# Symphony Pro - Music Notation — Compose by handwriting or tap

> Intuitive music notation app for composing and editing scores on iPad. (iPhone/iPad app by Xenon Labs, LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symphony-pro-music-notation/id412380315 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Xenon Labs, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/327764518)
- Category: Music, Education
- Price: $14.99 with in-app purchases
- Rating: 3.80/5 from 469 App Store ratings · 406 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 13.5 · 365 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2011-01-07
- Data updated: 2026-08-31
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symphony-pro-music-notation/id412380315/reviews.md

## What is Symphony Pro?

Symphony Pro 6 is a complete and intuitive app for writing music notation on iPad. It allows you to compose music for just about any size ensemble, from piano, symphonies, band, lead sheets, chord charts, guitar tabs, and more.

Starting Version 5, Symphony Pro now offers handwriting recognition as the only in-app purchase: Perfect with Apple Pencil, and works great with touch or capacitive stylus

GETTING STARTED 

SP provides all of the key options to begin your work. Import a score via MusicXML, MXL, MIDI, or SP file from your computer, or from apps like Dropbox, Mail, iCloud Drive, or Safari. You can base your project on a template, or start a blank score and add additional parts later. 

EDITING

To add notes, choose Pencil mode, and tap anywhere on a bar to begin editing right away. You can quickly specify note properties before or after placing notes. By switching to Select mode with one touch, you can also transpose, erase, cut, and paste multiple notes/tracks.

With an on-screen instrument, a QWERTY keyboard, or Core MIDI compatible keyboard, you can quickly enter notes & chords in step entry mode. Record a part in real-time with on-screen instruments to transcribe into notation.

Versions 4 & 5 take greater advantage of the iPad touchscreen. With shortcuts and contextual menus to edit note & bar properties, many of the commonly used editing commands are right at your fingertips.

SP supports a wide range of notational elements for your composition. Including dynamics & articulations, time & key signature changes, clef changes, pedals, and repeat conventions. Edit chord symbols, lyrics, and annotations using the iPad’s standard keyboard. 

EXPORT & SHARE

When you’re finished, print out your score with AirPrint, or export it as a PDF, MusicXML, AAC, MIDI, or Symphony file. Share files via email or directly to another computer or iPad via Dropbox/iCloud Drive.

KEY FEATURES

• Introducing Handwriting Recognition for Apple Pencil & touch
• Starting Version 5, Handwriting is the only In-App Purchase to enable the complete app
• Now download SP on your iPhone
• 24+ professionally recorded and sound-designed acoustic instruments, free out of the box 

Earlier features offered free, to existing & new owners

• 114 built-in instruments for playback, and auditioning the notes you entered
• Create in standard music notation or tablature
• Edit with an on-screen piano, QWERTY keyboard, or a MIDI input device
• Dozens of shortcuts & gestures to edit & navigate
• Reduce your score size, range, or combination of parts for viewing & editing*
• Print directly to AirPrint
• Up to 48 instruments, 100 staves, 4 voices/layers per score
• Record a part in real-time with clicks at the beat with optional emphasis
• Backup & sync your scores with iCloud*
• Import MusicXML, MIDI, MXL, or Symphony files
• Export as a PDF, MusicXML, MIDI, AAC, or Symphony file
• Large selection of articulations & dynamics
• Multi-measure rests, including automatic rests
• Grace notes
• Customizable noteheads & note colors
• Chord symbol, lyric, and annotation tools
• Edit the properties of multiple notes and rests simultaneously by multi-note select
• Copy/Paste function supports partial & multi-bar/staff select
• Unlimited undo/redo
• Customizable stem directions & note beaming
• Transposing & concert pitch score option
• Change tempo or clef anywhere in score or bar
• Stream audio or share your screen wirelessly with AirPlay
• Advanced document management
• Create your own custom project template or use a built-in one
• Customizable part groupings for SATB and instrument families
• Customizable chord symbol, lyric, and annotation font
• Loop playback feature
• Auto-save support

* Previously paid, but now free upgrade in Version 5

For More information, please visit:

• http://www.symphonypro.net
• http://forums.symphonypro.net
• Facebook page at www.facebook.com/symphonyapp
• Learn about the iPhone-only app: bit.ly/symphonyiphone

## Key features

- Handwriting recognition for Apple Pencil and touch
- Compose for various ensembles
- Import/export MusicXML, MIDI, and more
- On-screen instrument input
- Real-time recording and transcription
- Wide range of notational elements
- Print via AirPrint

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: $14.99.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Version 4: Complete Features Bundle | Free | one-time |
| Handwriting Recognition Tool | $9.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Symphony Pro?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 🚀 Handwriting recognition is great
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🎨 Flexible for composing and arranging
- 💰 Good value for the price
- 🎹 Works well with Apple Pencil
- 🎶 Useful for music students and composers

