StaffPad
Music Notation and Composition
$49.99 · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS.
MADE FOR COMPOSERS
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StaffPad is designed for composers who want to write music effortlessly, using music notation and audio. Write your music using Apple Pencil, and the app will transform your writing into beautifully typeset notation that can be edited, played back, printed and shared. Record or import audio directly onto your score and edit it intuitively with Apple Pencil. Magically convert your real piano playing or existing recordings into notation using advanced on-device machine learning. Add video, smart symbols and use world leading sample libraries and mix your score with a suite of studio effects. From basic idea to a full film score; StaffPad is the easiest, most powerful and most intuitive way to compose music on iPad.
WRITE NATURALLY
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Write your score with the fluidity of natural handwriting. Use touch and Apple Pencil to quickly edit your notation. Transpose, repeat and structure your score with intuitive gestures and tools. Customise the tempo with a unique tempo staff (or import a tempo map from a MIDI file), add chords either manually or automatically with the chord staff. You can even copy music written in StaffPad into other apps, simply using the normal copy and paste functions.
HEAR YOUR MASTERPIECE
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With a groundbreaking playback engine and over 55 included instruments, StaffPad is ready to perform your written piece instantly. Add industry-standard sample libraries, adapted and customised for StaffPad, from some of the world's leading sample developers. This is a leap forward for composers working at the highest levels.
SHARE WITH SCORESYNC
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Once you're ready to perform or record your work, tap the ScoreSync button in StaffPad and your score is instantly shared across a Wi-Fi network to any device running the free StaffPad Reader app (available in the App Store). The Readers present each individual musical part beautifully formatted, update in realtime with any changes you make to your score, handle automatic page turns, and play back in perfect time with a synchronised metronome, for capturing the perfect recording every time.
IMPORT AND EXPORT
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StaffPad imports and exports MusicXML and MIDI files for easily working with other music apps. You can also export your playback as WAV, AAC or MP3. You can import audio files into your score, with support for most major audio formats.
WORK WITH AUDIO AND VIDEO
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For the first time, you can seamlessly mix audio with your notated score. Record directly onto the score canvas using your device's in-built microphones, or import loops, Tempo map freeform/rubato performances using the tempo staff. Add shine to your production with a suite of studio quality DSP effects, and polish with precise automation.
PIANO AND MIDI CAPTURE
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Record your real piano and convert it into notation. Don't have a real piano? Don't worry - you can connect a USB or Bluetooth MIDI keyboard and record your performance in realtime, converting to notation as you play.
PRINT / PDF
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As well as digital parts via ScoreSync, StaffPad will automatically format and print parts or export PDFs for you. Customise the paper size, bar number styles, number of bars per line, scaling, margins, multi-bar consolidation and more. StaffPad automatically formats the score for consistent presentation.
more I really enjoy this app but it is excessively difficult to consistently draw the accidentals correctly. Flats in particular are especially hard to get right. It’s moments like this that can really kill the momentum of writing. Adding accidentals to the tool bar will be a very simple fix to this issue that way I can just toggle to the accidental I need instead of fighting with my iPad to draw the accidentals perfectly. You should also add note values to the tool bar. Just about every notation software has this option and will be a game changer for this app. Again, instead of fighting with my iPad to write out the notes perfectly, I can just select the note value I need and put it on the staff. In fact, why not combine both of those ideas. For example, if you need to draw quarter notes, just select the quarter note value in the tool bar before you draw the notes. That way, the software knows no matter how poorly the note is drawn that its supposed to recognize the notes as quarter notes. Same thing with tuplets. These two things alone will easily make this the best music notation software bar none. The interface is gorgeous and the sounds are phenomenal. However, all of that is useless if 99% of your time is spent fighting with the software. I am BEGGING you guys to please include these features in the next update.
I really enjoy this app but it is excessively difficult to consistently draw the accidentals correctly. Flats in particular are especially hard to get right. It’s moments like this that can really kill the momentum of writing. Adding accidentals to the tool bar will be a very simple fix to this issue that way I can just toggle to the accidental I need instead of fighting with my iPad to draw the accidentals perfectly. You should also add note values to the tool bar. Just about every notation software has this option and will be a game changer for this app. Again, instead of fighting with my iPad to write out the notes perfectly, I can just select the note value I need and put it on the staff. In fact, why not combine both of those ideas. For example, if you need to draw quarter notes, just select the quarter note value in the tool bar before you draw the notes. That way, the software knows no matter how poorly the note is drawn that its supposed to recognize the notes as quarter notes. Same thing with tuplets. These two things alone will easily make this the best music notation software bar none. The interface is gorgeous and the sounds are phenomenal. However, all of that is useless if 99% of your time is spent fighting with the software. I am BEGGING you guys to please include these features in the next update.
I wrote a review shortly after I bought the app and shared my enthusiasm at the time. Well, my appreciation for this app has only grown. I have bought the Berlin sound libraries, a number of fine samples libraries, and Voxos ( about $800 worth of sound libraries in total). This app, with sound libraries of this quality, is truly the fulfillment of a lifelong dream…write out musical ideas and realize them in high quality with ease. I look forward to how the app will evolve, but I hope that you continue to build on the core vision, which, for me, is the support for easily inputting notation by hand and translating it into high quality sounds. Currently, I get 80-90 percent of the way there with StaffPad. And, I am grateful for that! To get the last 10-20 percent, requires exporting midi or xml in order to fine tune performance with more fully featured sound samples (For example, VSL synchron series or EWQL libraries). Unfortunately, the last 10-20 percent requires almost starting from scratch in a DAW (Cubase or Studio One for me) as almost none of the performance subtlety output via midi or xml translates. Not sure what the best solution would be…integration with more libraries, or the addition of some sort of export settings? Maybe the ability to draw more accurate cc curves and export them to channels as desired? Not really sure. Anyway, thank you!
