Steinberg has announced the immediate availability of Dorico 6, the latest generation of its composition and music notation software for macOS, Windows, and iPadOS.
Dorico 6 introduces significant new features aimed at enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of producing professional-quality scores and parts. A key addition is the unique Proofreading panel, which automatically scans projects for potential issues during editing. This includes identifying metrical inconsistencies, duplicate markings, missing dynamics after rests, and even practical performance problems such as insufficient time for instrument changes. The Proofreading panel allows users to filter issues and navigate through them efficiently.
The update also brings substantial advancements in engraving capabilities. Dorico 6 simplifies the creation of complex cutaway scores, a layout technique where empty staves are hidden, which was previously a time-consuming process. This can now be achieved with a single click.
For commercial music, jazz, and ensemble writing, chord symbol functionality has been expanded. Dorico 6 now supports multiple rows of chord symbols for showing alternative harmonies, duration lines to indicate harmonic rhythm, and allows for the creation of custom chord symbol types with precise control over their appearance and playback.
Further new tools in Dorico 6 include Cycle playback for looping sections during editing, new marching percussion sounds developed in partnership with Tapspace, enhanced support for OpenType font features, a new fill view for optimized screen space usage, improvements to condensing for players who double instruments, refined MusicXML import and export, and new fonts.
Daniel Spreadbury, Product Marketing Manager for Dorico, stated:
We like to say that working in Dorico is like having an intelligent assistant by your side. With Dorico 6, that assistant is even smarter, allowing you to have greater confidence that the parts you put on the stand will be played with fewer questions and mistakes, closing the gap between your musical intention and the players' performance. Together with the expanded capabilities in engraving — from cutaways for art music to custom chord symbols for commercial music — Dorico 6 meets the needs of every working musician.
New features in Dorico 6:
- Proofreading: Automatic score checking identifies potential issues in rehearsal and recording sessions.
- Cutaways: Create cutaway scores with a single click.
- Chord symbols: Support for multiple rows, duration lines, and custom chord symbol types.
- Cycle playback: Loop any section of the score during playback.
- Fill view: Optimizes display usage by fitting more music onto the screen.
- System-attached items: Greater control over the positioning of tempos, rehearsal marks, repeats, and large time signatures.
- OpenType features: Enhanced typographical control with full support for OpenType glyph positioning and substitution.
- Flow heading overrides: Customize the appearance of flow headings on any page.
- Marching Percussion Basics: New marching percussion sounds in partnership with Tapspace.
- User settings import and export: Easily transfer customizations between computers.
- Condensing: All instruments held by players can now be condensed.
- More new features: Including improvements to MusicXML, staff labels, instrument name editing, interface refinements, and more.
Pricing and Availability:
Dorico Pro 6 is available for 579€ / $579.99. Dorico Elements 6 is available for 99.99€ / $99.99.
Downloadable updates, upgrades, crossgrades, and educational versions are available through the Steinberg Online Shop.
Customers who activated Dorico Pro 5, Dorico Elements 5, or earlier versions since March 26, 2025, are eligible for a free grace period update to the latest version.
Dorico SE 6 is available as a free download from the Steinberg website. Dorico for iPad is available as a free download from the App Store.
Fully featured, 60-day trial versions of Dorico Pro 6 and Dorico Elements 6 are available for free download from the Steinberg website.
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