**Cons**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Clunky and unintuitive interface
- 🔊 Poor sound quality of instruments
- 🔒 Issues with saving and exporting files
- 🤔 Steep learning curve for some features

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Project menu disappears unexpectedly
- Ties and tuplets not working correctly
- Inconsistent behavior when zooming and panning
- Instruments not transposing properly
- Frequent crashes when editing complex scores

**Most requested features**

- Add guitar metronome
- Improve text and lyrics handling
- Allow more customization of page layout
- Implement better transposition and chord features
- Provide more orchestral percussion instruments

## Recent user reviews (10 of 406)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symphony-pro-music-notation/id412380315/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Almost Perfect

*2026-08-17, version 6.7.7*

There are many wonderful items I absolutely adore about this App! The main thing that could be improved is when transferring music to MIDI, the software does not transfer Ties. I only use this software to write music I love it so much!

### 5/5 — 쓰지마세요 ..

*2026-07-27*

쓰지않는것을 추천드립니다. 거의 5년정도 쓰고있는데 꾸역꾸역 쓰다 그냥 지우기로 마음먹고 처음 리부써요. 다른분들은 돈낭비 시간낭비하지않길..

### 2/5 — Don’t purchase. Glitchy, crashes a lot, not intuitive. Theoretically has good options/functions.

*2026-06-15, version 6.7.7*

This app has useful functions built in. However, finding those useful functions is very difficult and not intuitive — even following user manuals or help instructions is unclear, difficult, sometimes impossible. Additionally, functions that I use frequently (and that are what I specifically purchased it for) are glitchy and unreliable. The app itself also frequently crashes completely without warning and restarts. Recently it keeps telling me to update the app but despite being completely up to date on my OS there is no update available or possible — but it keeps telling me to update every time I open! I eventually found mention of this in support forums that apparently the developers create the new version in the App Store long before releasing it, so apparently all users are constantly getting notifications about needing to update the app when there is no actual update available. It’s wild to me that this is something the developers are well aware of and think is fine. I waited to write this review thinking that maybe with time things would become clearer and maybe this was user error on my part, but I no longer think that is likely. I wish I had purchased a different app.

### 2/5 — App crashes

*2026-05-31, version 6.7.7*

I just recently bought the app and when I am using it the app crashes and tells me to update but when I try it says it’s up to date. Plus the app is buggy and can’t accurately read handwritten notes even though I had to paid extra for that feature. If these issues get fixed I’ll use it because the ui is pretty decently designed and the non-handwritten parts are pretty good but I bought the app for the handwritten notation

### 1/5 — Troubles

*2026-05-04, version 6.7.7*

The SP app persistently nags upon startup that an update is available. No such update is found via the Apple update utility. The SP forum website is offline. No listed direct email to the developers. Have invested a lot of time and effort in creating scores, but am on the verge of mass-exporting all my scores in mxml format and shifting to another app. Very disappointing.

### 1/5 — Seriously bad.

*2026-05-01, version 6.7.7*

I’m running this on an iPad 7th Gen with no other software installed. When I first started using it I found it a bit inconsistent but generally usable. but as time goes by and I’m getting more committed to it by the amount of work I’ve done, it is becoming more and more a bug-riddled piece of junk. Nothing works consistently, notes and expressions appear anywhere but where I’m trying to put them, even the user guide appears only about half the time when I try to open it. Tried using it with an Apple Pencil, wasted my $15 on that add-on.

### 4/5 — Great App but needs work

*2026-04-30, version 6.7.7*

Been using this for years and it’s great for my purposes. Customer service is responsive but they are slow to fix updates, bugs and requests. They seem grateful for user input so everyone, let’s keep at them to keep improving so we can make this a 5 star app !!

### 3/5 — Good functions but glitchy and not intuitive

*2026-04-05*

This app has useful functions built in. However, finding those useful functions is very difficult and not ontuitive — even following user manuals or help instructions is unclear, difficult, sometimes eimpossible. Additionally, functions that I use frequently (and that are what I specifically purchased it for) are glitchy and u reliable. Recently it keeps telling me to update the app but despite being completely up to date on my OS there is no update available or possible — but it keeps telling me to update every time I open! I waited to write this review thinking that maybe with time things would become clearer and maybe this was user error on my part, but I no longer think that is likely. I wish I had purchased a different app.

### 3/5 — 리뷰는 보고 계신 걸까요..

*2026-03-25*

무료 어플도 아니고 유료 어플인데.. 특수한 기호도 아니고 가장 기본적인 플랫이 코드에서 오류가 (몇년째) 나는게 너무너무너무 불편합니다. 이 한 가지 사실 때문에 다른 어플을 찾아야 하나 종종 고민이 될만큼 너무 불편합니다… 그리고 업데이트를 했는데, 최근에 들어갈 때마다 업데이트하라는 창이 뜹니다. Go to update 들어가면 당연히 업데이트 완료되어 ‘열기’만 보이는 앱스토어 화면이 나오고요. 버튼을 매번 눌러야한다는게 생각보다 더 번거롭습니다. 제발 수정 좀 해주세요…ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

### 5/5 — Really great App

*2026-03-18, version 6.7.7*

Enjoyed using this App which has so many wonderful features. Notation is easy to enter and write my first string quartet.  Instruments sound good with exception of what they call the nylon guitar which doesn’t sound like a high quality classical guitar in my view.

