StaffPad

There's nothing like it on any other device. I switched from being a long term apple user to the Surface Pro 4. This program is worth every penny. I wrote professionally for orchestras and this has changed the way I write music. No more headaches learning software. Just paper and pen and that's it. Scores are beautiful and the interface is smooth. Great job!

[updated review]: So flexible, it's surprising.The controls, whether zooming or adding notation, are very intuitive.Only drawback is the limited time signatures right now: but it's not a deal breaker - it's just more annoying. After using it for a while-I get why people are scoring it down (but don't agree): It works *so* well that it’s difficult to consider it as software-it’s like having a personal orchestra on call-willing to run through your score. Maybe these tips help: Don't annotate too quickly. It *can* keep up, but it struggles with "correctness" when you write fast. If you slow down & add precision to your strokes you get "instant, magical correctness". When StaffPad makes a mistake-don't use your stylus to erase or redraw-use your finger to correct. It knows the difference. It *knows*. Lastly: If it resolves your note placement wrong-don’t redraw: select it with your stylus and just drag it into place. I didn't even read the help. It's just intuitive. I hope this helps

Handwriting recognition is almost flawless. It requires a bit of adaptation, but that's to be expected. Initial score layout and note input is intuitive and a pleasure. The app falls flat on its face when it comes to time signatures, with only a short list of options. Others (1/4? 2/8? 5+6/8?) aren't allowed. The piece I'm writing isn't complicated, but it's not possible to notate in this app. If time signatures are changed on existing measures, notes aren't shifted. If you want to re-notate the 3/4 section in 2, be prepared to re-input the whole passage unless you want a section of 2/4 with 3 beats per bar. Maybe give us the option? The app also doesn't allow for music to be written without a key signature. I wouldn't be so critical, but the description clearly states that it's intended for pro composers. I want badly for it to be what it claims; it's an easy 5 stars if they fix the time signature issue. Alas, it's unusable for all but the most rhythmically simple music without it.