Learn Dorico in 11 Minutes | Quick Walkthrough

[@FergusJohnston]

As a Finale user since version 2.6.3, back in 1990, I've been demented wondering what I would do, but this Dorico seems like a very real improvement on previous notational software packages. A very well produced and presented video.

[@stevepetrinko]

The narrator speaks at a great pace and is a very pleasant. I enjoyed listening to him. This is a very well crafted, informative and thought out video. Thank you for making it.

[@einarbrtveit5852]

Too fast for me, as my language is Norwegian. But I'll try to pause it several times while working on Dorico. Then, hopefully, I'll learn how to use the program..

[@dorico]

@@einarbrtveit5852 You can slow KZbin down - click on the cog. And sorry if I'm too quick sometimes.

[@mystimpy]

I recently started using Dorico because of Finale’s demise. I’ve used Finale since the early nineties. I must say that Dorico has turned out to be a very pleasant surprise for me!

[@MorisoniProductions]

An excellent rapid summary of Dorico features. Thanks again Anthony, you are the steadily positive voice of Dorico!

[@chiphartranft1371]

Longtime Finale user here, now learning Dorico 5 Pro and absolutely loving it! Although many of its processes are quite different than Finale and Sibelius, and therefore presenting a steep initial learning curve, I'm finding them to actually be more logical, specific, and user-friendly - a tremendous improvement. It's also a much more powerful app - I mean, it's a DAW and world-class engraver! Reading the comments here, I sense that the frustrated or disgruntled ones tried to dive right in, applying Finale or Sibelius principles, before adequately familiarizing themselves with Dorico's excellent tutorial library here, or closely reading the comprehensive manual. They don't appear to have grasped the basic conceptual frameworks yet that set Dorico apart from F + S. I've only been at it for a couple of weeks and am already customizing layouts and inputting notes, articulations, and dynamics faster and more efficiently than I ever did with Finale. Thanks to Anthony Hughes and the Dorico team - really love where this is going!

[@nathanbarnes4740]

Thank you for this video. As a finale user facing the required change I have to say that this was very helpful for me to just see the basic layout and operation of the software. I've never used Dorico before but I will download a trial as it seems like a powerful tool that is laid out well and with proficiency could yield great results. Knowing that it is a Steinberg/Yamaha product is also appealing as I use those brands a lot in my live audio work. Can I also thank you for the calm delivery of the video. Learning a new notation software is a daunting task for someone who has been using Finale for so long but the presentation of this vid was so logical and intuitive that it gave me great hope for the switch. Thank you

[@mikehamnett9336]

I’m being forced to switch to Dorico from Finale and my first impressions are that it’s a counter intuitive program, closer to Sibelius in that respect. I think I will need to use it in a room with many soft furnishings and a supersized swear box. So far I find nothing to suggest it will ever achieve the quality and musicality of Finale but if Finale is truly dead then I will have to suck it up because I refuse to go down the annual fee for zero service model that Avid espouses. Wish me luck!

[@GodfreyGuitar]

I'm in the same boat. I'll be using Finale for my current projects, but I'll be watching tutorials on Dorico and trying to get up to speed. At the time I started learning Finale (about 25 years now), it didn't seem very intuitive. Crossing my fingers that I can pick up Dorico quickly.

[@jamesleiter4222]

Same for all of us Old Finale users.😢

[@jamesleiter4222]

Using Finale since 1992😢

[@dorico]

Try the 'first steps' guide: blog.dorico.com/resources/

[@jdubcreatedtoday391]

Agreed, I'll never use Avid products again. I had a terrible experience after they bought out Sibelius. I have much higher hopes for Dorico.

[@christopherjhoh]

Very helpful, thanks. I'm new to Dorico, downloaded earlier today. Have been exploring a little to get a feel, now checking out videos and guides. This one was excellent - clear, comprehensive, a fine introduction.

[@DerekWilliamsMusic]

Amazing. Thanks for the whirlwind tour.

