Is a $90 iPad Music App WORTH IT?!

[@seanjackson5527]

I've used Cubase, Sibelius, Notion, Studio One, and stuff most people haven't even heard of. StaffPad wins by far. 1) Handwriting issues fixed in Dec 2020. 2) Hans Zimmer's sounds are made by Spitfire. Lush rooms, some agility. Berlin = semi-lush + very agile. 3) Tap-to-swap Spitfire & Berlin in StaffPad. It's epic. 4) StaffPad costs less, sounds better, and I write 10x faster than when I use the other apps... and I write outdoors. I also have an Evo 8 and 4 condenser mics... all powered by the USB-C on my iPad. So... to write and record on my iPad. IMHO StaffPad is the future. Easily.

[@MatthewGawronskiMusic]

Sean Jackson 💯💯💯

[@TranceCore3]

I learned how to notate with sibelius, and it's great, but I would much rather write music on a physical piece of paper, so this gives me that, in digital form.

[@seanjackson5527]

@@TranceCore3 I bought screen protector designed to feel like writing on paper. It wears down pencil tips faster (supposedly) but after months I still haven't had to open my tip pack. And 9 months after posting here, I can say I'm still loving SP more than ever. My writing improves more. I write more. I'll never look back to the DAW world again.

[@TranceCore3]

@@seanjackson5527 I feel it. I'm in the middle of creating a dawless setup, and the ipad seems like a good fit for something like that. I also enjoy the idea of sight reading on it, as I plan to rewrite a music book into digital form this way.

[@robertvasi]

Can you play midi keyboard notes in to it.

[@JULIOAIS]

I am glad and surprised that you're using "do-re-mi" ! This is I the way I learned when I was 7 living in Argentina so when I came to the States at age 38, for me was hard to learn how to name the notes differently. (By the way, all over the world uses your and mine system.) I love your videos,

[@YoPaulieMusic]

Amazing that people today are complaining about an app that costs almost a hundred dollars. C'mon man! Music applications are incredibly advanced, most basic music applications to create music are hundreds of dollars. And, the actual control of every aspect of your score is something I've been waiting years for. To put it another way, this app costs about the same as two weeks of that mocha frocha froo froo coffee that you drink every day. :) This app is an amazing accomplishment. Now, get off my lawn! ;)

[@lassebrynildsen7814]

Why didnt you have sound on when you played your demo track?? Im a choir director/composer too and i like to use voice sound on playback and i would love to hear what it sounds like..

[@russellaustincomposer1664]

I am tempted - although I have read that it's full of bugs - ( your vocal playback ?) Also pity we didn't hear any playback ! Has anyone experienced any bug probs ? Also - what are the libaries like ? and how much ? Quality ? All the best Rx

[@stubbsmusic543]

Please include some playback, especially since you are installing how wonderful it is.

[@Mahler357]

Thank you very much for this video!!

[@romanowskiotto]

Notion has hand writing and lots of samples at 3/4 of the price!

[@MatthewGawronskiMusic]

Thanks Otto, this is good to know. I remember trying Notion on my iPad over 5 years ago so I'm happy to hear it's progressing!.

[@trptgk]

Symphony Pro is $14.99. Then handwriting recognition is another $14.99. So for half the price, you get pretty much the same thing. Notion, by Presonus, is also a lot less costly. These may not be as good as staff pad-I haven’t tried it. But I have both of these and both work well.

[@MatthewGawronskiMusic]

Great update, thanks for this info Glenn!

[@kevinhughes6707]

Not even close to the same thing…

[@georgemickel6608]

Thanks for the video. Have you tried entering drum set noteheads and adding a tempo above bar 1?

[@jaxd1212]

Hi, I really find useful this video!!. I’m thinking about getting this app, but I’m not really sure if I would have everything as using Finale. Is it posible to export each part from the maestro score individually as pdf? Or maybe extract the parts to edit something then export as pdf. Just as I usually do on Finale after I finished the maestro Score. So I would realize if I can replace Finale with this app. Thanks 🙏🏻

[@MatthewGawronskiMusic]

Yes, I believe that is possible, just not sure. Even if it is not, you can still export to an XML and split the parts in any other notation software. Thanks for watching!

