I previously used Finale and found it very useful to be able to fix exactly the position of lyrics between two staves. I can’t find such a possibility in Dorico 5. Doesn’t this exist? Or at least an option to always center lyrics between two staves?
Many thanks for your help!
Welcome to the forum.
No, there is not a way to precisely center lyrics between a grand staff. However, you set distance from the upper staff globally, and it’s easy to make micro-adjustments to baselines. Also, when you move one baseline, all lyrics in that system and line will move.
Many thanks for this very quick answer!
I’m excited to get to know Dorico!
I will definitely have to get used to this.
Is there a specific reason why it is not possible to globally define a fixed position for lyrics, in order to have them always in the same position within staves?
Because the devs haven’t added it yet, I guess, would be the unhelpful but accurate answer.
I work almost exclusively with vocal music, particularly hymnals. I’d like a setting for this as well, but I’ve gotten so used to the very quick ways to adjust baselines that I haven’t thought about it in ages.
I suppose you could set distance between staves in Layout Options>Vertical Spacing and Engraving Options>Lyrics>Vertical positioning in such a way that they were almost exactly centered. I usually need to make small modifications anyways, depending on musical “protrusions” into the center.
Thanks again for the immediate reaction!
Probably because it’s a specific case: you only want that in choir reductions where all parts are singing the same lyrics at the same time. When each voice/part has its own staff, then you want lyrics closer to the notes for ease of reading.
Dorico’s collision avoidance is an advantage that takes getting used to. When you set your “ideal” staff spacing and lyric distance both as small as you would allow, Dorico makes room for everything automatically, and it looks good with no fuss.