Most important feature requests for Dorico 4

Dorico
369

Hello Dorico team, and colleagues,
I hope you are all doing well! :slight_smile:
I would like to add some more features and improvements which are important, too:

  1. Expression Maps Improvements. For more information (there are links to other topics in the link):
    [FIR] Expression Maps Improvements for Dorico 4
  • This will surely allow the creation of large layered templates, or combination of techniques from different libraries.
  • This most probably will lead to Track Export improvement in order to Export the Channels, or Ports as separate audio tracks for further mixing and mastering.
  • Will lead to Play Mode improvement, in order to edit the CCs, Velocity… per channel and port basis.
  • Option to edit, or populate the Default Automatic Mutual Exclusion Groups is needed.
  1. Automatic detection of L/R Hands during Real-Time and Step Input recording. Just like in
    Sibelius and Overture.
  2. Native Aleatoric boxes and decent Aleatoric playback.
  3. Real-time audio (switchable monophonic<->polyphonic and sensitivity control) transcription from voice, acoustic or electric instrument by using microphone, or instrument Line-In.
  • As we all know the instrument itself has strong influence on the performer, and the way how one thinks and feels while performing piano, guitar, armenian duduk, saz, flute…
    If one is a multi-instrumentalist such way of a real-time recording will be very helpful.
  1. Left and Right locators and option to loop the playback between the locators (with option to change notes, real-time recording, etc…), and of course an option to export Mixdown, or Tracks between locators.
  2. Logic Pro-like Smart Tempo Detection:
    Scoring to Video requests - #5 by Thurisaz
  • Cubase Pro has a tempo extraction from MIDI, too, but I find the one in Logic a bit more advanced which is very important for those who score for media.
  • On the other side such function will Humanize the tempo and grid related playback even for non-media music. Which is very important.
  • The Smart tempo should be applicable even on already existing scores without destroying them.
  1. Cubase Pro like MIDI note Quantization and Humanization.
  • The real life musicians rarely “snap” the notes notes to grid, even if they play by Metronome. Most commonly they trigger the notes slightly before the grid, or slightly after the grid. This “imperfection” makes the orchestral sections to sound very spatial. Otherwise they would sound just louder.
  • Of course such feature will need the Expression Maps to have playback offset, otherwise the notes which starts before the grid will not be affected by the assigned techniques…
  1. Horizontal and Vertical Rulers, and Page Grids in Engraving Mode. Just like in Word, or other Text Editors.
  • The Horizontal & Vertical Rulers and Grids will surely improve the positioning of the objects on page.
  1. Mix Console Improvements:
  • Adding of Cubase Pro - like Control Room, a monitoring channel were we could insert plugins that will not affect the export and will open with every new project. Just like they work in Cubase.
  • Channel Loudness measurement digits. Currently the mixer loudness measurement is blank.
  • Implementation of Combined Pan, like in Cubase is needed since most of the VIs are stereo.
  • Option to configure the Default Mixer appearance, just like in Cubase. Currently we have to configure it for every project.
  • Adding of SuperVision plugin in Dorico will be great, too.
  1. Sorting of plugins by Vendor or Type + Search Bar. Both options should be available, like in Cubase.
  • This will shorten the Instrument and Mixer Insert drop down lists and will improve the workflow.
  1. Font improvement.
  • Option for Dorico memorize the users most commonly used fonts and to bring them to top, as any text editor does. It should be able to remember at least 6 - 7 text fonts, the same amount musical fonts… etc…
  • Would be nice if we have Font Search box, too.
  1. Optimization of the Screen Space.
  • HiDPI options like in Cubase:
    Cubase-like HiDPI Scaling Options in Dorico
  • Reduction of the Top app border line, just like in Cubase:
    FR: Change of the Dorico's Top Bar Appearance
    I know this isn’t a priority, but it save space, especially on laptops. We need as much as possible visible working area. This will free up some vertical space.
  • The size of the Left and Right Panels could be reduced just a little bit, too. In order to free some horizontal space. Or they could be made resizable (in all Modes), to fit the users needs.
  • In the area of Screen Optimization many ideas could be taken from Cubase. It’s well optimized for various screen sizes.
  1. Single Screen workflow improvement.
    Well for this improvement I was asking many times, and I won’t step back from it. :wink:
    Especially since some people, here, complain of performance issues when multiple Dorico windows are opened.
  • Option to have an instant access to Piano Roll, CCs, Velocity, Dynamics… per instrument in
    Write Mode > Galley View:
    [FR]:Adding Instant Access to Piano Roll in Galley View
    This won’t lead to major design changes and surely will vastly improve the workflow, and of course will save precious space when working on laptops. The Windows app container borders take space which can be saved.
  • Probably the most problematic area here will be synchronization between the bar lines and the piano roll grids, because the distance between bar lines may vary, while the distance between the Piano Roll grids is fixed. Still this synchronization could be achieved and Overture is a good example for this.
    Worth to think about this improvement more seriously! :slight_smile:
  1. Chord Track and Automatic Chord Extraction + Level of complexity option, similar to Staffpad. Such feature could save so much time…
    Chord Staff and Chord Extration Features in Dorico
  2. Bezier Curves for automations and tempo track. Just like in Cubase.
  3. Improved Audio Export, like in Cubase.
  • Option to switch the Sample and Bit rates for .WAV and .MP3
  • Option for custom naming scheme
  • Id and Metadata
  • Option to disable all Mixer Inserts (excluding the Control Room)
  • Option for Real-Time export + Volume control slider
  1. List of the Instruments in Dorico
  • Extended list of the folk instruments used in Eastern Europe and Asia
  • Option to Save Custom list of Solo, Section and Ensemble Instruments,
    as separate file which would not be affected
    after updates or upgrades, and will be presented in the Insert Instrument Window.
  • The adding of instruments and their order could be also improved as Martin Kaery a.k.a. Tantacrul suggested in his video on Dorico. This surely will speed-up the workflow
    Music Software & Interface Design: Steinberg's Dorico - YouTube to 29:35 min.
    MuseScore has automatic instrument ordering conventions integrated:
    image
    image844Ă—599 45.7 KB
  1. Midi File Export Improvements
  1. Full control over the performance of the Baroque and Classical ornaments.
  2. An easy way to manually overpopulate a bar, by mouse (just like in Finale and Overture) without the need of adding extra beats, or use of hidden tuplets first.
  3. Staff/Track Versions, similar to the way how they work in Cubase.
  1. And option to change the Voices for Percussion/Drum Staff in normal way (directly in the score), without invoking the Percussion Kit.

I hope you would think about all these important improvements and features! :slight_smile:
Thank you very much in advance! :slight_smile:

Best wishes,
Thurisaz

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