Category Archives: Notion
Notion iOS 2.5.1 Release Notes
Notion iOS 2.5.1 Maintenance Release
An update is now available to the recent 2.5 release for Notion iOS, the best-selling notation app on iOS. This is a free update for Notion iOS owners that can be obtained by visiting Notion in the App Store on your device, or checking your available updates in the App Store.
All the changes are below – if you missed all the major news for v2.5 itself, check it out here
And while you’re here, please join us at our new official Facebook user group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PreSonusNotionUsers
All Fixes and Enhancements
Documents
- New documents show transpositions, and instrument names and abbreviations, by default
- Score Title now shows the document name by default in a new document
- Wind Band template added
- Stability and speed fixes when initialising the score
UI
- Chord library picker issue fixed where more than one chord could be selected
- Mixer and virtual instruments now open as expected, after being hidden and the document re-opened
- Back/Forward buttons now audition as expected, and hit area of button increased
- Text can now be seen in the fermata dialog, if the device is in Dark Mode
- Options can now be seen in the ‘double at interval’ dialog, if the device is in Light Mode
- Keep zoom size and position consistent when rotating device
- Set cursor correctly when opening new score
- Fix for the Continuous view header (the left hand margin) sometimes being incorrectly set
Devices
- Fixes for playback control covered by the notch when in landscape and on larger iPhones
- Background colours reworked for safe area edges on larger iPhones
Handwriting
- Handle incomplete ties when in Continuous view
- Fix clef and key signature issues when handwriting in Continuous view
iOS9/10 only
- Button added to home page to better select whether to browse local Notion folder, or Notion iCloud folder
- Delete and Rename functions added to iOS9/10 local folder browser – long press the document and release to see the options
- Fix for files that have been given the same name in iOS9/10
(Note – for iOS11 and later, Notion uses Apple’s built-in File Browser – see here for more info and video)
General
- Page text (e.g. subtitle) now centres properly on screen
- Expression and technique text is now not translated, when in Simplified Chinese (e.g. arco or pizzicato)
- Note that Soundcloud export is currently unavailable, as the API used is no longer supported by Soundcloud
- Minimum requirements – Apple iOS9 or higher (please note, Notion 2.5.x will be the final version to support iOS9&10)
GOOD NEWS: Save 25% on Studio One and Notion!
Everyone could use some good news… So guess what? Studio One and Notion are on sale for TWO DAYS only!
Now through March 19, save 25% on Studio One and Notion right out of the PreSonus Shop. This offer is available worldwide.
PreSonus COO talks Notion, Career and PreSonus!
Here are three cool things you may not know about PreSonus’ notation software Notion.
- Notion was featured in an Apple commercial and photos featured in Apple Stores… True story. Watch the commercial HERE!
- Notion has won several awards, including a prestigious music industry NAMM TEC Award for Best Smartphone/Tablet App.
- Notion has a 4 out of 5 rating in the Apple App Store.
In 2013, we acquired the assets of Notion Music, adding Notion™ music notation and composition software and their other solutions to our product line-up. This innovative product was the first notation app to run on iOS in addition to Mac and Windows, one of the most downloaded music creation apps. Notion and their team were a natural fit in the PreSonus culture of inventive technology development. When PreSonus acquired Notion Music not only did we score an award-winning software, we also got the one and only Jim Boitnott. All year we’re celebrating 25 years of PreSonus so it’s only fitting to celebrate Notion and hear more from one of the creators and current COO of PreSonus Jim Boitnott!
What were you doing before PreSonus?
I was the CEO of Notion Music.
Was owning a business something you dreamed of doing or just fell into it as the products came along?
I never actually owned Notion Music, it was owned by several people and started by Lori and Jack Jarrett. When I was brought in I was in various management positions, and then became CEO. I never dreamed of being a CEO, I just wanted to make a great product that we were proud of. One day after working very hard for years I found myself sitting in that role. I tried to make the best choices I could for our team and customers.
