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Tag Archives: Notion


Notion iOS 2.5.5 Release Notes

Notion iOS 2.5.5 Maintenance Release

A maintenance update is now available 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 for news, tips and community support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PreSonusNotionUsers

 


All Fixes and Enhancements:

New:

  • New language: Portuguese

Sounds Menu fixes:

  • In Store tab, Notion now shows a check mark (instead of a cloud) for purchased bundles
  • In Store tab, now shows a check for instruments purchased in bundles
  • In Store tab, icons are force refreshed after tapping Restore Purchases
  • In Sounds tab, instruments are reloaded after restoring purchases
  • Notion no longer restarts purchase downloads when the app launches

Languages:

  • (iOS13 and later) Can now change preferred language for just Notion, rather than following the language set globally for the device. Go to Device Settings>Notion>Preferred Language
  • ‘Choose Instruments’ now localised as expected in New Score dialog
  • Improved Korean translations in score setup
  • Template documents localised
  • Templates now open as expected in all languages

General:

  • Fix for drawing a tie if only “tied” element is present in an imported MusicXML file
  • Fix for Chord Root changing on iPhone only version of Chord Library when selecting extensions
  • Half notes will now split into tied notes on MIDI import, if they are syncopated and across the middle of a bar
  • General performance improvements
  • Minimum requirements: Apple iOS9 or higher (please note, Notion 2.5.x will be the final version to support iOS9 and iOS10)

Notion iOS 2.5.3 Release Notes

Notion iOS 2.5.3 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:

Restore Purchases:

  • New ‘Restore Purchase’ button in Settings>Handwriting
  • ‘Restore Purchases’ in Sounds menu no longer also triggers downloading the sounds – it just restores the purchase state

Dragging Improvements:

  • Fix for flickering when dragging score items
  • Score items can now be more easily dragged across measure lines and between staves
  • Improvement when dragging and dropping score item between staves
  • Final drag position of score items more accurate
  • Stability when dragging improved

General:

  • Stability and performance improvements
  • Fix for ‘Insert Barlines’ dialog position on iPhone
  • General translation fixes
  • Now uses original language expression text in Chinese localization (e.g. arco, pizz)
  • Key signature is now always sent in MIDI export even if it is C major
  • Minimum requirements: Apple iOS9 or higher (please note, Notion 2.5.x will be the final version to support iOS9 and iOS10)

Notion iOS 2.5.2 Release Notes

Notion iOS 2.5.2 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

  • Issue entering notes with MIDI and MIDI Bluetooth instruments resolved
  • Stability and performance improvements
  • Context menus now display, after switching directly from Handwriting mode to the Handwriting zoom area and back
  • On re-opening the app, the context menus now show in full the first time they are opened
  • The ‘Continue’ button in the Export menu is now refreshed if the file type or export location is changed
  • Lyrics can now be entered as expected on iOS13.4 and later when an external keyboard is connected
  • Toolbar position fixed when in landscape on iPhone
  • Background colour of Insert Barlines dialog fixed
  • Language fixes for intervals in German
  • 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 and iOS10)

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)

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!

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

Save 30% on Woodwind Bundle for Notion in July 2019!

Get six Notion Add-ons for one low price! T his bundle includes the following woodwind instruments:

  • Alto Flute
    • Legato, Vibrato, Staccato, Flutter Tongue, Trills
  • Bass Flute
    • Legato, Vibrato, Staccato, Flutter Tongue, Trills
  • Contrabass Clarinet (wooden)
    • Legato, Staccato, Trills
  • Basset Horn
    • Legato, Staccato, Trills
  • Oboe d’amore
    • Legato, Vibrato, Staccato, Trills
  • Bass Oboe
    • Legato, Vibrato, Staccato, Trills

This offer ends July 31 – act fast!

Click here to shop!

 

Notion 6.4’s New Features

NEW FEATURES in Notion 6.4!

Notion 6.4 is here, adding integration with the just-released Studio One 4, and a bevy of other new features! This is a free update for Notion 6 owners that can be obtained by clicking “Check for Updates” within Notion.

Enhanced integration with Studio One v4

With Studio One’s new Chord Track & Key Signature, the integration with Notion has become more powerful than ever. See all the details in the updated User Guide here.

Receive Chords from Studio One’s new Chord Track


 

Quickly make a lead-sheet, complete with Studio One’s new chords, all with the right formatting and transpositions!

 


Receive Studio One’s new key signature—This means imported note data can now be “spelt” properly, with the correct enharmonic.


