That and other important information is displayed in the status bar:
The input caret also shows which voice is active as well (although note quite as clear as the status bar).
Yes, but sometimes I find that the cursor does not show which voice is going to input next, I do not know if it is a momentary bug.
Dedicated button icons for each voice, as in Finale or Musescore would be clearer and faster to use, in my opinion. But I guess this is one of those fundamental things in Dorico’s design that is not going to change.
Takes a bit of getting used to (recognizing the meanings), but it is pretty clear once understood:
Thanks, David, I know how it works.
The thing is sometimes at random the caret appears with no indication of which voice is going to input. Just an orange vertical line. I know it should not happen, but it happens in my computer.
I will also chime in.
I think remembering to get this information from one if the very first Dorico blogs..
Dorico by design allows you to have as many independent voices as you want. And on purpose they are categorised into upstem and downstem voices, as this is part of the engraving process. The number of a voice is not really a necessity.
The thinking in voice no. 1, voice no. 2 - as one is used by software like Sibelius or Finale with its layers - is not part of Dorico’s design..
Have a look at J.S. Bach’s keyboard music (besides the fugues). Voices come and go.
Once you close a project and reopen it again, Dorico has stripped all unnecessary and unused voices.
You can only input music, if the caret is visible with a little stem that shows the voice direction (and number).
If you don’t see a number, you are in upstem voice 1 or downstem voice 1.
The case that you describe will only happen, if you have switched into grace note input. Then the caret will be visibly smaller though.
Remember: no caret = no music input
Hi,
The thinking of voice 1, voice 2 and so on is a convention and a basic tool for music analisys and teaching, maybe centuries old. And it is clearly useful when explaining counterpoint or chord voicings. It is not a Finale or Musescore thing.
Dorico may of course use its own design, but in this case I find it a little appart from the traditional understanding of Western music theory.
I find Dorico’s approach more flexible than the layers I used in Finale for decades, especially when voices cross from one staff of a grand staff to the other.
You are totally right here.
Still, once you engrave music, all notes will be turned black and voices, even if they exist, they will be seen virtually only - like harmony will be part of a notation, even without chord symbols showing.
I really don’t see how Dorico’s implementation is at odds with conventional music theory; and it’s not that different from other implementations like Finale and MuseScore.
Finale had 4 voices (Layers), which by default were 2 up-stem voices and 2 down-stem voices; though you could change this. Dorico makes you choose (or at least think about) whether you want the notes up-stem or down-stem; and it lets you have as many voices as you like.
Yes, that is right.
I understand the “engraving” philosophy of the Dorico’s voice handling, and also that it can conflict sometimes with the analitycal or didactical (more simple) needs.
Ben,
It is just that Finale’s or Musecores’ are simpler (or more visual) methods or dealing with voices. Also surely less powerful than Dorico’s. That is my perception, anyway.
Hi, it could be that, I will check it out next time it happens.
Thanks.
Suggestion to extent the menu details so it is easy to Move the notes to the right voice
Hi @Fred_van_de_Biezen, actually it is very easy to change the notes to another voice:
Can you explain what you mean with “extend the menu”?
I like that idea (feature request). That would be a welcome addition in my view.
— Jim
Sorry, I can’t help this OT aside: it’s a sore spot for me and has been since Dorico 1. A “voice” in conventional music theory is never more than one sung or played note at a time. Some computer programs have redefined “voice” as all the notes joined by one stem. But often several voices are joined by one stem. I think this very confusing and misleading (for students particularly who already have difficulty understanding that chords are produced by voice leading and are not single entities on their own.) “Layer” is the perfect term for all the notes joined by one stem since it has no musical connotations.
Fred, thank you for your illustration.
This would mean, the menu to become a dynamic item, as voice colours are given by Dorico rather by chance and not by “voice number”. Upstem Voice 1 can have different colours for example in a grand staff instrument.
Alternatively it would be nice to find somewhere a rating, probably in the manual, of the colors. At least it would help.