What’s the process of having a great idea to getting it out the door?
This could be a book… There are so many pieces of this massive puzzle no one ever thinks about! Most importantly, commitment from incredibly talented people is crucial. Hard work, focus, and simply finding a way to make it happen. And that’s just getting it out the door… There are many more obstacles after that to make “it” successful.
What need was the Notion intended to meet?
An easy-to-use notation software product with great playback. We always wanted to lead with the sound results, others always lead with the printed results.
At the time, did you have any data supporting the need for this product?
Kind of, but none that would have made a difference. It was more of a “we want to build this and we are” mentality. However, when we released Notion for iPad we did have more data that helped us realize the opportunity. We knew there was a great opportunity for the iPad version and it did pay off with great results, as well as being featured in an Apple ad campaign… one of our proudest moments.
What was the biggest challenge? Major roadblocks?
I’ll be honest, at different times in our company history, it was different issues, such as; ego’s, red tape, lack of experience, internal politics, indecision, cooperation, budgeting, forecasting, etc. It felt like everything at different times, but when it came to making Notion the product, that sometimes felt like the easiest and clearest part. Once we finally got a team that was focused in one direction we were pretty incredible for such limited resources. Then, our biggest roadblocks became time, resources, really good competitors, and market factors.
At the time of its conception, how did you define success?
I think that was part of the problem early on, I think everyone had a different opinion of what success was. Some would have said revenue, others would say a great product, and some were just worried about other things. However, for the first iPad version of Notion, we had a clear goal “Be the first-ever notation app for iOS and make it as solid as the desktop version that it worked alongside of.”
How did you guys come together to build it?
Notion Music from 2003-2013 had some incredible people involved in it, at different times and in different ways. We had people from all over the world come together in Greensboro, NC and created something special. All played a role in getting us where we are today. I was teaching guitar and film scoring classes at Elon University using competitor notation products and then met a co-founder, we randomly struck up a conversation one day. Once she found out I was very knowledgeable with Finale and Sibelius I found myself working at Notion Music just a few weeks later. However, like many businesses, there are highs and lows, and unfortunately, after Notion v2 we had to make some major changes and lost a great number of our team and redesigned the product. The final team, which basically stayed totally intact for the last 5-6 years and all the way through the PreSonus acquisition, were put together based on their versatility, skills, and work ethic. An amazing team: Ben, Chris, Eric, Kyle, Richard, Brian and Brian, Josh, Patrick, Kris, Allison…we all worked hard and had fun.
How did you feel when it was complete?
Like most software products… Notion is not complete, and will never be complete.
When you think about the last 25 years, how does it make you feel seeing how far PreSonus has come?
Just looking at the last 6+ years I have been here it makes me very proud to see what we all have accomplished. The PreSonus team is remarkable, and the stories I have heard about the previous 20 years can go from one extreme to the other. I’ve given responses to those stories like, “How did you even stay in business?” to, “Amazing, how did you accomplish that?”..and of course “Rick did what!?” But looking at 25 years, I’m proud of PreSonus and the amazing team here, and I’m proud of the Notion team that worked through so much adversity to have an opportunity to even be here.
Interested in Notion? Check it out here.
Notion Music featured in Apple Stores across the world!
Enjoy 50% OFF All Notion 6 Add-Ons!
Shop Add-Ons NOW!
Now through Sunday, February 16, 2020 shop all Notion 6 Add-Ons for 50% off! This offer is available worldwide.
Notion 6.6 Release Notes
Notion 6.6 Maintenance Release
Notion 6.6 is now available. It’s a minor maintenance update that adds compatibility with multi-core Windows machines and fulfils the upcoming security requirements of Apple’s Catalina operating system. Handwriting, MusicXML and MIDI import enhancements that were made for the recent Notion iOS 2.5 update have been inherited too, plus there’s some good news for 5-string banjo players…
This is a free update for Notion 6 owners that can be obtained by clicking “Check for Updates” within Notion.
