About 5 years ago, in a presentation by Microsoft, Redmond introduced "StaffPad". It's available since then in the Windows app store, of course an application for artists and designers.
An app that allows us, with the help of a Microsoft Surface Pencil, write our points using real-time OCR letter recognition. This way we are able to "draw" points and create a clean digital version so that we can use it in any field, reproduce it, print it or translate it.
One day, however, we were surprised by the news that StaffPad comes to iPadOS with the use of Apple Pencil. Both standard iPads and iPad Pro with Apple Pencil 2. And not only that, the app has improved connectivity, better options and is compatible with the new App StaffPad Reader, which allows us to connect a different iPad and use it to interpret other points. The update also comes in Windows 10, along with this new app.
We will tell you in detail what your chances are.
StaffPad is a technology tool that combines many of the most exciting opportunities for artists into one app: writing, editing and interpreting.
The main function that appears immediately upon opening the app is obvious: sheet music writing. We can write and edit our score using Apple Pencil. In fact, the app won't let you write a notation if we don't have an Apple pencil, so we can say that it's necessary.
The app will allow us to choose a tempo, scale, key or any other item that we can change again depending on the scale. Not only can we write notes, but also descriptions of ligatures, punctures, calderones, elastic joint, length or joint, all kinds of forces … any feature that may come from somewhere, we can draw it naturally and will be put in place by handwriting recognition.
If we have a mistake, just do the pencil action as if it were deleting, and the editor itself we'll see if we want to delete something and delete it.
StaffPad allows us to put as many rows of points as we want too give each of them a tool, so we can also feel the effect of what we write.
So we can not only write and store our scores in digital format simply by writing for freehand, but also we feel the effect. It is its more than one giga downloading app with 55 installed features that will allow us to reproduce the score and get an idea of it.
In addition, they have reached an agreement with 3 major bookstores such as CineSamples, Orchestral Tools and Spitfire Audio, to We can buy an integrated version of your orchestra bookstore directly as an integrated purchase within the app.
Below these lines you have the way Walt Disney Pictures enter this castle, played by an iPad at the center and with the help of CineWinds, CineBrass, CinePerc and CinePiano libraries for CineSamples, as well as the Berlin Harps and Berlin Strings of Orchestral Tools. Because obviously, We can combine the unique libraries provided by each product.
StuffPad, in addition to writing, allows us to organize points. We can choose notes or a collection of them that make up a "loop" that includes more than one item (and also fingerprinting and dragging) and with it we can copy and paste the school pieces, duplicate and transfer other notes, change key or type of instrument, small, etc.
Another exciting activity is the introduction of chords. Not only are we able to identify the strings or produce them in use changeand we have a real-time analytics tool which will allow us to put the right sounds in the right place. And by hand, of course.
StaffPad allows us to write, edit, produce and submit our work in a simple, fast and accurate way.
The text also allows you to control the volume of music within each staff and thus create a clearer understanding of what we want, and a good mix of our work.
StaffPad incorporates the use of school versions, so that we can convert and record as many as possible different types of similar work as necessary and alternate between them with a simple touch.
And of course, none of this would make sense if we could export our work, not just save it from the application itself. For this reason, StaffPad is able to produce audio files of our work in MP3, AAC or WAV, print a score or transfer it to PDF and, Supports exporting to MIDI and MusicXML formats.
StaffPad Reader
As well as the launch of StaffPad, which is a company with the same name StaffPad Reader. This is a solution for concerts or live performances where the same points can be synced with another iPad. Free app
You are with him we have the option to sync a particular iPad that shows the translated points and then select which instrument we send to each iPad so they can only see the lines that match that tool. It has a system of gaining artificial intelligence that will be responsible for downloading music and automatically turning the page as it is translated.
It will be enough for what we have all iPad on the same WiFi network so that they can interact and synchronize in real-time the changes made by the "school owner" (anyone using the StaffPad app) do it in real time.
It gives us 3 levels zoom and a few demo scores to get an idea of how it works. Remember our default settings for each file too connects with Bluetooth page switching devices with live games.
Also we can score points with Apple Pencil (though this application is optional) or with fingerprints. We can choose where we want to start, give Play so the score will move depending on the tempo it has and we can even set a metronome that gives us a pattern and rhythm.
If a playback is started by a device with a StaffPad app with a parent note, all other devices will be included in Play and will only open a page when it touches you. We can do it even if we only have a Reader program when the same network is connected and its playback will be synced. StaffPad Reader is able to sync iPadOS or Windows devices, however they may.
The StuffPad Reader will allow us to track, practice and interpret it. In addition, it is in agreement with StaffPad to create the orchestra with its unique partellas.
No doubt StaffPad and StaffPad Reader are two important tools for any artist who works with schools and plays in some kind of orchestra. We're not talking about a cheap app, because it's $ 100 (yes, you read well, € 99.99 or $ 89.99).
In fact, most libraries (which can be designated as integrated purchases) are priced at € 109.99 or $ 99.99, although there are some over € 30. It works on any iPad with the support of Apple Pencil and iOS 12.2 onwards. In the case of Windows, Software devices are recommended as they require a Microsoft pen, though they can work with other Windows with a compatible digital pen.
A new professional app that comes to the App Store, for music professionals will happily pay for a tool of this quality. Keep in mind that the music libraries we are talking about, when we buy them from desktop genres, are priced from 400, 500 or € 600 onwards. And a similar desktop app, like Avid Sibelius, costs over € 600 even though it can now be purchased by subscription. Software Professional is priced.
App Store Links | StaffPad and StaffPad Reader.
