Write Mode in Dorico: A Category Overview
Introduction
Write Mode is the heart of the notation workflow in Dorico. It provides all the tools needed to enter and edit musical material, ensuring that users can focus on composition and arrangement without worrying about final layout details. Unlike Finale, where notation entry and engraving adjustments often overlap, Dorico separates these tasks, allowing for a streamlined and intuitive experience.
Write Mode is divided into functional categories that help users enter notes, structure the score, and apply essential musical elements efficiently.
1. Note Input and Editing
Write Mode’s primary function is to allow seamless note entry and editing. Key tools include:
- Step-time input (using the computer keyboard or MIDI controller).
- Enter notes by typing letter keys or with a MIDI keyboard.
- Real-time MIDI recording for capturing performances.
- Multiple voices to handle polyphonic or contrapuntal textures.
- Editing tools such as copy/paste, transpose, and split/join notes.
- Freely movable notation – Notes are not locked in place; they can be moved in any direction using arrow keys with modifiers.
- Option-click pasting – Any selection can be pasted anywhere in the score without disturbing surrounding contents.
- Stack selection editing – Apply articulations, dynamics, and playback techniques to multiple items at once.
- Entry into multiple staves simultaneously.
- Non-contiguous selections – Select multiple, separate elements and edit them together.
- Quick repetition (
R) – PressingRinstantly repeats the selected passage. - Rhythmic transformation – Select two quarter notes and press
.to turn them into a dotted quarter-eighth. - Efficient slur creation (
S) – PressingSwith a selection adds a slur. - Editing flexibility – Dorico allows modifications in both Entry Mode and Selection Mode.
2. Rhythmic and Meter Adjustments
Write Mode provides robust tools for managing rhythm and meter:
- Time Signature popover (
Shift + M) for quick time changes. - Tuplets (
;) for flexible rhythmic structures without requiring pre-definitions. - Force Duration (
O) to override automatic note grouping. - Meter-independent rhythmic input, allowing rhythmic freedom without being locked into a grid.
3. Score Structure and Organization
Structural elements in Write Mode help manage how the score is formatted:
- Bars & Barlines (
Shift + B) for adding, deleting, or modifying bars. - Rehearsal Marks (
Shift + R) to label key sections. - Flow Management, an entirely new concept for Finale users, enabling multiple independent pieces within a single project.
- Automatic spacing and layout adjustments, eliminating the need for manual repositioning.
While powerful, Flows can be a source of confusion for Finale users. Many find them unintuitive and unnecessary for single-movement works, as they introduce additional organizational complexity. Understanding their role and practical applications can help ease the transition.
4. Articulations and Playing Techniques
Articulations and techniques enhance expressiveness in the score:
- Articulations panel (
Shift + =) for adding staccato, accents, and more. - Playing Techniques (
Shift + P) for pizzicato, arco, and extended techniques. - Slurs (
S) and Ties (T) intelligently adjust as notes are edited.
5. Dynamics and Expression
Dynamic markings influence playback and clarity in the score:
- Dynamic Popover (
Shift + D) for crescendos, decrescendos, and static dynamics. - Gradual Dynamics (
<,>) automatically align with notation. - Playback customization via the Properties Panel.
6. Chord Symbols and Figured Bass
Chord notation tools cater to jazz and classical musicians alike:
- Chord Symbol Popover (
Shift + Q) for lead sheets and harmonic analysis. - Figured Bass (
Shift + G) for baroque and classical continuo writing. - Automatic formatting of chord symbols, reducing manual adjustments.
7. Lyrics and Text Annotations
Dorico streamlines lyric and text entry:
- Lyric Popover (
Shift + L) for verse-by-verse lyric input. - Text Popover (
Shift + X) for general annotations. - Automatic lyric alignment, reducing the need for manual repositioning.
8. Popovers and Context Menus
Write Mode encourages efficiency with:
- Popovers for quick, text-based entry of score elements.
- Right-click context menus for accessing relevant tools without switching panels.
- Consistently keyboard-driven workflow, reducing reliance on tool palettes.
9. Properties Panel for Local Adjustments
While most engraving decisions are handled globally, the Properties Panel (bottom of the window) provides:
- Stem direction, beaming, and accidental visibility controls.
- Custom playback overrides for specific dynamics and articulations.
- Suppress playback and visibility toggles for notation-only elements.
10. Dorico’s Unique Advantages Over Finale
Several concepts in Dorico make it a joy to use compared to Finale’s workflow:
- Flow-based structure, allowing for multiple pieces in one file.
- Intelligent notation handling, where Dorico dynamically adjusts layout and spacing.
- Insert Mode, enabling non-destructive rhythm editing but requiring care to avoid accidental score shifts.
- Automatic condensing, reducing clutter in orchestral scores.
- Flexible chord symbol entry, avoiding the need for predefined suffix libraries.
- Separation of notation and engraving, keeping entry clean and distraction-free.
Conclusion
Write Mode in Dorico is structured to optimize composition and notation entry, keeping engraving concerns separate for later refinement. By using popovers, shortcuts, and mode-based workflow, users can quickly create and edit scores without unnecessary distractions. The unique flow system, Insert Mode, and automatic layout handling set Dorico apart, making it an enjoyable and efficient notation experience—especially for Finale users transitioning to Dorico.
While Flows may not be an intuitive feature for Finale users, understanding their use in multi-movement works, exercises, and independent sections can make them a powerful tool. However, they are not required for every project and can be avoided when unnecessary.