Never Lose A Musical Composition Again, Save It To Your iPad
Symphony Pro ($14.99) by Xenon Labs, LLC is a digital music notation app for the iPad that lets professional musicians write their own music and playback creation using any of the app’s 114 instruments. Import your own files for editing and export them to share with others.
There is a list of musical notations on the left side of the screen. Select a note and add it to your score. All musical notation marks are included in the app, so there is no need to hand write anything. However, the ability to write freehand notes on the page would be a helpful addition. Use the in-app keyboard to automatically add notes that you’ve played to the score, or use an iPad compatible MIDI keyboard to play songs directly into the app. You can use any of the 114 included instruments to write specific parts for up to 12 tracks.
You can start from a blank document to create from scratch, or you can import MusicXML, MIDI, ABC and Symphony files. You can also import a variety of different files just by adding them to iTunes file sharing. You can also export your edited or newly crafted piece of work as a MusicXML, MIDI, PDF, MP3, AAC, or Symphony file. Files can be shared through email or sent to iTunes file sharing to be saved on your computer.
While reviewing this app, it crashed on me a couple of times. I also did not import any files, so I can’t speak to its competence. Apps have glitches, and developers work hard to flush out the problems. Unfortunately, this one is fairly expensive and users may feel frustrated if they experience the same issues I had. It is well worth the money, but impatient composers may find the hiccups in the system to be irritating.
Overall, this musical notation app for the iPad is a fantastic way for composers to incorporate works from various places all into one convenient location. While the price is high, it is reasonable for the features it offers. There are glitches that may cause users to get upset after having paid such a price. Download it for $14.99 in the App Store.