I really do like this app and I think it has a lot of potential. However, as a band guy, this seems very orchestra oriented and therefore a one-sided notation app. For starters, there are no voicings for Euphonium/baritone, bass trombone, mellophone, and absolutely no marching percussion instruments. Perhaps some third party developers will create these but they should already be included.
26 January 2016
The program itself is simply amazing, the only problem is that it continues to crash, constantly. And it creates a problem when you're in the middle of writing...(it kills the inspiration 😢)
14 December 2015
Amazing App, very good recognition. just facing trouble with natural symbol recognition
16 November 2015
problems with the pen, never worked. I want my money back
26 October 2015
I think there is a lot more potential for this app. Contemporary composers are going to find a lot lacking, i.e. different noteheads for string harmonics and other alternate methods, cross-staff functionality, easier printing and PDF exporting methods. I am pleasantly surprised with what I have been able to do so far, but I also feel quite limited creatively because of what is missing.
18 August 2015
I'm not sure if someone else has pointed this out yet, but piano and pianissimo are backwards if you check on the expression tool for fine tune volume editing. Just figured I'd point that out so they can continue making this app better.
31 July 2015
This is a full featured music notation app, make no mistake. Fast and easy handwritten input of music. Gets better and better with each update!
20 July 2015
I am a middle school band director and have spent about 22 hours using Staff pad. I have used a midi keyboard and Finale, but I think this app is better! Positives--printing is a snap. Scores print and transpose easily. The best part is printing out just one instrument part quickly. Its easy to copy and paste and save templates. I can sit in my recliner, compose music and hear it played by back real instruments(such as the tuba). Staff pad is intuitive. If you need help, you can email at blog.staffpad.net and they will send a detailed reply. Negatives--there are tutorials, but no written help file to refer to. Its quite difficult to learn how to get the app to recognize a sharp sign. As an avid Apple fan, its taking awhile to get used to the Surface pro 3.
It is definitely worth the money to buy the app and the tablet and the digital pen.
9 July 2015
The price is absolutely worth it. I use this to arrange things for my choir, and it's phenomenal to use.
19 June 2015
Handwriting recognition is buggy. You need a lot of time to practice writing the way the PROGRAM want you to write. After I wrote out something simple, I exported it to XML, then opened it in Finale 2014. There were many issues. I saved time by typing it out in Finale. Maybe it will be easier to use after several more hours of training. Ugh.
17 June 2015
DAVID, GOOD JOB!!
I'm loving it... thanks for creating this.
One note : the drum notation should include the different symbols that are typical of a drum chart and also automatically reverse stem properly.
Keep up the good work
Best
Mauro
www.maurocolangelo.com
11 June 2015
Awesome app. Downloaded it for my Asus note 8 and its been awesome so far. There is an option to add an eraser button in the option for those of you with single button pens :) or download 'wacom pen' software for those of you with wacom pens and customize the button functions:)
Enjoy!!!
It doesn't recognize your hand writing sometimes but its a computer, so practice writing neater. Combines the best of both worlds
3 June 2015
This app is extremely intuitive to use and is by far the grandest music notation software on the market at the moment. There is something so right about writing with "pen and paper" that totally makes this app worth every penny! I don't recommend this app if you have a slow tablet or anything with not a lot of RAM. In the initial release, the task load would bog down my Samsung ATIV 500T, but in the newest update it runs much more smoothly and doesn't crash anymore. The playback gets a little wonky when too much is going on but that is surely an issue with my device and not the program.
1 June 2015
Though StaffPad is still in need of some more advanced features (chord recognition, lyric tools etc) it is delightful to use right now. The newest update has faxed many of the quirky issues and added new functionality. I love writing in this app, though I still do final editing in another composition software- Stafford is actively developed and worth the buy.
30 May 2015
Can't Wright any notes. Doesn't work !
28 May 2015
So far, I'm really enjoying this app. Input is either great or horrible where you have to try multiple times to get a function to work. I find it best to erase or move the note to get a slur or an accidental to appear.
My biggest problem I've had to date is that it crashes on occasion. It's crashed multiple times while adding a title and changing the time signature. I hope this issue can be resolved soon.
18 May 2015
Excellent app, handwriting recognition drove me batty when inserting sharp, flat, naturals until I realized you had to be in the space/on the line the note is on. Great time to use the zoom in feature btw. I splurged on this app, as I am just learning an instrument (mandolin) for the first time at age 51, and use it to transcribe an occasional song I have learned by ear. I would love to see a feature to export the score to PDF.
