Notation Express for Dorico 6: Your Stream Deck just got smarter

Over at NYC Music Services and Notation Central, we’re very excited to announce the immediate release of Notation Express Classic and Notation Express XL for Dorico 6, along with an update to Notation Express Keypad for Dorico.

If you’ve been following Notation Express for a while, you may have noticed it’s been a little while since the last major update. That wasn’t by accident. Notation Express for Dorico 4 brought a remote control API that let Stream Deck talk directly to Dorico — no more key command proxies. The update for Dorico 5 brought voices, more buttons, and XL support for iPad. Notation Express Keypad brought phone-based note entry. Each step made the Stream Deck feel more at home in a Dorico workflow.

With that foundation in place, and Dorico 6 now settled in, it’s now time to push things forward again in a more visible way.

A more “aware” Stream Deck

True bidirectional communication

The headline feature in this version is what I’d describe as actual two-way communication between Dorico and Stream Deck.

Up until now, Notation Express has essentially been a very fast and well-organized way to send commands into Dorico. That’s still true. But with this update for Dorico 6 (which we’re calling “version 4” of Notation Express), the Stream Deck now also reflects what Dorico is doing in real time.

Select a duration, and it lights up. Change an accidental, articulation, or notehead, and the corresponding buttons update. Toggle playback, switch modes, open panels—it’s all mirrored directly on the device.

In practice, this removes a surprising amount of friction. You’re not just issuing commands anymore; you’re getting immediate visual confirmation of state, without having to check back to the screen.

Not all buttons are fully supported yet — we’re being upfront about that — but the coverage is substantial, and it will continue to grow. Even in its current form, this transforms Notation Express from a one-way remote control into an intelligent, context-aware interface that always shows you where you are in your work. It’s something I’ve wanted to implement for a long time, and now that it’s here, it’s hard to imagine going back.

The all-new Note Tools

This is the feature I’m most excited to share. The Note Tools folder isn’t just a collection of buttons — it’s a transformation engine. It introduces what we’re calling chain commands: a multi-step workflow for transposing notes and adding pitches by interval.

The idea is simple: instead of thinking in terms of individual commands, you think in terms of musical intent.

Here’s how it works: you select a tool (Transpose or Add), an interval quality (Diatonic, Major, Minor, Perfect — and, on the XL, Augmented and Diminished as well), a direction (Up or Down), and an interval size (2nd through 5th on Classic; unison through octave on XL). The buttons can be pressed in any order.

Notation Express validates your selections in real time; it’ll stop you from selecting a “perfect third” or a “major fourth”, for example. The chain fires automatically the moment it’s complete. You can chain the commands in any order, and on the XL, a GO button can bypass the need to complete the chain by using pre-programmed defaults.

Both Notation Express Classic and XL have Note Tools; the XL version is more fully featured, with the GO button, extended interval range, the Augmented and Diminished quality options, more tools like Retrograde and Invert — and a Repeat feature: Simply press Repeat and a number to repeat that number of pitches across an entire selection.

More buttons (of course)

It wouldn’t be a Notation Express update without more buttons, would it?

Proofreading

No more excuses for those pesky mistakes. A new Proofreading subfolder gives you one-tap access to Dorico 6’s built-in proofreading panel: enable and disable it, clear issues, mark issues to include or ignore, and navigate to the next and previous problem in your score.

View and Navigation

See more clearly with a growing collection of view and navigation commands. New in this update: New Tab, Previous Tab, Next Layout, Previous Layout, a Selection tool toggle, and Fill View.

You have options

On the XL profile in particular, there’s now a clearer separation of areas that previously shared space. Playback has its own folder, and a new set of buttons brings fast access to some of Dorico’s most useful dialogs: Edit Instruments, Edit Music Symbols, Edit Notehead Sets, Edit Playing Techniques, Instrument Families, Instrument Score Order, Note Input Options, and Playback Techniques. The Classic also gains Note Input Options.

