Tutorials – Dorico

Tip: Open multiple windows for the same project

From the Window menu, choose New Window, or press the key command Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) + Shift + T.
You can view a different layout in each new window.
You can work in Page View and Galley View at the same time.
When using additional monitors it can be useful to have a Dorico window open for the current project on each screen.
Each window can be set to a different mode, for example you can work in Write mode and Play mode at the same time.

With Insert mode, you can input notes before existing notes without overriding them.
The key command for Insert mode is ‘I’. This will toggle Insert mode on and off.
Insert mode allows you to push existing notes ahead at the same time as inputting new notes at their previous positions.
Insert mode works when editing as well, so deleting notes will also pull the following notes back into the resulting space.
Changing the durations of notes when Insert mode is enabled pushes and pulls all subsequent notes in that voice forwards and backwards, so again they are not overridden.

By default, Dorico will audition only the notes that are selected. This includes clicking with the mouse and navigating with the arrow keys on your computer keyboard.
In Dorico 2.2.20, you can choose to audition all notes in a chord when you select any of them, by setting a new preference.
The setting is found in the Preferences dialog, on the Note Input and Editing page.
Check Play all notes in chord when any is selected.
Apply and Close the dialog.
Now when you select any note in a chord, all notes in that chord will be auditioned. Notes in other voices will not audition.

Open the Key Signatures, Tonality Systems and Accidentals panel in Write mode.
Select a tonality system by clicking the menu button and choosing one from the list. Dorico ships with two equal temperament tonality systems; one for 12-EDO (which is the default), and one for 24-EDO. It is possible to define your own by pressing the New Tonality System button, after which it will appear in the list.
Input a key signature in the score at the point where you would like the tonality system to take effect from.
The Accidentals panel will update to show the available accidentals for the selected tonality system.
You can add as many tonality system changes to your flow as you like. Simply repeat the process at any point in the flow.

Right-click a player card in Setup mode and choose Combine Instruments into Kit. The Percussion Kit Editor opens automatically.
Drag the instruments to the positions you would like them to appear on a 5-line staff. You can set the stem direction and voice for each instrument.
Use the Add Existing Instrument From Player button in the editor action bar to add to the kit other unpitched percussion instruments currently held by other players.
The Remove Instrument From Kit button removes the instrument from the percussion kit so that it is a regular instrument held by that player. You can then drag the instrument to another player as desired.