Greetings all:

My results with import of notation into Dorico 5 is *very* disappointing.  I imagine it is my lack of practice with this.  Some scores will show only the first few notes and then an open framework (flow) full of rests after that.  The results in other software are better, but also present the composer with a massive editing job to fix notation issues.

I have used the technique that Stephane suggested to open first in Musescore 4 and then export again and THEN open in Dorico, etc.

I would like to know how others on the Windows platform are doing with XML import (Dorico, etc.) and exchange ideas.  If anyone is working on this please message me if you have time to do so.  We can hope that this aspect becomes more and more effective as time goes on - it would be a great help to the creative process and would save us a great deal of time.
 

Happy composing!

The implementations of MusicXML in Notion and Sibelius are considered quite good. However, from the outset, Dorico’s implementation has been regarded as disappointing.

Hi Robert,

 

Yes, I also use Dorico (mainly as a host for Note Performer and NP Sound Engines) and the XML from OM import is extremely unreliable. I'm a Mac user not Windows but can confirm the same issues. It's a shame because otherwise Dorico is a great piece of software. I believe this is a problem on the Dorico not OM side so it's unlikely to improve or be fixed. The Muse to Dorico trick does work but it's a faffy extra step. I have found saving a MIDI file and importing that into Dorico appears to be much more reliable, but not quite the same (it suits my workflow with more focus on rendering audio but likely won't suit notation-focused needs.)

 

Other options are now very limited with the demise of Finale. I have been considering a switch to Sibelius but not keen on paying Avid a subscription. In a trial of this, Sibelius worked well with XML imports. Lilypond works very well on XML import but the main drawback is that it's more code to fiddle with, but the end results are the best quality of all the  notation software I've tried. I've not tried Notion.

 

I think this may be a case of having to compromise and mix and match by use case. Just a useful reminder that software is not a perfect tool, I suppose. Pen and paper can still have its attractions!

 

Andrew

Hi Andrew, this is a great tip! Thanks so much for taking time to respond to this!

 

I will see how it goes for notation with MIDI import.  Only getting started with Dorico so I have not used this method much yet.  I don't use Dorico for electronic music, generally speaking, leaving that up to Nuendo or Cubase.  For notation I have been largely Sibelius (and vector graphics) and to a lesser extent Finale.

Viva pen and paper!

 

rst

MuseScore 4.0 gets the best result with musicxml files.

I agree!  MuseScore 4.0 opens XML outputs from Opusmodus very well indeed.  Users who also use Dorico for engraving will note that despite "improvements to XML import" the latest release of Dorico 5 (Version 5.1.60.2187 (Oct 8 2024)) does a very poor job with opening XML directly.

After "saving" with MuseScore 4.0, the resulting XML does import with MUCH better results to Dorico 5.

Some Opusmodus users suggest that MIDI is better for import into Dorico 5.  In some ways, this may indeed be the better option.  There will always be a great deal of editing to do. But, the starting place is a good one for those with the patience required.  This obviates the need for MusicScore as an intermediary step.