Receive any customised markers from Studio One’s marker track, and display as Rehearsal Marks

 


Paste enhancements

  • You can now make a selection first to paste and replace the contents (this is just an option – you can paste as normal at the cursor for the same result)
  • New shortcut for Paste Insert: [Win] Ctrl+Shift+V or [macOS] Cmd+Shift+V
  • Paste Insert also added to right click context menu (in addition to Edit>Paste Insert)
  • The whole measure is now not replaced/overwritten when pasting a partial measure.
  • 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

New text box behaviour

  • New checkbox “Link to metadata” in Score>Add Title/Header/Footer. This unlinks a new text box from others of the same style meaning you can create multiples of e.g. copyright notices. This is useful for e.g. creating long copyright notices (such as those required for SMP Press)


All Fixes and Enhancements

Rules, Presets and Sequencer Staff

  • East West Quantum Leap presets now loading as expected for most users. Note – You may need to relink your Favourites/Paths to your sample folder from within Play.Legacy presets (from Notion 6.3 and earlier) are still available from your my.presonus.com account
  • Updated preset for LA Scoring Strings – please login to your Audiobro account and download from there
  • [Win] Custom expressions now showing in Rules Editor as expected
  • Shift+Alt+Up/Down now adjusts velocity of a group of notes in increments of 1, as expected
  • Up/down arrows now adjusting selected CC data in sequencer staff as expected

Language/International Fixes

  • Files now transfer as expected from Studio One, when the file name has non-ASCII characters (e.g. Korean, Japanese, Chinese characters)
  • Tuplet dialog is now translated properly in Japanese language
  • Music intervals are now translated properly in German language, in transposition window
  • Alternative shortcut added for Next/Previous Rehearsal marks – this is for different language keyboards that do not have [ or ] keys (Win: Ctrl+Shift+Left/Right and Mac: Cmd+Shift+Left/Right)

General

  • [Win] Surface Pen button now brings up Context menu as expected following Windows 10 Update
  • [macOS] Video now attaches to score as expected
  • Chord summary at bottom of first page, now saving properly
  • Shortcuts PDF updated

It’s Micah Blouin for #PreSonusFAMFriday

Hopefully today’s #PreSonusFAMFriday feature will teach you a little something…

It’s our Education Market Manager, Micah Blouin. You may have met him at a trade show, workshop, or most recently at InfoComm 2017, where you may have had a good laugh and then walked away a little smarter. He knows a lot about a lot of things and today we learn a little about him and his favorite PreSonus product, Notion.

MBB1

How long have you worked for PreSonus?
Five years. I started off in Product Management and then moved into Marketing Dept and then Sales and then Education…. Next thing you know, they’ll be asking me to mop the floors.

What’s your official job title?
Currently, Education Market Manager.
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
Teaching teachers about music technology. Training workshops, direct one on one and through our Music Education site.
What do you love about Notion?
I love a lot of things about Notion. First, I love how great it sounds… It’s quick to learn and use. Notion is flexible, meaning I can work with it on my computer, iPad or iPhone, and share over iCloud. It’s really easy to integrate into my workflow.

What was the first 8 track, cassette, CD, digital download you purchased?

The first thing I remember purchasing was MC Hammer’s Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em on cassette.

What’s your side hustle?
I play drums in a band called Minos the Saint. Maybe you have heard of us…  I also am the orchestra director at Istrouma Baptist Church, where I do some drumming, conducting, and arranging (using Notion). I also do a lot of work with soloists and groups in the area, whether it be side-man drumming, engineering, mixing, or producing.

What other products do you have?

All of them…. haha. I use ADL700, ADL600, Studio One, RML32, Studio One remote, Central Station Plus, Temblor 10, Eris 5, Eris 8, Sceptre 8, FaderPort, Air 12.

Why did you choose Notion as your favorite?

As an educator, Notion is the easiest and most fun product to teach others. You can do so much with it and it helps your workflow—more on that later. I like sharing that with others.

Tell us about a successful event you worked.

I attend education conferences year-round and work one-on-one with teachers to find the best solution for their instructional, rehearsal and performance spaces.

What are you currently working on–What’s next for you?

In the summer, music educators and students are involved in many music camps, marching band activities, and Drum & Bugle Corps tours. PreSonus provides the on-the-field reinforcement for The Blue Devils, The Phantom Regiment, Spirit of Atlanta, and many other successful competitive programs. Marching groups these days have significantly more audio technology requirements, whether it be scenes, routing, or remote control. I’m working with them to ensure groups have an easy-to-use, powerful, and flexible solution that fits their needs.

Got some tips?

The power of Notion is in the simplicity of the workflow and the flexibility to use it across multiple devices. The graphic display appears very sleek, but it’s a very powerful notation program, with some surprisingly quick engraving tools. My first tip is to learn the keyboard shortcuts on a computer, which are super intuitive (q=quarter note, d=dot, <=crescendo, #=sharp). On a computer/laptop or iPad, I suggest the handwriting feature, which enables you to write directly on the score with a mouse, finger, stylus or the Apple Pencil.

Anything else you want to share?

Notion is tightly integrated with Studio One. Sometimes, the classical musician in me wants to compose in Notion, then send the score to Studio One (I simply click “Send to Studio One”), where I can then use Studio One to produce tracks around my score. Other times, I’d prefer to write a song on guitar and vocals, and then “Send to Notion” so I can write scoring around my song.

Notion is available at a discounted price for Studio One owners: $49 for Studio One Professional users and $99 for Studio One Artist users.Micah Blouin

Click here for more info and to purchase Notion!