User manual

Combined dynamics
Combined dynamics, such as  or –, specify a sudden change of dynamic.
You can create custom combined dynamics in Dorico Elements, and control the intensity of each
dynamic in the pair, in the Combined Dynamics section of the Dynamics panel. For example, you
can make dynamics such as , –, and .
RELATED LINKS
Gradual dynamics on page 441
General placement conventions for dynamics
Dynamics are placed below the staff for instruments, where they can be read alongside the
notes, and above the staff for voices. This way, they do not clash with lyrics placed below the
staff, and are still close enough to the notes to be read simultaneously.
Immediate dynamics, such as  or , are centered on the notehead to which they apply. The
beginnings of gradual dynamics are centered on the notehead from which they begin, or
immediately after an immediate dynamic at the same position. The ends of gradual dynamics are
centered on the notehead at which they end, or immediately before an immediate dynamic at
the same position.
In Dorico Elements, dynamics are positioned automatically relative to noteheads.
General placement conventions for hairpins relative to barlines
In Dorico Elements, the ends of hairpins align with the left edge of the note to their right.
Hairpins that end on the rst note of a bar extend across the preceding barline in certain cases.
● If there is not an immediate dynamic on the rst note in the next bar.
● If there is a time signature or key signature change at the barline which increases the gap
between the end of the current bar and the rst note in the new bar.
Dorico Elements avoids hairpins overlapping barlines by a small amount, as this is less visually
clear. However, this means that the same dynamic phrase on two different staves can appear
differently if one of the staves does not have the barline extending below it.
The ends of the two hairpins are not aligned despite their duration being identical, as the barline does not
extend to the bottom staff of the system.
Dynamics
General placement conventions for dynamics
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