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Composing software
I’ve been reading some of these threads re composition software for iPad, and would appreciate the wisdom and knowledge so many of you clearly share. I dabbled in composition in my youth, and now in my fifties want to return to it. The software options appear so numerous and varied. I’m aiming to buy a reconditioned iPad, and would like to start with software that is reasonably priced, or free, but that has good enough features for me to begin composing chamber music and some solo instrumental work to start with. My Compaq laptop is about seven years old. I’m not sure how compatible it would be. Any advice really welcomed. It’s a new world to the old one of script, pencil, eraser! Cheers, Sam
Comments
I can highly recommend Garageband which is included for free when you buy a new or reconditioned iPad. You will likely get 1000 different responses here and I highly suggest learning how to use Garageband first because basically you have everything on board to compose chamber music as well as solo work.
Sound-wise there are numerous ways to step up later but I personally wouldn't want the research to distract me from actually composing music.
Thank you very much for the advice. I’ll check it out.
Chamber music? I'm guessing Notion then
Yes, if you have a good inner hearing and are good at music notation, then Notion or StaffPad (more expensive) might be the fastest way to go from the idea to sound quickly. Just write what you hear, play to check the sound, erase, and rewrite again, etc. You can write just a piano score to test the harmony and counterpoint, then arrange it to whatever chamber group you have in mind later.
Thankyou Artj. I studied performance performance music at tertiary level. The ear and notation skills are fine. I have a piano and prefer to work off it. It’s just there are cleary so many choices and options. Cheers.
Start saving the $90 for StaffPad. The 55 default sounds are amazing.
It uses handwriting detection as opposed to Notion which is more MIDI input and touch based as I recall. The sounds in Notion will cost you extra and top out around $55 I think but they are not as good or complete. But you can start with Notion at a lower price point.
Moving music from Notion into Staffpad later is improved using the MusicXML format versus midi. MusicXML understands staccato and the usual musical symbols and articulation instructions.
Once you get into StaffPad you'll start to crave more instruments and there are dozens of add-on sample libraries that are closer to desktop quality products. There are many that are useful to create real chamber music ensembles with single or small groupings of strings.
There are many composers and hobbyists in the StaffPad community and they are a somewhat uptight lot but some are very helpful as you get into the app and have questions.
The generosity of the AB Forum has me spoiled. You can ask a question on the StaffPad Forum and wait days for a reply or comment. But when you do get advice it's well informed in general.
iknew @McD would bite on this now he jumped the staff-train. Empty wallet n all.
Haha. I shouldnt laugh. He’s nearly convinced me.
Sometimes it's not about the money. If there was a cheaper path I'd push it but after spending hundreds putting pieces together and just having problems I wrote the check.
I can compose on an iPad. It's still work but the frustration of the software is gone and the real anger is focused on the real problem. My work habits. Still a slacker. Go figure.
It's not perfect... but nothing compares on IOS and desktop options (which can be better but probably not handwriting based) are still 20x more expensive.
Initially, the handwriting input is very tricky to master but there are tricks
to make it easier.
pre fader or Darth Vader... yeah i did the same, caved in with Fabfilter bundle ddmf no regrets
Thank you so much. I really appreciate this advice. Really helpful for someone going back to composing in an incredible new world. I’m sure you’d say it’s a case of starting slowly and as I learn and discover more looking at evermore sophisticated software tools. Cheers
I completely agree with rs2000 suggestion of the free GarageBand.
These may inspire you. Done in GarageBand.
If you want to try something on your laptop, take a look at Musescore. It should run fine. The software is free:
https://musescore.org/en . It uses "soundfont" synth technology, which has lots of free and good sounding instruments available.
The community is found at musescore.com. Not sure what is free there and what requires a subscription, but the community is huge, lots of sheet music and help to be found.
Here's an example of a string quartet. You can listen to it by pressing the "play" (>) button:
https://musescore.com/user/33394774/scores/6323785
Watch DWH spend 3 hours in StaffPad make a "James Bond Movie Opener". He's the developer of the app too.
Very cool. I’ve started watching this and will enjoy it fully in time. Thank you for this @McD
I’ll check it out. Cheers! The string quartet sample grates on my ears though with the poor synthesised sound. Great to know about the community. This one seems huge too! Thanks @hes
@McD this is good to know. I like the portability ability with the iPad. If I can sit at my piano, play, notate onto iPad that is what I’m after. If things are going well and as I get more tech savvy then I would look to desktop options and more comprehensive software. I don’t mind spending money but want to take it slowly.
