Notion app review: a powerful notation editor and playback tool for your iPad 2021

Introduction

This is one for all you composers and musicians out there. This powerful iPad notes app has been designed to act as a notation editor and playback tool for songwriters and arrangers, featuring orchestral samples courtesy of the London Symphony Orchestra recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London.

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I was very excited to review this iPad and iPhone notes app as I could see a lot of potential for notating some of my own compositions, and I certainly haven’t been disappointed by what I’ve seen so far. This is a stunning app with loads of awesome features.

Is this one of the best notes apps for iPhone and iPad? Keep reading our Notion app review to find out.

I'd Like to Know Where You Got the Notion

Notion features a collection of virtual instruments including piano, keyboards, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and electric bass. There are also more instruments such as tenor sax, jazz bass, and marimba available via in-app purchase if you should need more.

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You’ll also find some very high-quality orchestral samples that have been recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios, so you can rest assured you’re getting pretty much the best of what the industry has to offer.

Enjoy Real-Time MIDI Input

There is full support for you to connect your own MIDI devices to the app so that you can record MIDI input in real time, with it being laid out directly onto your score. A more recent updated to this app has also added Audition mode which you can use to hear the sounds of the virtual instruments before they hit your score.

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Inputting notes manually on the screen can be done by using a piano keyboard, 24-fret guitar, and a drum pad, so you should find a method that suits you regardless of whether you’re a master of the keys or an axeman.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• A powerful notation editor and playback tool for your iPad
• Includes piano, keyboards, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, electric bass, and more
• Choose between piano keys, a 24-fret guitar, and drum kit for note and rhythm entry
• Enjoy high-quality reverb and distortion effects
• Orchestral samples are courtesy of The London Symphony Orchestra recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London
• Add all manner of grace notes and articulations such as staccato, flutter tongues, trills, vibrato, and many more
• Record real-time MIDI input into your score
• Use the integrated online search function to find tabs, .MIDI, and MusicXML files online
• Easily import .notion, Music XML, .MIDI, and Guitar Pro 3-5 files from Dropbox
• Share your creations via email in .notion, .PDF, MusicXML, .WAV, .AAC, or .MIDI file formats
• Help sections will get you up to speed with the features in no time

Cons                                 

• There is nothing negative to say about this app

Final Words

I wouldn’t say that Notation goes way beyond what the competition has to offer for iPad but there is definitely a great set of features wrapped up in a conveniently streamlined interface which I think many of you are going to have an absolute ball using.