I wrote a review shortly after I bought the app and shared my enthusiasm at the time. Well, my appreciation for this app has only grown. I have bought the Berlin sound libraries, a number of fine samples libraries, and Voxos ( about $800 worth of sound libraries in total). This app, with sound libraries of this quality, is truly the fulfillment of a lifelong dream…write out musical ideas and realize them in high quality with ease. I look forward to how the app will evolve, but I hope that you continue to build on the core vision, which, for me, is the support for easily inputting notation by hand and translating it into high quality sounds. Currently, I get 80-90 percent of the way there with StaffPad. And, I am grateful for that! To get the last 10-20 percent, requires exporting midi or xml in order to fine tune performance with more fully featured sound samples (For example, VSL synchron series or EWQL libraries). Unfortunately, the last 10-20 percent requires almost starting from scratch in a DAW (Cubase or Studio One for me) as almost none of the performance subtlety output via midi or xml translates. Not sure what the best solution would be…integration with more libraries, or the addition of some sort of export settings? Maybe the ability to draw more accurate cc curves and export them to channels as desired? Not really sure. Anyway, thank you!
This is one of the absolute best music composition, notation and composition and notation learning tools on iOS. The software can be very frustrating at first, but remember creating quality music notation with pencil and paper by hand can be laborious as well. Take time to work through the tutorials and practice using the software with the Apple Pencil. Within a day at most, you’ll find it to be one of the best tools on the market. Also, the in-app sample libraries built for StaffPad are ALL fantastic high-quality libraries for a good price. No, the libraries are not the complete libraries for use with DAWs like Logic Pro X, but they are substantial versions of those same libraries specifically built to work with StaffPad. The libraries are very nicely integrated with the StaffPad notation library - articulations, volume, et al. If you’re starting out, and you want to get good at composition and orchestration, this is a great tool to have at your side while studying the art. Further, StaffPad is a great tool for those with a lot of experience as well. Want to use it in combination with your DAW for portions of film scores? Your StaffPad compositions can be readily exported in formats your favorite DAW can use as well. Lastly, there are a number of reviews expressing frustration, and I too had a lot of frustration because I was expecting the note recognition to follow my prior learned habits. Fortunately, I decided to work a little more with the App. Give it some time before deciding, and you will not be disappointed. The folks who wrote StaffPad really know what they are doing. A really outstanding and forward-thinking music App.
This is one of the absolute best music composition, notation and composition and notation learning tools on iOS. The software can be very frustrating at first, but remember creating quality music notation with pencil and paper by hand can be laborious as well. Take time to work through the tutorials and practice using the software with the Apple Pencil. Within a day at most, you’ll find it to be one of the best tools on the market. Also, the in-app sample libraries built for StaffPad are ALL fantastic high-quality libraries for a good price. No, the libraries are not the complete libraries for use with DAWs like Logic Pro X, but they are substantial versions of those same libraries specifically built to work with StaffPad. The libraries are very nicely integrated with the StaffPad notation library - articulations, volume, et al. If you’re starting out, and you want to get good at composition and orchestration, this is a great tool to have at your side while studying the art. Further, StaffPad is a great tool for those with a lot of experience as well. Want to use it in combination with your DAW for portions of film scores? Your StaffPad compositions can be readily exported in formats your favorite DAW can use as well. Lastly, there are a number of reviews expressing frustration, and I too had a lot of frustration because I was expecting the note recognition to follow my prior learned habits. Fortunately, I decided to work a little more with the App. Give it some time before deciding, and you will not be disappointed. The folks who wrote StaffPad really know what they are doing. A really outstanding and forward-thinking music App.
Unusual app that allows handwritten notation to be rendered as standard "engraved" music. Initially, I had some trouble getting the app to recognize my handwriting. However, with time and a few workarounds, I was able to manage to get my notes into the program fairly efficiently. There are some useful tricks that can be used. For instancel;l, rather than trying to position notes on distant ledger lines or in other awkward positions, initially place them centrally on the staff and then move them into position. One thing I very much like about this app is that there are relatively few modes, and the toolbars are for the most part logically laid out without too many submenus in layers. Rather than have to select a different tool for rests, slurs, ties, etc., the single pencil mode can be used for all. The built-in sound samples are phenomenal (including various keyboards and a full range of orchestral instruments), and there are plenty of libraries available for more specific needs (solo violin, viola, cello, etc.). Scores can be exported as serviceable PDF files for printing. The layout options are somewhat limited, as is the control over the systems and pagination. However, StaffPad can also export as XML for further work in a dedicated music engraving program, or as MIDI. Currently, there are some quirks and limitations, such as the inability to use courtesy accidentals, and the inability to change clef mid-measure. But I hope these things will be fixed in a future update. There is an active and helpful Facebook group dedicated to StaffPad. Considering StaffPad’s exceptional sample library, and the ease and relative simplicity of its use, I think the price for the app is very reasonable.