All Fixes and Enhancements
Operating System Compatibility
- Notion now compatible with dual Xeon / multi-core processors
- [macOS] Notion is now ‘notarized’ as required by macOS10.15 Catalina
- Please note, Notion 6.6.x will be the final version to support Windows 8 and earlier, and macOS 10.12 Sierra and earlier.
Handwriting
- Fix for handwriting engine occasionally stopping during a long session
- Fix for subsequent measures sometimes changing after handwriting recognition on an earlier measure
- Rests on ledger lines no longer cause an issue
- Elements that cross systems (e.g. ties) now supported when using the handwriting area or continuous score view
- Adjacent offset notes on ledger lines now don’t transpose on subsequent notes being entered
- Fix for handwriting recognition problem on systems that have a repeat line
MusicXML
- Now imports grace notes with beaming information
- Better handling of imported beaming information
- [Win] Fix for arco and pizzicato being abbreviated on export
- Fixed occasional duplication of symbols, when exporting legato-accent, and mezzo-staccato
- Chords originally imported into Notion from Studio One’s Chord Track, are now exported as expected from Notion
- Fix for TAB pitches being wrongly transposed by an octave on export, for non-transposing fretted instruments (e.g. banjo, mandolin, ukulele)
Notation
- 5-string banjo fret numbers now start at the 5th fret as expected
- Lyrics and chord symbols now paste without replacing the notation, after copying a selection that is longer than one measure
- Fix for crash if lyrics melisma is followed by a hidden measure (i.e. hidden empty staff / cut section / multi-measure rest)
- Fix for crash caused by deleting notes in measures with rhythm slashes in another voice
- When in ‘Dark’ theme, note durations are now visible in the cursor if between staves (go to Preferences>Theme>Dark)
-
Voice Colours Shown in Dark Theme
Audio
- Fix for crash caused by different buffer sizes between Notion and ReWire
- Hi-hat foot splash sample fixed
- Fix plugin test for shell plugins (Was reported by users of RealStrat)
- Fix enabling certain plugins (Was reported by users of Output Movement)
General
- [macOS] Ctrl+mouse click on a loaded insert in the mixer, now brings up the “right-click” context menu as expected
- Language fixes
- User Guide updated
Notion iOS 2.5 Release Notes
Notion iOS 2.5 Major Maintenance Release
Notion iOS 2.5 is here, a major maintenance update for the best-selling notation app on iOS. This is a free update for Notion iOS owners that can be obtained by visiting Notion in the App Store on your device, or checking your available updates.
And while you’re here, please check out our new official Facebook user group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PreSonusNotionUsers
NEW: Document Handling
(iOS11 and later) Notion now directly supports Apple’s built-in document opener. This allows you to create, open and save scores directly in the location of your choice, whether on the device, in Notion’s iCloud folder, or via the linked cloud folders of your choice (such as Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive for example)
Note – If you are running iOS9 or 10, then there is a document opener built in to Notion that will allow saving to the device, or to Notion’s iCloud folder only.
Notion iOS 2.5 New Browser (shown in Dark Mode)
NEW: Export as MP3
Now you can export your score as an MP3 audio file, alongside the existing options of WAV and AAC formats. Just choose MP3 as the Export file format, and it will save an MP3 in the same location as your Notion document.
Listen to your scores on the go, with these lovely Eris HD10BT Bluetooth headphones (coincidentally, also made by PreSonus….)
NEW: Export for SMP Press
Export as SMP Press File is a simple process that creates a single PDF containing the full score and all the parts in score order. SMP Press, from Sheet Music Plus, is a self-publishing portal for composers. Its free to join, and you earn a commission for every sale.
For more info, click here: https://smppress.sheetmusicplus.com/
NEW: Save as Template
Now you can save a document you are working on as a new template. Go to Export, make sure Notion File is selected, then Save as Template. This will ask you to give it a name—your new template will be available from the New Score dialog next time you create a new document.
Choose your instruments or a template. Or create your own!
