StaffPad and Reader for iPad review

[@timothysullivanmusic7142]

Thank you for the demo. I purchased StaffPad five years ago when it was only available for the Microsoft Surface. I never adopted it for composition because I really don't like the hyphen-like noteheads that StaffPad seems to insist upon. I was a professional copyist for years, and I find flat noteheads lead to visual inaccuracies. Is the newer iPad iteration more flexible in its analysis of handwriting? Has StaffPad begun incorporating AI into its handwriting recognition such that it learns the handwriting of the User, rather than the other way around? I am a composer who would love to leave the "choose and click" approach to music notation used by virtually all other music software companies. Can you do an update (to 2023) of StaffPad developments?

[@Enrico_Fallea]

Thank you for this review. I've owned Staffpad since 2015 and I was looking forward to getting this update!

[@d_lydian]

Honestly, this review is a candy, thank you so much for your effort. By the way, very nice mock up of the 29 :-)

[@nycmusicservices]

Thank you!

[@philipbenjamin4720]

Absolutely great demo. You showed us many things it would take time to work out ourselves - thanks so much.

[@nycmusicservices]

Thanks!

[@mihaipredescu]

18:52 2nd VLN : last quaver: d-c-d-b Great job and complete showcase of who this software work! Thanks a lot!

[@Piratebreadstick]

Seriously, I look at so many of these instructional videos and you are the best! So clear and informative. Thank you.

[@nycmusicservices]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you!

[@GeorgesGondard]

@@nycmusicservices Hello, what iPad are you using ? is it necessary to have a pro ipad ?

[@bobford88]

This is one of the best instructional videos I’ve ever seen. Everything is intelligent, concise and to the point. I’m giving the StaffPad app to myself for Christmas (after years of using Notion), and I can’t wait to get started. Thank you.

[@nycmusicservices]

Thank you!

[@stubbsmusic543]

Thank you so much! I really like the hands-on, here's how you do it approach. Very informative and practical.

[@DavidSL64]

That was an excellent review of the Staffpad app. It begs the question - what doesn’t Staff pad do? Seems to be perfect.

[@RaffRobinson]

This app changed entirely the way I write music. It changed every things in my professionnal Life.

[@DerekWilliamsMusic]

Terrific demo, Philip! Best I’ve seen of this type.

[@orchesterderkulturen]

Thanks for the helpful review ! Are there any plans to review Notion & Notion Mobile ?

[@trevormadsen]

Thank you for the video. You explained everything about StaffPad but exporting PDF for printing on paper.

[@vivifalabella]

Excellent review of staff pad I’d love to buy one

[@SharonsPureMusic]

Thank you for sharing this video! I had staffpad for window but didnt use it much and I bought ipad version again watching this video. But in actual use, I was pretty surprised by how hard I have to press the screen to erase. I feel like it is going to damage the screen someday because we dont usually press the screen that hard. I think they need to update the eraser function.

[@ChristopheTornieri]

I really like the app. It’s quite amazing and the playback is impressive with expansion libraries. My only complaint it’s the way the eraser works. On my IPad mini 5 I have to push really hard on the screen to trigger the function. Furthermore there is no visual feedback to know that the function has been triggered... holding a button to switch to eraser like in almost all the drawing apps seems simpler and more reliable.

[@nycmusicservices]

Yes, David acknowledged this in our review on Scoring Notes: www.scoringnotes.com/reviews/staffpad-for-ipad/

[@ChristopheTornieri]

Yes I have seen that. I contacted the developers to report the issue. Seems that for the moment they are convinced that it is the best way to erase with the stylus... Hope they’ll change their point of view after reading your review.

[@starbasemymms2097]

wow! incredible tech. the instructor is so calm and positive, the Bob Ross of modern day composition.

[@alleballeism]

Awesome review! I’ve been scouring the Internet trying to find out what the current in-house core library sounds like. Can’t find a single example... can you guys fill me in on what it sounds like or better yet make a video on it? 😇

[@toniocomposer]

A bit late to the game, but here's a short piece that demonstrates the core library performing a symphonic piece: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oZ-5e4t8a9uteq8

[@tomarmstrong1281]

Superb, is it possible to type in words for a vocal score?

[@brunomonteferrante.]

hi, its possible to color the notes with the colors from the Boomwhackers? is it possible to write without time signature, like exercises for theorie!? thanks?

[@jazway27]

hows the file transfer (XML or MIDI) to Dorico or Sibelius...will it transfer Lyrics and Dynamics accurately? thanks!

[@pianocheckpoint]

Thanks very much for your great video! I am using Taff Pad for iPad and I have a question: how can you manage as an example 4 16th notes on Voice one and on voice to at the same time and the same note an 8th note, so that both heads of the notes are overlapping and not next to each other? I am writing mostly piano scores where voices are often overlapping. Thanks very much!