Unusual app that allows handwritten notation to be rendered as standard "engraved" music. Initially, I had some trouble getting the app to recognize my handwriting. However, with time and a few workarounds, I was able to manage to get my notes into the program fairly efficiently. There are some useful tricks that can be used. For instancel;l, rather than trying to position notes on distant ledger lines or in other awkward positions, initially place them centrally on the staff and then move them into position. One thing I very much like about this app is that there are relatively few modes, and the toolbars are for the most part logically laid out without too many submenus in layers. Rather than have to select a different tool for rests, slurs, ties, etc., the single pencil mode can be used for all. The built-in sound samples are phenomenal (including various keyboards and a full range of orchestral instruments), and there are plenty of libraries available for more specific needs (solo violin, viola, cello, etc.). Scores can be exported as serviceable PDF files for printing. The layout options are somewhat limited, as is the control over the systems and pagination. However, StaffPad can also export as XML for further work in a dedicated music engraving program, or as MIDI. Currently, there are some quirks and limitations, such as the inability to use courtesy accidentals, and the inability to change clef mid-measure. But I hope these things will be fixed in a future update. There is an active and helpful Facebook group dedicated to StaffPad. Considering StaffPad’s exceptional sample library, and the ease and relative simplicity of its use, I think the price for the app is very reasonable.
Playback
- Fixed playback sometimes staying silent, or starting late, after pressing play.
- Berlin Harps glissandi now play back.
Crash fixes
- Fixed a crash when removing the only bar of a score that has a chord staff.
- Fixed a crash when pasting into a selection that includes audio parts.
- Fixed a crash when dragging a note far above or below its staff.
- Fixed crashes when beams are created from handwriting recognition or realtime transcription.
- Fixed a crash when using undo while entering lyrics.
- Fixed a crash when using undo or redo while the Instruments page is open. Undo and redo are now unavailable on that page.
- Fixed crashes when cancelling an audio export, or when closing the score during an export.
- Fixed a crash on the welcome screen related to iCloud templates.
Export
- Exporting MusicXML no longer interferes with the open score.
Text
- Fixed Insert Text sometimes showing no text field or keyboard.
Library and iCloud
- Deleted and converted scores now go to Recently Deleted.
- iCloud scores and templates now appear as soon as they finish downloading.
- Library search results now always match what was typed.
Settings and UI
- The tuning frequency in Settings now always shows the selected value.
- The welcome screen no longer flickers when switching apps.
Score safety:
- Disabled sqlite in-memory ACUUM completely for now. Which tries to shrink the score files.
- Large scores could get corrupted if killed half-way by the iOS watchdog
- Added way to recover broken scores after a failed conversion
1.6.7 5d ago
- StaffPad launches on iOS 16 again
Playback and export
- Fixed notes going silent after being moved up or down by one step
- Dynamic Mastering is now applied to MP3 and WAV exports, so exports sound like playback
Editing
- Fixed a freeze when pasting more than one bar
- Chords from the context menu are inserted on the right staff
- Chord entry continues in a newly inserted bar on notation staves
- Improved recognition of rhythm dots
- Improved recognition of wide crescendos, and the hairpin tool no longer defaults to diminuendo
- Double-tapping a video staff toggles the video window reliably again
- Restored the keyboard shortcuts for rewind, fast forward, the eraser toggle, hold eraser (E) and sketch (D)
- Text being edited stays visible above the keyboard, and undo while typing works correctly
- Fixes for let ring and for cancelling transcription
Files
- StaffPad v1 scores can be imported again
- Scores that cannot be opened or imported now show a clear message and point you to support instead of failing silently
- Saving is faster for scores with audio or video
Connectivity
- ScoreSync shows a message instead of crashing when it cannot start or stops unexpectedly
Stability
- Fixed crashes when opening presets for an instrument whose library was removed, entering chords, editing staves, dragging audio fades and loops, closing scores, and returning to the app after it was in the background
1.6.6 Oct 22
This update focuses on stability, reliability, and improving the StaffPad experience.
- Fixed crashes involving Apple Pencil Pro, tempo editing, and Piano Transcription.
- Improved stability when editing scores, copying parts, and exporting audio.
- Improved instrument library downloads and purchase restoration.
- Improved iCloud score handling.
- Fixed notation layout issues involving lyrics and hairpins.
- Resolved various toolbar, fullscreen, window sizing, and popover issues.
- Refined icons and other interface details.
- Additional bug fixes and performance improvements.
1.6.5 Oct 19
This update contains fixes and enhancements
- Fixes a problem with display of tuplets when using Piano Capture
- Fixes an issue with the Muse Solo Cello
- Fixes an issue that could affect playback if a tempo point was created at the very end of the score
- Eliminates clicks/artifacts that could sometimes be present in score audio export.
- Fixes an issue with symbol placement above the stave in certain situations.
- Improved the way that instrument changes are represented in the "ghost staff" - i.e when scrolling past the initial instrument name
- Fixed an issue that can cause the score to continue playing even after the document has been closed
- Fixed some silent notes that could occur when using the built-in Oboe sound
1.6.4 11/10/2023
This fixes several issues discovered since the large 1.6 update, including
- A fix for some MIDI keyboards that could cause held notes
- A fix for some clicks that could occur during playback and audio export
- A fix for an issue that could sometimes result in instruments not being available in a new score.
- fixes for a few reported crashes
1.6.3 10/24/2023
This is a hot fix to address a few issues found in the 1.6 release
- Fix time signature dialog chopped off on iOS 17
- Various playback fixes (including choppy sounding playback, clicks, artifacts, and occasional crashes)
- Fix issues with transcription on some systems
- Fix silent playback bugs for several instruments (single staff piano, Bb trombone, C trumpet, and A clarinet)
- Fix print layout with chord symbols
1.6.2 10/06/2023
- Use your real piano to input notes in StaffPad! Piano Capture uses the device microphones to convert audio signals into music notation. Record your real acoustic piano performance and see it convert into notation as you play - or convert an existing piano performance into notation.