16 May 2015
I have been trying to input notes for an hour now, and on the Surface 3 it pauses a long time (even with accuracy set lower) and it doesn't have any way to input other than the pen. I have a midi keyboard it ignores too. Hope for an update with easier and faster recognition.
15 May 2015
Input is either spot on, or unbelievably maddening. While the concept is cool the accuracy and speed is nowhere near using a keyboard for input.
11 May 2015
This program still has a long way to go before capable of living up to the standard of notation software. It takes me over two dozen tries to insert accidentals and it has trouble distinguishing between added notes and added beams. The lack of preloaded voice and the inability to add lyrics makes this app in serious need of further development.
9 May 2015
I love StaffPad! It is a great app for jotting down ideas, fleshing them out and then either printing copies for immediate rehearsal or exporting as MusicXML for Sibelius/Finale/MuseScore to import for final printing. The ability to use handwritten entry is something I've longed for and now it's become a reality. Yes, this initial release has some shortcomings, but David and Matt are very responsive to their users and a soon-to-be-released update will fix some of those shortcomings. This is a serious and excellent tool for composers/arrangers who like to work on paper but who need the convenience of the computer-notation world. If I could give it 6 stars I would!
UPDATE -- the latest update for StaffPad is out and they have done a fantastic job improving things. Score reordering is now possible as is custom time signatures and multirests in parts. They have also improved the printing so that each staff can now be printed separately even for parts that share the same name. GREAT
8 May 2015
Only had for a day so still learning, but so far its great. I'm only a hobbyist but this exactly what I have been waiting for. I have owned Sibilius and Finale in the past and always wanted a more natural experience. So far, this delivers!
6 May 2015
I wish I had had this 10 years ago when I brought my orchestra teacher to tears because I refused to continue learning music theory because it was too boring and difficult at the time. Had I been able to actually hear and see the difference between the different counts in a meaningful way aka trying to create something that can't just feel the rhythm- I would have been an apt pupil. This is so amazingly fun to play with. Thank you~! I will be recommending this to both my novice and advanced musical friends.
2 May 2015
Better have SATB for the Choir.
25 April 2015
Very easy to get started with. My notation handwriting matches very closely. I love being able to hear what I am writing and make quick fixes.
25 April 2015
This is a fantastic application for composers and arrangers. Feature sets are being improved and enhanced, but right out of the box I've been able to write fully- executable scores.
Use alone or in conjunction with apps such as Sibelius and Finale. (Import/Export files in XML format).
25 April 2015
I've dreamed for years of something like StaffPad existing and now it's here! Before anything else I'd like to say that this is a new toy that I'm eager to use every day. I'm a software developer who is also an amateur oboe and harpsichord player who's dabbled in composition from time to time over the years. I was recently tasked with arranging a Satie piano piece originally for oboe, piano, and kid choir (as a vocalise) for my son's school. What a great first project! My handwriting is awful but SP does a pretty good job of recognizing it. The app very much captures the flavor of the Windows 8 / Metro / Modern design language but therefore also suffers from the same flaw: it has a serious lack of "discoverability" meaning that t's not obvious how to do certain things immediately (copy/paste, for example) but once you "get it", it shows that the feature was well thought out. Looking forward to voice "instruments" (another big miss) in a future update!
24 April 2015
Don't get me wrong, this app needs some more development. Adding text for choral writing being a major one and for final engraving Finale or Sibelius are likely going to be needed. Even with these minor issues I am rating this a 5 as the interface is so intuitive and it has dramatically improved my ability to compose wherever/whenever including with other musicians and composers and all for a very reasonable price. I really hope this app gains in popularity and development continues as I could see this being the number one engraving app with just a few dozen additions/modifications.
20 April 2015
The core of the experience is pretty good, and the instruments sound fairly good as well. It takes some getting used to to consistently get your markings recognized, but it's very doable. Despite the list of issues below, it's my "favorite" digital music composing experience.
There are also some quirks.
- I've noticed formatting errors on print (fermatas being printed on the wrong line/page, for example; there are a few markings that don't position correctly on print).
- Playback sometimes has hiccups.
- Repeats don't appear to be honored during playback.
- Muting some staffs can stop the "real-time" playback you normally hear when adjusting notes.
- Exported MIDIs have a horrible "vibrato" type effect.
- Some bugs with multiple instances of the same instance within a piece.
- Misc crashes.
- Somewhat cumbersome file/project management.
All in all, I love using the program, but it's got some polish work that's needed.
(I wish I could find an official forum on the StaffPad site...)
20 April 2015
Especially thinking on what you get for the price. Great recognition. Has gotten pretty much all transcriptions I give it. Certainly takes a bit of practice, but once you get it, is awesome.
