Is there an easy way to enharmonically reinterpret a note entered via MIDI, e.g. convert a “f sharp” into a “g flat”? In Finale this is done by just pressing the number key “9” to alter the enharmonic spelling, which is very convenient. Something similar in Dorico?
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Thank you for responding. I think my question was not really clear. Of course I read the help file, but the focus should be on the word EASY. I usually enter notes by using the MIDI keyboard, playing with the left hand, and using the right hand for additional key commands ond the PC keyboard. This guarantees a very smooth work flow. So it would be very helpful, if I could immediately after entering a (e.g.) c sharp turn the note into a d flat by just pressing ONE special key. Is this possible?
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There’s not a single shortcut. You always have to decide in which direction you want to respell (maybe you need the double sharp once). But it’s possible to respell without leaving the input mode.
Sounds like a good productivity enhancement for some future release. Just a shortcut hook would do it - I too often hit these, and like SiggiM I prefer to get it all correct in one go with a similar workflow. Less cognitive load to have to circle back later and fix.
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Yup. If it’s not the accidental I want, I’d rather just have to press a key that means “No, the other one.”
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I guess they did the two buttons because it’s a stack, you can keep pressing in one direction if you want a # or ## or even more. It’s not a binary but an n-ary. So maybe in an ideal world where most rational people want to flip between the flat and sharp versions, we could have a shortcut and jump available for that (e.g. “Toggle enharmonic spelling”). The keys should stay the same because of the reason mentioned above, but if they wanted a third button (toggle) could be added.
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The “trouble” is that Dorico is designed to accommodate double and triple accidentals (as well as other tonality systems with gazzillions of accidentals). So it’s not a binary choice of F sharp or G flat; but also E double sharp, A triple flat, etc.
This makes it more flexible and useful, but at the cost of being not as simple.
You could change the shortcuts to only one key, if Alt = is not easy enough. And you could perhaps create a custom tonality system that only uses single accidentals.
I agree that if the enharmonic switches went ‘round the clock’, that might be more useful.
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There is also the Respell Notes Automatically function (mentioned on the previous linked page about respelling notes) that is intended to make the respelling process easier, wider-ranging, and consistent.
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And even retrospective in some cases, which I find helpful more often than not.
I COMPLETELY agree with SiggiM. I did my first score with Dorico yesterday and this problem was a workflow killer. I kept thinking, “there must be a hotkey for this I just haven’t found yet.” Nope. What a drag.
Dorico needs to add a fix to this. Dorico can keep the shift-alt-minus-or-equals I suppose for those who need it, but there ABSOLUTELY needs to be a one-key solution to change to the other enharmonic spelling.
Dorico has a ton of people considering its product right now in the wake of MakeMusic’s announcement. This workflow killer will give MANY composers a reason to consider MuseScore instead.
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I’d say stick with it (and bear the frustration) and it becomes totally natural in a short time (forgive the pun). You don’t need the shift, btw.
The benefit of this approach is that it’s possible to move whole passages enharmonically up and down, creating double sharps and flats if necessary. I use that all the time.
I agree a single key would be nice, though, for a straightforward enharmonic shift.
But, seriously, don’t hamstring yourself by going for Musescore, if you want to do serious work. You’ll miss out on a lot.
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I agree with @RichardTownsend. In the the process of switching, you’ll get something from every category:
- Things you expected that work the same as Finale
- Things you didn’t expect but are an obvious and immediate improvement
- Things you didn’t expect and are disappointed with initially, which may just take time to acclimate to
#2 outweighs #3 for 99.9% of future workflow. I speak from experience (though obviously not everyone has the same needs).
Accept that #3 may not be as problematic as you first think, try to be open-minded, and give it time.
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Jazzbat, I use a Streamdeck XL with Dorico, it has a couple of spare Keys you can program for whatever shortcut/action you want. One of the first things I did was make two new buttons/switches - one for respell note using note above, one for respell using note below. it has saved me SO much time and frustration over the years (I have had Dorico since Dorico 1).
Apologies if someone already mentioned this!
Best wishes and good luck with Dorico, it’s a wonderful program. Complex, sure, but still wonderful 
Mike
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I agree. Obviously Dorico needs to keep the current Respell Using Note Above/Below for more complicated situations, but 99% of the time a simple “Flip Enharmonic” command is going to get it right: flats flip to sharps, sharps to flats, E# and B# to F and C, Fb and Cb to E and B, double sharps and flats to naturals, E## and B## to F# and C#, Fbb and Cbb to Eb and Bb. That’s really what I’m going to want in most situations and could be accomplished with one shortcut like in Finale.
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There’s no such thing as +1 on this forum (and let’s keep it that way), but fully agree. I’d like to add:
Please, a (default) option to exclude triple sharps and flats! Apart from a few instances in arcane (Alkane?) piano music from the early 20th, they’re nonexistent in all of music literature. I have literally never encountered them IRL until they popped up in Dorico.
Pet peeve, I know, but they hamper my productivity…
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I agree Dorico is powerful. But I’m a commercial and jazz arranger and for me, time is money. Every split second that I have to take my hand of the MIDI keyboard or off the computer keyboard number pad adds up. I also teach composition and arranging at a University. I have to be able to work fast to write in suggestions on my students’ compositions and send back to them. Currently, my University uses Finale and MuseScore. I do agree that Dorico seems more flexible/powerful than MuseScore. I bet Steinberg could keep their current method in place for those who want to handle it the way it is currently configured and still implement a new hotkey for the many of us who want the quick enharmonic flip.
The StreamDeck is interesting. Never looked into that, but it looks as though the StreamDeck will still involve my having to take my hands out of position (off MIDI keyboard and/or computer keyboard).
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In Sibelius, one can simply select the note and press Return (macOS) to flip to the available enharmonic. In Dorico 5.1.50 Operation Manual page 218, enharmonic flips are apparently possible only from the Keyboard window as ‘Respell Using Note Name Above/Below’. However Keyboard Shortcuts (editable in Preferences) ‘Opt =’ and ‘Opt -’ (macOS) enable you to bypass the buttons and have instantaneous effect. The option “Respell notes automatically” can also have a shortcut assigned and this works similarly to the Sibelius Return key (macOS) for a single press (it keeps going South after that as far as triple flats!) I assigned ‘Ctrl Opt =’ (refer screenshots).
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The point is (if I see it right) that I have to leave note entry mode. In Finale’s speedy note entry it is very(!) helpful to adjust the enharmonic spelling within the workflow.
Dorico’s ability to adjust the key commands is fine, but does not fix that problem.
What I would like to have (and I know this has been asked for before) is the option to use only flats or only sharps.
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