[@glennroberts1852]

I recently made the cross grade from finale. The most time consuming part was actually installing and registering and creating account and sign in credentials. It was a little disorienting at first, but within 20 minutes, Inhad entered a tiny 16 bar screw around tune, a template for my elementary band, a woodwind quartet template (which I also deleted easily) and a small rhythm and scale exercise for my little kids. Transposing and selecting took the longest time to figure out. This is not hard, people.

[@franciscoaragao5398]

Four minutes and it was sufficient. I will take Dorico from now on.

[@jazzzmo7]

This video helped me feel comfortable with dipping my toe in the water of Dorico 5. I've been using Finale since 2003 and the thought of changing to anything else makes my flesh crawl. Thank your for this intro video!

[@TeacherPaypad]

Absolutely stunning! Thank you, Steinberg!

[@AGoodVibe]

I know people are in shock about Finale's exit, but this product looks superior to Finale in every way. Excited to dive in and learn this new tool

[@dorico]

Welcome!

[@bonuebonue]

Wonderful summary for a wonderful piece of software! Love Dorico!

[@JosephPatrickMooreMusic]

Very valuable video, thank you!

[@JanBLarsson]

Thanks, Anthony. You are a true gem.

[@kellyrichardson3665]

That was a timely masterpiece! Thank You!!!!!!

[@adakeren2641]

Wow! I've just downloaded the trial of Dorico, and it seems remarkably functional!

[@nantschev]

Nice. Thank you. Day 1 here

[@toppermusic]

Will be picking it up as soon as its availible again

[@kathiehutter8142]

Wow ! ! I wanted to input a short 4 part harmony on 2 staves ! ! ! Instead I got 4 different staves so I had to delete and try to figure out what I needed to do next. Sorry for the demise of Finale, it was perfect (almost) for my input. Maybe Dorico can make a blank starter form of Barbershop Harmony on just 2 staves instead of four?????

[@KlemenKotar]

I'm switching from Sibelius (still have to use it at work but I'm not updating it at my home studio which means it's dead to me as I've gone Mac...). It's similar but I still find it hard to switch. For now at least.

[@dianeplume9676]

Here’s why I don’t like Dorico: I began using THE VERY FIRST Sibelius product - version 1.002, in 1998. My new next door neighbor, Bill, was moving into his house and we were chatting in the driveway. Bill was the Chief of Marketing and Sales for Sibelius in the United States. (How cool was that!) I told him I was a songwriter, and he gave me one of the first CDs of Sibelius software. It was brand new, so he wanted me to try it and give him my impressions about his NEW product. I was blown away by it’s intuitive, user friendly, logical format. My newfound tool was exactly what I needed. My sheet music looked great and my melodies and harmonies got better and better. In fact, I kicked my songwriting up a notch, and I composed a major work for orchestra and a 90 voice chorus - A MASS FOR PEACE IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM. It is a one hour piece that was performed live, on 2 occasions, by the Oakland East Bay Symphony. Then, the work was recorded at Skywalker Sound Stage with Lucas’ musicians and many of our original choir members. I never could have done that without Sibelius. KlemenKotar, here's where I feel your pain. I kept upgrading the software until, at version 6.2.0, the company sold out to Avid. To my chagrin, if I upgraded my IOS, it would not support my Sibelius. I had 2 choices: Find a new notation software, or hang on the my “old” Sibelius and never update my OS for my Mac. I saw that a new program, Dorico, was available, and I bought it right away. After jumping through the hoops of installing, registering and the usual growing pains, I tried to use the software. It was like a foreign language. It felt like I was in songwriting hell. Nothing made sense. “Flow 1”? What is that all about? Thank goodness I kept my Sibelius and didn’t upgrade my iMac! When I criticize Dorico, it is because after all those years writing with Sibelius, it was smooth sailing, scoring, editing, transposing, and working with all the nuances of composing. With Dorico, I had to relearn something that was not intuitive, not user friendly, and not logical. (IMHO) Maybe subsequent versions of Dorico are better, but the first version on Dorico was a big disappointment.