28 April 2016
I really do like this app and I think it has a lot of potential. However, as a band guy, this seems very orchestra oriented and therefore a one-sided notation app. For starters, there are no voicings for Euphonium/baritone, bass trombone, mellophone, and absolutely no marching percussion instruments. Perhaps some third party developers will create these but they should already be included.
26 January 2016
The program itself is simply amazing, the only problem is that it continues to crash, constantly. And it creates a problem when you're in the middle of writing...(it kills the inspiration 😢)
14 December 2015
Amazing App, very good recognition. just facing trouble with natural symbol recognition
16 November 2015
problems with the pen, never worked. I want my money back
26 October 2015
I think there is a lot more potential for this app. Contemporary composers are going to find a lot lacking, i.e. different noteheads for string harmonics and other alternate methods, cross-staff functionality, easier printing and PDF exporting methods. I am pleasantly surprised with what I have been able to do so far, but I also feel quite limited creatively because of what is missing.
18 August 2015
I'm not sure if someone else has pointed this out yet, but piano and pianissimo are backwards if you check on the expression tool for fine tune volume editing. Just figured I'd point that out so they can continue making this app better.
31 July 2015
This is a full featured music notation app, make no mistake. Fast and easy handwritten input of music. Gets better and better with each update!
20 July 2015
I am a middle school band director and have spent about 22 hours using Staff pad. I have used a midi keyboard and Finale, but I think this app is better! Positives--printing is a snap. Scores print and transpose easily. The best part is printing out just one instrument part quickly. Its easy to copy and paste and save templates. I can sit in my recliner, compose music and hear it played by back real instruments(such as the tuba). Staff pad is intuitive. If you need help, you can email at blog.staffpad.net and they will send a detailed reply. Negatives--there are tutorials, but no written help file to refer to. Its quite difficult to learn how to get the app to recognize a sharp sign. As an avid Apple fan, its taking awhile to get used to the Surface pro 3. It is definitely worth the money to buy the app and the tablet and the digital pen.
9 July 2015
The price is absolutely worth it. I use this to arrange things for my choir, and it's phenomenal to use.
19 June 2015
Handwriting recognition is buggy. You need a lot of time to practice writing the way the PROGRAM want you to write. After I wrote out something simple, I exported it to XML, then opened it in Finale 2014. There were many issues. I saved time by typing it out in Finale. Maybe it will be easier to use after several more hours of training. Ugh.
17 June 2015
DAVID, GOOD JOB!! I'm loving it... thanks for creating this. One note : the drum notation should include the different symbols that are typical of a drum chart and also automatically reverse stem properly. Keep up the good work Best Mauro www.maurocolangelo.com
11 June 2015
Awesome app. Downloaded it for my Asus note 8 and its been awesome so far. There is an option to add an eraser button in the option for those of you with single button pens :) or download 'wacom pen' software for those of you with wacom pens and customize the button functions:) Enjoy!!! It doesn't recognize your hand writing sometimes but its a computer, so practice writing neater. Combines the best of both worlds
3 June 2015
This app is extremely intuitive to use and is by far the grandest music notation software on the market at the moment. There is something so right about writing with "pen and paper" that totally makes this app worth every penny! I don't recommend this app if you have a slow tablet or anything with not a lot of RAM. In the initial release, the task load would bog down my Samsung ATIV 500T, but in the newest update it runs much more smoothly and doesn't crash anymore. The playback gets a little wonky when too much is going on but that is surely an issue with my device and not the program.
1 June 2015
Though StaffPad is still in need of some more advanced features (chord recognition, lyric tools etc) it is delightful to use right now. The newest update has faxed many of the quirky issues and added new functionality. I love writing in this app, though I still do final editing in another composition software- Stafford is actively developed and worth the buy.
30 May 2015
Can't Wright any notes. Doesn't work !
28 May 2015
So far, I'm really enjoying this app. Input is either great or horrible where you have to try multiple times to get a function to work. I find it best to erase or move the note to get a slur or an accidental to appear. My biggest problem I've had to date is that it crashes on occasion. It's crashed multiple times while adding a title and changing the time signature. I hope this issue can be resolved soon.
18 May 2015
Excellent app, handwriting recognition drove me batty when inserting sharp, flat, naturals until I realized you had to be in the space/on the line the note is on. Great time to use the zoom in feature btw. I splurged on this app, as I am just learning an instrument (mandolin) for the first time at age 51, and use it to transcribe an occasional song I have learned by ear. I would love to see a feature to export the score to PDF.