Get ahead

Noteheads and harmonics come to Notation Express Classic for Dorico for the first time (previously, this was XL-only).

And both profiles gain the Enable Cycle playback control, with Clear Cycle Locators and Set Cycle Locators from Selection appearing on the XL as well.

Even more

Even buttons that appear to be similar to the previous version of Notation Express get an update. For instance, there’s a clever three-way toggle for Note or Voice Colors that will cycle through None, Range, or Voices, and update to reflect the state of Dorico if it changes.

Keypad update

Notation Express Keypad for Dorico has been updated to take full advantage of the same real-time bidirectional communication as Classic and XL. Your currently selected duration, accidental, and articulation now light up on the Keypad, too, making the phone-based note-entry experience more intuitive than ever.

For those who haven’t tried the Keypad yet: it’s the companion product that fills the gap Dorico leaves by not including a traditional note-input keypad. Modeled on the legendary Sibelius Keypad, it runs on Stream Deck Mobile (iPhone, iPad, or Android — requires a Pro subscription or lifetime license) and uses a custom 4×6 grid optimized for phone screens. It pairs beautifully with Classic or XL: keep your Stream Deck on the desk for everything else, and put the Keypad on your phone for focused note entry.

Classic or XL? A quick guide

Choose Notation Express Classic if you have a standard Stream Deck (5×3), use Stream Deck Mobile on your phone, or want a comprehensive set of Dorico tools in a well-organized, compact layout. Classic covers 38 screens and the vast majority of everyday notation tasks.

Choose Notation Express XL if you have a Stream Deck XL (8×4), use Stream Deck Mobile on an iPad, or want the most comprehensive command library available. XL’s larger grid means more commands are accessible with fewer taps. It’s also the better choice if you work regularly with:

• Key signatures (a dedicated folder with 31 pre-set keys plus custom tools)
• Time signatures (popular presets and custom time signature builders)
• Complex voice management (all Insert mode scopes in a dedicated Voices & Insert folder)
• Advanced Note Tools (the full 1st–8th interval range, plus Augmented and Diminished)

Pair Notation Express Keypad with either product for a complete workflow: Classic or XL for comprehensive Dorico control; the Keypad on your phone for fast note entry. With the multi-product discount (see below), pairing them is an easy decision.

Updated documentation

Thankfully, we don’t need to list every button here. You can see for yourself on our brand-new Documentation page at Notation Central. Head over to the Button Reference for Classic, XL, and Keypad, and click on any folder link to see a screenshot of that folder’s contents.

Pricing

New purchase prices

Notation Express for Dorico is available at the following prices:

Product	Price
Notation Express Classic for Dorico	$39.99
Notation Express XL for Dorico	$49.99
Notation Express Keypad for Dorico	$24.99

Save 25% with a multi-product discount

Add two or more Notation Express products to your cart and receive 25% off the entire order, with the coupon code NEDOR25.

Combination	Best for	Total before discount	Total after 25% discount
Classic + Keypad	Standard Stream Deck with phone-based note input	$64.98	$48.74
XL + Keypad	The power of XL with dedicated note entry on your phone	$74.98	$56.24
Classic + XL	Maximum coverage across two devices	$89.98	$67.49
Classic + XL + Keypad	The complete Notation Express setup	$114.97	$86.23

Note: The Notation Express Classic/XL bundle product for Dorico has been discontinued. In its place, the automatic multi-product discount applies whenever you add two or more Notation Express products to your cart. That ends up being more flexible, especially for combinations like Classic + Keypad or XL + Keypad.

Update path

Notation Express Classic, XL, and Keypad for Dorico 6 are paid updates for existing users of the Dorico 5 versions, as follows:

• Notation Express Classic: $14.99
• Notation Express XL: $19.99
• Notation Express Keypad: $9.99

If you purchased the NE Classic/XL bundle for Dorico 5, you are eligible for the same update pricing on each product separately; there is no further discount on the update, but you are not obligated to purchase both (you may update one or the other if you prefer).

