Tech Reviews: Dorico SE

Offering a free version is, of course, a great marketing move, because Steinberg hopes it will entice users to upgrade to one of the paid versions – Dorico Elements or the full Dorico Pro 3.

As you would expect, Dorico SE has some limitations. It only allows you to produce music for up to two players, but it operates in exactly the same way as the paid versions, producing music stunningly laid out with intelligent spacing and note collision avoidance. You can also print the music, export it as a PDF or produce MP3s using the included 2GB HALion Sonic SE sound library.

Download and install

Firstly you will need to set up a ‘My Steinberg’ account. Then you will be sent your personal activation code for Dorico SE. This then installs Steinberg's download assistant, and this app makes it easy to download the actual software (Windows or Mac) plus the ‘sounds installer’ for HALion Sonic SE, to allow you to hear your music. The final step is to run the eLicenser software and enter your activation code. Your Dorico SE is now fully authorised.

Basic operation

The Dorico interface is clean and uncluttered, with panels on either side that can be viewed or hidden for the various functions such as clefs, note durations, articulation, text, lyrics and so on. The toolbar at the top of the window includes the transport controls, live MIDI recording, metronome, video window and mixer. There are some helpful Steinberg videos explaining the various aspects of using Dorico SE if you are unfamiliar with the software.

Dorico has various modes of operation: Setup, Write, Play and Print. Most of the time you will be using Write mode that displays your notation as you add it, but Play mode displays your music in a piano roll editor view similar to a DAW (see Soundtrap review in this issue). This mode allows you to edit note lengths and timings, to improve or ‘humanise’ the playback, but it does this without altering the actual notation, which is a clever feature. Dorico SE will load the correct instrument sound automatically from the included sound library. Finally, Print mode has all the options to print your music as single sheets or as booklets.

New projects

You can start a new project by beginning with a blank page and adding instruments or choosing a from a template. Adding in notes can be done by using your mouse or computer keyboard, or by playing them in with a MIDI keyboard. Dorico SE does an excellent job of automatically laying out the music and correcting any rhythmic grouping errors you might have entered. There is no need to enter rests – just place your chosen note duration at the appropriate point in the grid for the next note. For example, if you enter a quaver after beat four of a 4/4 bar then the appropriate rests are automatically placed (minim, crotchet and quaver rest) before your note. There are numerous shortcuts for moving notes and moving between bars and staves. Learning some of these greatly increases the speed of use.

Chord notation can be entered very quickly with a MIDI keyboard and you can also add guitar chord shapes to your chord symbols at the click of a button. Inputting lyrics is similarly straightforward, as is adding dynamics and articulation. It is always a delight to see Dorico SE perfectly positioning everything on the score so that the music looks expertly laid out at all times. Dorico SE comes with a standard notation font but also includes a handwritten-style font, so if you want to produce lead sheets or jazz pieces with a handwritten look, then just a click will transform the appearance of the printed music.

Guitar tablature and percussion

If you write music for guitar using stave notation, you can easily request Dorico SE to add an additional stave containing the same music converted to guitar tablature, which some players might prefer. In addition, writing for drumkit is very logical in terms of finding the correct notation and note head type, such as cross heads for hi-hats or crash cymbal, as well as standard note heads for bass drum and snare. Dorico SE automatically sorts out the appropriate stem direction for clear drumkit layout.

It is excellent news that Steinberg now offers Dorico SE free of charge, making for a perfect introduction to the Dorico family. Naturally, it will not be sufficient for advanced composers writing for larger ensembles, but by offering students an entry-level piece of software to use at home, it is a perfect introduction. Once all the basics have been learnt, the user can upgrade to Dorico Elements or Dorico Pro 3 at any time.

Visit https://new.steinberg.net/dorico/se for more information.