Comparison

StaffPad vs RS

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

StaffPad

Compose music effortlessly on your iPad with intuitive handwriting input and advanced notation tools. Convert your playing into sheet music, record and edit audio directly on the score, and utilize powerful playback with professional sample libraries. Seamlessly share your work with others using the companion reader app.

Highlights
  • Handwriting music notation with Apple Pencil
  • Convert audio recordings to notation
  • Record and edit audio on score
  • Professional playback with sample libraries
  • Seamless sharing via ScoreSync
  • Import/export MusicXML and MIDI
Features
Read full description

MADE FOR COMPOSERS ------------------------- StaffPad is designed for composers who want to write music effortlessly, using music notation and audio. Write your music using Apple Pencil, and the app will transform your writing into beautifully typeset notation that can be edited, played back, printed and shared. Record or import audio directly onto your score and edit it intuitively with Apple Pencil. Magically convert your real piano playing or existing recordings into notation using advanced on-device machine learning. Add video, smart symbols and use world leading sample libraries and mix your score with a suite of studio effects. From basic idea to a full film score; StaffPad is the easiest, most powerful and most intuitive way to compose music on iPad. WRITE NATURALLY ------------------- Write your score with the fluidity of natural handwriting. Use touch and Apple Pencil to quickly edit your notation. Transpose, repeat and structure your score with intuitive gestures and tools. Customise the tempo with a unique tempo staff (or import a tempo map from a MIDI file), add chords either manually or automatically with the chord staff. You can even copy music written in StaffPad into other apps, simply using the normal copy and paste functions. HEAR YOUR MASTERPIECE ---------------------------- With a groundbreaking playback engine and over 55 included instruments, StaffPad is ready to perform your written piece instantly. Add industry-standard sample libraries, adapted and customised for StaffPad, from some of the world's leading sample developers. This is a leap forward for composers working at the highest levels. SHARE WITH SCORESYNC --------------------------- Once you're ready to perform or record your work, tap the ScoreSync button in StaffPad and your score is instantly shared across a Wi-Fi network to any device running the free StaffPad Reader app (available in the App Store). The Readers present each individual musical part beautifully formatted, update in realtime with any changes you make to your score, handle automatic page turns, and play back in perfect time with a synchronised metronome, for capturing the perfect recording every time. IMPORT AND EXPORT --------------------------- StaffPad imports and exports MusicXML and MIDI files for easily working with other music apps. You can also export your playback as WAV, AAC or MP3. You can import audio files into your score, with support for most major audio formats. WORK WITH AUDIO AND VIDEO -------------------------------- For the first time, you can seamlessly mix audio with your notated score. Record directly onto the score canvas using your device's in-built microphones, or import loops, Tempo map freeform/rubato performances using the tempo staff. Add shine to your production with a suite of studio quality DSP effects, and polish with precise automation. PIANO AND MIDI CAPTURE --------------------------- Record your real piano and convert it into notation. Don't have a real piano? Don't worry - you can connect a USB or Bluetooth MIDI keyboard and record your performance in realtime, converting to notation as you play. PRINT / PDF ------------ As well as digital parts via ScoreSync, StaffPad will automatically format and print parts or export PDFs for you. Customise the paper size, bar number styles, number of bars per line, scaling, margins, multi-bar consolidation and more. StaffPad automatically formats the score for consistent presentation.

