Trying out the critically acclaimed flows in Dorico - Beginner question(s)

[steinfeld]

I want to try out using flows for more modular use with different movements.

The first thing I need to solve is how to let notes continue from e.g. flow 1 to flow2?

So, e.g. the piano plays a note that starts in flow 1 and continues into flow 2.

I already set the gap between the flows to 0.

[k_b]

Example Mendelssohn violin concerto in E Minor. At the end of movement 1, a bassoon holds a long B that leads into the second movement (where it resolves into a C). In this case, I suggest not to use a dedicated flow for the second movement; instead, leave both movements in one flow.

[steinfeld]

Hi k_b thanks a lot for your reply.

If the playback of flows cannot be combined when notes (or pedals) hang between movements, then multiple flows won’t work for me.

[k_b]

Yes you are right, if notes hang over, then flows are not for you. If you compose music, that is not structured by gaps of silence, for those cases you will have to stay in one flow.

In all other cases they offer big advantages.
Flows are one element in the multi dimensional structure of music pieces in Dorico: Players, Instruments, Flows, Layouts. They are all connected in a logical way.
And you can take advantage of it. One small Example: in ensemble pieces assigning players to certain flows only.
Of course you can have a composition with just one player, as well as you can have a composition with just one flow. Anything is possible

[benwiggy]

There may be ways to notate a sustained note across flows, even if the playback doesn’t work. A new flow would have to start a new system, of course.

[asherber]

For example:

Tie between flows

As an alternative to using laissez vibrer ties at the beginning of a movement, you could enter grace notes tied to the normal notes which follow as shown in the first staff below. In engrave mode, select the grace notes, set their scale to normal and hide their stem, noteheads and ledger lines as shown in the second staff. Finally, adjust the start offset of the ties from the grace notes and move the first beat of the movement to the left in note spacing mode as shown in the third staff: [Image…

[k_b]

@benwiggy

even if the playback doesn’t work

Ben, if I read the opening thread correctly, Mr. Steinfeld is concerned about the playback:

@steinfeld

I already set the gap between the flows to 0.

[johnkprice]

If you want the piano to play a note that starts in flow 1 and continues into flow 2, then in addition to setting the gap between flows to 0, you need to suppress playback of the tied-to note in flow 2 and set the playback end offset of the tied-from note in flow 1. This offset is measured in ticks, and Dorico uses 480 ticks per quarter note. For example, if the tied-to note is a normal half note, then the playback end offset of the tied-from note should be set to 1.95 × 480 = 936.

[Derrek]

Have we determined that a note can be manipulated in the Key Editor to hold its duration past the end of a flow? That would indeed be a useful discovery.

[steinfeld]

Yes @Derrek I think so

I off course went straight ahead and tried it out and it works!

[steinfeld]

You truly know your way around Dorico!
Thanks a million

[steinfeld]

Thanks so much for inviting @johnkprice into this thread

This is really a wonderful forum with such helpful and knowledgeable people!

[steinfeld]

And believe it or not: When starting playback from the next flow, Dorico will play back “the rest” of the note from the previous flow

[reedmaxson]

This tutorial may be helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7styl15u2GM&t=202s

[Puma0382]

Nice. Some next level thinking there from @johnkprice ..

Also, could this ‘extra’ info be added into the manual somewhere (complete with maths formula), maybe.? @lillie_harris

[OT - thanks for the YouTube link @reedmaxson, he has some great content there; deserves more subscribers… ]