Steinberg has released Dorico 5.1.50, a minor update to Dorico 5, bringing yet more features to the software. The improvements in this release include better automatic chord symbol playback, and engraving improvements for barlines, bar numbers, hairpins, instrument changes, and multi-bar rests, among other areas. In addition, more than 50 bugs have been fixed since May’s 5.1.40 release.
The version history documentation for this release thoroughly documents the improvements as well as the bug fixes.
Improvements
Here’s what’s new in Dorico 5.1.50, as provided by Steinberg.
Double thick barline
A new double thick barline has been added to the Barlines panel in Write mode. It can be created via the Shift+B popover by typing either doublethick or thickdouble.
Bar numbers
Placement relative to dynamics. A new option Placement relative to dynamics has been added to the Bar Numbers page of Layout Options, allowing you to specify whether bar numbers centered on or left-aligned with barlines should be placed Inside dynamics or Outside dynamics.
In previous versions of Dorico, bar numbers at barlines positioned below the staff would automatically be placed inside dynamics, while those above the staff would be automatically placed outside dynamics. This new option allows you to control this decision.
Dynamics
Short hairpins. Dorico enforces a minimum length for hairpins and messa di voce gradual dynamics, using the Minimum length values found in the Advanced Options section of the Gradual Dynamics section of the Dynamics page of Engraving Options.
When an immediate dynamic at the end of a hairpin is attached to the start of the following bar, and that bar is the start of a multi-bar rest, Dorico is unable to correctly account for the width of the immediate dynamic, which is moved leftwards to the end of the previous bar. In these circumstances, the minimum length for hairpins cannot be enforced.
In previous versions, any hairpin that would be drawn shorter than the minimum length was hidden; however, this created problems for proofreading, as it is much more difficult to spot that a hairpin is missing completely than that it looks too short. Consequently, in new projects, short hairpins are now always drawn, even if they would be shorter than the defined minimum length.
If you want to enable this in existing projects, deactivate the new Hide hairpins shorter than minimum length option in the Advanced Options section of the Gradual Dynamics section of the Dynamics page of Engraving Options.
Instrument changes
Label and warning positions. Two new options, Instrument change warning position and Instrument change label position, have been added to the Instrument Changes section of the Players page of Layout Options. These options controls whether, for example, an instrument change label appears at the start of the bar in which the first note is played by the new instrument (Snap to nearest barlines), or whether it appears at the rhythmic position of the first note (Snap to notes).
In new projects, instrument change warnings are set to Snap to notes so they appear immediately after the last note in the old instrument, while instrument change labels are set to Snap to nearest barlines. Existing projects have both options set to Snap to nearest barlines to maintain their appearance.
Instrument transition positions. When there is only a short time between the last note of the original instrument and the first note of the new instrument, Dorico will typically hide the boxed instrument change label, and show the instrument change warning, because that is the first indication that the player will see. However, you might prefer to hide the warning and show the more prominent boxed label instead.
This can now be achieved by setting the new When instrument transitions are close option to Hide instrument change warning. In new projects, this option is set to Hide instrument change warning, but in existing projects it is set to Hide instrument change label to retain their existing appearance.
Markers
Keyboard navigation. It is now possible to navigate in Write mode from one selected marker to the next or previous marker using the arrow keys.
MIDI import
Articulations. A new option Add articulations to notes has been added to the Notations section of the Import Options section of the MIDI Import Options dialog. Deactivate this option if you do not want Dorico to add staccatos, accents, and tenutos to notes when importing MIDI files.
Multi-bar rests
Spacing of single bar rests. In new projects, Dorico now spaces single bar rests as regular bar rests instead of as multi-bar rests, regardless of whether the option is set to show 1 over single bar rests. Previously, any single bar rest that shows its 1 bar count would be spaced like a multi-bar rest.
In existing projects, Dorico continues to space such bar rests as multi-bar rests in order to preserve their appearance; you can enable the improved behavior by setting the new Spacing approach for single bar rests option (in the Advanced Options section of the Rests page of Engraving Options) to Do not scale.
Note input
Editing multiple selected items. It is now possible to edit the position or duration of multiple selected items at once; for example, you can now select several unlinked gradual dynamics and shorten or lengthen them with Shift+Alt+←/→. Previously this was only possible for a single selected item.
Play mode
Chords track. When you activate playback of chord symbols via the Chords track in Play mode, Dorico now automatically loads an additional piano sound, so that the endpoint used for chord symbol playback is not also used by another instrument in your project by default. To change the sound, select the Chords track and then make changes in the Routing section of the Track Inspector panel.
This also allows chord symbols to be played back in Dorico for iPad for the first time.
Playback
Grace notes. The Default grace note length option on the Timing page of Playback Options now allows values down to 1/64 of a quarter note (crotchet) at 120bpm.
Slurs
Slurs and accidentals. A new option When slur curvature passes close to the stem of a sharp has been added to the Avoiding Collisions section of the Slurs page of Engraving Options, allowing you to specify whether and by how much a slur should be allowed to skim the stems on either side of sharp accidentals.
Time signatures
Grouping in 5/4. A new Note grouping approach for 5/4 option has been added to the Time Signatures With Irregular Meter section of the Note Grouping page of Notation Options. This allows you to specify whether 5/4 time signatures should by default be grouped as irregular compound meter (3+2/4) or as irregular simple meter (1+1+1+1+1/4).
User interface
Signposts. Two new commands have been added to the View > Signposts submenu. Set All Signposts Shown and Set All Signposts Hidden check or uncheck the menu items for all the signposts types listed in the submenu, which makes it more efficient to show only one or two signpost types (first, choose Set All Signposts Hidden, then choose the one or two individual signpost types you want to be shown), or conversely to hide only one or two signpost types (first, choose Set All Signposts Shown, then choose the one or two individual types you want to be hidden).
MIDI trigger regions. A new button to show the popover for MIDI trigger regions has been added to the popovers toolbox in Write mode.
Key commands. It is now possible to set shortcuts for the commands to toggle voice direction (Edit > Notations > Voices > Default Stems Up/Down) in the Key Commands page of Preferences.
Default path for scripts. When choosing Script > Run Script, the default path in the chooser is now the Script Plug-ins folder inside the user application data folder.
Availability
Dorico 5.1.50 for Windows and Mac desktop is a free update for current registered users of Dorico Pro 5, Dorico Elements 5 and Dorico SE 5 users, and is available now via the Steinberg Download Assistant.
For full coverage of Dorico 5, please read our comprehensive reviews of Dorico 5.0, Dorico 5.1, Dorico 5.1.10, Dorico 5.1.21, and Dorico 5.1.30.
Dorico 5.1.50 for iPad is available in the App Store. If your device hasn’t already automatically downloaded and installed the update, you can find it in the Updates section of the App Store app on your iPad.
For the latest information about compatibility for Finale, Sibelius, Dorico, and MuseScore, as well as links to the latest news and reviews about product releases, please see the Scoring Notes Product Guide.