I’ve set up condensing in my concert band template so that once I get all the music entered everything condenses automatically. I am having a problem with inconsistency between sections. In the attached graphic, the Alto Saxes and Trombones 1 and 2 are condensed. The Alto line shows “Alto 1” and “Alto 2” labels stacked vertically, condenses correctly (unisons show as “a2” and similar rhythm parts are grouped as two note figures with one stem. Same with the Horns. But Trombones 1 and 2 show “Tbn” as a label and 1 and 2 stacked. Unisons and harmony parts always show stems up for part 1 and stems down for part 2. Obviously I’ve got something set wrong; can anyone shed light on this?
Hi @johncomposer, with condensing issue is always better (if not essential) to upload the Dorico file (there are too many variables that are not guessable from a screenshot).
For the inconsistent staff labels, you have probably edited the instrument names manually. To reset this, go in Setup mode, and then in menu Setup choose Reset Instrument Names.
For the other issues, we need the file to give further suggestions.
In this important post you find suggestion on how to cut down your Dorico projects (to upload here):
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Thank you Christian_R. I have attached a file with the problem. It’s obviously cutdown and wont make a lot of sense, but please note how the Altos/Horns handle condensed unisons differently from the Trombones 1&2. Also, perhaps you can address the issue of the instrument label naming and let me know what I’m missing there.
Thanks in advance!
JohnComposer Condensing Issue.dorico (1.9 MB)
Hi @johncomposer, thank you for the file.
- Regarding the different behaviour of the Trombone condensing in bar 11, it is due to the condensing phrase for the trombones, which is from bar 1 until end of bar 12 (since there are no rests in between, differently than in horns and altos where you have a rest in bar 8): Dorico considers this as one condensing phrase and shows the voices on separate stems because in this phrase there are different rhythms (and, as said, not rests), and so no a2 is created (the stems remain separated for the whole phrase).
To force a recalculation and so an a2 label and only one stem (from bar 11, trombones) , you can insert there a manual condensing change, with only the trombones checked: Dorico so starts a new phrase and is happy to give you the desired a2:
Here the Manual:
Excerpt:
and
Excerpt:
- Regarding the staff labelling, the problem is that you used the player names (customised), and so the label didn’t condense. Instead of trying to manually write the transposition at the beginning of the player names (or the instrument names), you can use the dedicated Layout Options to do so: reset the instrument names to be sure (from menu Setup) and deactivate the use of player names (apart the Baritone) …
… and choose in the Edit Instrument Names dialogue, to follow those options:
If you need Horns instead of French Horns, just change the instrument in Setup mode (Dorico has both)
Here your corrected file:
JohnComposer Condensing Issue-CORRECTED.dorico (1.9 MB)
(Just a tip for the Forum usage: if you add an @ before the user name, the user will be informed that you mentioned them, and it will appear like this: @Christian_R )
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@Christian_R Many thanks, I’ll check it out!