[@FreakieFan]

Longtime StaffPad user here. Yes you can do that. You have various detailed exporting/importing options within StaffPad.

[@billligon4005]

I want to use Staff Pad to 'arrange' some piano music to my liking, and make it look professional. Does it work for that?

[@MatthewGawronskiMusic]

Absolutely!

[@audiolibrofj9816]

Hola ¿solamente en el iPad Pro se puede usar esta app? O en iPad 2020 se puede usar? ( el ipad que no es pro). Saludos

[@MikeyMiked9]

I was so excited with this app until I saw that guitars are an extra pack and it only has one clean guitar that sounds terrible :( there's no point in getting this app if you can't have options outside classical orchestra instruments

[@tstanton2313]

I haven't tried the new guitar sounds, but if you still happen to be thinking about StaffPad, the new/free sound libraries from MuseScore from this year are now available through StaffPad as well. I'm sure they're probably not as good as the paid ones, but the instruments I've tried through MuseScore have been majorly improved over the previous versions available.

[@ronald220964]

I have dorico notion cubase symphonypro now I need to learn composing?

[@PastorHinChrist]

Hi and a huge thank you! Do you know if you can copy a musical example that you write in staff pad and copy it into a word doc? I am thinking of lessons plans or an assignment, or even for writing a journal article? Again thank you, its the best I have found for me on YT.

[@DamianErskineBass]

You're probably best off taking screen shots or exporting to PDF and inserting those into your Word docs IMHO

[@giannottister]

I tried it a few years ago, absolutely crap. I hope they have improved it.

[@PianistStefanBoetel]

Is there a playback with instruments included even if you don’t buy any additional sound library? Or is it without any audible playback?

[@tstanton2313]

Yeah, the sound libraries from MuseScore (updated ones from this year that are much improved over previous versions) are now available for free through StaffPad as well. :) I think there are other free libraries as well.

[@mohammadkhodadadi2543]

Hi Matthew I have staffpad and I bought Berlin strings and I want to buy brass and wood and percussion What do you suggest for me? Mo from Iran

[@jameslabs1]

It was originally MicrosoftOS (windows) program, not android or iPadOS.

[@jairrr95]

Hi, Matthew! I'm planning on getting StaffPad, but I'm just not sure on one thing: how is it with composing contemporary music having unconventional sheet music (think of the score for George Crumb's Black Angels, that sort of thing)? Thanks for the video!

[@MatthewGawronskiMusic]

Hey Jai, great question! Honestly, I prefer Sibelius or Musescore to StaffPad for my main composing. While I think StaffPad is a really great tool, I think its more "fun" than a true powerful tool. I find that I prefer working with my midi keyboard and main computer more than my iPad.

[@priscamolotsi]

Hi Matthew, Thanks for uploading this. Just one question: can you add lyrics to the score?

[@horiamihon2253]

Yes you can, and very easy.

[@priscamolotsi]

@@horiamihon2253 thanks 😊

[@SrtaCorchea]

Thanks for the video!!! It is very useful!!!

[@MatthewGawronskiMusic]

That's great to hear, thanks for watching!

[@aruanarellano9496]

praying this software will soon be available for android system 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@lucienlai7822]

Does it work on iPad air3 with Apple pencil 1gen

[@johnmc3862]

Yup.

[@Mlocbrak]

You forgot about samples in the store😊

[@Tony186x]

Ipad apps are getting real good

[@MatthewGawronskiMusic]

Absolutely!

[@TranceCore3]

90 bucks beats having to buy notepads and maintain them.

[@susiefairchildlott2764]

I don't have an IPad. Will this work on any other device?

[@MatthewGawronskiMusic]

Yes, I believe they have an Android version as well!

[@DavidLovrien]

Staffpad was originally written for Microsoft Surface (Windows), so... yes.

[@DavidLovrien]

@@MatthewGawronskiMusic There is no Android version. Only iOS and Windows.

[@FreakieFan]

Only on iPad and Microsoft Surface. Check their site for compatibility options.