[@alvaroclavel4092]

As a Finale user, I must admit that Dorico has lots of interesting and usefull features for conventional notation, and I don't think it's unintuitive like most Finale users say. However, i think that the main problem with it, is that it's not as flexible as finale was in some aspects, specially in those related to contemporary notation. Some examples: -There is no practical way to change the staff features for an instrument in the developement of the score. Sometimes in contemporary notation it's needed to have 5 lines for a while, then 1, and maybe none for a moment. That could be acomplished easily in finale with the staff styles function (which I strongly suggest you to consider). In Dorico it could be made (I think) using instrument changes and hiding them, but it's clearly not their main function and would be really unpractical. -There is no practical way (that I know of) to insert externally generated graphics, which is essential to this kind of notation. In Finale you could import any graphic, and even in musescore which it's more practical, because you can import it just with having it in your clipboard. None of the existing software, though, has a way to write or draw freehand, and I think it would be a great feature. Unfortunately I cannot migrate to Dorico or Musescore till I see these aspects solved. Why should I, if they are alredy solved in the old Finale?

[@dorico]

Instrument changes are a fast way of doing what you need. You can insert externally generated graphics either by making them into a playing technique (if you want to attach it to the staff) and they can also affect playback if you need them to. You can also attach them to a page as a graphics frame in Engrave mode.

[@alvaroclavel4092]

@@dorico Thank you for the answer. I'm afraid I must dissagree, Instrument changes may be a way to do it, but it's clearly not practical at all. You need (at least) to create a new instrument for each particular situation, edit the instrument preferences and clear the instrument name and abreviation to hide the generated text (Btw, 0 lines are not possible for what I see). I think you will get the point... in Finale was just one right click (Staff styles - 1 line). I will check about the graphics as techniques, but for what I'm seeing, it's anything but practical. It would be always faster to allow users to drag graphics to the score just like Musescore does or import them directly as Finale did. Thanks again, and I hope not to bother you, but these are two things (specially the first one) that are keeping me away from moving to Dorico.

[@dorico]

@@alvaroclavel4092 I think these things might need more explanation before you completely dismiss Dorico. Feel free to email [e-mail] to continue the conversation for more detail

[@mg9009]

What is the best software for composing operas and musical theatre...where you have to insert characters spoken lines..character names constantly when they sing....cues...stage directions etc? I used Finale before...found it mostly acceptable...but what do the professionals use? The ability yo have extremely massive amounts of formatting adjustments and options and fonts is very important

[@Bashkii]

Great summary/ overview that makes me salivate as a necessary step to purchase Dórico!!😂😂😂

[@rr8960]

One of the things I loved about Finale (And yes I'm in mourning lol) is the shortcuts like using the number pad to change the note value. I can't find the shortcuts on Dorico yet. It feels clunky.

[@dorico]

Here's a link to some quick reference cards and mousemat designs for shortcuts: blog.dorico.com/2019/06/quick-reference-cards/ You can change the Dorico shortcuts too, but I wouldn't start out by doing that as our shortcuts make sense as a whole assignment.

[@Pauljohnrudoi]

I’ve been a Finale user and choral composer for 15 years, and within the first 6 months it’s clear Dorico is vastly superior. I’ll never look back.

[@dorico]

Thanks - would you mind sending me a quick 3 second 'I've switch to Dorico' video? (Or a longer one described here blog.dorico.com/2024/03/doricoswitchstories-reloaded2024/ )

[@notaforte]

I just saw the demo! The instrumental patches sold me. No more export to garage band. Saves me a step!

[@barbaracorrigan6182]

Can my Finale be put transferred into Dorico SE like it can in the other forms of Dorico?

[@NicholasStein]

What a lovely voice you have Anthony. You should license it to an AI firm. 😄

[@leetingler619]

Can one use dorico for singing to notation through a Focusrite audio interface?

