Excellence through and through
Superb
You always expect tablet versions of desktop programs to be scaled back in terms of functionality but that really isn’t the case here. Pretty much everything you need to do professional music notation is already here. Note entry is quick and everything else you’re likely to need - dynamics, ornaments, lyrics etc. are just a single button-press away. I’m blown away by how detailed it all is - a terrific achievement by the developers.
Response from developer
Thank you for your review, David. I'm delighted to hear you are finding the app useful!
Immature App but with much promise RECONSIDERED
Prior to receiving feedback…
I have spent more hours on this app. I largely stick by my previous conclusions but feel three rather than two stars better represents my observation. The main uptick is the outstanding excellence of the support for lyrics - beats the current competition easily and for the good quality of handling MusicXML files. I would still like to see more support for file directories within the iOS app sandpit and more support for importing snd exporting flows; there are some work arounds. Given the pricing model and app complexity I still think users without access to the desktop version (about £90-£450)will be at least as well served by the principal rival apps. Previous text…. The app greatly resembles the desktop version which people pay approx £90 to £450. I have found that many simple things I'd like to do on the iPad app are not possible and I must use the desktop. Thus using the iPad app must be considered as an investment over and above the big laptop version. The proposition must be that this is a convenient supplement to the big version. In practice the functionality is too reduced in relation to the big version. To illustrate the iPad version has select, copy and paste problems, there is no support for directories in which to organise sets of projects, the very useful (in big Dorico) ability to export and import flows is not enabled and the role of sharing layouts between projects is limited. All in all the idea is good but with current limitations and prices other lower priced music notation apps will probably be easier to use and be a more appropriate choice for iPad working. In time when the app improves I would hope to write a much more positive review.
Response from developer
Thanks for your feedback, Splingenoff. I find your comments about importing and exporting flows very interesting: flows are of course a concept unique to Dorico and so not found in any competing apps on the App Store, so it seems a bit odd to suggest that the lack of the ability to import or export a flow means that you would be better served by one of the other apps on the App Store. Nevertheless, we agree that it would certainly be useful to be able to perform these actions in Dorico for iPad, and I hope that will become possible in a future version.
Boooo Subscriptions
Desktop app is perfectly designed for iPad…
Response from developer
Thanks for your positive review, ouroboros. I'm really pleased to hear that you find working on Dorico for iPad relaxing. We have many more exciting features in the pipeline, so please stay tuned!
Audio unit
I’m impressed
My only concern is the subscription model. I get why you choose that for Dorico for iPad, but please don’t let that make its way into Dorico and Cubase for Mac and PC.
Response from developer
Thanks for your feedback, khborn. We're really glad to hear that you are enjoying using Dorico for iPad. Please rest assured that Steinberg's desktop software will continue to be available under perpetual licensing.
Somewhere down the middle.
I was a user of Sibelius religiously until they chose to go with a subscription model. I’ve seen all the other canned responses provided to the others so I get it. You want to recoup costs. That’s fine and I don’t think that the $39.99/yr is way out of bounds, but the thought of renting a software just really has never been and will never be appealing to me. Even if it was $1.99/mth.
Everything said. If people enjoy it and want to pay for it I hope it works for you, but if you move to subscription on your main program, I will stop using that also.
I hope you reconsider but I guess you’ve made up your minds as what’s best for business.
Love the 1.1 Update, but where are my Audio Units?
Response from developer
I'm very sorry to hear that you're having this problem, Jan. Please try running another app on your iPad that is compatible with AUv3 plug-ins, such as GarageBand, and loading one of the plug-ins there, then restart Dorico and see if that addresses the issue. If this doesn't help, please come to our forums at www.dorico.com/forum and we will figure out the issue together.
