is it possible to have 4/4 in one part and 12/8 at the same time in another part? I am using Dorico Pro 5. I checked other posts first but they are quite old and perhaps there is new information
Hi @Robert_Smallwood, yes of course is possible (select one item in one staff, invoke the meter popover, write your meter, and press alt+enter to assign that meter only to that staff).
If you want the barlines to be aligned you need to use hidden tuplets for one or the other time signature staves, depending on your situation.
This article contains everything you need to know 
:
@Robert_Smallwood
you can also refer to this post (and thread):
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thank you Christian, I am looking into it right now!
thanks for the quick and helpful advice. I am struggling to figure out the hidden tuplets. The main time sig for the orchestra is 4/4. One part is in 12/8. when I enter 12/8 and use Alt-Enter the bars no longer line up (I know that is what is supposed to happen) but I cannot figure out what else I have to do to “shorten” the 12/8 to 4/4. I get that it is to force 3 triplet 8th notes to play in the time of 2 eighth notes in 4/4. I cannot work out what to type in the meter pop-over to get the carlines to align. Thanks for your help
You need to create a fake pickup bar- one that only has 8 quavers (the same number of quavers as a normal 4/4 bar): ie shift-M 12/8, 8. Then in the next bar revert to 4/4 and hide it. You are just conning the viewer, and the listener, that the part is in 12/8!
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@Robert_Smallwood , and by the way: welcome to the Forum and to Dorico! 
You can decide two different ways for your 12/8 against 4/4, depending on your needs:
-
“fake” 4/4 and “real” 12/8 (the 6 quarter notes pick-up bar and the hidden tuplets are in the 4/4 staff)
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“fake” 12/8 and “real” 4/4 (the 8 eight notes pick-up bar and the hidden tuplets are in the 12/8 staff)
Dorico file example:
12:8&4:4.dorico (566.4 KB)
Result (you need to hide the extra time signatures, and the tuplets brackets and numbers):
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thank you
that is really helpful. the only issue I foresee is that if the independent time signature is declared in the bar where it is first needed, the wrong number and type of rests are showing.
You have been so helpful, thank you
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(Could you please credit @Christian_R with the solution?)
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Agreed that, as ever, @Christian_R’s responses are wonderfully helpful.
I feel compelled to add, though, that your phrase “conning the viewer and listener” has a wonderful sharp clarity to it, @Janus. I wish that I had had your description at hand when I was first trying to wrap my mind around the idea of an entire “fake” pickup bar (kind of an odd notion at first glance) in order to accomplish independent simultaneous meters/time sigs!
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I did try to credit Christian. Not sure if I did it correctly, sorry.
Beneath each post is a Solution checkbox that only you, as the thread starter, can see and check. Check the one below post #7 to give him credit. When you do, scroll up to the top and you’ll see the text of that post is quoted under the first post, so others can get to the solution quickly.
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attached is a screen shot of the opening. how is it done to have the correct rest or notes and rests in the “pick up” bar?
I haven’t read the whole thread, but
Select the first eighth note rest
N for Note Input - this places the caret
Shift-B for Bar popover
Type “rest” followed by “Enter”.
Perfect! Thank you
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You are welcome @Robert_Smallwood.
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with the pop-up, use alt-return to confirm one of them, or with the pallet, alt-select
Thank you Damian. We are looking to have differencing bar lengths corresponding to the time signatures.