Enabling swing playback for specific sections/instruments

Dorico Pro Help

Product
Dorico Pro
Version
5.1
Language
English
Document type
Webhelp
ft:openMode
fluidtopics
You can enable swing playback for specific sections in your project and for individual instruments independently; for example, if you want only the trumpet player to swing for a twelve-bar section, or if you only want swing playback in one flow.

Prerequisite

You have created any custom rhythmic feels that you want to use for swing playback.

Procedure

  1. In Write mode, select one of the following:
    • If you want to enable swing playback from a specific rhythmic position onwards, select a single item at the start of the bar where you want swing playback/a different rhythmic feel to start.

    • If you want to enable swing playback within a section then return to straight playback, select multiple items that span the duration where you want swing playback/a different rhythmic feel.

    Note
    • If you want to enable swing playback for a single instrument, select items that belong to that instrument only.

    • If you select an item in the middle of a bar, the rhythmic feel change only takes effect from the start of the next bar.

  2. Open the tempo popover in any of the following ways:
    • Press Shift-T.

    • In the Notations toolbox, click Popovers Popovers button, then Tempo Tempo button.

  3. Enter the appropriate entry for the rhythmic feel you want into the popover.

    When you start entering a rhythmic feel into the tempo popover, a menu appears that shows valid rhythmic feels containing the letters/words you enter, which you can select.

    Note

    If you do not enter the name of a rhythmic feel that exists in your project, the text you entered into the popover is input as a tempo mark and does not enable swing playback.

  4. Input the rhythmic feel change and close the popover in one of the following ways:
    • To input a rhythmic feel change for all staves, press Return.

    • To input a rhythmic feel change only for the selected instrument, press Alt/Opt-Return.

Result

The rhythmic feel used for swing playback is changed from the start of the bar containing the earliest selected item, or the start of the next bar if you selected an item in the middle of a bar.

If you selected multiple items, the rhythmic feel is automatically reset at the position of the last selected item.

If you pressed Alt/Opt-Return, the rhythmic feel change only applies to the instrument on whose staff you selected an item or items. Rhythmic feels added to single instruments apply to all staves belonging to those instruments.

A signpost appears showing the name of the rhythmic feel you input. It is shown above the top staff in the system for rhythmic feel changes that apply to all staves, and directly above the top staff of the instrument for rhythmic feel changes that apply only to single instruments.