All Fixes and Enhancements
Change in Minimum Requirements
- Notion v2.5 requires Apple iOS9 or higher (was iOS8).
- Please note, Notion 2.5.x will be the final version to support iOS9.
iOS Device Improvements
- Add ‘Close’ button to Score Setup for larger phones, in order to dismiss the Score Setup menu
- Tools in the sidebar not covered by the ‘notch’ in larger iPhones
- Larger phones now load the correct chord symbol dialog (rather than trying to load the iPad version of this dialog which then couldn’t be dismissed)
- When in split view on an iPad, the onscreen fretboard, keyboard and mixer now show in the correct size
- Optimised for Dark Mode
Handwriting
- Fix for handwriting engine occasionally stopping during a long session
- Fix for subsequent measures sometimes changing after handwriting recognition on an earlier measure
- Rests on ledger lines no longer cause an issue
- Elements that cross systems (e.g. ties) now supported when using the handwriting area or continuous score view
- Adjacent offset notes on ledger lines now don’t transpose on subsequent notes being entered
- Fix for handwriting recognition problem on systems that have a repeat line
Audio
- Fix for some newer devices, where Notion was not using the device sample rate leading to distortion when playing back or exporting an audio file.
- Playback warning pop-up for large scores removed
- Hi-hat foot splash sample now plays back
MusicXML
- New MusicXML elements imported: sf, sfp, fp, sfz and fz; beaming; measured tremolos that include tuplets; very short duration notes (down to 1024th notes); fermatas; harmonic circle symbol / open circle symbol; snap (Bartok) pizzicato; scoop, doit and fall-off
- New MusicXML elements exported: clef changes; pizz and arco; pre-bends; sf, sfp, fp, sfz and fz; mutes; measured tremolos; noteheads; fermatas; harmonic circle symbol / open circle symbol; snap (Bartok) pizzicato; scoop, doit and fall-off
- Tablature export and import fully reworked
- Support for ‘.musicxml’ file extension
- Better handling of any missing slur end elements on import, to avoid very long slurs occurring
- Voices on grand staff reworked
- When importing with time signatures that have a high numeral (e.g. 11/4), whole measure rests now show as expected
- Better handling of imported beaming information
- Now imports grace notes with beaming information
- Fixed occasional duplication of symbols, when exporting legato-accent, and mezzo-staccato
- Fix for TAB pitches being wrongly transposed by an octave on export, for non-transposing fretted instruments (e.g. banjo,
mandolin, ukulele)
MIDI
- Improved rhythmic spelling on MIDI import
- Fix for MIDI files not being imported from other apps in some circumstances
General notation and note entry
- 5th string banjo fret numbers now start at the 5th fret as expected
- Lyrics and chord symbols now paste without replacing the notation, after copying a selection that is longer than one measure
- When writing chords with the on-screen piano keyboard, notes are no longer ‘held down’ after moving to the next position
- Fix for crash caused by deleting notes in measures with rhythm slashes in another voice
- When writing chords with the onscreen guitar fretboard, notes are held on the fretboard after moving to the next position to allow repeated chord strumming (keep moving to the next position with the right arrow to enter multiple chords). The chord is automatically cleared from the fretboard if a new note is tapped on the fretboard
Slash Notation
- Bass note of Chord Symbol now supported in playback
- Slashes with augmentation dots now have more spacing in Jazz Font
- Notes can be deleted in measures with rhythm slashes in another voice, without crashing
Tremolo
- Tremolo Entry behaviour changed: e.g. for a fingered tremolo with quarter duration, now insert two eighths before applying the tremolo
- Tremolo can now be tapped onto the first note or in between notes
- Stems now can go in either direction in a voice 2 tremolo
- Fingered tremolos that include chords now play back as expected
- Bug fixed for the second note of a fingered tremolo changing duration if tremolo entered onto second note (now does nothing)
- Bug fixed for a third note being erroneously added to an existing tremolo, if a tremolo is entered onto the second note (now does nothing)
Text
- Fix for existing text in text boxes becoming hidden when editing
- Lyrics font can now be changed globally per document. Go to either Full Score Settings or Parts Settings, then Layout>Lyric Font
- Fix for a melisma causing an issue if followed directly by a hidden measure (e.g. by a cut, a hidden staff, or a multi-measure rest)
Paste
- Paste into a Specific Voice is now accessed via a long press, at the point you wish to paste into the music
- Pasting into a different voice now does not remove any existing rest at the beginning of the destination measure
- The whole measure is now not replaced/overwritten when pasting a partial measure as expected.
