Beginner's Guide to Dorico

Doug Zangar presents an in-depth video tutorial series designed for the new Steinberg Dorico user. Learn what you need to know to get started with Dorico, and then go beyond, making your very first score!

Interface and Menus
Interface Introduction (09:39) - Take a tour of Dorico's use friendly interface to get a sense of how to navigate in the program.
Preferences (10:54) - In this video, Doug covers the General Preferences, changing default settings like fonts and file location, and and properly setting up audio and MIDI.
Menu Items (08:25) - Discover where specific functions can be found. The menu items are all briefly reviewed and some functions are explained and demonstrated.
Key Commands (08:20) - In this video, Doug gets into the Key Command preferences window to find available key commands, and assigns and deletes shortcuts. Explore the interactive key command window and learn how to use MIDI assign.
Setup Mode
Adding Players (08:31) - Doug shows how to add different types of players by creating a player card. He also shows how to assign them to one or more instruments.
Layouts (08:25) - Explore the Full Score, Instrument Part and Custom Score layouts. Also see how to remove and assign players and explore Layout options.
Flows (06:33) - In this video, Doug goes over Flow creation and linking to player cards and layouts. He also looks at the Project Info window and does an overview on the notation options.
Write Mode
Basic Setup & Mouse Note Input (10:01) - Doug shows how to create tempo markings, additional bars, key and time signatures to a new project. He also shows how to use the mouse for single notes and chord entry.
Computer Keyboard Note Input (07:10) - Learn the techniques for entering notes, moving the caret, adding accidentals and octave displacements.
MIDI Controller Note Input (06:31) - See how inputting notes is very fast with a MIDI controller. Doug also explores ingle notes and chords, along with Insert Mode, adding rests, dotted notes and lots of key command tips.
Notes Toolbox & Panel (09:21) - This video demonstrates the remaining tools in the toolbox and covers entering and adding the articulations.
Dynamics (07:18) - Doug explores entering dynamics as you enter notes and entering them afterwards. He also uses the Dynamics popover to speed entry and see how to quickly copy and select dynamics.
Properties Panel (08:24) - In this video, Doug takes a quick look at the three levels of of refining the look of your music: Notation and Layout Options, the Write Mode Properties panel and the Engrave Mode Properties panel. The Write Mode Properties panel is also explored, showing its contextual relationship to selected items.
Copy, Paste & System Track (07:14) - Doug discusses some easy ways to copy/paste parts using the option/alt key. He also takes a look at the System Track.
Lead Sheet Pt. 1 (07:12) - In this video, Doug creates a Jazz style lead sheet. He also sets up a single staff with a piano sound, sets parameters in Engraving and Layout Options, and adds repeat signs with first and second endings.
Lead Sheet Pt. 2 (12:37) - Doug explores inputting rehearsal marks, chord symbols and lyrics. He also shows key commands to help entry placement and goes over editing.
Unpitched Percussion (09:03) - Learn how to create a part for a percussionist playing different instruments in a piece and how to create a drum kit part.
Working with Text (08:33) - Learn part and system text entry via the Text Editor window and how to apply and edit paragraph styles. Also see how to change font styles via the Font Styles window.
Engrave Mode
Engrave Mode Pt. 1 (10:07) - Doug starts with a tour of the window. He then shows how to graphically edit slurs and dynamics, the Playing Techniques window, along with formatting systems. Lastly, staff and note spacing is covered.
Engrave Mode Pt. 2 (09:33) - In this video, Doug explores frames, Master Page Sets, Master Pages and Pages set up and relationships. He also shows how to edit a Master Page and format music frames for part/score layouts.
Play Mode
Play Mode Pt. 1 (05:33) - Doug discusses the menu items, then the track header MIDI assignments, and relationship to VST instruments is explained. He al;so covers the VST area, showing how to create and assign instruments, including 3rd party plug-ins.
Play Mode Pt. 2 (10:02) - In this video, Doug shows navigation and zoom techniques. Next, he explores viewing and manipulating notes in the Piano Roll, including a drum kit track. CC and Playing Technique lanes, Tempo and Chord tracks and Playback options are also covered.
Print Mode
Print Mode (07:08) - Doug gives a tour of the window and its panels. Preview your layouts and set printing parameters in the Print Options panel.
2.2 Update
Record MIDI Pt. 1 (04:09) - This video covers preparing for a MIDI recording including setting preferences, preparing a part, setting up the metronome and checking buffer sizes.
Record MIDI Pt. 2 (06:59) - Learn all about the record process features such as Record, Retrospective Record, Quantization and Fill Gaps, and MIDI merge.
Additional 2.2 Updates (04:31) - This video covers the new interface updates to Layout cards and the Layout and Notation Options windows. Updated Status Bar, Flip, Select More and adding dynamics to multiple staves feature are covered as well.