STOP Wasting Time in Dorico Pro – Top Tips for Maximum Efficiency
Hello everyone, and welcome to another blog post from Homayoon TV! Today, I’ll guide you through some of the most useful but underrated tools and features in Dorico Pro. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a new user, these tips will help you make the most of your experience. Some features are exclusive to the latest version of Dorico Pro, so ensure your software is up to date (I’m using version 5.1.6). Let’s dive in!
1. Boost Your Volume Without External Adjustments
Tired of cranking up your computer or speaker volume to hear your notes? Dorico Pro’s mixer can solve this for you:
- Press F3 on your keyboard or click the mixer button to open the mixer panel.
- By default, Dorico sets faders below 0 dB, typically around -6 dB. Adjust the fader levels for your instruments (e.g., raise the tenor voice).
- If that’s still not enough, increase the output volume in the same panel.
This small adjustment can make a significant difference, especially when working on intricate projects.
2. Precision Listening with the Scrub Tool
Composing complex chords or orchestrations? The Scrub Tool lets you hear notes individually for the desired duration:
- Enable the tool by clicking the speaker icon in the toolbar.
- Alternatively, press and hold Control + Space to activate it temporarily.
This feature allows you to focus on specific notes and fine-tune your composition with ease.
3. Fine-Tune Fermata Playback
Dorico Pro now supports playback for fermatas, and you can adjust their duration project-wide:
- Press Control + Shift + P to open the playback options.
- In the search box, type “pauses” to locate fermata settings.
- Customize hold and pause durations or disable fermata playback entirely by unchecking the option.
For consistency, set this up in your default project template so it applies to all your compositions.
4. Speed Up Your Workflow with the ALT Key
The ALT key can be a game-changer. Here are three ways to use it:
Exhibit A: Cycling Grace Note Types
- Enter note input mode and add a grace note by pressing slash.
- Hold ALT and press slash repeatedly to cycle through grace note types.
Exhibit B: Enharmonic Notation
- Select a note, hold ALT, and press plus or minus to switch to an enharmonic equivalent.
Exhibit C: Adding Slash Notes
- Use Shift + V to add voices. However, for slash notes (notes without stems), hold ALT + Shift + V. This provides an additional option not visible in the default menu.
These shortcuts can significantly boost your efficiency while working in Dorico Pro.
5. The Magic J: Jump Bar and Command Prompt
The Jump Bar (activated by pressing J) is like having a personal assistant for all Dorico Pro’s functions:
- Press J to open the command prompt.
- Type what you need (e.g., “playback options” or “transpose”) and hit Enter. The relevant feature will appear instantly.
This tool is especially handy if you forget shortcuts or need quick access to a specific feature.
Final Thoughts
That’s it for today! I hope these tips help you unlock Dorico Pro’s full potential. If you found this blog helpful, please don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to Homayoon TV. And if you have your own tips or tricks, share them in the comments below—I might feature them in future posts!
See you next time. Homayoon out.
