MIDI Import Options dialog

The MIDI Import Options dialog allows you to customize the settings Dorico Pro uses to translate MIDI data into a Dorico project when importing and opening MIDI files.

Your MIDI import settings are stored to the track memory, allowing you to reuse settings automatically the next time you open or import MIDI files with similar tracks.

You can open the MIDI Import Options dialog in any of the following ways:

  • Choose File > Import > MIDI and import a MIDI file from the File Explorer/macOS Finder.

  • Choose File > Open and open a MIDI file from the File Explorer/macOS Finder.

MIDI Import Options dialog

At the top of the MIDI Import Options dialog, there are the following options:

Importing MIDI File

Displays the file name of the MIDI file you are importing or opening.

Use track memory

Allows you both to apply settings from the track memory to the current MIDI file, and to save the settings for the current MIDI file to the track memory for reuse in future when importing or opening MIDI files with identical track names.

Interpret as General MIDI

Allows Dorico Pro to use MIDI program changes at the start of tracks to determine instrument types, including identifying tracks using channel 10 as containing unpitched percussion using the General MIDI drum set.

We recommend deactivating this option for MIDI files that do not conform to General MIDI conventions.

Destination

Allows you to select the flow into which you want to import the MIDI file. You can import MIDI as a new flow or into an existing flow in the project; for example, if you want to overwrite specific tracks in an existing flow. Only available when importing MIDI files.

Re-use existing players

Allows you to determine the players to which tracks in the MIDI file are assigned. Only available when importing MIDI files.

  • When activated, tracks from the imported MIDI file are either merged with existing players in the project or overwrite them, depending on your setting for Overwrite all track contents when importing into existing flow/player in the Import Options section.

  • When deactivated, tracks are imported as new players.

Tracks from the MIDI file

Displays all the tracks from the imported or opened MIDI file in a table. Allows you to enable/disable tracks for import and change their player type, instrument, and playing techniques.

MIDI Import Options dialog, Basic editor in the Tracks from the MIDI file section

At the top of the table, there are the following filter controls:

  • Filter field: Allows you to filter tracks by name, instrument, or family.

  • Track visibility: Allows you to show either all tracks or only tracks enabled for import.

The table contains the following columns:

  • #: Displays the number of the track.

  • Enable: Allows you to enable/disable the track for import.

  • MIDI track name: Displays the name of the track in the MIDI file.

  • Player type: Displays the player type for the track. You can change the player type by double-clicking the icon. Icons show the current player type from the following options:

    • Single player

    • Section player

  • Instrument(s) in track: Displays the instruments identified for the track. You can change the instrument by double-clicking the field and selecting an instrument in the instrument picker that opens. If a single track requires multiple instruments, you must use the advanced editor options.

  • Technique(s): Displays the playing techniques identified for the track. You can change the playing technique by double-clicking the field and selecting a playing technique from the menu. If a single track requires multiple playing techniques, you must use the advanced editor options.

    Tip
    • It is not necessary to specify natural or legato playing techniques, as Dorico Pro automatically creates slurs if Detect slurs is activated in the Import Options section.

    • Dorico Pro inputs the corresponding playing techniques at the required positions in the music if Create playing techniques is activated in the Import Options section.

  • Family: Displays the instrument family of the track. For tracks with multiple instruments, the family of the first instrument is displayed.

  • Destination Instrument: Displays the instrument in the project to which the track will be assigned. You can change the destination instrument by double-clicking the field and selecting an instrument from the menu. For example, if you want to assign multiple tracks to the same destination instrument.

  • Max. sim. notes: Displays the number of notes played simultaneously in the track. This can help you identify whether tracks represent single, multiple, or grand staff instruments.

  • Total no. of notes: Displays the total number of notes in the track. Tracks containing no notes might be unnecessary to import.

Tip

You can click each column’s header to change its sort order.

The action bar at the bottom of the table contains the following options:

  • Enable Selected: Enables the selected tracks for import.

  • Disable Selected: Disables the selected tracks for import.

  • Invert Selection: Switches your selection to include all tracks not previously selected.

  • Select All: Selects all tracks.

Advanced editor options

Contains advanced options that allow you to control how the selected track is mapped to players in the project.

MIDI Import Options dialog, Advanced editor options in the Tracks from the MIDI file section

The Advanced editor options are divided into the following sections:

Track settings

Contains a list of instruments in the track selected in the Tracks from the MIDI file table and allows you to view and change details of how Dorico Pro will interpret the track.

  • Instruments in track list: Contains all the instruments in the selected track and allows you to change them. For example, you might add enough horn instruments to match the Max. sim. notes in a horn ensemble track, and therefore ensure each instrument only plays a single note at a time.

    Chords are split between instruments in tracks in pitch order; for example, piccolos receive higher notes than flutes.

    The action bar at the bottom of the list contains the following options:

    • Add Instrument : Opens the instrument picker and allows you to add a new instrument to the track.