## Frequently asked questions about Symphony Pro

### What is Symphony Pro?

Symphony Pro is a comprehensive and intuitive application designed for creating music notation on iPad. It allows users to compose music for a wide variety of ensembles, from solo piano pieces to large symphonic works, and supports formats like lead sheets, chord charts, and guitar tabs.

### How does handwriting recognition work?

The app offers handwriting recognition, which is available as an in-app purchase. This feature works exceptionally well with Apple Pencil and is also compatible with touch input or a capacitive stylus, allowing for a natural way to write musical notation directly on your screen.

### What are the import and export options?

You can import scores via MusicXML, MXL, MIDI, or SP files from your computer or cloud storage services like Dropbox and iCloud Drive. When you're finished composing, you can print your score with AirPrint or export it as a PDF, MusicXML, AAC, MIDI, or Symphony file.

### What are the key features included for free?

The app provides over 114 built-in instruments for playback and auditioning notes without any cost. Additionally, features like standard music notation or tablature creation, editing with on-screen instruments, numerous shortcuts and gestures, and iCloud backup and sync are available for free.

### Is Symphony Pro compatible with iPhone?

Yes, Symphony Pro is now available for download and use on the iPhone, expanding its accessibility for users who prefer to compose or edit on their mobile devices.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 6.7.7 — 2026-02-04

- Fixes blank score issue after zooming and scrolling
- Fixes rendering issues while scrolling
- More updates for iOS and iPadOS 26 reliability

### 6.7.6 — 2025-10-27

- Fixes issue in iOS/iPadOS 26 where editing menu items next to a Note Selection or Region Selection area did not respond to user actions
- Other iPadOS 26 updates
- General reliability improvements across the app

### 6.7.3 — 2025-10-11

- Updated for iPadOS and iOS 26
- Fixes bug in iPadOS 26 where scrolling caused incorrect score display and scroll behavior

### 6.7 — 2025-09-10

- Version 6.7 brings many general reliability improvements, crash fixes, and bugfixes, including the following and more:
- Text fields in the Score Menu and Instruments Menu (e.g. when editing instrument names, score title, etc.) respond correctly when tapping to edit
- Correct textbox and title/composer/arranger rendering for iOS 18 and later when exporting to PDF/AirPrint
- Bug fixes and updates for the latest versions of iPadOS and iOS 18 and 26 
- Fixed playback of swing expressions for tied notes
- Handwriting Recognition and more: 
-- Fixes SP not responding to Apple Pencil inputs and generating spurious pencil marks:
-- More responsive to edits using the Apple Pencil in cases where the app previously entered inconsistent states* in several other instances
-- Fixes issue where touch input (e.g. selecting a note) sometimes unresponsive due to an inconsistent state, especially with the Handwriting tool being engaged
-- The annotations tool now works better with Apple Pencil, and scrolling is easier
-- Fixes rare issue where the whole app simply appeared to be frozen and unresponsive to user input, particularly when the Apple Pencil or other appliances may have been engaged
- Fixes importing a file from a different app, File Browser, or from AirDrop not working due to permission issue
- Fixes microtonal accidentals not being saved to project

### 6.5.2 — 2024-03-18

- General bug fixes
- Fixed issue on iPhone with iOS 17 where toolbars were not clearly visible
- Fixes other issues on iPad and iPhone where menus and icons were sometimes not clearly visible

## Apps similar to Symphony Pro

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [iWriteMusic](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iwritemusic/id393624808) | 4.6 (176) | $9.99 | Music |
| [iWriteMusic SE](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iwritemusic-se/id393614358) | 4.4 (142) | Free | Music |
| [Flat: Sheet Music Maker & Tabs](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flat-sheet-music-maker-and-tabs/id1177592149) | 4.6 (6,780) | Free | Music |
| [TONALY: Songs, Scales & Theory](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tonaly-songs-scales-and-theory/id1242467844) | 4.8 (6,323) | Free | Music |
| [Notation Pad-Sheet Music Score](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notation-pad-sheet-music-score/id1091921942) | 4.3 (5,264) | Free | Music |
| [MuseScore－Sheet Music & Chords](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/musescoresheet-music-and-chords/id835731296) | 4.6 (77,582) | Free | Music |

## More apps by Xenon Labs, LLC

- [Symphony – Music Notation](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/symphony-music-notation/id951251308)

All apps by Xenon Labs, LLC: https://appshunter.io/developer/327764518

## Related topics

[symphony pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/symphony-pro) · [music notation writer](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/music-notation-writer) · [notation](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/notation)

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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 2026-08-31.*