I've been playing with Symphony Pro for about a week now and I thought I should write something about it.
O know that notation isn't everyone's cup of tea but I'm a big fan. I like using notation because I find that the music I make is very different from what I do using other interfaces, but when I use it the app or software has to be simple to use and Symphony Pro fits that very well.
When you start this app you're straight into the score and can start making music right away. I've found this to be one of the most usable notation interfaces I've found in a long time. Most of what I wanted and needed was obvious and intuitive to use.
In terms of sound it is a bit limited I've found so far, but in many ways that doesn't detract from what you can do with the app. My maim use for this app is to write music and then export it to something else so export options are really important and the app has lots in that department. For me a MIDI export is the most important and it works fine.
I think I'm going to be using this app a lot in the future as it is so easy to use. If notation is your thing then you should really check it out.
Symphony Pro is priced at $12.99.
iPod Touch at the Apple Store
7 comments:
Typo in 2nd paragraph =S
I agree with you Ashley. I think notation is really important. Very important in fact. Notation is a language. The piano roll is NOT. This means if you learn how to use notation properly- even for 'dance music', your songs will last a good deal longer than they would recorded into a computer file or on tape etc. Why do we still listen to Bach, Mozart and Beethoven after all these years?! Even the Beatles!
It is also, contrary to popular belief, far easier to input notes (once you have mastered the language of notation) than it ever would be using a piano roll alone. I so, so wish apps like Nanostudio had decent notation tools, rather than what they have on offer at the moment.
@Tom
I agree, also notation teaches you lots about music theory...
I've been using this app for a few weeks now and I really like it. I wish the built-in sounds were better. (They're downright awful, in my opinion.) However, I've been able to export out of this and straight into Finale with nary a problem where I can easily use the Garritan Orchestra.
And ditto to all of the above points about notation.
It is to my understanding that the Beatles were self taught.
Paul McCartney doesn't read music, John Lennon didn't read music.
Depeche Mode from a radio interview I recorded years ago, claimed knowing nothing about music (well, their keyboard player did, a session player, I believe)
I like notation, but creatively, it does nothing for me at all. And I hate roll editors:)
@Darksound
Perhaps that's why I have never heard of you outside PalmSounds?
"Paul McCartney doesn't read music, John Lennon didn't read music.
"
Mate, you're missing the point. ALL the Beatles stuff has been translated over to notation- years ago. Back in the 1970's when I were a mere boy (yes, I'm an old fart), many of the beatles tracks we learnt were from songbooks, not records. I couldn't afford records then, and the radio just spat out rubbish like Shawaddywaddy!
Can I think of a famous dance track that is available in notated form?....erm...no.
@Tom
And you never will.
"Mate, you're missing the point." My point is that music notation is great but it isn't necessary for great music. Drummers in African tribes, fiddlers in Appalachia, guitar strummers from southern U.S. Etc, etc
Probably not a lot of music reading going on there but I'll bet you heard some of them AND you've certainly heard some of their evil spawn :)
And as far as dance track transcriptions. I'm sure you've heard a waltz or two?
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