StaffPad
Handwritten score entry from StaffPad Ltd in London for pen and touch
Key data
| Company | StaffPad Ltd |
|---|---|
| Category | Music Notation Software |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - United Kingdom |
| Data Location | not stated on the pages we read |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Handwriting recognition, audio recording and import, touch editing, realistic playback, StaffPad Reader across devices over Wi-Fi |
| Pricing | not shown on the pages we read |
| Best For | Composers who sketch with a stylus on a Windows tablet or iPad |
| Replaces | Sibelius, Finale |
Review in detail
StaffPad is a music composition app published by StaffPad Ltd. The privacy notice gives the registered office as Riverbank House, 2 Swan Lane, London EC4R 3TT, and names StaffPad Ltd as data controller. StaffPad is a registered trademark of StaffPad Ltd.
The about page names David William Hearn as designer and founder and Dr Matthew Tesch as lead developer and founder.
How does StaffPad take input?
StaffPad lets users write music notation in their own handwriting, record and import audio, and edit by touch. Playback uses sampled sounds.
The home page states that the app is designed for pen and touch and built for composers.
What does StaffPad Reader do?
StaffPad Reader is a free app that connects to StaffPad and shows the individual parts of a score across several devices in real time. Changes in StaffPad update on every connected Reader.
Annotations and playback stay in sync over a simple Wi-Fi connection.
StaffPad as a European alternative to Sibelius
StaffPad is a UK company, where Sibelius is sold by Avid. Its approach differs from Sibelius: entry is by pen, and it needs a Windows 10 pen and touch device or a compatible iPad.
The terms of service we read were last updated on 23 June 2021, and prices are not shown.
Where it falls short
StaffPad requires a pen-capable device, which excludes ordinary laptops and desktops. No prices or hosting details appear on the pages we read, and the terms of service are dated 2021. For keyboard-first work on any computer, MuseScore is the free pick.
Best suited to users of StaffPad
Film, theatre and concert composers who prefer to write by hand on a tablet and hand parts to players on screens.
Advantages and drawbacks
Pros
- Handwritten note entry
- Free StaffPad Reader for performers
- Touch editing and audio import
- UK registered office published
- Parts update live on connected devices
Cons
- Needs a pen and touch device
- Prices not shown on the pages we read
- Terms dated June 2021
- Hosting not stated
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Notes are written by hand with a pen
- Free StaffPad Reader app for performers
- Audio import and editing by touch
- Registered office in London is published
- Edits appear on connected devices as they are made
Cons
- Requires a device that supports pen and touch
- No prices on the pages we read
- Terms of service were last updated in June 2021
- Hosting is not stated
Alternatives to StaffPad
Alternatives from Europe in the music notation software group:
See all European music notation software or compare them directly against Sibelius on our alternatives page.
Common questions
Yes for jurisdiction. StaffPad Ltd is based in London, and the app turns handwriting into notation for composers.
The home page says it needs a Windows 10 device with active pen and touch and a compatible pen, or an iPad with Apple Pencil. The full list is cut off in the text we read.
Yes. The home page describes StaffPad Reader as a free app that shows score parts on connected devices.