StaffPad in useSource: StaffPad

What you need to know

  • StaffPad is now available for iPad.
  • The app allows musicians to draw music using an Apple Pencil.
  • There's a free reader app for displaying music, too.

They say you're better late than never, and that's definitely the feeling I get with the arrival of StaffPad on iPad. The app has been around on the Windows platform for five years at this point, but now it's made the jump to iPadOS. The app, available from the App Store for $89.99, allows musicians to draw notes using an Apple Pencil and then turn them into written music.

But writing music is just part of the story. The version of StaffPad coming to iPad also supports sound libraries that can be added via in-app purchase. They come from Spitfire Audio, Orchestral Tools, and Cinesamples and range from $19.99 through $99.99. In theory, you could go all-out and have a full orchestra play whatever you just created. David William Hearn, co-founder of StaffPad, told The Verge that "would have been so complicated to try and achieve" previously.

If you need to distribute your work to a real orchestra, there's a free Reader app that means they won't need to have the full StaffPad app installed.

I've heard good things about StaffPad over the years and it's great news that it's now available on iPad, too. I can't play an instrument or hold a tune to save my life, but if you're the musical type this could be a great addition to your iPad.

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