- Don't have a real piano? We've got you covered: you can now connect a wired or wireless MIDI keyboard and record directly into StaffPad in realtime.
- Video Staffs are here! Import a video into your score and work with it easily - move it around, trim the start and end points, and export it with your music.
- New Muse Sounds libraries open up incredibly expressive playback for orchestra and choir. Grab them FREE, in the StaffPad Store.
- Harmonise mixer effect; automatically create harmonies on vocal audio staffs, using the chord information in the score. Great for backing vocals!
- A new Dynamic Mastering effect can be applied from the score settings; Dynamic Mastering applies smart loudness, EQ, stereo widening, enhancer and limiting to act as an instant mastering engineer.
- Smarter MIDI import: we've designed a new algorithm that is better equipped to convert and clean up messier MIDI performances.
There's also many smaller enhancements and improvements throughout the app.
We hope you continue to enjoy making music with StaffPad!
1.6.1 09/26/2023
What’s new in 1.5.7?
- NEW: Time Staff. Add a time staff, choose a time base (e.g mins/secs, or a SMPTE timecode).
- NEW: Drop labelled time markers directly on the time staff
- NEW: Reduce Treble, and Reduce Bass mixer effects for audio and instrument staffs.
- NEW: Niente hairpins. You can now drag down and up on hairpins to add a niente circle. This ensures the dynamic goes to or from silence, saving edits to the expression layer.
- Dynamics will render above the staff for the print view when lyrics are used
- Fixed some audio import issues on Windows
- Fixed an issue when recording to stereo staffs on mono-mic iPads
- Various fixes to file format stability
- Fixed touch keyboard issues on Windows 11
- Adjusted logic for Round Robin samples on chords, resulting in more realistic RR playback
- General MusicXML import and export fixes
- Fixes for playback jumps during repeats, DC and coda structures
- StaffPad will now favour tempo numbers when tempo words and numbers are used together (e.g Allegro 140bpm will favour the explicit tempo of 140bpm)
- Fixed an issue with the abbreviation display for audio staffs within the “ghost staff”
- Various stability fixes and performance improvements
1.5.7 07/06/2022
- Fixed an issue whereby some dynamics could be rendered incorrectly during print/page layout processes
- Fixed various MusicXML import and export issues
1.5.6 02/18/2022
- We fixed an issue whereby lasso copy and paste of dynamics could sometimes freeze, if the selection crossed multiple time signatures
- We fixed an issue related to writing in an open key in a transposed score, which could sometimes result in unexpected accidentals showing through
- We fixed an issue with hairpin display and dynamic symbols colliding with bar lines in some circumstances
- We fixed an issue whereby multi-rests weren’t displayed in the full score if you had a bar number staff present
- We fixed an issue whereby tapping on a beat marker on a chord staff on an empty score could sometimes cause the app to crash
- Various other minor bug fixes
1.5.5 02/16/2022
This is a hot fix update to address an issue with copy and paste that could occur in some situations.
-- previous update notes below
This minor release is focused on fixes and enhancements:
- You can now choose if multirests should break for tempo changes on the printed score: Choose "curated" if you'd prefer the multirest to ignore dense tempo changes - this can make the display of parts more efficient when working with detailed tempo maps and click tracks.
- Fixed an issue with playback of portamento and glissandi after a tied note
- Fixed an issue with breath marks not affecting multiple voices
- Fixed an issue whereby you could sometimes draw on an audio staff, but not erase that ink stroke
- Addressed some layout issues involving boxed text, rehearsal marks and bar lines.
- Fixed a responsiveness issue with erasing cautionary accidentals
- Fixed the display of half rests on staffs with fewer than 5 lines
- Fixed scores being corrupted if you swapped voices on two-note tremolos
- Fixed an issue with the core library strings not always playing back simulated measured tremolo
- Fixed an issue with crossfading loops on some sample libraries
- Chords are now included in copy/paste images
- Lasso select is now more responsive and easier to use
- Fixed the playback of two note tremolo when the second note was below the first.
- Manually created chord labels are now transposed if selected with the lasso or bar selection mode and transposed
- Fixed an issue that cause StaffPad to crash if the “full forward” shortcut was used during audio recording
- Fixed semitone offset for playback of generated mordents and turns
- Fixed an app crash if a MIDI or MusicXML file was imported that contained unsupported characters
- Made audio recording more reliable after minimising or backgrounding then returning to StaffPad, whilst record mode is enabled
- Fixed the timing of the core bass guitar library C#3 note (FF layer)
- Fixed successive insert text states after a boxed text formatting option was chosen previously
- Adjusted the core library Bass Trombone to cover extended ranges
- Fixed some collisions that could occur with boxed text
- Fixed an issue that could sometimes cause the Welcome Page to render invisible after returning from a score or rotating the device
- Fixed an issue causing repeated sections to not always take the correct tempo
- Fixed an issue that could sometimes occur when dragging/copying the final bar in a piece
- Fixed a crrupted state that could occur if using infinite or invalid musical repeat structures
- Fixes some MIDI fie import issues when e.g a tempo isn’t present in the MIDI file
- Fixes an issue with note events sometimes wrapping around a repeat section
- Fixes an issue with small auto-crossfade amounts being applied to audio clips
- Transposition of chord labels on printed parts now includes manually added chords
- Fixed a crash that occur when importing “bad” MIDI that contained erroneous track lengths
- Fixed an issue that could cause mutes/slurs to snap incorrectly to previously erased elements
- Fixed an issue that could occur when lengthening the score via a time signature change, when a long audio clip is present
- You can now import MusicXML exported from other iPad apps directly from the share sheet
- Various performance improvements
1.5.4 02/02/2022
This minor release is focused on fixes and enhancements:
- You can now choose if multirests should break for tempo changes on the printed score: Choose "curated" if you'd prefer the multirest to ignore dense tempo changes - this can make the display of parts more efficient when working with detailed tempo maps and click tracks.
