Notation Pad vs Patcher
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Notation Pad
Create, edit, and play sheet music with this comprehensive notation editor. Compose original pieces, transcribe existing music, and even collaborate in real-time. Ideal for musicians of all levels, from beginners learning notes to experienced composers.
- Real-time collaborative editing
- MusicXML, MIDI, PNG, and PDF export
- High-quality playback sound
- Support for up to 8 staves
- Over 100 instrument sounds
- Lyric editing
- Multi-voice support
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A sheet music creator and music notation editor on iOS. For any music lover or composer, Notation Pad gives you the ability to read, compose, edit, playback music scores and write lyrics. With it you can be a talented composer and great sheet music maker anywhere. As long as you have a little knowledge of sheet music, you can write music composition simply by touching and moving. You could use it as your songbook or scoresheet. It is also designed for a beginner who wants to learn music score, music notes and tablature. It can handle ensemble, choir or symphony score, also it supports for a single track piano score. With the help of it you could easily record the flashes of inspiration wherever they strike. Are you ready to compose music in a simple way? ----------------------- Features: -Realtime multi-person collaborative editing via SharePlay. -Export/Import the industry-popular MusicXML file format, allowing for exchanging sheet music with other software (Finale, Sibelius, Encore, MuseScore, etc). -Export MIDI file. -Export PNG image and PDF document. -High quality sound for playback. -Support editing up to 8 staff at the same time. -Support over 100 kinds of musical instrument. Piano, organ, guitar, violin, sax, flute, brass, bass, etc. -Support multi-voice. -A great lyric app. ----------------------- Supported notation: *A variety of music note types, from whole note to 128th note and dotted note *Chord, staff, track *Treble, alto and bass clef *Edit lyrics *A variety of time signatures *All standard key signatures *Adjustable tempo *All accidentals (sharps, flats, double sharps, double flats, and naturals) *Tie, slur, and tuplet *Many types of ornament *A wide range of dynamics ----------------------- UNLIMITED ACCESS SUBSCRIPTION - Support up to 8 staff - Config parts(add, delete, reorder) - Change key for each part - Change beat type and tempo - Config clef for each staff - Config sound for each part - No watermark image export - No Ads - Support 2nd voice part - Transpose instruments - Pickup bar - Import data file - Edit downloaded music score - Unlock all 100+ instruments - The subscription is $6.99 weekly with trial - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that service, where applicable - Terms of use: https://service.notationpad.com/terms_service.html
Patcher
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Patcher is the input list, done properly. Build the channel chart for a show, see where every line lands on the stage, and get it to the people who need it — from your phone, at the desk. THE CHANNEL CHART Every input and output in one list: the name, the console patch, the stage patch, which stage box it lands in, the group it belongs to, the device on the end of it, and the notes that matter at line check. SEE THE STAGE, NOT A SPREADSHEET The stage box view shows the actual sockets, laid out the way the box is, colour-coded by group. Working out what is in socket 14 takes a glance instead of a scroll. A LIBRARY THAT REMEMBERS Save the groups and endpoint devices you use on every show — the mics, the DIs, the packs — and they autocomplete on the next one. The second chart takes a fraction of the time the first did. IT WORKS WITH NO SIGNAL Venues have terrible reception, and load-in is exactly when you need the chart. Patcher keeps the last show you opened on the device and tells you how old that copy is, so you can read every screen with no bars at all. SHARE IT WITH THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT Invite the monitor engineer as an editor, or anyone else as a viewer. Or hand the whole list over as a CSV through the share sheet, which works over AirDrop with no network between you at all. BUILT FOR THE ROOM IT IS USED IN A dark theme that stays dark, controls big enough to hit one-handed, and a layout that works on a phone in your pocket and on an iPad on the desk. No adverts, no tracking, no analytics. Just the patch.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Patcher at none against Notation Pad's 10. Notation Pad's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Notation Pad sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days. Patcher asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Notation Pad | Patcher |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (5.3K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 55.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 5.3K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 162 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 嵩 张 | James Cox |
Bugs and requests
Notation Pad
Reported bugs
3 issues- Subscription popup that cannot be closed
- Instruments turning into drums unexpectedly
- Inability to delete or modify certain elements
Requested features
5 requests- Add more instrument options
- Improve editing capabilities
- Allow changing key signatures and time signatures without premium
- Provide better tutorials and documentation
- Fix issues with note placement and playback
Patcher
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Notation Pad
- Unlimited Access7 Days trial$6.997 Days
- Unlimited Access Monthly$14.991 Month
- Guitar Instrument Group$0.99
- Ensemble Instrument Group$0.99
- Brass Instrument Group$0.99
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- Reed Instrument Group$0.99
- Pipe Instrument Group$0.99
- Strings Instrument Group$1.99
- All Instruments Pack$4.99
- Extras Package$19.99
Patcher
No in-app purchases









