User manual

Slur collision avoidance
By default, Dorico SE automatically adjusts the shape and position of slurs to avoid collisions with
items under their arc.
This means that if a notehead under a slur is either higher than the others under a slur curving
upwards, or lower than the others under a slur curving downwards, the curvature of the slur is
adjusted to avoid the collision and keep the notehead under the slur.
Slur with collision avoidance activated (default) Slur with collision avoidance deactivated
Slurs over system and frame breaks
Slurs automatically cross system breaks and frame breaks.
A system or frame break divides slurs into two parts. The end of the rst part of the slur, and the
start of the second part of the slur, are both positioned 1 space vertically outside the staff by
default.
If multiple slurs cross the same system break or frame break, such as if a phrase split by a break
contains nested slurs, the ends of the slurs are stacked automatically and spaced a minimum of
1/2 space apart vertically.
The end of a system showing the
rst slur part; the
end on the right indicates a continuation to the next
system.
The start of the next system showing the second slur
part; the end on the left indicates a continuation
from the previous system.
Slurs in playback
Slurs trigger the legato playing technique in playback. By default, this increases the length of the
MIDI notes without affecting the notation of the music.
Slurred notes sound for 105% of the length indicated by their notated rhythm, as opposed to
non-slurred notes which sound for 85% of their notated rhythm.
The nal note of a slur sounds for 85% of its notated rhythm, as there is no slur after it and the
legato technique is no longer required.
TIP
You can enable independent voice playback for individual instruments, for example, if you have
slurs in one voice and staccatos in another voice.
The example shows how MIDI note length, indicated by the lled, light-colored rectangles, is
increased when slurs are used. The thin, darker rod shows the notated duration of each note.
The rst three notes are non-slurred, so the MIDI length rectangle is shorter than the line of the
Slurs
Slur collision avoidance
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Dorico SE 3.1.10