[@dorico]

See your answers here: facebook.com/groups/dorico/permalink/3740522226225502/

[@MikaelRatilainen]

Thanks for so helpful videos. I have a problem if someone can help me. I need to print only middle part of my project so that, theres no other bars, just the middle part i need. is it possible?

[@LucBoeren]

Very clear, thanks a lot

[@DanielAlvarezVeizaga]

Thanks Anthony!

[@JakeWoodwardMusic]

Great video, although I'll probably need to watch it again to get the full value. Is the intro music an actual piece or just a quick intro jingle? It's awesome.

[@dorico]

It's part of a bigger piece that Anthony wrote and we use sections of it in various places. Glad you like it.

[@JakeWoodwardMusic]

@@dorico is there a link to the full version anywhere?

[@dorico]

@@JakeWoodwardMusic there are some other 'getting started' and 'first steps' resources linked from Dorico.com/resources including PDF and video guides

[@ezekielisaia]

@@dorico I don't see how that answer makes sense ? can we check out a full version or even just an abstract somewhere ?

[@dorico]

@@ezekielisaia there is a 60-day trial version available from www.Dorico.com

[@ermeo356]

simple question. Is it possible to hide the barlines all together. For example when you a writing a simple melodie of Gregorian like chant?

[@dorico]

Yes. You don't need to add a time signature as Dorico is open meter by default. Or you can switch back to open meter at any point, or add occasionally barlines where you want them.

[@1201newyork]

a question: my doesn't make sound, when i try to play back... where to click to make sound come out? thank you.

[@richardchapman8855]

The title is misleading. You can't learn Dorico in 11 minutes, or 11 hours, or 11 days - maybe 11 months I haven't tried that long yet. Some very basic things like changing the sounds of instruments, things which in MuseScore or Finale take seconds seem to be buried in an arcane mess of configurations. Tied notes are treated as one note and pretty much have to be deleted to untie them. Things like the note entry button switch on and off capriciously and on and on. There have been many rave reviews of Dorico on the internet (something that makes me suspicious in the age of "influencers") but I just don't get it. I finally deleted all the sound files to save space but kept the program in case I have a change of heart but unless you enjoy pulling your hair out and bashing your head on your computer desk wait until you have spare time to waste (and emotional support) before switching.

[@dianeplume9676]

Amen!

[@harald144]

Sorry for dumb question - but do people use Dorico as a DAW even? I see the option to use spitfire orchestras and so on.. or is this just to get better sound when you will listen to your score? I would personally just use Logic for that

[@dorico]

You can now do either. You have control over VSTs and effects in Dorico too, although for full mastering including audio effects you might want to still use a DAW. You can export your files as stems (individual track per instrument) from Dorico too.

[@dajie3197]

great job !!!!!!!!!!

[@jamesleiter4222]

Just got the email that Finale is going out of business. This will help me in transition.

[@dedgemusic]

Hello, how can I delete empty pages?

[@leetingler619]

Somehow l've turned off the playback volume on my SE5 any suggestions.

[@ruthwilkinson2076]

I don't seem to get the hang of edit mode. I can put a box round notes I want to move but the box disappears round the orange selected notes when I try to drag them?

[@dorico]

The box is just to drag to make the notes orange (selected). Once they are selected you can drag them. However you might find it easier to use cut/copy and paste as you would with text in Microsoft Word. The same shortcuts e.g. ctrl-X (cut), ctrl-C (copy) and ctrl-V (paste) will work. (replace ctrl with Cmd on Mac).

[@ruthwilkinson2076]

@@dorico Thx!👍

[@alex_squeezebox]

I've been using Sibelius for 20 years but I'm kinda frustrated with it recently, so I'm seriously considering switching to Dorico.