- Fixed an issue with playback of portamento and glissandi after a tied note
- Fixed an issue with breath marks not affecting multiple voices
- Fixed an issue whereby you could sometimes draw on an audio staff, but not erase that ink stroke
- Addressed some layout issues involving boxed text, rehearsal marks and bar lines.
- Fixed a responsiveness issue with erasing cautionary accidentals
- Fixed the display of half rests on staffs with fewer than 5 lines
- Fixed scores being corrupted if you swapped voices on two-note tremolos
- Fixed an issue with the core library strings not always playing back simulated measured tremolo
- Fixed an issue with crossfading loops on some sample libraries
- Chords are now included in copy/paste images
- Lasso select is now more responsive and easier to use
- Fixed the playback of two note tremolo when the second note was below the first.
- Manually created chord labels are now transposed if selected with the lasso or bar selection mode and transposed
- Fixed an issue that cause StaffPad to crash if the “full forward” shortcut was used during audio recording
- Fixed semitone offset for playback of generated mordents and turns
- Fixed an app crash if a MIDI or MusicXML file was imported that contained unsupported characters
- Made audio recording more reliable after minimising or backgrounding then returning to StaffPad, whilst record mode is enabled
- Fixed the timing of the core bass guitar library C#3 note (FF layer)
- Fixed successive insert text states after a boxed text formatting option was chosen previously
- Adjusted the core library Bass Trombone to cover extended ranges
- Fixed some collisions that could occur with boxed text
- Fixed an issue that could sometimes cause the Welcome Page to render invisible after returning from a score or rotating the device
- Fixed an issue causing repeated sections to not always take the correct tempo
- Fixed an issue that could sometimes occur when dragging/copying the final bar in a piece
- Fixed a crrupted state that could occur if using infinite or invalid musical repeat structures
- Fixes some MIDI fie import issues when e.g a tempo isn’t present in the MIDI file
- Fixes an issue with note events sometimes wrapping around a repeat section
- Fixes an issue with small auto-crossfade amounts being applied to audio clips
- Transposition of chord labels on printed parts now includes manually added chords
- Fixed a crash that occur when importing “bad” MIDI that contained erroneous track lengths
- Fixed an issue that could cause mutes/slurs to snap incorrectly to previously erased elements
- Fixed an issue that could occur when lengthening the score via a time signature change, when a long audio clip is present
- You can now import MusicXML exported from other iPad apps directly from the share sheet
- Various performance improvements
1.5.3 01/31/2022
There’s been a few general improvements, including some work to further extend battery life on ProMotion displays. Change log:
- Fixed importing MusicXML from other apps via the iOS share sheet
- Fixed MIDI import for MIDI files containing nested or irregular tuplets
- Fixed an issue caused by changing the time signature near the end of score containing an audio file
- Fixed an issue which resulted in duplicated scores not retaining saved audio
- Fixed an issue with tempo markings that could cause corrupted scores
- Printing multiple individual parts with multi-rests now works correctly
- Editing arranger and copyright from the Edit Details screen now saves correctly
- Made it easier to insert popular chord qualities such as minmaj9 etc
- Invalid repeat/coda structures no longer cause a score crash
- Mid bar instrument changes are handled more reliably
- Fixes piano import for MusicXML files resulting in piano (audio) staffs, rather than notation staffs
- Fixed crash if chord input starts with a / character
- Fixed some issues with glissandos that could cause score corruption
- Fixed issues that could be caused by mute lines and slurs ending on a rest/empty beat position
- Fixed a layout issue whereby sometimes chord symbols don’t line up with notes
- Various safety fixes to address some UI crashes discovered
1.5.2 01/13/2022
This is a hotfix update that addresses a few issues:
- We fixed an issue that could cause excessive battery drain
- We fixed an issue with fermatas at the end of a score
- We fixed an issue with playing back an instrument that was in the process of downloading and/or updating
- We fixed a few issues with glissandi symbols
- We fixed an issue that could affect opening scores containing invalid characters in the title/filename
We hope you're enjoying the huge audio update to StaffPad so far, and wish you the best for the holiday season!
1.5.1 12/29/2021
Welcome to the StaffPad Audio Update! This is a huge release for StaffPad, with support for importing, recording and editing audio right on the score canvas.
Audio Staffs
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Audio Staffs live next to regular notation staffs, and hold audio clips. You can import or record multiple audio clips on each audio staff, and add as many audio staffs as you like to create full productions. You can edit audio clips with Apple Pencil; move, trim, split, fade, loop and change the gain using easy editing handles on each audio clip. Of course, you can copy, cut and paste using StaffPad's selection tools, and automate the volume and pan from the Automation Layer and even add text to audio staffs.
Tempo Mapping
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If you don't know the tempo of your audio, for example if it wasn't recorded to a metronome, you can easily tempo map it using the new Tempo Mapping feature found within the tempo staff. Drag the bar and beat lines to match the transients of your waveform, and StaffPad will build a tempo map for you.
Adaptive Audio
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StaffPad will keep your audio in sync with your score tempo and key changes using powerful tempo and pitch shifting algorithms. You can tell StaffPad the original key and tempo of imported audio by long-pressing on an audio clip and choosing "Set Clip Tempo" and "Set Clip Tuning". From then on, any changes you make to the tempo or key will be reflected in all the audio in your score.
