Three times I tried the trial version. Each time orchestral instruments were withheld or the panel didn’t have a file toolbar or the import XML feature was missing so I feel Steinberg isn’t being entirely fair in their trial. My question is if I just spring for the one on sale at half price does it have the full orchestra, piano and choir that I need and if I am not satisfied can I return it without any hassles?
1 Like
As far as I know the trial version should be identical for the 60 days that it lasts.
Can you explain a bit more about the problems you’re having?
Yes, Dorico comes with a full orchestra (two!), piano and choir samples.
4 Likes
Perhaps the installed trial is not for the Pro version? Anyway, I know for sure that there are no restrictions on the trial version of Pro, the same way there are none on Cubase.
3 Likes
I’m a Finale user who purchased Dorico Pro 5 after the big announcement. As there was with Finale, you’ll experience a bit of learning. I took one of my SATB for organ arrangements and entered the entire 100 measure arrangement note by note, not using a midi keyboard. Obviously I won’t do that for other arrangements, but I can say this. With the support of the Dorico team in this forum, and grinding the gears all last week learning the software, I can say that purchasing Dorico Pro 5 is worth it. It’s only $150 bucks. As far as the files are concerned, you’ll figure out all that bull crap later. Fortunately, Finale isn’t going anywhere for the time bing so there is exceptionally more than enough time to figure that out. Just get the full software package. You’ll thank Finale later for doing that big dump of an announcement. They literally landed us all in a bed of innovation. It’s a full package deal dude. They’ve got all the audio instruments, more than enough vocals, and surprisingly the Dorico Pro 5 software works well with the Garritan audio that is used with Finale. The audio output is way better than Finale. And at a 70% discount, it was a no brainer! Just get it.
14 Likes
Turns out I did go ahead and buy Dorico Pro5 without testing and it was a mistake. Dorico makes hash out of the XML files I import from Notion6. They are completely unuseable. Dorico brings certain parts 2 or 3 beats late from everything else so it’s one unsynchronized mess. Also bar lines are eliminated and additional rests entered to create a few seconds silence before the music picks up. These things are not correctable or if they are the amount of work involved is so horrendous as to make the effort impractical.
Can you attach one or two MusicXML files and some corresponding PDFs exported from Notion so we can take a look and see what might be going on?
1 Like
Even before we see any examples, I want to stress that wrong numbers of beats are easily correctable in Dorico, much easier than in other programs, for several reasons:
- Each part has its own timeline across a movement or flow
- Insert mode can be used on one part, selected parts, or all parts
- Rhythmic notation (such as ties across barlines) is fluid, so there’s nothing to fix up after notes are shifted
4 Likes
The piano has got a Bass clef that’s pushing everything up massively. Delete it.
Maybe Notion’s XML is to blame?
Then you just need to choose suitable Staff Size and Page size for an orchestral score; and set abbreviated staff labels.
It would take about 2 minutes to correct this.
3 Likes
I can’t push up the staffs from each other until after I import and once I import the damage is already done. Musescore had no problem with my XML. It turned out a pristine rendering. I’m on the way out the door. When I get back in about i hour I will take this up again. Thanks much.
1 Like
If (in Dorico) you change the clef of the top piano staff to a treble clef (shift-C G) Dorico will redo the layout.
So let me understand. I import the Notion. Once the maligned Dorico is in front of me I then change the cleft and it will correct everything? The problem starts from the very first entrance of the piano which viewers cannot see. It’s 3/4 but Dorico turns the piano’s entrance into 2/4. Consequently the 3rd beat of each measure becomes the 1st beat of the succeeding measure. And what about all those crazy ties in all the parts for an essentially simple rhythm?
I think the issue is the OP says the same file imports into musescore perfectly but not dorico.
Im dreading the import of my old finale files… :shudder: (so fsr haven’t tried this feature)
That will significantly tidy up the vertical spacing.
This sounds like a malformed bar in the XML. We’d have to see it to advise further.
(Alternatively, just export the ‘OK’ MuseScore file as a new xml and see if that comes across better.)
If you’re unable to post the file here, at least post the screenshot after you’ve deleted the bass clef and perhaps reduced the staff size a little. We can advise on the next thing to improve.
As Ben says, once you see the problem and know how to fix it, it’s probably 30 seconds of work or less.
All right. I’ll give everything a shot. Be right back.
first problem: Here’s the toolbar. There’s no clefts and the directions say “Press shift + C to get clefts” but when I press shift and C I get nothing.
Clefs are on the other side of the screen. I’d suggest doing the “Tour” that greets you when you first start Dorico; or working through the Quick Start tutorial at this point.
You should be able to access the Shift C popover when you have selected something in the score.
Second problem: here’s the opening of my Notion. Notice the piano has 3 sets of half notes in each bar:
Now notice what Dorico does. It pushes beat 3 to the next measure and continues to do so:
Solution?
Where are all your rests?
Can you upload this file?