Steinberg launches Dorico 6

Steinberg has announced the release of Dorico 6, the latest iteration of its music composition and notation software for macOS, Windows, and iPadOS. The company states that this new generation introduces features designed to enhance both the engraving process and the creation of high-quality performance materials.

A key addition is the new Proofreading panel, which Steinberg highlights as a unique tool that actively assists users by automatically scanning scores and parts during editing. 

This feature aims to identify potential issues that could lead to confusion in rehearsal. Examples provided include flagging inconsistencies in bar lengths relative to the time signature, unbalanced repeats, and redundant musical markings. 

Dorico 6 can also suggest the addition of markings, such as dynamics for instrumental entries following rests, and offer practical performance advice, like identifying insufficient instrument changeover time based on tempo. Furthermore, it can detect potential playability issues for fretted and unfretted stringed instruments, including awkward fingerings and double-stops. The Proofreading panel allows users to filter and navigate these identified issues efficiently.

“We like to say that working in Dorico is like having an intelligent assistant by your side,” said product marketing manager for Dorico Daniel Spreadbury. 

“With Dorico 6, that assistant is even smarter, allowing you to have greater confidence that the parts you put on the stand will be played with fewer questions and mistakes, closing the gap between your musical intention and the players’ performance. 

"Together with the expanded capabilities in engraving — from cutaways for art music to custom chord symbols for commercial music — Dorico 6 meets the needs of every working musician.”

Dorico 6 also significantly expands its engraving capabilities, particularly in page layout and chord symbols. 

The software now offers a one-click solution for producing cutaway scores, a layout style popularised in the mid-20th century by composers such as Lutosławski, Berio, and Stravinsky, where staves of resting instruments are hidden. Steinberg claims this drastically reduces the time required to prepare such scores while maintaining the integrity of individual parts.

For users working in commercial music, jazz, and small ensemble settings, Dorico 6 introduces several enhancements to its chord symbol functionality. 

These include the ability to display multiple rows of chord symbols for alternative harmonies or repeated sections, duration lines to illustrate larger harmonic structures, and the option for users to create their own custom chord symbol types with defined sounds and visual representations.

Beyond these core features, Dorico 6 includes cycle playback for looping sections, new marching percussion sounds developed in collaboration with Tapspace (makers of Virtual Drumline), and various workflow improvements. 

These enhancements encompass support for advanced OpenType font features, a new fill view for optimised screen usage, improvements to condensing, MusicXML import and export, and new fonts.

Key Features of Dorico 6:

• Automated Proofreading: The software now includes an integrated Proofreading panel that automatically scans scores during the editing process, identifying potential issues that could cause queries in rehearsal and recording environments.
• Simplified Cutaway Scores: Users can now generate cutaway scores, a layout style seen in the works of composers like Lutosławski and Stravinsky, with a single click.
• Enhanced Chord Symbol Handling: Dorico 6 allows for the display of multiple rows of chord symbols, with optional extender lines. Users also have the capability to create custom chord symbols and precisely control their visual presentation.
• Looped Playback: A new cycle playback function enables users to loop any selected section of the score during playback, facilitating real-time auditioning of edits.
• Optimised Display with Fill View: The Fill View mode maximises the use of the available screen space by dynamically arranging as many musical systems as possible within the window dimensions.
• Precise System-Attached Item Placement: Users gain greater control over the positioning of tempo markings, rehearsal marks, repeats, and large time signatures within the score.
• Advanced Typography via OpenType: The software offers comprehensive support for OpenType glyph positioning and substitution features, providing enhanced typographical control.
• Customisable Flow Headings: While flow headings automatically title musical sections, users can now customise their appearance on every page and layout.
• Marching Percussion Sounds: In collaboration with Tapspace (Virtual Drumline), Dorico 6 includes essential sounds for marching snare drums, cymbals, tenor drums, and bass drums.
• User Settings Import/Export: Users can easily transfer all their custom settings to and from Dorico between different computers.
• Expanded Condensing Capabilities: The condensing feature now supports all instruments held by a player, not just the primary one, improving handling for players who play multiple instruments.
• Additional Improvements: The application also features further enhancements throughout, including improvements to MusicXML import and export, more flexible staff labels, streamlined editing for instrument names and front matter, and interface refinements.