Elements
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Elements are royalty free production sounds and loops for use in your score. You can search for, preview and drag in Elements from the new Elements browser. More Elements will be added over time to build a huge library of custom, StaffPad specific sounds to elevate your work further.
Studio Quality Effects
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StaffPad now includes a suite of studio quality effects that you can use on both audio staffs and regular notation staffs. Turn your score from a natural sound to a modern record production by applying compression, EQ, reverbs, delays, chorus effects and more - with specialised processors for specific types of instruments.
Audio is conformed to the correct format and standard, and stored within the StaffPad score file, so you never have to worry about missing audio files or file management. Audio is truly a game changer for composers who work with notation.
Of course, there's also a few minor features which we've added to help the composition process:
- You can now add "pizz" and "arco" instructions easily with the new quick insert tile. Tap once to add a pizz instruction, then again to add an arco instruction. Drag up to change the pizz to a snap (or "Bartok") pizzicato symbol.
- You can give you score custom cover art: From the Welcome Screen, choose "Edit Details" then tap the camera icon. Choose an existing photo, import a file, or take a photo with your device's camera. You can choose to print this cover art as a cover page too.
- You can now duration-drag rests as well as notes.
- You can toggle between automation layers from a single menu, rather than have to cycle between them
- We've localised the StaffPad Store into more languages and tweaked the design for easier navigation
- There is now a "No Key Signature" option - in fact, this is now the default key signature. This means that new scores are now created in an "open" key, instead of C Major. Open Keys are sometimes useful if you're working with transposing instruments or music that modulates frequently.
Stay happy and healthy -- Happy Holidays to you all!
1.5 12/21/2021
-- This hot fix addresses some issues with audio distortion that could occur with the previous update.
Previous release notes included below:
We've been working hard to improve the app for this maintenance update - but we still managed to squeeze in a few new features!
- You can enjoy a brand new interactive tutorial that guides you through the concepts of the app. This is show automatically to new users, but you can also work through this tutorial at any time by tapping the settings icon and choosing "Interactive Tutorial".
Fixes:
- We've made the "tap to finalise" action more robust against adding unintentional markings to other bars
- We fixed an issue when importing MusicXML that could result in multiple tuplets stacked on top of each other
- We also fixed an issue with MusicXML import that could result in double sharps/flats being used in certain key signatures
- We fixed an issue whereby it wasn’t possible to create a minim based tempo
- The red/yellow colour highlight on cut/copied bars now fades out after 10s, rather than sticking around until the paste action is completed
- We fixed some issues relating to audio not restarting after the app was “backgrounded” - this is a complex issue since it also involves reloading samples and things due to the way iPadOS multitasking works. Let us know if you still find problems here.
- We fixed some bugs when switching versions that contain different instrument and bar structures
- We fixed a few issues with the automation staff
- Changing instruments mid-staff is now more reliable
- We’ve fixed some layouts when using keyboard entry on the Welcome Page
- We’ve done a lot of work on the time synchronisation code which keeps StaffPad and StaffPad Reader locked in sync. You’ll need to update StaffPad Reader for this new build to connect properly.
- We addressed some issues of audio distortion that were present in the previous update.
We hope you're enjoying StaffPad - we'll see you in the next update!
1.4.6 04/20/2021
We've been working hard to improve the app for this maintenance update - but we still managed to squeeze in a few new features!
- You can enjoy a brand new interactive tutorial that guides you through the concepts of the app. This is show automatically to new users, but you can also work through this tutorial at any time by tapping the settings icon and choosing "Interactive Tutorial".
Fixes:
- We've made the "tap to finalise" action more robust against adding unintentional markings to other bars
- We fixed an issue when importing MusicXML that could result in multiple tuplets stacked on top of each other
- We also fixed an issue with MusicXML import that could result in double sharps/flats being used in certain key signatures
- We fixed an issue whereby it wasn’t possible to create a minim based tempo
- The red/yellow colour highlight on cut/copied bars now fades out after 10s, rather than sticking around until the paste action is completed
- We fixed some issues relating to audio not restarting after the app was “backgrounded” - this is a complex issue since it also involves reloading samples and things due to the way iPadOS multitasking works. Let us know if you still find problems here.
- We fixed some bugs when switching versions that contain different instrument and bar structures
- We fixed a few issues with the automation staff
- Changing instruments mid-staff is now more reliable
- We’ve fixed some layouts when using keyboard entry on the Welcome Page
- We’ve done a lot of work on the time synchronisation code which keeps StaffPad and StaffPad Reader locked in sync. You’ll need to update StaffPad Reader for this new build to connect properly.
We hope you're enjoying StaffPad - we'll see you in the next update!
1.4.5 04/14/2021
This is a small hotfix update that addresses the following issues:
- We've reverted a change to the way that manually scrolling the score during playback works; the view will no longer jump back to the playhead once pressing pause/stop.
- We've improved the French translations (thanks to Damien, Sebastien)
- We've added Polish as a language option (thanks Jan!)
- We've improved the UI layout when displaying other locales
1.4.1 12/31/2020
We’ve been working hard since October to make StaffPad even better. 2020 has certainly been a whirlwind if StaffPad’s lifecycle, and we don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon (in fact, quite the opposite)… Without further ado, here’s what’s new.
1. Localisation: we now support additional languages in the UI. We’re still working on translation here, but this is a good start. Expect further refinements and improvements in future updates.
2. We’ve added the breath mark/comma as a new symbol. The breath mark shortens the note duration, and on some upcoming instruments will actually trigger a real breathe in sample!
