User manual

One of the key benets of popovers is that you can use them as you input notes: once you
reach the position where you want to input a new time signature, for example, you can open the
time signatures popover using its key command, input the time signature you want, and then
continue inputting notes.
Although specic entries are required for many notations, the correct entries for different
notations are consistently and logically structured. For example, tuplets are always expressed as
a ratio, such as 3:2 or 5:4. Key signatures are expressed using capital letters for major keys and
lowercase letters for minor keys. Time signatures are expressed as a pair of separated numbers;
common time signatures use a slash, such as 3/4 or 6/8.
During note input, and depending on the notation you are inputting with the respective popover,
notations are input either on the currently selected note, which is usually the last note you input,
or at the current rhythmic position, indicated by the caret.
You can always identify popovers by looking at the icon on their left-hand side. These are the
same icons used in the Notations toolbox on the right of the window and allow you to hide/show
the corresponding notation’s panel, which is another way you can input notations if you prefer to
use the mouse.
You can only use popovers in Write mode, as that is the only mode where you can input notes
and items together and change the pitch of notes.
RELATED LINKS
Caret on page 157
Note input on page 157
Notations input on page 209
Notations toolbox on page 151
Notations panel on page 153
Notes and rests in Dorico
In Dorico, the notation and division of notes and rests is determined semantically by rules based
on convention. This means that note and rest durations can change and appear differently later
than when you rst input them.
Dorico is able to update how notes and rests are notated depending on their context because of
the following key concepts:
1. Notes are treated as a single unit, even if they appear as a tie chain that contains multiple
notes tied together.
2. Implicit rests automatically ll the gaps between the notes you input.
In combination with time signatures and Dorico’s understanding of their corresponding meters,
this allows you to input only the notes you want with the duration required. It is not necessary
to input rests between notes or input ties for notes that cross the half-bar, for example. If you
subsequently change the time signature or move notes rhythmically to start earlier or later,
Dorico updates how notes and rests are notated, such as by notating a quarter note as two tied
eighth notes if it now straddles a barline or consolidating two eighth note rests into a single
quarter note rest if they are now in the same bar.
If you tie existing notes together, you might nd that they turn into a single note, such as a half
note instead of two tied quarter notes, or into a tie chain containing more notes. This is because
tie chains are treated as single notes in
Dorico, and Dorico automatically notates and beams
notes appropriately depending on their duration, the current time signature, and their position
in the bar. Similarly, notes can change after you input notes immediately following them as this
Dorico concepts
Design philosophy and higher-level concepts
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Dorico Elements 3.5.12