to create dynamics and other music items at any position by using the rhythmic position of the caret when note input is active.
- Double-click a note or rhythmic position to show the note input caret. You can also select a note and press Return, or make a selection at the desired rhythmic position and press Shift+N.
- When the caret is visible is you can move it by using the arrow keys, which will move it by the amount of the current rhythmic grid resolution. You can also advance the caret by using the Space key, which moves it forward by the currently selected note duration (the note selected in the Notes panel).
- Now when you create a dynamic, either by using the Dynamics panel, or the popover, it is created at the current rhythmic position of the caret.
- Creating a gradual dynamic such as a hairpin also works when using the popover when note input is active. Advance the caret using the Space bar to lengthen the hairpin, and create an immediate dynamic at the point you would like it to end.
Tip: Using tokens to add information to a project
- Fill out information pertaining to your project—including each flow—in the Project Info dialog, found in the File menu, or by pressing the key command Ctrl/Cmd+I from anywhere in the application.
- The master pages used by Dorico contain text frames that are filled with various tokens by default, for information such as titles and composer details. When the information has been filled out in the Project Info dialog, these tokens are substituted with your data.
- All tokens are available by right-clicking in a text frame. The tokens are arranged by category making it easier to find the ones you need.
- Dorico knows which is the current flow and substitutes the correct data for flow-specific tokens, such as flow title.
- By including the flow number in certain tokens (for example {@flow3Title@}) you can retrieve the details for specific flows wherever you are in the project. This can prove very useful when building contents or index pages, and so on.
- There are useful tokens for page numbers, including for the current page and total page count. You can also specify page numbers and counts for individual flows.
- There are various tokens that fill with the current layout name, number, and tokens that specify player names and staff labels. There is even a token to list all players in the layout.
- You can even use tokens within the Project Info dialog.
- There are shortcut tokens for standard accidentals, for help with building project and flow titles that contain key signatures. However, you can access any musical symbol via a token by using its SMuFL code. Visit https://w3c.github.io/smufl/gitbook/ and search the Glyph Tables. For example using {@U+E050@} will resolve to a treble clef.
Tip: Guitar string indicators
- It’s easy to add string indicators to guitar music in Dorico. Select the notes you would like to see string indicators for, open the Properties panel and scroll to the furthest right section: String Indicators. Enable the Show property to see the indicators.
- You can set the string for individual notes in the Notes and Rests section, back at the left-most end of the panel.
- If you would like to see string indicators (with continuation lines) above or below the staff, select the relevant notes and invoke the Playing Techniques panel by pressing Shift+P. Type ‘string‘ and the number you require. Select from the list and press Return.
- You can move, lengthen and shorten the indicator using the usual Write mode handles.
Tip: Create custom condensing groups
- Enable condensing to group together similar instruments on as few staves as possible.
- In Layout Options (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+L), you can define your own custom condensing groups.
- Choose Players > Condensing and add a new group. Select multiple instruments by holding down Ctrl/Cmd.
- You can even group together different instruments for common condensing pairings, such as trombone and tuba.