Insert mode

Insert mode changes how notes are input and how edits you make outside of note input affect the music. When Insert mode is activated, notes are pushed to subsequent rhythmic positions instead of being overwritten if you input new notes or lengthen existing notes. Similarly, deleting notes or reducing their duration with Insert mode activated pulls surrounding notes closer together without leaving rests between them.

For example, if you input four quarter notes with Insert mode activated, all subsequent notes are pushed four quarter note beats back to accommodate the new notes.

Edits outside of note input that are affected by Insert mode include copying/pasting notes, deleting notes, changing the duration of notes including by adding/removing rhythm dots, or inputting time signatures.

The voices and staves affected by Insert mode depend on the Insert mode scope. The current Insert mode scope is indicated in the Notes toolbox and by the caret during note input.

You can set a single rhythmic position in each flow as an Insert mode stop position, which prevents any material beyond the stop point being affected by inserted notes. For example, if you want to insert notes at the start of a flow but want to preserve material from a specific position later in the flow. Stop positions appear as a vertical translucent line that spans all staves.

  • You can activate/deactivate Insert mode in Write mode by pressing I or clicking Insert in the Notes toolbox.

Note

You cannot have both Insert mode and Chord mode activated simultaneously.

When Insert mode is not activated, Dorico Pro does not add extra beats before an existing time signature if you change a previous time signature. When Insert mode is activated, Dorico Pro inserts beats before existing time signatures to fill the final bar.

Figure 1. 3/4 time signature input without Insert mode activated
Figure 2. 3/4 time signature input with Insert mode activated

Video tutorial about Insert mode (English)