# Beam: Powered by Arc — Beam Music App

> Interactive music rehearsal and performance organization app for ensembles. (iPhone/iPad app by Ultimate Drill Book.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-powered-by-arc/id6762746253 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Ultimate Drill Book](https://appshunter.io/developer/1455826723)
- Category: Education, Music
- Price: Free
- Rating: 1.90/5 from 62 App Store ratings · 21 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.0 · 90 MB
- Languages: American English, Ukrainian
- Released: 2026-07-15
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-powered-by-arc/id6762746253/reviews.md

## What is Beam?

Beam transforms rehearsal into an interactive experience, giving ensembles powerful tools to organize, annotate, and perform music together. Built for bands, orchestras, choirs, drum corps, and performing ensembles of every kind, Beam makes it easy to keep every performer on the same page, whether you’re in rehearsal, on the field, or on stage.

NEW

* Completely redesigned interface now integrated with the full Arc ecosystem
* Update licenses or access in Beam, and changes are reflected across all Arc products
* Easily upload, re-order and crop scores in the re-designed upload center 
* Create and save customizable annotation tools


Features for Members

* One login grants you access to Beam, UDBapp, and Geo
* Check-in with Geo without ever leaving Beam, no more interrupted rehearsals
* Discover free sheet music in the Beam Public Library


Features for Admins and Staff

* Easily add, edit, or delete scores in your ensemble's account directly from the app
* Assign collections, set lists and songs based on subject, group or subgroup
* One tap access to UDB for drill, and Geo for attendance
* Discover royalty free sheet music in the Beam Public Library ready to perform or record


Integrated with the Arc Ecosystem
As part of the Arc ecosystem, Beam integrates seamlessly with UDBapp and Geo, so your music, drill, attendance, and rehearsal tools all work together. With Arc, Beam now offers:

* A single login for all your Arc apps: Directors, staff, and performers can access everything they need in one connected platform.
* Seamless page management: Edit one or multiple pages at a time  with the crop, cut, and delete tools. Reorder, or duplicate pages, and assign a single page to multiple parts all from the upload screens.
* Custom Annotation Layers: Role-dependent layers offer directors, students and staff managed access to annotations and notes.
* Calendar & Attendance Integration with Geo: See full rehearsal and performance schedules, check-in to events with multiple locations, and track attendance throughout the season. Use Live Attendance to get a real-time view of who is at rehearsal and who is not.

## Key features

- Interactive music organization
- Score annotation tools
- Customizable annotation layers
- Sheet music library access
- Attendance tracking integration
- Seamless page management

## Recent user reviews (10 of 21)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-powered-by-arc/id6762746253/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Way worse than original Beam

*2026-08-24*

The old Beam was a good app with some issues. This one is mostly issues with an app buried somewhere beneath them. 

The lowlights I’ve noticed so far… They changed it so that to enter annotation mode, you hold the screen. Doesn’t sound too bad until you’re trying to zoom in or move the music around, and you end up accidentally drawing all over it because you held the screen too long. Also the bottom bar to switch pages as well as the Beam logo button never go away, which robs precious screen space and covers your music which is especially problematic on a phone. 

There are also features that are missing or broken from the old Beam app. First of all, they removed the feature that let you auto select your part, so now you have to choose your part for every individual piece, which is extremely inconvenient as a marching band student where we have dozens of different things we need to switch between. They also removed dark music mode, which was a huge battery saver with an OLED screen and was a much more elegant solution than having to invert your entire phone through accessibility settings. Finally and maybe worst of all, the save zoom feature is completely broken. The problem is that when you bring up the menu, it shifts the page down quite a bit, so when you then save the zoom level, it ends up saving somewhere off in the corner of your music instead of where you actually wanted it. 

Overall, this is a horrible and unnecessary “remaster” of the old Beam app.

### 1/5 — Waiting on tech support to address a zooming bug.

*2026-08-19*

On my third year of using Beam as a director. First two years it was great… with the new app, our screens are going white/blank when zooming in. VERY glitchy. Tech support asked for my PDF’s and has now gone silent. We are a small school and this is an expensive license/app. Please restore my faith in Beam.

### 1/5 — Removed the one good feature

*2026-08-18*

This new app literally removed the one good feature it had. It no longer keeps your screen on when in Low Power Mode. Arc is an Israeli company it’s the only explanation

**Developer response:** Hello, so sorry you've run into this. This was a bug in the latest release that will be fixed in the next update! If you run into anything else, please reach out to us on the chat on our website or support@joinarc.us.

### 1/5 — Major downgrade

*2026-08-18*

There’s a bar you can’t ever remove at the bottom of the screen, zoom save doesn’t work, live isn’t there despite working fine on the old version. Sucks all around and is a pain to use

**Developer response:** Hi! The bar at the bottom of the screen has been addressed in this next release as well as Save Zoom level being active again.

Live mode will launch here in the next week or so and we're excited for you to see it!

If you run into anything else, please reach out to us on the chat on our website or support@joinarc.us.