- Paste no longer causes rhythmic changes, when pasting multiple times between different voices or between a grand staff
- Paste now ignores ties in other voices on a grand staff
- When using Duplicate, now automatically adds more measures before pasting, if you are duplicating past the end of a score
- Lyrics and chord symbols now paste without replacing the notation, after copying a selection that is longer than one measure
Languages
- Tuplet dialog is now translated properly in Japanese language
- Musical intervals are now translated properly in German language, in transposition window
- When Notion is set to Korean, Japanese or Sim Chinese, the drumpad now enters cymbals with expected cross noteheads
- New Score corrected in Spanish
General
- General performance and stability improvements
- Print Parts to PDF now prints in score order
Notion WINS KVR Readers’ Choice Award!
We’re honored to close out the decade with a win from KVR Audio for Favorite Notation Software voted on by their readers! Thanks to everyone who voted. Cheers to 2020!
Read more about Notion’s win here.
Read the full list of winners here.
Shop Notion here!
Black Friday — Biggest Savings of the Year!
It’s finally here! Take advantage of the deepest discounts of the year during Black Friday week.
Click here to shop!
50% Off Studio One and Notion.
November 25 – December 1, Worldwide.
50% Off All MVP Loops Products
Nov 25 – Dec 2, Worldwide.
25% Off FaderPort 8.
Nov 25 – Dec 2, US and Canada only.
Find a participating dealer in the US or Canada.
$50 Off AudioBox iTwo Studio.
November 25 – December 2, US and Canada only.
Find a participating dealer in the US or Canada.
$59 HD9 Headphones. Regular price: $87.95.
$39 HD7 Headphones. Regular price: $59.95.
Nov 25 – Dec 2, US and Canada only.
Find a participating dealer in the US or Canada.
Studio Series USB-C Interface Sale
- $20 off Studio Series 24C
- $30 off Studio Series 26C
- $40 off Studio Series 68C
- $5o off Studio Series 1810C
- $60 off Studio Series 1824C
Nov 25 – Dec 31, US and Canada only.
Studio One Black Friday Sale! (and Notion)
This offer includes upgrades but excludes crossgrades and EDU licensing—ends December 1, 2019. Available worldwide right out of the PreSonus Shop and at your favorite music retailer.
This discount replaces the Anniversary promo for this time period; the two do not combine.
Click here to shop!
Here’s what everyone’s been saying about Studio One!
Notion 6 for FREE When you Buy a PreSonus Bundle!
Yep.
You read that right. Get our award-winning notation software, Notion 6 for FREE when you buy a PreSonus bundle! That’s $150 USD for FREE!
If you have purchased and registered a qualifying PreSonus recording bundle between August 1, 2019, and September 30, 2019, you’re eligible to receive a free copy of Notion 6. Notion 6 will be added to your account automatically upon hardware registration.
The following bundles are included in this promo:
- AudioBox 96 Studio
- AudioBox iTwo Studio
- AudioBox Studio Ultimate Bundle
- ATOM Producer Lab
Hear what TopTenReviews.com has to say about Notion 6:
Notion 6 is by far the best music notation software for less than $200. It is easy to use once you get used to the interface, and the sampled instruments are the best we heard. We reviewed a few programs that cost less than Notion, but this software can compete with the best composition programs in any price range.
Click here to read the rest of the review!