[@dorico]

Welcome! We've got lots of options to help you get started on www.Dorico.com/Resources as well as useful friendly people on Dorico.com/forum and facebook.com/groups/dorico

[@d.d.jacksonpoetryproject]

Amazing summary. Take that, Tantacrul 😊

[@JonBurr]

Great ! But - how do you enter chord symbols?

[@dorico]

Shift-Q and type the chord or play it on a MIDI keyboard www.steinberg.help/r/dorico-pro/5.1/en/dorico/topics/write_mode/write_mode_notations_input/write_mode_dynamics_gradual_position_setting_changing_t.html

[@JonBurr]

@@dorico thank you!

[@laurawasson7639]

When I search for a midi keyboard… is it a controller, how many keys, weighted keys?? What two were you using?

[@dorico]

It's really your choice (and there are a lot of options out there) depending on whether you want weighted keys, how heavy it is, how much space you have on your desk or in your room.

[@Karlagarciamusic]

Thanks so much ❤

[@bryanblaak]

You mention engraving options are available in Dorico Elements, as well as Pro. Your website comparison of versions doesn't match this. Am I missing something?

[@dorico]

Engrave mode is in Dorico Elements, but not all of the page template functions in Engrave mode. Can you give me an example of what was wrong or what you need?

[@frmm123]

How long is it going to take to learn how to move a note that is in C to D? The arrow keys do not work.

[@dorico]

Hold down Alt (or Opt) and use the arrow keys. The arrows on their own let you navigate around between items as that's a more common process.

[@cachelesssociety5187]

Hi. I appreciate your videos. I used to be familiar with one of the other notation editors that let one play back the music from within the editor, so one could view the sheet music while playing it back, looping sections, etc. It looks like Dorico has the ability to scrub, but can it also play while in notation view, and set up loop points that can be looped while in notation view?

[@dorico]

You can of course playback in notation view but we don't have loop points at the moment.

[@gerardlanphear9185]

I don't understand Dorico's lack of support for touch screen and pen input. Notion 6 has full support for it.

[@dorico]

It would take time for us to develop and it's not the quickest or most accurate way of inputting music. It might be something we add in the future. You can export from Notion 6 via musicxml into Dorico.

[@chrislss8]

While I'm not happy with being forced to change. Finale has always been janky and this does look like an improvement.

[@MikeUIibarri]

I just need something that allows me to import my written notation, and then edit it and convert it to midi and then edit that.

[@Ryan93Lion]

This thing is a DAW too and can use 3rd party VSTs?!!! This is sorcery!

[@dorico]

Shhhh, don't tell everybody...

[@sfierymountain]

The free trial doesn't seem to work. I've reached out three times and am told a lot of nonsense. Very frustrating. I want to get started, but can't. Not impressed. Free trial seems to be a no trial.

[@dorico]

Who have you reached out to? Email me on [e-mail]

[@luismiguelclemente3232]

Hello. I have a question: is there any way to add square brackets to any music element of the score? I mean, in the style of an URTEXT music score with editorial notes added.

[@dorico]

There are square brackets available for noteheads (in the properties panel) and you can make them for other elements using the playing techniques, text or lines options.

[@benjaminsmeall8827]

They should create a software that will easily convert Finale documents to Dorico documents, including the graphics, text, and lyrics.

[@henrik5284]

I suddenly become aware that I need to go and take a little nap

[@DavidWoodardMMED]

Agreed

[@nnapsR]

did not help me get started at all, coming over from Finale and totally lost

[@stevemauldin6133]

Wow! I have used Finale since 1992, it is a simple program compared to what I just watched in this video. 10 times more stuff to learn than Finale. It would help if the video had a regular American speaking American English instead of a thick England accent, and the Chinese chicken scratch on the screen is very distracting. I have the pro version of Dorko, I don't know if I will ever use it or not. If Finale does not work with my new Mac when it gets here, I guess I'll have no other choice......well I'm not getting rid of my old machine just in case. Please, somebody buy Finale and crank it back up.

[@RichardCharter]

Well, here I am.

