First Steps in Dorico (How to Get Started in Dorico)

As a lot of folks are starting out or trying Dorico (since the announcement that MakeMusic Finale is sunsetting), I wanted to share some tips on getting started with Dorico.

0:00 - Intro
1:52 - Starting a new file
3:00 - Dorico Poppovers
3:23 - Adding Time Signatures
3:55 - Changing Key Signatures
4:09 - Dorico Rhythmic Grid
4:45 - Setting Rhythmic Grid Resolution Hotkeys
7:00 - Setting Dorico Hotkeys / Shortcuts with Function Keys
9:10 - Transposition Hotkey
10:31 - Adding in Measures & Notes
12:12 - Flows in Dorico
12:53 - Selecting Text Frames
13:45 - Text Wildcards
15:55 - Working with Gradual Dynamics
16:45 - Making Crescendo End Before Barline
19:00 - Editing Objects with Engrave Mode

*MORE ABOUT FINALE & DORICO*

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[jjrussell]

The popovers look like a huge time saver. Great video

[denvergaydon]

Thanks for the tips! 10 year finale user migrating to Dorico, and my biggest struggle initially was note input. Hoping to share some revelations I've made as well to help others in similar positions.

Dorico has 2 note entry methods- Duration before Pitch, and Pitch before Duration. They added the latter method in order to more closely mimic the way Finale's Speedy Entry works. I started with this method, but unfortunately it is not quite 1-1 with Finale's Speedy right now, and I would recommend to avoid it.

I've found that Duration Before Pitch (Dorico's intended method) clicked much easier for me. One thing I didn't see mentioned in this video that was a godsend for me is the 'Advance Caret' function (mapped to space bar by default.) In Write mode, this will allow you to advance the orange indicator on the grid by the rhythmic value you have selected, rather than by just one unit.

For example, if I want to input 3 quarter notes and then a quarter rest, I would go to Write mode, simply hit 5 on my numpad (or 6 if you're using Dorico's defaults, ) play my 3 notes on MIDI keyboard, then press space to advance the caret by 1 quarter rest.

This prevents having to fiddle with Alt + [ and ], and you can also map Advance Caret to something on the numpad for better ergonomics

[michaelhollman]

Thanks! Changing the key functions is a life saver! The rhythmic grid always seemed clunky to me - your suggestion to assign the grid to the F keys is brilliant. I also like changing the numeric keypad to Finale's values (35 years of 5 = quarter note feels right!) Again, I sincerely appreciate your videos, insight, and tips.

[michaelhollman]

What you said around the 18 minute mark is profound and incredibly insightful - Solving our problems/issues from the macro level (Library) first before going to the micro level (tweaking the minutia) - a concept that really doesn't work as well with the Document Options of Finale (in fact, dynamics and slurs are NOT available in Document Options!). I won't miss mindless fiddling around with my scores!

[OldoFiala-vpbr]

Have a nice day, is there a Speedy entry tool option in Dorico? In Finale, it is a brilliant possibility to write notes on the PC keyboard