In this article, we’ll present 5 Features We Love and 5 Features We Are Still Missing from Dorico
Dorico is one of the most respected music notation programs because of its modern workflow and wide engraving capabilities. But no software is perfect, so let’s take a look at five things Dorico does exceptionally well… And five areas where we think there’s still room for improvement.
5 Dorico Features We Love
1. Engraving features
Dorico’s favorite feature among editors is its automatic engraving, which produces clean, elegant scores with less manual correction. It makes the score look good while you work, and it doesn’t require extensive cleanup at the end.
In this line, Dorico’s Engrave Mode is the place to control the appearance of the score. This feature separates musical and graphical content, so you can adjust page layout, spacing, and other objects without modifying the music itself.
2. Flows, layouts and linked parts
Dorico’s project structure management is also an outstanding feature. Flows lets you keep several pieces, movements, exercises, or cues in one project, while Layouts generates different score and part versions from the same musical material.
In Dorico, a single project can contain multiple movements or songs. At the same time, you can generate full scores, parts, or different versions from the same music.
3. Playback and DAW-like tools
Many composers value Dorico’s playback features. Steinberg (the developers) comes from the Cubase ecosystem, and Dorico’s connection to Steinberg’s audio environment gives it strong playback tools, VST support, expression maps, MIDI editing, and a more refined playback workflow than many other notation programs.
4. Special notation: guitar, harp, percussion and contemporary techniques
Dorico handles complex notation more naturally. It includes guitar tablature, chord diagrams, harp pedaling, percussion notation, several playing techniques, and contemporary notation needs.
5. Automatic condensing
Dorico’s automatic condensing feature is especially important for orchestral and large-ensemble writing. Dorico can automatically show multiple players on fewer staves in the full score while keeping the individual parts separate.
Additionally, it also condenses notational details when creating the final result.
5 Features We Are Still Missing from Dorico
1. Playback realism and audio workflow
As mentioned above, Dorico has strong playback tools. However, many Dorico users still feel this area could go further. Steinberg has recently added playback-related updates, but Dorico 6 users specifically expressed disappointment that playback was not improved as much as they hoped.
2. Learning curve for new users
Dorico is powerful, but its workflow doesn’t feel intuitive at first. Dorico’s logic differs from that of Sibelius or Finale: it’s not based on placing symbols on a page. This system is very efficient later, but difficult at the beginning.
3. More flexibility for manual overrides
One of Dorico’s strengths is its ability to automate engraving. However, its intelligent engraving feature can be a frustration if users need a very specific visual result. Some editors would like it to be easier to override Dorico’s rules when an unusual layout or special musical situation requires it.
4. More expansion on special notation
Dorico already handles many special notation areas, like guitar, harp, percussion, or contemporary notation. However, these areas often need very specific solutions. Recent updates in Dorico have included improvements in special notation, such as guitar tablature, tuplets, text, and marching percussion. Users still suggest these areas should continue evolving.
5. Workflow polish and small quality-of-life features
Dorico offers a modern workflow, but users still request simpler improvements, such as easier copy-and-paste behavior, more customization, smoother navigation, and other refinements to everyday editing tasks. Still, after Dorico 6, the number of ongoing feature requests shows that users still want more polish in daily use.
Final thoughts
Thanks to its modern interface, Dorico has earned its place among the leading notation programs. At the same time, its user community continues to push for improvements in workflow and special notation features.
In our opinion, the fact that Dorico users keep asking for more is a good sign. Dorico has set a high standard, and expectations rise accordingly. Dorico remains one of the most powerful tools available today, and it’s still evolving with every release.