[@georgemickel6608]

What an awesome video. In my KZbin search, I'm hoping to find a review on drum set notation with Staffpad. It would be great if you have a drummer friend or link. Kind regards, George

[@D0m1R4]

Wow, what amazing piece of software .. is it possible to take a picture from existing notes and play it back somehow ?

[@ipadmidiking]

Thanks for the great review. As a jazz player I’ve been waiting for a real “lead sheet” creator. How is the ability to write in chord symbols for a lead sheet using this??? That’s a key function I need.

[@nycmusicservices]

You can type them in and it works well. Sorry I didn't explicitly demo this in the video. You don't handwrite them in but rather long-touch above the staff and select "Insert Chord". From there it works pretty much like Sibelius, Dorico or Finale as far as typing in chords.

[@ipadmidiking]

NYC Music Services thanks! Any chance you could do a super short clip of this ? Also do a few bars of a lead sheet and maybe transpose it showing the chord transpositions? Is there any flexibility on fonts like a “jazz font” or something ? I read somebody saying not all chord symbols can be notated exactly the way you may like?! Ie sus chords

[@chicoaria]

Flat does it. You have. Lead sheet template. But it works as a subscription for 53 euros per year (Germany)... that’s sucks.

[@youtubepremium3505]

Please describe which Ipad model and Apple pencil you used in the demo. thx.

[@yahoo12345jojo]

Good lord, I need a cigarette! What a gorgeous display of this app, I can't wait to try it!

[@andreasalazar4067]

Need fire? Im gonna get a cigarrette too.

[@maxalaintwo3578]

Cigar, sure. Cigarette? Nooooooo

[@ttl8me]

Thank you for sharing this tutorial. May I ask how do you print out the finished piece?

[@thatone-tp2zy]

great video! do you know whether an apple pencil is the only stylus compatible? could I use an off brand apple pencil?

[@HILARI333]

You are wonderful ! This is great, thank you so much.Have a beautiful day.

[@EdoardoRavaglia]

Beautiful review! thank you! Is there a possibility of a comparison between Staffpad and Symphony pro 5?

[@royalpriesthood4570]

Beyoe

[@SteffenThole]

You could have filmed me and made a reaction video out of it. This is amazingly well designed.

[@andreasalazar4067]

Ok... The frase shaving was sacrilegious. Omg

[@joshuacadelina26]

Hi! How about the layout of the score? Can you also change it, like changing the size of the staves so you can have more bars and sections on a page?

[@thutrong]

Bruh its only 84.97$

[@NirmalenduPaul]

That’s brilliant demo. Thank you so much!

[@fedantino]

Hi, thanks for the video. I would like to know, if it is possible to write a score using a complete Drum Set. I need a program like staffpad but I didn't find video that explain this about drumset like instrument. if it is possible write easily a drum set , can you please do a demonstration video? Thank you a lot

[@thb5505]

Hi Phillip, Thank you very much for this video that gave me a lot of information that I was unable to find elsewhere. Of you are doing more videos about staffpad here are some ideas that might interest other viewers as well: - compared to Sibelius/Finales how would it perform in regards to note input, interface, quality of output. How do not staffpad and reader deal with importing scores in other formats? For example midi or PDF. - How do they perform on windows? Thanks again!

[@ronbehdin2676]

How do you write in chords? Can you add in chord symbols?

[@JoshuaBishop93]

I know this video focused on orchestra/strings, but does the sound library, or the store, feature marching band instruments/playback sounds? Looking to finally get an expansive sound for my tenor drums since adding a 6th drum on each set as well as for my bass drums since we use 6 basses now.

[@nycmusicservices]

Yes. The Cinesamples Percussion (CinePerc) StaffPad Edition library is a $100 in-app purchase and has a huge amount of percussion sounds. It's not specifically marketing as marching band but there's lots there. As far as I could tell it includes all or nearly everything here: cinesamples.com/product/cineperc

[@WillieWagglestick]

A thoroughly informative video. Many thanks, I learned a lot from watching this.

[@RodolfoLimacbx]

*20:54** - THANKS FOR THIS!*

[@matdeee]

Fantastic review! Thank you so much!

[@tedsheridan8725]

I have found this product virtually unusable. I bought an iPad Pro specifically with Staffpad in mind, and after a week-and-a-half of practice I'm still pulling my hair out in regards to the handwriting recognition. There is a myth that it 'learns' your writing, but this simply isn't true. You have to learn how Staffpad recognizes writing, and it is extremely finicky. I'm constantly trying to find workarounds to get it to recognize even simple bars. I really want to this product to work, but until they release some major improvements to the handwriting recognition (not to mention the frequent crashes) it's just not worth it.

