1.6.3 Update (10/24/23) to the StaffPad 1.6 Update is out!

mjcouche

@Ailerom

TabIt.net

That is the best you will get right now. Then send the midi to your iPad or DAW with other sound libraries to make it sound even better

Ailerom

@mjcouche said:
@Ailerom

TabIt.net

That is the best you will get right now. Then send the midi to your iPad or DAW with other sound libraries to make it sound even better

Thanks for the link. Off to check it now. Honestly though, playback is not a big deal for me. I just want to record ideas so they are not forgotten.

semaln

Thinking of buying but hoping for a sales coming up to celebrate the new update. Do you think it will happen? Not sure I want to wait until black friday…

michael_m

@semaln said:
Thinking of buying but hoping for a sales coming up to celebrate the new update. Do you it will happen? Not sure I want to wait until black friday…

Once in a while it goes on sale for half price, but it’s not for too many days at a time when it does.

JanKun

@McD said:

@HotStrange said:

@McD said:

@HotStrange said:
@McD thanks for taking the time to answer. So you could conceivably import custom midi clips into the app and then use the built in sounds to play said midi clips? I hope that feature gets fine tuned. If it does I will almost certainly buy it. Even though I can’t write music very well at all, being able to import midi clips and utilizing those great string (and brass? Can’t remember) sounds would be fantastic.

I should mention that every MIDI file import opens a new project. So, to combine several disparate MIDI clips you need to cut and paste between projects. Not a big deal… but an unobvious extra step.

Do you know if there are plans to make it AU? I’m doubtful but curious.

No. It’s a massive app that couldn’t function with the change to the Screen layout and how the UI functions. It also
in realtime renders projects that contain dozens of different instruments and NOT in some frozen artifact. It renders
the current copy everytime after any changes… you might want to hear what that flute solo sounds like by a violin and you can just change the instrument and hit play. So, the sound engine in this beast is amazing: it grabs just the right samples at any given time from a library of options. It also adds audio files and now a video track useful for composing to film.

Audio files can be clipped, stretched to fit an existing tempo track without shifting pitch or conversely you can shift the tempo downbeats to match transients in the audio track… take that MIDI. So, tempo tracks can be really adaptable and fluid. Something MIDI just is particularly good at in existing sequencers and DAWs.

StaffPad is really a closed garden type of DAW.

Just remember in addition to the $90 purchase you will probably need to get an Apple Pencil. Some gestures do not respond to
finger input so working without the pencil will make some actions impossible. And the pencil ain’t cheap… Thanks Steve.

Thanks for clearing all that up! Luckily I do currently have the Apple Pencil (2nd Gen). Seems like being a walled garden is for the best in this case. Not a dealbreaker for me at all, I was just curious. After you’ve explained it, it’s definitely made me want it more lol it’ll be some time as I’m saving for a new midi controller now, but I’d like to have to eventually for sure. Thanks for patiently dealing with my pestering 😂

There’s a nice little Bluetooth keyboard I found for $90 that works great. I made this with it as test drive of the new Muse Libraries: Muse Perc, Muse Brass and Muse Strings. No pencil required except to edit a couple notes.

The new Muse libraries don't sound too bad. Probably better than Staffpad stock ones. Still, they cannot complete with Orchestral Tools and Spitfire ones.

McD

@JanKun said:
The new Muse libraries don't sound too bad. Probably better than Staffpad stock ones. Still, they cannot complete with Orchestral Tools and Spitfire ones.

StaffPad with Muse Libraries (and the default set too) costs $90. (You need to buy an Apple pencil too).
Orchestral Tools packs are $99 each. I think many will find 6 Muse packs “good enough”.

FYI: Some of the Cinesamples packs are $69 each.

Muse covers:
Strings with soloists too which are 2 packs in 3rd party libraries
Brass
Woodwinds
Percussion
Keys (4 Pianos, Harpsicord, the 2 major E-Pianos, Celesta, Hammond Organ)
Choir

so, roughly 8 x $99-69 = $792-552 comparison shopping. Free still gets people into the tent.

When Scot Van Zandt told me he purchased over $600 in libraries I thought “I not going there.” But after getting in for $90 and discovering how good the default instruments were I started picking off 3rd party packs whenever they went on sale for %50-40 off.

JanKun

@McD said:

@JanKun said:
The new Muse libraries don't sound too bad. Probably better than Staffpad stock ones. Still, they cannot complete with Orchestral Tools and Spitfire ones.

StaffPad with Muse Libraries (and the default set too) costs $90. (You need to buy an Apple pencil too).
Orchestral Tools packs are $99 each. I think many will find 6 Muse packs “good enough”.

It seems many users are complaining about the update breaking the dynamic balance in their old scores. I didn't want that so I haven't updated yet (learned to be cautious with iOS apps updates). Have you experienced something similar ?

McD

@JanKun said:

@McD said:

@JanKun said:
The new Muse libraries don't sound too bad. Probably better than Staffpad stock ones. Still, they cannot complete with Orchestral Tools and Spitfire ones.

StaffPad with Muse Libraries (and the default set too) costs $90. (You need to buy an Apple pencil too).
Orchestral Tools packs are $99 each. I think many will find 6 Muse packs “good enough”.

It seems many users are complaining about the update breaking the dynamic balance in their old scores. I didn't want that so I haven't updated yet (learned to be cautious with iOS apps updates). Have you experienced something similar ?

Seriously? You’re passing on MIDI input to avoid the pencil?

I rarely look back on older scores to be honest so I just keep making new scores. If I needed to re-mix a score I’d export stems and maybe get serious about Cubasis automation… which I have never mastered but could see it as a simple solution to subtle volume changes.