@ecou @rs2000 thank you both of you. I had a little play on my iPhone. Very interesting. I assume the notation software using GarageBand fits in somewhere else? I couldn’t see it but excuse my ignorance. I’ll go explore it further later.
thanks @GovernorSilver
Garageband is more of a DAW, i.e working with sequences/tracks. It does not have notation, i,e graphical representation of the music (staves). If you are looking for notation it’s Notion or Staffpad as mentioned above. I would second @McD on ”save for Staffpad”. I used Notion as well a while back, but found it way too cumbersome to use beyond the basic. Staffpad lets you entirely focus on the music and is incredibly well thought through as to how to leverage the Pen (which is a prerequisite, you need an iPad with an apple pencil). There’s a learning curve to get the hang of the handwriting, but once you get through that it is amazing..
Sorry... you also have to save for an Apple Pen (no 3rd party pencils will work). Mine is the 1st generation which works with the lower cost iPad 2018 9.7" model iPad so I don't have a Pro which is the usual target for using a Pen.
Staff pad looks like it has $300-400 of IAPs, am I reading that right? From earlier discussion it sounded like a lot of samples were built in... Are these just extra premiums that aren't needed but nice to have?
On the same page with you myself, a score paper in front of a piano, although I’m just barely play a sonata :-) on the other hand, a nice sequencer with some generative functions could provide something unexpected that you might find interesting too. Yes, too many option. 😂
StaffPad ships with 55 instruments. For film composing they have you covered for the $90 entry fee. See the SoundCloud link above that does a 1 bar of each instrument demo to get a sense of what's possible for $90.
But there are multiple sample library vendors that are working with StaffPad to port their desktop libraries to StaffPad:
SpitFire
Orchestral Tools (Berlin Libraries)
CineSamples
AudioOllie
StaffPad
This is a comprehensive list of optional Libraries you can add-on but do not need to:
$99.99 (USD)
CineBrass
CinePerc
CineStrings
CineWinds
Voxos Choir
Spitfire Symphonic Strings
Spitfire Symphonic Woodwinds
Spitfire Symphonic Brass
Spitfire Symphonic Percussion
Spitfire Chamber Strings
Berlin Strings
Berlin Brass
Berlin Woodwinds
Berlin Percussion
Berlin Strings First Chairs
$69.99 (USD)
CineHarps
CineStrings Solo
CinePiano
Berlin Harps
Berlin Pianos
Audioollie Scoring Synths
$54.99 (USD)
StaffPad Antique Keys
$39.99 (USD)
Tina Guo Cello
Taylor Davis Violin
$29.99 (USD)
Spitfire Felt Piano
Spitfire Union Chapel Organ
Spitfire Steel Drums
$19.99 (USD)
StaffPad Essentials Drummers
StaffPad ambience ONE
StaffPad Retro Keyboards
$9.99 (USD)
StaffPad Guitars Vol 1
$6.99 (USD)
StaffPad Accordion
FREE
StaffPad Toy Glockenspiel
Totally, too many options! 😂 I think I get the last bit 🤔 @Artj
Wow, insane! I’m going to stick to the basics first, but great to see such amazing variety. I have to laugh at the poor free Glockenspiel 😂 @McD
I imagined this would be the case. I’m going to see if an iPad that year is still available @McD
@NoonienS ok great to have two of you endorsing Staffpad. I’d get frustrated if beyond the basics I have to struggle with clunky tech. As for the pen, I’m looking forward to that, although I can imagine the learning curve ahead!
It's a joke all right. Like a toy you'd buy for a 4 year old to drive the parents crazy.
I should make a track of it playing some Bach 2 part invention. Done.
The first 2 bars are the Toy Glock and then I survey all the available met allophones you'll
get in the 55 instrument collection including the Piano. There are a lot of them. Cookies for anyone that can name more than 5:
Haha nice effort, @McD Thanks for the demonstration! The genius of Bach still shone through. And the old Glockenspiel sounded pretty respectable too. I feel sorry for it though having been given such a name. Sounds so Hansel and Gretel. I’ll listen to the others in the morning. Impressed with the 55! Amazing. Do you ship cookies to New Zealand?
😀🤣😂