[@armaosptolemaios]

Paul Mina Storm If you need to compare Staffpad with Notion, which one would you say is better? I am using Symphony pro for the moment and I could easily say that it is ridiculous...

[@tedsheridan8725]

They have released an update which makes erasing easier and a few other tweaks. They still have quite a ways to go on the recognition front, that's really where the focus should be.

[@namron2]

Umm works fine for me.... you probably just have very bad handwriting

[@WillFlyGuitar]

It took me a little while to get used to it - now it's fine. Where passages or bars are similar, I copy, paste and edit - works a treat...

[@mariavisjes3381]

I totally agree with this comment. It crashes all the time (ipad-pro 2019) and I have to push my i-pencil very hard to erase notes/writings!!! That can not be a very healthy thing for the screen.... Besides that, I'm not able to get it right, it doesn't recognize my writing well, due to many 'mistakes' I'm constantly pushing the undo-button. When they fix these issues I might reconsider a purchase but for now; it is unusable, at least for me.

[@claudiodiazponce9389]

How can write the fingering for the piano?

[@pacmanlp8876]

Could you find a way?

[@GiordanoMaselliComposer]

Nice demo video

[@pacmanlp8876]

What about writting for drums? Cymbals, ghost notes, flams, drags, open hats, drum sounds? Really thanks

[@katangagaming7254]

Same here im looking for drum sheet

[@dasarkas]

Can you add voice as an instrument? Is it possible to add lyrics, too?

[@Jianxing5858]

Does anyone know the function of 1 2 3 4 in the upper left corner? Thank you

[@mohammadkhodadadi2543]

Hi 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

[@ishagshafeeg]

Interesting. Do the notes in the staves change when you change the chords? Would be useful for functional harmony.

[@nycmusicservices]

No, sorry; it's the other way around. You can manually add a chord symbol but it will not affect the notes.

[@ishagshafeeg]

@@nycmusicservices Thanks

[@PeterRoos]

Terrific review Philip -- does the windows (Surface) version have the same features? The bar number and analysis staffs are news to me, but I haven't used StaffPad in a while. Thanks!

[@Johan-mi2ji]

Great informative video. The app is a bit expensive. How much do the addons cost? And the berlin violin addon? Also, how is the sounds for brass? Are they ok, and how does they sound compared to sibelius/finale? Thanks

[@nycmusicservices]

The addons cost between $30-100 generally. They sound great. Here is a demo we did using Berlin Strings and Cinesamples winds, brass and percussion. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pprde4GNoLShoa8

[@Johan-mi2ji]

NYC Music Services Thank you!

[@johnmc3862]

Demonstrators keep saying Staffpad is a compositional tool, they are also forgetting it is also a transcribing tool.

[@Sepharite]

I had it for Surface and enjoyed it but found the conversion from handwritten to score didn’t translate well. This was back in 2015 so I’m hoping the algorithm and notation processing is more effective??

[@kurtkaufman]

Thank you for your helpful demonstration. I do a lot of arranging for piano, especially reductions of larger scores, and I find that the biggest challenge is knowing how to deal with the voices or layers within a single staff. Would you say that Staffpad is accommodating in this respect? My goal is not so much concerned with playability of the score digitally, but being able to have fairly free rein as to what appears in the measures visually.

[@Fuad1963]

Can you please explain why this program for OS IOS costs 8 times more than for OS WINDOWS? Not sure if this is correct. Thanks, I'll wait for an answer. With best regards

[@Piratebreadstick]

Great review. If I may, how do you view individual parts if you don't have a second iPad?

[@nycmusicservices]

In StaffPad you can view the individual parts in the Print window. StaffPad isn't designed for working with individual parts in the same way that the desktop apps are.

[@Piratebreadstick]

@@nycmusicservices Thank you so much! I've also bought their book "mastering staffpad'' but can't seem to find anything about reducing contents from two staves into one, as you can do with Dorico or Sibelius. Do you know if expansion and reduction is possible on staffpad?

[@GeorgesGondard]

Hello, what iPad are you using ? is it necessary to have a pro ipad ?

[@elleondejuda4681]

Hi can you transpose to any key the music you write ?

[@TranceCore3]

Can I draw notation without the apple pencil, or do I need one of those?

[@chriskim2663]

Can you save handwritten notation to pdf file?? Is it possible not to convert your handwritten notes to notation?

[@Vonvon25]

Hi im using ipad 7th gen..how can i erase some notes that i dont need to use..im almost do the instruction about how to erase but its not working..pls help me..im always working on undo to erase my wrong notes..

[@johngilbert6988]

Can I print out parts from staffpad or staffpad reader?

