The latest update to PreSonus Notion for iOS takes mobile music creation to the next level with a new in-app purchase that adds handwriting recognition for iPad users. Using a finger or stylus, users are now able to write music in their own handwriting and see it effortlessly convert to digital notation. With an Apple Pencil on the iPad Pro, it’s even possible to write with pressure and thickness and even greater accuracy.
This has always been one of the hurdles when using notation software on a computer. Most musicians and composers working with complex scores were never able to fully migrate from standard handwritten sheet music directly to music notation software. With tablets and smartphones, the most popular music notation applications have fully embraced touch screens as a way to provide part of the tactile experience available on paper, but still the accuracy was far from ideal. Mobile devices have demonstrated to be a great way for many musicians to get familiarized with notation software tools and their use in study and performance has been a considerable success for the major companies already committed to music notation software and even allowed some new companies to enter the market.
Among the companies which have already successfully adopted tablets - in particular Apple’s iPad - Notion was one of the first to introduce a fully featured app with Notion for iOS, in 2011, followed also by Progression for iPad, a guitar-tab editing app. In September 2013, PreSonus acquired the assets of Notion Music, Inc., and continued to develop all Notion Music’s products, reinforcing its commitment to mobile platforms and educational packages. With the recent launch of Apple’s iPad Pro and the sophisticated Apple Pencil, music notation was an obvious candidate to benefit from this powerful combination
With the recent update of Notion for iOS, PreSonus now offers users the choice of different easy-to-use note-entry methods with the onscreen fretboard, a MIDI keyboard, selecting and touching notes onto the staff, and now also using their own handwriting — or any combination. Notion’s handwriting recognition is powered by MyScript, the source of the world’s most advanced technology for handwriting recognition and digital ink management.
“Composing music with handwriting can be an important part of the creative process,” observes Arnd Kaiser, General Manager of PreSonus Software. “We selected MyScript technology because it enables our users to compose music naturally while leveraging the convenience and powerful capabilities of our composition software. It is the best of both worlds for today’s musician.” Using this technology, Notion for iOS supports hundreds of music elements which can be written and recognized.
The latest version of PreSonus Notion for iOS runs on iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and iPad Pro and allows musicians to enjoy a seamless composition workflow between iOS devices and desktop (Mac and Windows), thanks to integrated iCloud support. It’s also possible to transfer files from within the app via email and Dropbox. The new Sound Manager allows control over which sample sounds are kept on the device or in the cloud, including the full orchestral samples by the London Symphony Orchestra, recorded at Abbey Road Studios. The app also includes additional sounds which can be added as in-app purchases.
Among the latest features is MIDI step-time entry with external devices, record real-time MIDI input directly into a score, new distortion and reverb effects, and a full audio mixer. The app supports full orchestral and guitar functions and articulations, supports dragging score items such as dynamics, transposition, insert text, rehearsal marks, lyrics and much more.
Notion for iOS now offers native 64-bit support, improved performance, and a completely redesigned user interface, menus and dialogs with support for Retina displays. Notion for iOS is available in English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, and now Simplified Chinese. The app is available on the Apple App Store and was recently featured as one of Apple’s “Amazing Apps for iPad Pro.”
www.presonus.com/products/Notion-for-iOS
