In Logic, using step input with a MIDI keyboard, you can lengthen the last note you entered by pressing the sustain pedal. For example, if your note value is an eighth note, you get a quarter note by pressing a key and then pressing the sustain pedal; for a dotted quarter note, press the sustain pedal twice, and so on. You can get into a rhythm ⎯ it’s almost like playing in real time, only less error-prone. I haven’t found a way to do something similar in Dorico. Is it possible?
“Something similar” might work, but in a DAW the sustain pedal only affects the length of the sound, whereas in a notation program, a longer sustain can appear in multiple ways: with a longer note value or with a Ped. marking, so there is more ambivalence in a notation program than there would be in a DAW.
I’m afraid I don’t understand that. Anyway I see that you can assign MIDI CC64 to a key command such as Lengthen Duration by Grid Value, and thus use the sustain pedal as an alternative to ⌥⇧→. I will need to try using this in earnest, but I think it might speed up my note input quite a bit (and thus tempt me away from Logic again).
I would never have thought of using the sustain pedal this way, that is really interesting. I wonder if combining it with the option/alt key would be useful, for moving notes by the grid value as well as lengthening them. Or another key with the pedal could move a note backwards/make it shorter.
I’m also interested in how you combine Dorico and Logic; seeing how DAWs and notation approach each other is a fascinating trend (often discussed on the forum too).
I could be wrong, but I don’t think it’s possible to trigger a key command with a combination of QWERTY keys and a MIDI message. I think it’s one or the other.
(I don’t really combine Dorico and Logic. I just can’t decide which of them, for me, has fewer drawbacks!)
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OPINIONS AHEAD:
This will sound contrarian, but I’m not convinced all note input methods are equally valid. That is, if there were a note input speed contest to be held (where accuracy mattered too), one method would be used by all the top finishers. IMO, that method would be right hand on the number pad and left hand on a MIDI keyboard. If no number pad is available, switch hands. If no MIDI keyboard is available, that’s fairly easily overcome as well, though it certainly slows things down a little.
The addition of the double-tap-to-dot was the most significant feature that removed all cumbersome finger stretching and shifting of the hands. As a bonus, mapping the Spacebar to the NumEnter further speeds things up.
Using this method, I can input notes as quickly as I can read them if the notation is simple, and for sustained periods of time. With enough practice (and assuming adequate facility on the MIDI keyboard), it’s as easy as typing. I would recommend this method to the OP and anyone facing a significant amount of note input. You can acclimate to any method, of course, but they all have a speed plateau due to ergonomics and number of keypresses.
PS: and yes, of course there are notational challenges, from the mundane (tuplets) to the complex, so it’s not always smooth sailing.
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It would be interesting to map an organ pedalboard to Dorico functions, like note duration, tuplets, etc. Swell pedal for cresc./decresc. But you’d be balanced on an organ bench which might be awkward.
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I’ve tried a lot of “interesting” things and while some are still useful, I’m with Dan about what’s most efficient with practice. Remember when he said he’s doing two passes - I think that’s key too.
One caveat - I was transcribing some Jazz. I did some complete bars first with all the rhythms, slurs and articulations, did a copy/paste and then updated the notes or differences in new bars. If the task is: “what method will let you transcribe all the parts for this score” - there might be a time for that. Good time to have some macros to select only certain things to copy?
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It would be an interesting project to map a typewriter to a MIDI input and program it in a way that a speed typist would type 60 WPM - but in reality plays a chopin etude that way.
@dan_kreider Dan, could you post a picture of your work area? I really appreciate your replies, I would love to see how it’s laid out to match what you describe. I would also understand if that were weird and you didn’t want to.
This picture is old, but it basically looks the same.
The desktop surface slides back and forward as needed to show or hide the MIDI keyboard.
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So the top panel slides rather than the bottom one. That would be a big help, since with my opposite setup, I have to move my chair whenever I pull out the QWERTY keyboard underneath.
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Thank you! I have more of a practice environment with a computer nearby, I will have to think about rearranging. But I don’t make a living as an engraver, I just need to modify some stuff to make it more useful to my practice.
This is really clever!!! I need to build one table like this! 
Yes, this sort of setup is overkill if you aren’t spending long hours at a desk. This setup completely took away my back pain. The monitor is on an arm, and the combination of all three allows me to have good ergonimics. And not lock into one position.
@Christian_R it’s really pretty simple. The sliding surface is on wooden rails on either side, so no moving pieces. I had someone build it for me and ship it, but it can be easily done yourself. Paging @FredGUnn for pics of one he built himself.
I never used to care about ergonomics. Then I hit my mid-30s. 
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(Wait until you hit your 70’s. 
)
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Yeah, it was a fun project I did in Summer 2020 when all my gigs were cancelled. I already had almost all the tools, just needed to get my woodworking skills back up. I modelled it on Monkwood’s designs and he was actually very helpful with advice as he was encouraging musicians to try to build their own back then. (He was talking about plywood, not cherry though, LOL!)
A friend of mine has the most amazing studio setup I’ve ever seen! Back in 2000 we were sax players in the horn section of a pretty well-known pop band, and did the US tour together. He has since gone on and become a very successful composer in Hollywood. I think it’s safe to assume we’re no longer in the same income bracket, LOL! Here’s a FB link to his incredible setup. (He’s a Sib guy BTW)
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Just yesterday, I set up a foot pedal. My left is Note Entry, my middle is Q for chord, and my right is Cmd-Z for undo. So far it works pretty well.
Don’t know if this will inspire anyone, but would be curious about any thoughts. Since Dorico can associate key commands with midi you might be able to go a little crazy with something like the Behringer foot switch or what have you. (With 10 switches plus the ability to have banks, you could at least easily do all the note durations…)
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And Kinesis are throwing in a free course with that:
I use the Nord triple pedal that came with my Nord Piano 4:
Instead of programming it for Dorico, I have it programmed to control playback with Transcribe. That way I can leave Transcribe in the background, control the playback of it with my foot pedals, and write directly into Dorico. It’s a really fast workflow for transcription.
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