[@larstinderholt7438]

I hate Sibelius, but i must say imo its way more intuitive

[@dorico]

Something that you already know will feel more intuitive. But when you question even simple things like 'why do the arrow keys work differently for left-right vs up-down you realise it's not intuitive, it's just what you've learnt. Whereas, Dorico really is intuitive but don't try and use it like other software.

[@MarciaStockton]

Have been using Sibelius intensively for ~10 yrs and just got sick of its bugginess and Avid's dreadful support kicking the user to the curb if they complain about a bug. They kept layering on new features I did not need, without integrating the user experience and without adequate testing. I find Sib bugs regularly. So fed up with the latest bug that I am ready to switch to Dorico. So far, very impressed with Dorico's thoughtful design. Now I need to get comfortable enough to walk through my normal work flow in Dorico.

[@dorico]

@@MarciaStockton we're here to help, and there are some useful guides and links on Dorico.com/resources too

[@schneider-martin]

Should be freeware.

[@TheMusicscotty]

Dear notational folks: half of us use lyrics. Give us a bone every now and then, will ya???

[@philipjbenjamin]

I don't suppose that when he tells his children to go to sleep that the result is any different.

[@alanye5232]

Indeed！

[@colmanburks5583]

Well….

[@holton345]

This application is a hot mess. The tools take up far too much screen real estate. I work exclusively on a small laptop and cannot see how this can be made into a useful tool for my business. This program fairly reeks of the misguided ideas used to lay out Sibelius, which is another terrible program. Why all this crappy playback stuff? If this is an engraving program or a DAW. Please stop trying to be both, as both end up suffering. I need an engraving program - only. I use GM only, never once having used Garritan in Finale. That was where Finale first went wrong. It tried to be everything to everyone. If they had stuck to being an engraving program as originally intended it would still be around. Dorico just does not make any sense to me whatsoever. I do not use a keyboard to input pitches. I use Simple Entry only because I get my work done on a laptop only, and that involves many hours working on the road. Hauling a mini keyboard around is a cumbersome PITA, so I never adopted the use of one. I cannot see how you can use Dorico on a small screen with just the QUERTY keyboard. Also, it seems to me that Dorico makes your output look how Steinberg wants it to look. I see no indication that the sort of page layout features of Finale are even available in Dorico. I want my music to look like *I* want it to look. I have tried to duplicate my three available (to my engraving customers) "house styles" in Dorico and cannot get it to produce the results I *must* have for my business. Until the time when Dorico is able to do that I am afraid I will not be switching over. I will be forced to buy a dedicated laptop that is not set up for Internet use, install and authorize Finale v27.4 and hope for the best for as many years as it takes until an adequate replacement comes along. No sale. Sorry

[@noeticparadigm1576]

And yet, for many years, I used Finale exclusively for its playback--and it's how I made money. So many strong feelings in this post.

[@dianeplume9676]

Sibelius is a terrible program NOW, but it used to be great. After v 6.2, and the sale to Avid, it tanked.

[@jdarts5908]

en français comme votre sire qui renvoie à vette vidéo serait mieux ! incompréhensible pour moi !!!

[@JSUTrumpet]

bruh.. this is trash... I miss finale...

[@RobertOstermeyer]

Learn in 11 minutes? Complete nonsense.

[@johnwaller1965]

11 minute overview would be more accurate.

[@PeterHAdams]

No discussion of how to create a pickup measure or how to create time signatures that are not standard such as 11/4. Otherwise, thanks for this informative video.

[@dorico]

I would have loved to include even more info in the video, but had to draw the line somewhere! Both of these are very easy using the Time Signatures (Meters) popover: Make a selection in the music and type Shift+M. Then, for a pickup type the number of beats after a comma (e.g. '4/4, 1' for a quarter note pickup leading into 4/4). And you can type any combination of numerators and denominators into the same popover, so type '11/4' and press Return. Thanks, Anthony