Probably like most of the folks that have Windows 8 and 8.1, I have an icon in my Start menu that displays random stuff from the Microsoft store. StaffPad was the thing that was displayed today.
StaffPad is a score-making software that does handwriting recognition for musical notation. You draw a note, it converts it into something that other folks could actually read.
There are a couple video examples of the product in use at the above linked website. It looks pretty darn kewl. A few caveats, though:
* You need a Windows 8.1 tablet and a digitizer pen. They recommend a Microsoft Surface. I wonder if it would work with a Surface that runs Windows RT ....
* Some time signatures aren't supported. The more esoteric ones: 1/4, 2/8, and 5+6/8 were the ones a reviewer mentioned.
I've mentioned before that the music notation software I've used is Finale and MOTU's Composer. My opinion is that it's probable that if you do direct note entry by playing on a MIDI device (say, a keyboard or wind controller), you'd have faster input. I don't know if it'd be more accurate, though. Also, if you do note input using a computer keyboard and a synth keyboard, you can do completely accurate note entry extremely fast -- but adding dynamics was always a pain. StaffPad looks like it can handle dynamics really, really well.
I'd love a review copy and appropriate hardware to try it on.
This website says that you can get it for $50. It's listed for $70 in the Microsoft store. A used Surface Pro 2 starts around $315. A Surface Pro pen is around $40.
StaffPad is a score-making software that does handwriting recognition for musical notation. You draw a note, it converts it into something that other folks could actually read.
There are a couple video examples of the product in use at the above linked website. It looks pretty darn kewl. A few caveats, though:
* You need a Windows 8.1 tablet and a digitizer pen. They recommend a Microsoft Surface. I wonder if it would work with a Surface that runs Windows RT ....
* Some time signatures aren't supported. The more esoteric ones: 1/4, 2/8, and 5+6/8 were the ones a reviewer mentioned.
I've mentioned before that the music notation software I've used is Finale and MOTU's Composer. My opinion is that it's probable that if you do direct note entry by playing on a MIDI device (say, a keyboard or wind controller), you'd have faster input. I don't know if it'd be more accurate, though. Also, if you do note input using a computer keyboard and a synth keyboard, you can do completely accurate note entry extremely fast -- but adding dynamics was always a pain. StaffPad looks like it can handle dynamics really, really well.
I'd love a review copy and appropriate hardware to try it on.
This website says that you can get it for $50. It's listed for $70 in the Microsoft store. A used Surface Pro 2 starts around $315. A Surface Pro pen is around $40.