Free update: Anyone who purchased Notation Express Classic, XL, or Keypad for Dorico 5 on or after December 17, 2025 will receive a free update to the product they purchased.

If you have Notation Express Classic or XL for Dorico 4 or earlier, but not the version for Dorico 5, there is no discount available for Notation Express for Dorico 6; regular pricing applies.

Get the update

Go to the Notation Express Classic for Dorico, Notation Express XL for Dorico, or Notation Express Keypad for Dorico page and add the product to your cart. Make sure you’re logged into your Notation Central account so that the discounted pricing is applied during checkout.

After purchasing, please consult the documentation carefully for installation instructions, or watch the installation video. You can remove your previous Notation Express profile once you’ve set up the new one — though if you’ve made any customizations, you may want to note those first.

Compatibility and system requirements

Notation Express for Dorico 6 is built for Dorico Pro 6.2 or later, running on macOS 10.13 or later, or Windows 11 or later. It requires the Stream Deck desktop app v7 or later. One profile works on both Mac and Windows — no separate versions needed.

Although we believe Notation Express will also work with Dorico Pro 5, and with Dorico Elements 6 and 5, features not present in those versions will naturally be inoperative. Officially, we support Dorico Pro 6.2 only.

Compatible devices by product:

• Classic: Stream Deck MK.2 (5×3), Stream Deck Mobile Pro*, Virtual Stream Deck
• XL: Stream Deck XL (8×4), Stream Deck Mobile Pro* (iPad recommended), Virtual Stream Deck
• Keypad: Stream Deck Mobile Pro* (iOS/Android), Virtual Stream Deck

*Requires a Pro subscription or lifetime license to the Stream Deck Mobile app, purchased separately.

Other Stream Decks

It seems like Elgato launches another Stream Deck product every week!

Notation Express is designed for the products listed above; however, if you have another Stream Deck model with buttons, the Notation Express profiles will work there as well. You may need to rearrange the buttons to fit the grid for your device. This can be done by copying and pasting buttons between profiles and organizing them as you like.

Examples include the Stream Deck Mini, Stream Deck Neo, Stream Deck + Classic, Stream Deck + XL, Stream Deck Studio, and Stream Deck Module.

Notation Express actions are not configured for touch strips, dials, or foot controllers (such as Stream Deck Pedal).

What about Notation Express for Sibelius?

There is no update for Notation Express for Sibelius at this time. Current pricing and the bundle for Notation Express for Sibelius remain in effect. Stay tuned!

Have Notation Express for Dorico 3.5 or earlier? Here’s what’s new since Dorico 4

Notation Express for Dorico 4 was completely rebuilt. Every button was re-programmed to take advantage of Dorico 4’s remote control API, replacing the old key command intermediary.

Among the benefits:

• You can now reclaim all of your keyboard shortcuts for your own use;
• One profile works on both Mac and Windows;
• All Dorico interface languages are supported;
• Stream Deck can control Dorico even when another application is running in the foreground.

Notation Express for Dorico 5 added more than 50 new buttons on XL and 40 on Classic, including a dedicated Voices & Insert folder, improved articulations, and more. And now Notation Express for Dorico 6 brings real-time bidirectional feedback and Note Tools.

Final thoughts

Earlier versions of Notation Express were about speed, by making Dorico faster to control.

This version is about changing how Dorico is controlled.

The move to true bidirectional communication, combined with the introduction of chainable Note Tools, represents a substantial upgrade to the architecture of Notation Express. It’s no longer just a command launcher; it’s a responsive, state-aware interface that works alongside Dorico in real time.

If you’re already a user, I think that you’ll find this to be a meaningful upgrade and well worth the update. And if you haven’t yet incorporated Notation Express into your workflow, this is the best example yet that most clearly shows what the platform is capable of.

Enjoy Notation Express!