    • Duplicate Instrument : Duplicates the selected instrument.

    • Change Instrument : Opens the instrument picker and allows you to change the selected instrument.

    • Delete Instrument : Deletes the selected instrument.

  • Player type: Allows you to choose the player type for the track.

  • Transpose: Allows you to transpose the track by the specified number of half-steps (semitones).

  • Playing tech.: Allows you to select the playing techniques for the track; for example, when assigning multiple tracks that represent different playing techniques to the same player.

    • Start: The playing technique used at the start of the track.

    • End: The playing technique used at the end of the track.

    For example, for a violin part that switches between pizzicato and arco, using two tracks in the MIDI file, selecting Pizzicato/Arco instructs Dorico Pro to input pizz. and arco playing techniques at the appropriate positions.

  • Percussion map: Allows you to select a percussion map for the track. Only available for percussion kits.

  • Articulations: Allows you to select articulations you want to input on all notes in the track.

  • Voice separation mode: Allows you to select a voice approach for chords. Only available when mapping a track to a single instrument. When mapping one track to multiple instruments or multiple tracks to one player, Dorico Pro automatically distributes notes to voices.

    • 1 voice: All music in the track is assigned to the same voice.

    • 2 voice (auto): Music in the track is assigned to two voices on the same staff.

    • 2 voice (fixed split point): Music in the track is assigned to two voices, each on its own staff, using the split point set in the Import Options section.

    • 2 voice (explode): Music in the track is assigned to two voices, each on its own staff. This option can be useful for fretted instruments.

    • 4 voice keyboard (auto): Music in the track is assigned to four voices, spread across two staves. We recommend using this option for grand staff instruments, as it can automatically detect common keyboard textures, such as bass and melody with inner chords.

Players in Dorico project

Contains a list of the players in the project to which tracks will be assigned, including existing players in the project and any new players required by the imported MIDI file. Icons for each player indicate if it is new and its type from the following options:

  • Single player

  • Section player

When you select an instrument in the Instruments in track list in the Track settings section, its current assigned player appears highlighted in the Players in Dorico project list.

You can assign instruments to other players by clicking an available player in the list. Only players of the same type and with the same instrument are available. For example, if multiple tracks represent different techniques played by the same instrument, you can assign them all to the same player.

If no instruments are assigned to a new player, it is automatically deleted.

  • Use MIDI track names allows you to use MIDI track names for player names.

  • Add new player for track allows you to assign the selected instrument to a new player. Only available when you have assigned more than one instrument to the same player.

Import Options

MIDI Import Options dialog, Import Options section

The Import Options section contains the following subsections:

Instruments

Contains options that determine how Dorico Pro identifies and handles instruments from the imported MIDI file.

  • Use GM program changes to identify instruments: Allows you to set whether Dorico Pro uses MIDI program changes or track names to identify instruments.

  • Interpret channel 10 as General MIDI percussion: Allows you to set whether Dorico Pro interprets tracks using channel 10 as conforming to the General MIDI drum set standard.

  • Overwrite all track contents when importing into existing flow/player: When activated, imported tracks overwrite all existing music belonging to destination players. When deactivated, imported tracks merge with existing music belonging to destination players. Only applies when importing MIDI into an existing flow.

Interpretation

Contains options that determine how Dorico Pro interprets key switches and keyboard music from the imported MIDI file.

  • Split point for grand staff instruments: Allows you to change how notes are assigned to each staff for grand staff instruments.

    • Auto: Dorico Pro automatically determines split points according to the musical context.

    • Fixed: Dorico Pro uses the set split point.

  • Split at MIDI note number: Allows you set a MIDI note number at which notes are split between staves. Only available when Fixed is chosen for Split point for grand staff instruments.

  • Filter out key switches outside range: Allows you to set the range of pitches used for notes in the MIDI file. Notes higher/lower than the set range are omitted.

  • Quantize Options: Opens the MIDI Quantize Options dialog, which allows you to customize the quantization options.

Note

Quantization options are linked between Preferences > Play > Quantization and the MIDI Import Options dialog.

Notations

Contains options that determine the handling and detection of notations from the imported MIDI file, such as pedal lines and slurs.

Note
  • Notation settings are linked between Preferences > Play > Recording and the MIDI Import Options dialog.

  • When Detect key signature if missing is activated, Dorico Pro creates a single key signature at the start of the flow. This option works best for music with a strong tonal center that does not modulate.

Performance

Contains options that determine how much of the original performance in the MIDI file is preserved for playback purposes. They do not affect how the imported MIDI notes are notated, as this is controlled by quantization options.

Note

Performance settings are linked between Preferences > Play > Recording and the MIDI Import Options dialog.

Players

Contains options that determine the handling of players and layouts.

For example, if you are importing a MIDI file into an existing project in order to orchestrate, you might want to import players into their own player group without creating any extra part layouts for them.

Video tutorial about MIDI import (English)