3. You can now apply staccato/staccatissimo, accent/marcato and tenuto symbols via the Symbols palette too - this is useful for adding many of these articulations in one go, rather than having to draw each one manually.
4. Grace notes can now be acciaccaturas or appoggiaturas (move the pen up or down whilst inserting to change their type), and playback correctly now. The acciaccatura occurs before the notes, whereas the appoggiaturas occur on the note
5. Recognition improvements: we’re always improving the recognition engine and this update is no exception.
6. Better keyboard and trackpad shortcut support for iOS, bringing near-parity with Windows.
7. During playback, you can now set the viewport to update when the playhead marker leaves the screen, rather than have it lock it to the center position.
8. Mordents should playback more accurately than before depending on the key signature and type.
9. We’ve improved the response of instruments that feature fast legato repetitions
10. Two note trills play back more realistically on some instruments
11. You can reset the volume/pan/reverb sliders by double tapping on them
12. MusicXML import has been refined resulting in more accurate conversions, even from poorly formed XML
13. Fixed MusicXML export issue with empty bars
14. Fixed an issue whereby a Fine or D.S marking could show up sometimes unexpectedly (oops)
15. General fixes and enhancements
Thanks for being part of the StaffPad family in 2020. Happy holidays and see you in 2021!
1.4 12/23/2020
* Hot fix release for accessing instruments in new scores whilst offline
1.3.1 11/20/2020
StaffPad 1.3 contains new features and fixes to improve the writing experience.
New Features:
・Additional note head styles
We've added circled, diamond, triangle, small slash and ghost/parantheses note head styles.
・Dark Mode
Perfect for low-light environments; you can now enable Dark Mode in the app settings to adjust the app's colour palette to suit lower light environments. This can be really useful when working late at night (as we all do, from time to time!)
・Multi-line text
You can now press shift+enter to create a new line whilst creating text within your score.
・Chord Slash tool
You can now convert your chords written with standard note heads into a single "large slash" representation and back again using the Chord Slash tool. This lets you write rhythmic figures with precise voicing, then compress down to easy-to-read slash notes, whilst retaining playback capabilities.
・Harp Pedal support
This is great for those using harp within their compositions. You can know customise harp glissandos, and add pedal diagrams using a specially designed pedal board input method. You can also switch between a text and a pictogram representation of the pedal/scale diagram.
StaffPad will also attempt to add harp pedal instructions for you automatically if you enable the "Show Pedals" toggle option within the Harp's "Edit staff" control. Please note, this is meant to be a guide only - always check with a harpist before a real performance!
There are various fixes and improvements; here are just a few:
・We've totally rewritten our Downloads & Updates mechanism. Windows user gain a totally new Downloads & Updates screen within the app (at the bottom of the Store page), and both platforms now enjoy far faster updates to in-app purchase libraries, and more efficient downloads.
・We've updated the layout engine to better avoid orphaning single bars on the last page
・There are improvements to rendering under the hood which should result in faster interactions when dragging notes and text
・We've improved the support on iOS for the trackpad
・We've fixed a few issues caused by dragging notes to adjust their duration
・We've improved compatibility with iOS14's "scribble" feature
・We resolved an issue that could cause the app to crash when trying to export MusicXML from the Welcome Page (iOS only)
・We've fixed an issue with AAC export (iOS only)
・We've fixed an issue that could cause the app to crash whilst importing an invalid, corrupt or badly formed MIDI file
・We have added more tempo directions; such as con brio, nobilemente, tranquilo, allargando, piu mosso etc (full list available here)
・We've fixed an issue when trying to edit/add a tempo immediately after a fermata
・Fermatas now apply themselves automatically "down the page" during inserting
・We fixed a few issues with dynamics drag that could cause incorrect lengths being reported and general instability
・We've improved the performance of the app for users with large score libraries (iOS only)
・The Chord Staff will now act as a "master" chord track; toggling "Show Chords" on instrument staffs will now show the chords from the Chord Staff rather than a per instrument local analysis.
・StaffPad will now always print the first tempo on parts, even if they occur during a multi-rest.
・Manually flipped stem directions will now persist between score saves.
・Various other fixes and improvements
Have fun!
Best wishes,
The StaffPad Team
1.3 10/21/2020
- this update contains a minor bug fix to help ensure sequential "untitled scores" are saved correctly
1.2.2 07/12/2020
StaffPad 1.2.1 contains new features and fixes
- FEATURE: Note stretch: tap, hold and drag a note (or chord left or right to change it's length
- FEATURE: Drag a dynamic up or down with the Pencil to change it's value. Drag down to lower the dynamic value, or drag up to increase it.
- Various recognition improvements: in particular, improvements to dynamics symbols and hairpins
- You can now copy and paste chord symbols on regular staffs, not just the chord staff
- Chords from the chord staff will now show on regular staffs too, where appropriate
- Tuplets are no longer swung in swing playback mode
- When transposing your selection, the "change key signature" toggle is now off by default
- Slurs now properly update when toggling transposing score mode
- Instrument names are more responsive
- The lasso tool is now more responsive on activation
- Chords are imported and exported via MusicXML more reliably
- Selections that are copied and pasted into other apps no longer show a 1px black border around them
- Improvements to the Versions feature, which is now more robust and responsive
- File/score naming is less sensitive to "special" characters; correctly handling backslashes, speech marks and other non-standard characters
- Support for new library: StaffPad Essential Drummers - 4 kits, 27 different presets covering pop, rock, funk and hip-hop.
- Release of libraries: Ambience One, Taylor Davis Violin, Tina Guo Cello
- Various other smaller bug fixes and enhancements
1.2.1 06/28/2020
This is a hot fix update to restore the video tutorials in the Store, fixes an issue affecting the paste button when copying/pasting between scores, and resolves an issue with the built in marimba sound that could cause crashes on some devices.