StaffPad is a big “wad’ of software and they obviously spent a few extra months in the beta testing phase so I’ll just keep going forward and I advise you to do the same. MIDI input and the new Video track for scoring to video is worth having to re-mix anything pre-update if you need to.

JanKun

@McD said:

@JanKun said:

@McD said:

@JanKun said:
The new Muse libraries don't sound too bad. Probably better than Staffpad stock ones. Still, they cannot complete with Orchestral Tools and Spitfire ones.

StaffPad with Muse Libraries (and the default set too) costs $90. (You need to buy an Apple pencil too).
Orchestral Tools packs are $99 each. I think many will find 6 Muse packs “good enough”.

It seems many users are complaining about the update breaking the dynamic balance in their old scores. I didn't want that so I haven't updated yet (learned to be cautious with iOS apps updates). Have you experienced something similar ?

Seriously? You’re passing on MIDI input to avoid the pencil?

I rarely look back on older scores to be honest so I just keep making new scores. If I needed to re-mix a score I’d export stems and maybe get serious about Cubasis automation… which I have never mastered but could see it as a simple solution to subtle volume changes.

StaffPad is a big “wad’ of software and they obviously spent a few extra months in the beta testing phase so I’ll just keep going forward and I advise you to do the same. MIDI input and the new Video track for scoring to video is worth having to re-mix anything pre-update if you need to.

Will take the plunge very soon. I am probably being too careful. First I need to back up my scores !
The big plus for me will be the video track. l got used to pencil input, and I actually like this way but, since it puts me in a different state of mind than performing. But I recently purchased a Midi controller, so it can be an interesting new workflow. Wondering if it is possible to route Midi from let's say an app like Midi Guitar 2, which could also be great.
From what I heard, I am not really impressed by the Muse libraries, the choir could be useful though. but I agree that's a great addition for people who purchased the app and can't directly afford third parties libraries. Still I think people looking for beautiful and realistic strings should at least purchase Berlin Strings, as it's a big step up.

McD

@JanKun said:
Will take the plunge very soon. I am probably being too careful. First I need to back up my scores !
The big plus for me will be the video track. l got used to pencil input, and I actually like this way but, since it puts me in a different state of mind than performing. But I recently purchased a Midi controller, so it can be an interesting new workflow. Wondering if it is possible to route Midi from let's say an app like Midi Guitar 2, which could also be great.

Yes. MIDI Guitar 2 with the additional $20 MIDI Output IAP sends MIDI into StaffPad. I just tested it without a guitar but using Television audio as the audio source. It created an extremely complex Flute solo by detection notes in the TV audio stream.
You might like some of that notation to save a lot of pencil work. Lots of septuplets and quintuplets. I find writing complex rhythms to be the most frustrating aspect of StaffPad “handwriting”. I’ll probably be pumping in Drum Machine MIDI to help
generate interesting rhythms. Then I’ll scour my libraries for instruments that can render the part with some real bite.

JanKun

@McD said:

@JanKun said:
Will take the plunge very soon. I am probably being too careful. First I need to back up my scores !
The big plus for me will be the video track. l got used to pencil input, and I actually like this way but, since it puts me in a different state of mind than performing. But I recently purchased a Midi controller, so it can be an interesting new workflow. Wondering if it is possible to route Midi from let's say an app like Midi Guitar 2, which could also be great.

Yes. MIDI Guitar 2 with the additional $20 MIDI Output IAP sends MIDI into StaffPad. I just tested it without a guitar but using Television audio as the audio source. It created an extremely complex Flute solo by detection notes in the TV audio stream.
You might like some of that notation to save a lot of pencil work. Lots of septuplets and quintuplets. I find writing complex rhythms to be the most frustrating aspect of StaffPad “handwriting”. I’ll probably be pumping in Drum Machine MIDI to help
generate interesting rhythms. Then I’ll scour my libraries for instruments that can render the part with some real bite.

I agree, complex rhythms are tedious to notate!.
I love the idea to feed Midi Guitar 2 with everyday sounds! Great idea for a new composition!

McD

@JanKun said:

@McD said:

@JanKun said:
Will take the plunge very soon. I am probably being too careful. First I need to back up my scores !
The big plus for me will be the video track. l got used to pencil input, and I actually like this way but, since it puts me in a different state of mind than performing. But I recently purchased a Midi controller, so it can be an interesting new workflow. Wondering if it is possible to route Midi from let's say an app like Midi Guitar 2, which could also be great.

Yes. MIDI Guitar 2 with the additional $20 MIDI Output IAP sends MIDI into StaffPad. I just tested it without a guitar but using Television audio as the audio source. It created an extremely complex Flute solo by detection notes in the TV audio stream.
You might like some of that notation to save a lot of pencil work. Lots of septuplets and quintuplets. I find writing complex rhythms to be the most frustrating aspect of StaffPad “handwriting”. I’ll probably be pumping in Drum Machine MIDI to help
generate interesting rhythms. Then I’ll scour my libraries for instruments that can render the part with some real bite.

I agree, complex rhythms are tedious to notate!.
I love the idea to feed Midi Guitar 2 with everyday sounds! Great idea for a new composition!

You can also feed any MIDI producing AUv3 (or IAA) app by having that app route to AUM Destination and selecting AUM as a source in StaffPad… I’ve been playing with send some of the Lumbeats drummers into Staffpad to get some nice grooves. And NOT for drums but for all the instruments. Changing pitch is easy but changing rhythms is a nasty mess with the pencil.

McD

1.6.2 Update has been released:

McD

1.6.3 fixes:

yellow_eyez

This update is incredible. I was apprehensive because my sight reading is not what it used to be and I always wanted to be able to score and notate but with piano and midi capture it’s possible

It’s on sale for $50, Are all like essential IAP free too?