MusicSmart - Liner Notes

Name: MusicSmart - Liner Notes
Rating: 4.3 (261 reviews)
Author: Loop Apps LTDA

Credits for your music library

Free · In‑App Purchases

261 Ratings
Ages

4+
Years
Category

Music
Developer

Loop Apps LTDA
Language

EN
English
Size

35.8
MB

** Featured on MacStories, 9to5Mac, MacMagazine & more! ** Imagine IMDb, but for music! MusicSmart finds liner notes and credits about your favorite albums, songs, and artists. Gain insights into the creative process behind your favorite music, discover the writers, producers, engineers, and other collaborators involved in the production, and more. MusicSmart aggregates music knowledge from various sources into a powerful and easy-to-use app. With features such as Smart Sections and Roles/Instruments Insights, you can gain a deeper understanding of the music creation process and the responsibilities of each role. Navigate the catalog from within the main app or share music from Apple Music or Spotify to read the details about any song. Shazam is also available, so you can access liner notes and learn more about songs playing around you. Here are some of the credits you can find with MusicSmart: • Description: Information about the recording process, the backstory behind the song, artists, etc. • Songwriting and Composition: Composer, Arranger, Producer, and more. • Performance and Recording: Vocals, Performer, Programmer, Engineers, Editor, and more. • Marketing and Distribution: A&R, Publishers, Distributors, and more. • Business: Labels, Copyright, and more. • Visuals: Director, Cinematographer, Designer, Visualizer, and more. • Locations: Recorded At, Mixed At, Mastered At, and more. • Instruments: Drums, Shakers, Strings, Guitars, Keyboards, and more. Download MusicSmart today for free to unlock a wealth of knowledge about your favorite music, all in one convenient location! Note: No Apple Music or Spotify subscription is required to use MusicSmart. MusicSmart relies on multiple online sources and databases to find liner notes and credits. The number of details available may vary for each song. Privacy Policy: https://marcosatanaka.com/privacy/music-smart.html Terms of Use: https://marcosatanaka.com/terms/music-smart.html

Ratings & Reviews

4.3

out of 5

261 Ratings

Well done app
06/21/2022

Domer7
This app fills a giant hole that I'd have expected more music organizing apps to do - have fun and interesting information about songs and artists. The seach process is quick and easy. One piece of information missing that I'd have liked to see is the album(s) the track appears on, but this is minor. The only thing I hoped this app would be able to do is integrate with the Music app to automatically display info for the song that's playing. Maybe that's too much to ask, but it still enhances and makes the music streaming experience more enjoyable.

Developer Response
Thanks for the review!The Mac doesn't have the same APIs available on iOS/iPadOS for third-party developers to access the user music library. That's why MusicSmart on the Mac only allows users to search for a specific song manually.To make it easier to see liner notes of a song from the Music app without manually searching, I created this shortcut that you can use from the Services menu. Please check out this thread to download it and to see how it works:https://twitter.com/mactanaka/status/1515355083264995337
Well done app
06/21/2022

Domer7

This app fills a giant hole that I'd have expected more music organizing apps to do - have fun and interesting information about songs and artists. The seach process is quick and easy. One piece of information missing that I'd have liked to see is the album(s) the track appears on, but this is minor. The only thing I hoped this app would be able to do is integrate with the Music app to automatically display info for the song that's playing. Maybe that's too much to ask, but it still enhances and makes the music streaming experience more enjoyable.
Developer Response 07/31/2022
Thanks for the review!The Mac doesn't have the same APIs available on iOS/iPadOS for third-party developers to access the user music library. That's why MusicSmart on the Mac only allows users to search for a specific song manually.To make it easier to see liner notes of a song from the Music app without manually searching, I created this shortcut that you can use from the Services menu. Please check out this thread to download it and to see how it works:https://twitter.com/mactanaka/status/1515355083264995337
A helpful utility, with two caveats
07/22/2022

ArcadiaStudios
I’ve only occasionally dipped into this app for detailed information regarding my music, so I haven’t fully explored all the nooks and crannies. At this point, I can recommend the app, but I have to mention two frustrations. #1 may be outside the developer’s control, but it’s still annoying: Not all albums featuring MusicSmart data include the same categories of data or even much data at all; some feature extensive lists of performers/producers/engineers, etc., while others simply present songwriter credits. I’m sure this is based on what’s available, but I’d like to see both greater detail and greater consistency.#2 is more frustrating for me: Before you can read liner notes or view MusicSmart data for an album, that album must be in your library. I realize it doesn’t require much effort to add a title via Apple Music, but it’s a hurdle that feels unnecessary. If I’m shopping for physical music, I’d be able to read the liner notes on the back of an LP or, perhaps, maybe even on a CD; why can’t I access information regardless of whether a title is in my personal library or not? That information could help me decide whether to stream, add in Apple Music, or purchase new music.