[@mikhailalexandrovichrimsky5501]

@@FreakieFan I use Staffpad on Acer Spin 5 Laptop/Tablet combo with Acer Pen, Win 10, Intel CORE i5, 8Gig DDR3 Ram, Full HD 1080, and more. This Acer impresses me, as I also run Sibelius 8.5, Finale 2011, Dorico 3, and Cubase 10.5! Staffpad was intended ONLY for Windows Platform at first (there were some issues with iPad Pro's digitizer and Pen, I believe, as pen pressure is used by StaffPad), but it seems Apple sorted iPad out for drawing as well! Welcome to the club. Note, it will run on any Win 10 machine, but please ensure you test Pen out FIRST...that it write notes, slurs etc. С уважением, Mikhail Rimsky-Korsakov

[@solraj3128]

You can try notion app which costs way less.

[@seanjackson5527]

Edit: I wrote a reply about issues with the desktop version, not the app. StaffPad may or may not compare for the price, but for $99 access to the sound libraries which otherwise cost from $500 to $1,000 (or more) to get (per library), I'd say StaffPad is worth the price... if you're willing to buy the good sounds anyway.

[@FreakieFan]

StaffPad is far superior to Notion in literally every way imaginable. It's a lot more expensive, yes, but for good reason. StaffPad is a professional music-making tool that's already being used on Hollywood films and orchestras around the world (their Reader companion app). Just because it's an 'app' people think it's not that good, but they are seriously wrong.

[@seanjackson5527]

​@@FreakieFan Agreed. Anyone wanting to do pro work would have to use StaffPad. The owners of Notion rarely update it and didn't improve sample library integration. StaffPad is the first app to cut out all the nonsense and give us something we can actually use to make a good mock-up that can go straight from writing to performing and recording. Most other apps were made in the 80's or 90's and are just bloatware at this point. StaffPad used to take finishing a song to master the handwriting. It was frustrating up front, then easy. After Dec 2020's update, it recognizes even my laziest writing now. Not long ago, I wrote a minute of orchestral music at the train station. Berlin Strings. Mobile. No other app really compares to that, even in the studio world.

[@FreakieFan]

@@seanjackson5527 Completely agreed! I've been writing my last few pieces completely in StaffPad and it's a total gamechanger. Not only has my composing improved greatly, I am much quicker as well, and I can compose anywhere and anytime. Not having to think about technical nonsense and endlessly fussing around to make the samples sound good is probably why I love it the most. If you notate/compose properly, StaffPad will make it sound good straight from the app (I too have the Berlin set).

[@mikhailalexandrovichrimsky5501]

@@FreakieFan How is a creative process, that most are born with such as Music Composition, improved by one Notation Software above other? My Grandfather's (Niki) "Book on Orchestration" will improve your Composition prowess. ;-) Still, Staffpad's voice control feature never really worked for me, but I still use Staffpad, Sibelius (as my clients use it), and Dorico 3 (which is most powerful Notator on Earth...POWERFULL, but EXPENSIVE!). Staffpad is up there...make no mistake!

[@pauloliberato6953]

I would invest that money if I could hear what I am writing :/

[@Noipion]

Sadly apple pencil is more expensive. :( Unfortunately, there is no alternative to it's capabilities.

[@MatthewGawronskiMusic]

Totally true. The apple pencil is unparalleled. I'd recommend finding a used one on eBay if possible, since they tend to be a bit cheaper. Thanks for watching!

[@julianmanjarres1998]

You remind me of Ryan Reynolds

[@MatthewGawronskiMusic]

Haha, my students tell me this all the time!

[@johnmc3862]

9D dollars!

[@horiamihon2253]

Now it is more expensive: 119 dollars. But in my opinion it worth the money.

[@arifturgan]

Not worth it.. handwritings are not enough so far... not easy .. no updating no support

[@horiamihon2253]

I do not agree. I get used to the app in aprox. a week and now the recognition works almost perfect. If you prefer losing hours introducing notes in Sibelius, it is up to you. Just my opinion! Peace!

[@kaptnkirk2740]

ADVERTISING! Not serious!

[@MatthewGawronskiMusic]

Hey Captain, I was never asked by Staffpad to make this video, nor do I have any financial benefit from Staffpad to make this video. I just thought it was a useful music notation app that others might enjoy as well. Thanks for giving me an opportunity to make this clear!