[@kaseliaelfaham4994]

You can hear and save last arrangement and print

[@maxtofone]

Thanks a lot Philip for this neat review... May I ask if the tablet on the right is a Surface and if yes, what specific model, same thing with the iPad, which model are you using? Many thanks and kind regards, Max T.

[@nycmusicservices]

The main iPad I use for the review is an 11" iPad Pro (2018). The one running the Reader is an earlier generation 10.5" iPad Pro (2017).

[@maxtofone]

@@nycmusicservices Thanks a lot for the kind reply and the iPad models used in the review! Best regards, Max T.

[@GeorgesGondard]

What configuration we need to take best advantage of it ? are 8Go memory enough if using a large orchestrations ?

[@johnmc3862]

Yes.

[@attiliotroiano]

Hi! What kind of iPad are you using? IPad pro?

[@PharalYingBawm]

can lyrics be added like in hymn?

[@omarvazquez9958]

How about drums? I'm a drummer and would like to write drum set parts

[@danialm8122]

I want to buy ipad right now. this is will help me alot.

[@tagi8]

Can it open existing MIDI file?

[@FreakieFan]

Yes!

[@paddysmith5184]

Nice video ! Just a question, did you use something else for have this sound when you play the music ? Did you use VST from another software ?

[@BlueGrenadeTom]

I believe the sounds come with the app, but you can buy extra ones for a bit of variance or specificity (like how the reviewer changed the strings to “Berlin Strings”). Pretty good sounding isn’t it? Much better than the usual basic midi sounds a lot of these apps use.

[@stevemckennon7678]

Will it work on iPad 10th gen?

[@ScottPaddock]

This is exactly what I'm looking for! Is there a specific stylus pen I need to use for the best results?

[@nycmusicservices]

If you have an iPad, you must use the Apple Pencil that your particular iPad model supports (1st or 2nd generation Pencil, depending on the iPad)

[@pauloliberato6953]

I would like to hear what I am writing. - Is it possible?

[@robinorbitamusic7456]

what generation of ipad are u using?

[@БауырГан]

Hi,how print music or import PDF?

[@jaketanner109]

What size ipad is that in the video?

[@liapereira2003]

Olá, seria possível vc's disponibilizar o site em Português/Brasil.... Esse rapaz que apresenta fala muito rápido, dificulta entender prontamente....

[@ShahramZadeh]

Excellent video thanks

[@johnstephen7610]

Question: are you leaning your hand on the glass when you write, or do you have to keep your hand off of the glass?

[@nycmusicservices]

You can lean your hand. There is active palm recognition.

[@johnstephen7610]

@@nycmusicservices Thanks.

[@BennyRietveld]

Thank you, great job!

[@stevec6422]

Does anyone know if the Logitech crayon works with staffpad?

[@mitzicarter2749]

This looks like the right one for going forward but I also need to convert numerous handwritten pieces to digital. Is there an option for this in notion or can you reference the simplest app for this.

[@charlescoleman5509]

So, do you need a second iPad in order to use the reader? AKA extracting parts?

[@FreakieFan]

Staffpad Reader is only useful when playing with multiple people so you can all look at the same score. You can extract parts from within staffpad.

[@fugalibrana]

What iPad model are you using? I have a windows device, and I'm starting to have some problems with the app.

[@isaacjimenez9366]

iPad Pro 3

[@whatezaz]

Does support oriental music?

[@fedeeiconees]

Does it work good also with the I pad sixth generation,or it works good only with the I pad pro?

[@FreakieFan]

You can look on their website, it says which versions it is compatible with.

[@JamesUnityFuchs]

Great presentation. I just purchased this and I want to use it for basically lead sheets. If I want to do more lengthy composition or arranging I use Sibelius. Staff pad is so convenient and perfect for making beautiful charts and anything more would be cumbersome

[@jazzsecrets]

But don’t you like the charm and physicality of the manuscript ? Isn’t the manuscript safer also ?

[@raimergil8140]

¿Wich iPad are you using?

[@huongthai8404]

can u show me the type of your ipad,

[@Habibie-vi4fv]

Is StaffPad available for Android?

[@riavandintel]

Has anybody experience with accordeon music?

[@anell0784]

Great app! Waiting for the spanish version of the app. Thanks

[@soundtreks]

Great review. So glad it’s moved to iOS.

[@ThePapworthBen]

Does anyone know if you can export the score as an mp3 etc?

[@johncaulfield9366]

On the Windows version you can.

[@FreakieFan]

On both versions that is one of the many exporting options.

[@Mukundanghri]

I'm all in. Thanks

[@sunitajadhav2947]

Music noteshion pages price

[@pcmsorchestras8533]

Did you prefer the ipad to the surface pro?

[@cured_bacon647]

Surface pro is trash