### 1/5 — Lost Functionality

*2026-08-17*

I liked Beam last year, but this new app is so much worse. The UI hides important features like zoom lock behind submenus. You can’t auto download specific parts, only all of the parts which is so much extra space wasted. Worst of all, the app doesn’t have a screen lock disabled, so constantly my screen dims or turns off while I play. As a trombonist it is so difficult to keep tapping the screen to keep my phone on. I hope these issues are fixed soon, or this app will making this season miserable

**Developer response:** Hi Ethan, so sorry you've run into this. Auto Download and Default Parts will be coming soon and the screen sleep bug has been addressed and will be available in the next release.

If you run into anything else, please reach out to us on the chat on our website or support@joinarc.us.

### 2/5 — REALLY buggy

*2026-08-17*

The app is okay for the most part and gets the job done but every time I try to write personal notes in my music to keep note of, the lines get very delayed and even go sharp and jagged in a way. Another thing is that every time I undo a line it pops back up briefly and then goes away again so I’m confused. My stylus works on every app I can write on with ease except for this one.

**Developer response:** Hi,

Very sorry that you're running into this. Could you reach out to us at support@joinarc.us and let us know what ensemble you're part of so we can look into this issue with you?

### 1/5 — This nee version of beam is a joke

*2026-08-16*

I'm actually appalled on how horribly executed this "upgraded" version of beam is. It feels like it was not made by musicians or anyone with marching band and music reading knowledge. The people who bought this app out and others associated should genuinely be ashamed.

**Developer response:** Hi nesmiz,

So sorry you've run into any issues. Over the next 2-3 weeks you should notice significant improvements on both UI/UX as well as performance upgrades.

If you run into anything else, please reach out to us on the chat on our website or support@joinarc.us.

### 5/5 — I liked it a lot

*2026-08-15*

I personally liked this update and everyone else is Lwk a hater

### 1/5 — Useless

*2026-08-14*

You have to have an IPad or Mac book and it will still suck then. If I quit marching band after 5 years it’s bc this is the only way to accesses my music

### 1/5 — This is just bad

*2026-08-13*

It was literally fine before the Arc stuff and now it barely works

**Developer response:** Hi DudeMan,

So sorry you've run into any issues. Over the next 2-3 weeks you should notice significant improvements on both UI/UX as well as performance upgrades.

If you run into anything else, please reach out to us on the chat on our website or support@joinarc.us.

## Frequently asked questions about Beam

### What is Beam's primary function?

Beam transforms music rehearsals into an interactive experience, offering tools for ensembles to organize, annotate, and perform music together. It aims to keep all performers synchronized during rehearsals, on the field, or on stage.

### How does Beam integrate with other Arc ecosystem apps?

Beam seamlessly integrates with UDBapp and Geo within the Arc ecosystem. This allows for a single login across all Arc apps, synchronizing music, drill, attendance, and rehearsal tools for a connected platform.

### Can I find free music to use with Beam?

Yes, Beam includes a Public Library where users can discover royalty-free sheet music. This music is ready for performance or recording, providing a valuable resource for ensembles.

### What kind of annotation features does Beam offer?

Beam allows for the creation and saving of customizable annotation tools. It also features role-dependent annotation layers, giving directors, students, and staff managed access to notes and markings.

### How does Beam handle attendance and scheduling?

Beam integrates with Geo for calendar and attendance tracking. Users can view rehearsal and performance schedules, check into events, and track attendance throughout the season, with a live view of who is present.

### Is Beam available on multiple devices?

Yes, Beam is supported on both iPhone and iPad, allowing for flexibility in how users access and utilize its features across different Apple devices.

### What is the update frequency for Beam?

Beam was last updated on July 17, 2026, with version 1.2.3. The release date was July 15, 2026, indicating recent development and ongoing support.

### What is the user rating for Beam?

Beam has a user rating of 3.0 stars based on 2 ratings. This suggests a mixed reception from its current user base.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 1.2.10 — 2026-08-25

Annotation and Layers updates and improvements
Synchronization improvements
General improvements and bug fixes
Full Data and File Refresh option - Go to Settings>About>Clear. All data will be cleared and re-synched from the servers. All files will need to be re-downloaded.

### 1.2.7 — 2026-08-11

Updates to Global Layers interaction across all songs in your Subject Library
- Annotation Sync Improvements
- Collection and Setlist Prev/Next song navigation
- Beam Button with UDB cross-link
- Pull-down to refresh now on every layer of the Songs Tab
- General Fixes and Improvements

### 1.2.3 — 2026-07-17

• General improvements and bug fixes

### 1.2.2 — 2026-07-15

No release notes.

## More apps by Ultimate Drill Book

- [UDBapp Pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/udbapp-pro/id1455826724)
- [Beam Music](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beam-music/id1572856909)
- [StrideTV](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stridetv/id1672652675)
- [UDBapp: Powered by Arc](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/udbapp-powered-by-arc/id6762600003)
- [Geo: Powered by Arc](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/geo-powered-by-arc/id6762745439)

All apps by Ultimate Drill Book: https://appshunter.io/developer/1455826723

## Related topics

[beam](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/beam) · [beam music](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/beam-music) · [marching band music](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/marching-band-music) · [bkam](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/bkam) · [ubd](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/ubd) · [ultimate drill book](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/ultimate-drill-book) · [virtual masonic organist](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/virtual-masonic-organist) · [pocketbook marching](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/pocketbook-marching)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*
