The latest version of Steinberg’s composition and music notation software has just arrived, and comes packed with new features that promise to help users produce their scores faster than ever.
Dorico 6 introduces a new Proofreading panel, and is now capable of automatically scanning users’ scores and parts as they edit, identifying potential issues with the metrical structure of the music, such as bars that are shorter or longer than the prevailing time signature, or unbalanced repeats that may upset the pulse. It can flag up duplicate markings — like telling a violin to play pizzicato, and then repeating that instruction later without an intervening change to another technique — and suggest places where additional markings could be added. The software can also offer practical advice for performances. For example, for players who switch between different instruments while playing, it can identify places where there is insufficient time to change instrument, based on the current tempo of the music. It’s also able to identify technical issues with the playability of material for fretted and unfretted stringed instruments, including difficult stretches and double-stops.
Engraving capabilities are also greatly expanded in Dorico 6, both in page layout and with notations such as chord symbols, and there’s now support for cutaway scores, where staves are hidden for instruments that are resting rather than remaining as empty bars. The page layout was pioneered by influential composers like Lutosławski, Berio and Stravinsky in the 1960s, but has always been laborious to achieve in music notation software. With Dorico 6, it’s now possible to create cutaway scores with a single click.
Alongside the standout new features, Dorico 6 is packed with other powerful tools designed to inspire creativity. A new Cycle Playback mode allows users to loop any section of their music and hear edits in real time, while new marching percussion sounds — delivered in partnership with Tapspace, makers of Virtual Drumline — provide band arrangers with impactful cymbal, bass, tenor and snare drum samples. Other enhancements can be found throughout the application, including support for advanced OpenType font features, a unique new Fill View that makes the most efficient use of users’ display real estate, improvements to condensing, MusicXML import and export, new fonts and much more.
Key Features
Here’s an overview of what’s been introduced in the latest version of Dorico:
- Proofreading: Dorico automatically checks your score as you edit, highlighting issues that could raise questions in rehearsal and recording sessions in the new Proofreading panel.
- Cutaways: Create cutaway scores that match the finest published works of Lutosławski, Ligeti, Berio and Stravinsky in a single click.
- Chord Symbols: Show multiple rows of chord symbols, with optional extender lines. Create your own custom chord symbols, and easily override every aspect of their appearance.
- Cycle Playback: Loop any section of your score during playback, and hear your edits live in the next cycle.
- Fill View: Fill view makes maximum use of your available display, flexibly flowing as many systems of music as possible into the width and height of the window.
- System-Attached Items: Exercise complete control over where tempos, rehearsal marks, repeats and large time signatures appear.
- OpenType Features: Access enhanced typographical control with full support for OpenType glyph positioning and glyph substitution features.
- Flow Heading Overrides: Flow headings provide automatic titles before each new song, movement or piece in your project — now you can control exactly how they appear on every page in every layout.
- Marching Percussion Basics: All the essential sounds you need for marching snares, cymbals, tenors and bass drums — developed in partnership with Tapspace, the makers of Virtual Drumline.
- User Settings Import & Export: Easily move all your customisations to Dorico from one computer to another with import and export of all your user settings.
- Condensing: All instruments held by players can now be condensed, instead of only the first, making it easy to handle players who double.
Compatibility
Dorico 6 is supported on PCs running Windows 10 or above, and Macs running macOS 12 or higher.
Pricing & Availability
Dorico Pro 6 is available now, priced at $579.99£481 including VAT / €579. Dorico Elements 6 is priced at $99.99£83 including VAT / €99.99. A range of updates, upgrades, crossgrades and education versions are available exclusively through the Steinberg Online Shop.
Customers who have activated Dorico Pro 5 or Dorico Elements 5 or earlier versions since 26 March 2025, are eligible for a free grace-period update to the latest version.
Dorico SE 6 is available for free from the Steinberg website, and Dorico for iPad is available for free download from the App Store.
Fully featured, 60-day trial versions of Dorico Pro 6 and Dorico Elements 6 are also available for free download from the Steinberg website, with no obligation to buy, and no payment details necessary.