For reference, here is what was new in 1.1:
- New Downloads & Updates manager. This can be found at the bottom of the Store page, and makes the tasks of updating, uninstalling or reinstalling sounds much easier. This page will also display the total amount of storage free that you have on your iPad. You’ll have to enter your Apple ID to view any updates or downloads in your account that aren’t on your device.
- Stem Export. You can now choose to export every staff in your score as its own audio file. Stems are exported and archived into a zip file for easy sharing via services like Dropbox, or AirDrop
- You can now copy and paste between score files
- Undo/Redo is now possible via standard iOS multitouch gestures on iPadOS. Swipe left or right with three fingers to undo/redo.
Recognition:
- Various recognition enhancements.
- Double flats re-added to the recognition engine
- If you get a pending bar, but the bar looks like it should have worked (no obvious mistakes or unsupported symbols), you can now tap on the orange bar with your finger, and choose “upload” to report the bar directly to us. Reporting will help us in ensuring we make relevant and useful improvements in the future to the recognition engine.
Playback
- Metronome now correctly detects a pick up bar when combined with a repeat barline
- Audio export is more reliable and less sensitive to digital clipping
- Fixed issues with playback affecting legato and tenuto markings
- Improved RAM usage during playback and export
Lyrics
- Lyrics are now spaced correctly when larger sizes are chosen, and the spacing algorithm has been refined in general
- Entering lyrics is more reliable when reaching the end of an incomplete bar
General
- Various keyboard shortcuts have been implemented. Hold the Cmd key for a couple of seconds on your keyboard to see a list.
- Various copy/paste fixes
- General performance improvements, particularly when dragging bar lines and working with large scores.
- Asking Fenby to “go to bar 30” (or whatever) will now also scroll the score as well as moving the playhead.
Export
- MIDI export now contains tempo, key and sustain pedal information.
- Various MusicXML import and export fixes
- StaffPad will no longer print grey/red bars or display them in the Reader
- Fixed a crash when trying to export MusicXML from the home screen
1.1.1 04/29/2020
We're always working hard to improve StaffPad. This release brings several new features, enhancements and fixes to the app.
New Features:
- New Downloads & Updates manager. This can be found at the bottom of the Store page, and makes the tasks of updating, uninstalling or reinstalling sounds much easier. This page will also display the total amount of storage free that you have on your iPad. You’ll have to enter your Apple ID to view any updates or downloads in your account that aren’t on your device.
- Stem Export. You can now choose to export every staff in your score as its own audio file. Stems are exported and archived into a zip file for easy sharing via services like Dropbox, or AirDrop
- You can now copy and paste between score files
- Undo/Redo is now possible via standard iOS multitouch gestures on iPadOS. Swipe left or right with three fingers to undo/redo.
Recognition:
- Various recognition enhancements.
- Double flats re-added to the recognition engine
- If you get a pending bar, but the bar looks like it should have worked (no obvious mistakes or unsupported symbols), you can now tap on the orange bar with your finger, and choose “upload” to report the bar directly to us. Reporting will help us in ensuring we make relevant and useful improvements in the future to the recognition engine.
Playback
- Metronome now correctly detects a pick up bar when combined with a repeat barline
- Audio export is more reliable and less sensitive to digital clipping
- Fixed issues with playback affecting legato and tenuto markings
- Improved RAM usage during playback and export
Lyrics
- Lyrics are now spaced correctly when larger sizes are chosen, and the spacing algorithm has been refined in general
- Entering lyrics is more reliable when reaching the end of an incomplete bar
General
- Various keyboard shortcuts have been implemented. Hold the Cmd key for a couple of seconds on your keyboard to see a list.
- Various copy/paste fixes
- General performance improvements, particularly when dragging bar lines and working with large scores.
- Asking Fenby to “go to bar 30” (or whatever) will now also scroll the score as well as moving the playhead.
Export
- MIDI export now contains tempo, key and sustain pedal information.
- Various MusicXML import and export fixes
- StaffPad will no longer print grey/red bars or display them in the Reader
- Fixed a crash when trying to export MusicXML from the home screen
1.1 04/26/2020
Playback
- Fixed playback sometimes staying silent, or starting late, after pressing play.
- Berlin Harps glissandi now play back.
Crash fixes
- Fixed a crash when removing the only bar of a score that has a chord staff.
- Fixed a crash when pasting into a selection that includes audio parts.
- Fixed a crash when dragging a note far above or below its staff.
- Fixed crashes when beams are created from handwriting recognition or realtime transcription.
- Fixed a crash when using undo while entering lyrics.
- Fixed a crash when using undo or redo while the Instruments page is open. Undo and redo are now unavailable on that page.
- Fixed crashes when cancelling an audio export, or when closing the score during an export.
- Fixed a crash on the welcome screen related to iCloud templates.
Export
- Exporting MusicXML no longer interferes with the open score.
Text
- Fixed Insert Text sometimes showing no text field or keyboard.
Library and iCloud
- Deleted and converted scores now go to Recently Deleted.
- iCloud scores and templates now appear as soon as they finish downloading.
- Library search results now always match what was typed.
Settings and UI
- The tuning frequency in Settings now always shows the selected value.
- The welcome screen no longer flickers when switching apps.
Score safety:
- Disabled sqlite in-memory ACUUM completely for now. Which tries to shrink the score files.
- Large scores could get corrupted if killed half-way by the iOS watchdog
- Added way to recover broken scores after a failed conversion
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