Developer Response
Thanks for the review! Regarding #1, you're right, the amount of details depends on the third-party data sources MusicSmart uses, so it may vary depending on the album or song.And regarding #2, it is possible to see liner notes without adding the album to your lbrary. To do this, open MusicSmart and tap the Search button in the top-right of the navigation bar. Then, type the name of the album or artist to search for liner notes.
A helpful utility, with two caveats
07/22/2022

ArcadiaStudios

I’ve only occasionally dipped into this app for detailed information regarding my music, so I haven’t fully explored all the nooks and crannies. At this point, I can recommend the app, but I have to mention two frustrations. #1 may be outside the developer’s control, but it’s still annoying: Not all albums featuring MusicSmart data include the same categories of data or even much data at all; some feature extensive lists of performers/producers/engineers, etc., while others simply present songwriter credits. I’m sure this is based on what’s available, but I’d like to see both greater detail and greater consistency.#2 is more frustrating for me: Before you can read liner notes or view MusicSmart data for an album, that album must be in your library. I realize it doesn’t require much effort to add a title via Apple Music, but it’s a hurdle that feels unnecessary. If I’m shopping for physical music, I’d be able to read the liner notes on the back of an LP or, perhaps, maybe even on a CD; why can’t I access information regardless of whether a title is in my personal library or not? That information could help me decide whether to stream, add in Apple Music, or purchase new music.
Developer Response 07/28/2022
Thanks for the review! Regarding #1, you're right, the amount of details depends on the third-party data sources MusicSmart uses, so it may vary depending on the album or song.And regarding #2, it is possible to see liner notes without adding the album to your lbrary. To do this, open MusicSmart and tap the Search button in the top-right of the navigation bar. Then, type the name of the album or artist to search for liner notes.
Outstanding voiceover, accessibility, and documentation
12/31/2024

Kansas City Reg
Well, the App Store ate my original review. But there’s nothing else like this on the App Store. One of the tips in Help said that if you’re listening to the song, you can find a podcast where that song or artist is mentioned. Continuous play works by after you hit now playing it will automatically pull up all information available as you’re listening. You can customize what information is shown about an album under sections in the app settings. And all of these features are free. I just feel that real efforts have been made to make this app accessible and easy to use. Music Harbor is also a fantastic app. I agree with the person that bemoaned the loss of the original information from the vinyl album covers. But if it hasn’t been digitized in catalog, there’s nothing that can be done to ever get that back.

Developer Response
Thank you so much for your review!
Outstanding voiceover, accessibility, and documentation
12/31/2024

Kansas City Reg

Well, the App Store ate my original review. But there’s nothing else like this on the App Store. One of the tips in Help said that if you’re listening to the song, you can find a podcast where that song or artist is mentioned. Continuous play works by after you hit now playing it will automatically pull up all information available as you’re listening. You can customize what information is shown about an album under sections in the app settings. And all of these features are free. I just feel that real efforts have been made to make this app accessible and easy to use. Music Harbor is also a fantastic app. I agree with the person that bemoaned the loss of the original information from the vinyl album covers. But if it hasn’t been digitized in catalog, there’s nothing that can be done to ever get that back.
Developer Response Sep 16
Thank you so much for your review!
LINER NOTES? WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING LINE NOTES!
07/01/2024

bonerowner
Yes we do! That’s what I thought I was getting. The words “Liner Notes” are below the name of this app. To me, Liner Notes are what is inside the record jacket, on the record sleeve or on the back of the record jacket. Sometimes there wasn’t much but sometimes there were comments by the artists, types of instruments used including amps, pedals, strings, cymbals and even golf clubs. Sometimes there was funny stuff, jabs at other musicians or even song lyrics. There was front cover art. There was back cover art and if you were lucky enough to get a double album there was double notes and art work. I checked before I wrote this and there are no real liner notes here. No inside art, no back cover art, No notes, The explanations included are just there to take up space. Example; Songwriter. A person who writes the song. I’ll keep hoping for change but I wish I had just tried the 1 Month trial before going all in.

Developer Response
MusicSmart draws on multiple online sources and databases to gather liner notes and credits, so the amount of detail available can vary from song to song.
LINER NOTES? WE DON’T NEED NO STINKING LINE NOTES!
07/01/2024

bonerowner

Yes we do! That’s what I thought I was getting. The words “Liner Notes” are below the name of this app. To me, Liner Notes are what is inside the record jacket, on the record sleeve or on the back of the record jacket. Sometimes there wasn’t much but sometimes there were comments by the artists, types of instruments used including amps, pedals, strings, cymbals and even golf clubs. Sometimes there was funny stuff, jabs at other musicians or even song lyrics. There was front cover art. There was back cover art and if you were lucky enough to get a double album there was double notes and art work. I checked before I wrote this and there are no real liner notes here. No inside art, no back cover art, No notes, The explanations included are just there to take up space. Example; Songwriter. A person who writes the song. I’ll keep hoping for change but I wish I had just tried the 1 Month trial before going all in.
Developer Response Sep 17
MusicSmart draws on multiple online sources and databases to gather liner notes and credits, so the amount of detail available can vary from song to song.

• Support for a new URL scheme that lets you open Spotify albums and songs. • Improved support for the existing URL scheme that lets you open Apple Music albums and songs.