About

RS

Features
Read full description

RS-1 turns your mobile device into a hardware-grade sequencer that feels like the real thing. Built for iPhone and iPad, it packs 6 tracks (8 on iPad), a tactile 16-step grid, and 8 joinable patterns you can chain into full arrangements. Drive any piece of hardware or software instrument with real-time MIDI 2.0 over Bluetooth, USB, or Wi-Fi, and lock everything to your rig with Ableton Link sync. Five unique tools let you edit, alter, and even scramble your patterns on the fly, building complex polyrhythms and melodies with just a few tweaks. The interface borrows its workflow straight from classic hardware sequencers: every control for every track sits right in front of you, so you stay locked into your musical ideas instead of menu diving. All of it slips right into your pocket. SEQUENCING The beat grid runs six horizontal tracks across sixteen vertical steps. Tap a cell to toggle its trigger gate. Each track has its own free-running playhead, so you can build polymeter by giving different tracks different effective lengths. Eight independent patterns share the same track routing - MIDI channels, mute/solo states, and output destinations carry across every pattern. Hold down the pattern buttons to chain them into a sequence, and use Copy/Paste to duplicate a pattern in a tap. FIVE CREATIVE TOOLS 1. Note Input Tool - Edit a track in focus view. Tap a track header to open five tabs, each assigning a per-step value: - Pitch: Set each step's pitch, quantised to a scale. Custom scales supported. - Velocity: Rescale overall velocity with a single slider. - Gate: Adjust note duration per step. - Ratchet: Set the number of repeats; a slider adjusts the repeat interval. - Chance: Probability-based step removal. 2. CC Tool - Edit a track's MIDI CC messages in focus view. Tap a track header to open five tabs: four CC slots plus a Program Change tab. Draw automation curves for filter sweeps and modulation, or send program changes manually for preset switching. 3. Combine Tool - Stitch adjacent steps into longer, legato notes. Drag across cells to select, then press Combine to join them. 4. Time Tool - Shape playback per track: Division (step length), Shift (rotate the pattern in time), Swing, and Loop length. 5. Order Tool - Choose from 19 play orders, ranging from straight patterns to algorithmic, generative ones. MIDI & CONNECTIVITY SETUP 1. Open the Config menu. For a wireless connection: - Bluetooth LE: Connect iOS to an external Bluetooth MIDI device. Tap "Scan" to discover nearby devices, then tap "Connect" to pair. Pairing happens once; the device reconnects automatically from then on. - Bluetooth Peripheral: Connect to macOS over Bluetooth. Turn on the switch, then open the Bluetooth page in macOS Audio MIDI Setup and click Connect. - Network MIDI: Connect to macOS over Wi-Fi. open macOS Audio MIDI Setup, create a network session, and connect to your device. - USB MIDI: Available when a USB-to-MIDI OUT cable is plugged into your device. Once connected, the device appears in the output selection. 2. Choose your MIDI output destination from the drop-down menu. NOTE: Wireless connections can introduce latency and jitter. For the most stable timing, USB is recommended. MIDI 2.0 output: per-track channel routing. Supports MIDI clock sync and MIDI transport sync. Ableton Link: Automatic beat synchronisation across devices and apps on the same network that support Link. Tempo changes follow instantly, and Start/Stop sync is available. PRESETS 16 preset slots capture everything - all patterns, tool states, MIDI routing, and settings. Slots are colour-coded for quick identification, and you can load or save in a single tap. PERMISSIONS - Bluetooth: Used to connect with Bluetooth MIDI devices. - Wireless Data: Used to connect to a macOS network Wi-Fi MIDI session. It does not access the internet. - Find Devices on Local Network: Used for Ableton Link.

Screenshots

RS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RS at $5.99 against StaffPad's $49.99. RS also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 12). StaffPad's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). On 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

StaffPad costs $49.99 and RS $5.99 up front. StaffPad sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. RS asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
StaffPad versus RS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStaffPadRS
Price$49.99$5.99 — better
Rating4.0 (643 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews39.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings643 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size1.0 GB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStaffPad Ltd.淞元 石

Bugs and requests

StaffPad

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Inability to recognize certain note values
  • Eraser function unreliable
  • Inconsistent behavior when writing accidentals
  • Crashes when attempting to create new scores
  • Syncing and file management issues

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved handwriting recognition
  • More flexible note input options
  • Cross-staff notation support
  • Customizable UI and layout
  • Better collaboration and sharing features

RS

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

12 purchases

StaffPad

One-time12
  • Toy GlockenspielFree
  • StaffPad Essential GuitarsFree
  • Retro KeyboardsFree
Show 9 more
  • Muse StringsFree
  • Muse ChoirFree
  • Muse WoodwindsFree
  • Muse PercussionFree
  • Muse BrassFree
  • Muse HarpFree
  • Muse KeysFree
  • Muse Guitars Vol. 1Free
  • StaffPad Essentials: AccordionFree
None

RS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is StaffPad free?
StaffPad costs $49.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is RS free?
RS costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do StaffPad or RS have ads?
Neither StaffPad nor RS shows ads.

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