16 May 2015
I have been trying to input notes for an hour now, and on the Surface 3 it pauses a long time (even with accuracy set lower) and it doesn't have any way to input other than the pen. I have a midi keyboard it ignores too. Hope for an update with easier and faster recognition.
15 May 2015
Input is either spot on, or unbelievably maddening. While the concept is cool the accuracy and speed is nowhere near using a keyboard for input.
11 May 2015
This program still has a long way to go before capable of living up to the standard of notation software. It takes me over two dozen tries to insert accidentals and it has trouble distinguishing between added notes and added beams. The lack of preloaded voice and the inability to add lyrics makes this app in serious need of further development.
9 May 2015
I love StaffPad! It is a great app for jotting down ideas, fleshing them out and then either printing copies for immediate rehearsal or exporting as MusicXML for Sibelius/Finale/MuseScore to import for final printing. The ability to use handwritten entry is something I've longed for and now it's become a reality. Yes, this initial release has some shortcomings, but David and Matt are very responsive to their users and a soon-to-be-released update will fix some of those shortcomings. This is a serious and excellent tool for composers/arrangers who like to work on paper but who need the convenience of the computer-notation world. If I could give it 6 stars I would! UPDATE -- the latest update for StaffPad is out and they have done a fantastic job improving things. Score reordering is now possible as is custom time signatures and multirests in parts. They have also improved the printing so that each staff can now be printed separately even for parts that share the same name. GREAT
8 May 2015
Only had for a day so still learning, but so far its great. I'm only a hobbyist but this exactly what I have been waiting for. I have owned Sibilius and Finale in the past and always wanted a more natural experience. So far, this delivers!
6 May 2015
I wish I had had this 10 years ago when I brought my orchestra teacher to tears because I refused to continue learning music theory because it was too boring and difficult at the time. Had I been able to actually hear and see the difference between the different counts in a meaningful way aka trying to create something that can't just feel the rhythm- I would have been an apt pupil. This is so amazingly fun to play with. Thank you~! I will be recommending this to both my novice and advanced musical friends.
2 May 2015
Better have SATB for the Choir.
25 April 2015
Very easy to get started with. My notation handwriting matches very closely. I love being able to hear what I am writing and make quick fixes.
25 April 2015
This is a fantastic application for composers and arrangers. Feature sets are being improved and enhanced, but right out of the box I've been able to write fully- executable scores. Use alone or in conjunction with apps such as Sibelius and Finale. (Import/Export files in XML format).
25 April 2015
I've dreamed for years of something like StaffPad existing and now it's here! Before anything else I'd like to say that this is a new toy that I'm eager to use every day. I'm a software developer who is also an amateur oboe and harpsichord player who's dabbled in composition from time to time over the years. I was recently tasked with arranging a Satie piano piece originally for oboe, piano, and kid choir (as a vocalise) for my son's school. What a great first project! My handwriting is awful but SP does a pretty good job of recognizing it. The app very much captures the flavor of the Windows 8 / Metro / Modern design language but therefore also suffers from the same flaw: it has a serious lack of "discoverability" meaning that t's not obvious how to do certain things immediately (copy/paste, for example) but once you "get it", it shows that the feature was well thought out. Looking forward to voice "instruments" (another big miss) in a future update!
24 April 2015
Don't get me wrong, this app needs some more development. Adding text for choral writing being a major one and for final engraving Finale or Sibelius are likely going to be needed. Even with these minor issues I am rating this a 5 as the interface is so intuitive and it has dramatically improved my ability to compose wherever/whenever including with other musicians and composers and all for a very reasonable price. I really hope this app gains in popularity and development continues as I could see this being the number one engraving app with just a few dozen additions/modifications.
20 April 2015
The core of the experience is pretty good, and the instruments sound fairly good as well. It takes some getting used to to consistently get your markings recognized, but it's very doable. Despite the list of issues below, it's my "favorite" digital music composing experience. There are also some quirks. - I've noticed formatting errors on print (fermatas being printed on the wrong line/page, for example; there are a few markings that don't position correctly on print). - Playback sometimes has hiccups. - Repeats don't appear to be honored during playback. - Muting some staffs can stop the "real-time" playback you normally hear when adjusting notes. - Exported MIDIs have a horrible "vibrato" type effect. - Some bugs with multiple instances of the same instance within a piece. - Misc crashes. - Somewhat cumbersome file/project management. All in all, I love using the program, but it's got some polish work that's needed. (I wish I could find an official forum on the StaffPad site...)
20 April 2015
Especially thinking on what you get for the price. Great recognition. Has gotten pretty much all transcriptions I give it. Certainly takes a bit of practice, but once you get it, is awesome.