Symphony Pro
Symphony Pro is a music notation app for composing, editing, viewing, and playing scores on iPad, with versions for iOS and macOS.
What Symphony Pro is
Symphony Pro is a music notation app for composing, editing, viewing, and playing scores on iPad, with versions for iOS and macOS. It handles standard notation and tablature, supporting up to 64 instruments, 45 staves, and four voices or layers in a score. MusicXML and MIDI support covers import and export, alongside MXL and Symphony file imports and PDF, AAC, and Symphony exports. Playback includes more than 100 built-in instruments, real-time part recording, looping, and per-track MIDI output. Users can extract parts, connect MIDI input, stream or share screens through AirPlay, and use iCloud backup and sync. An iPhone app is free for owners, with viewing, editing, playback, import, and export. Version 6 runs on Apple Silicon Macs from M1 onward. VoiceOver and QWERTY commands support users with vision impairments. SyMusOMR is a beta for converting score images, but it does not yet recognize tablature, lyrics, chord symbols, titles, or free-form text.
Good
- Supports standard notation and tablature
- Handles up to 64 instruments
- More than 100 built-in instruments
- Imports and exports MusicXML and MIDI
- VoiceOver and QWERTY accessibility support
Watch out
- Handwriting recognition is a paid feature
- SyMusOMR beta omits several text elements
- Mac version requires Apple Silicon
Who it suits
It suits composers, arrangers, and performers working with notation or tablature on Apple devices. Its iPhone access, Mac version, MIDI tools, and accessibility controls also help users moving between Apple platforms.
Verdict
Symphony Pro combines detailed score editing, playback, part extraction, and broad file support across Apple devices. Its free plan and owner-only iPhone app broaden access, while handwriting recognition and the unfinished SyMusOMR beta remain separate considerations.
Plans and prices
From Symphony Pro's own pricing page, checked 19 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Handwriting Recognition Tool | — | Apple Pencil and touch handwriting recognition |
| Handwriting upgrade | — | Enables handwriting recognition; free updates in the future. · One-time purchase; the page does not state the price. |
| Symphony Pro | Priced on request | The only paid feature is Handwriting; its price is not stated on the pages opened. |
The facts
Each one read from Symphony Pro's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Accessibility
- The feature page lists VoiceOver support and dedicated QWERTY key commands for users with vision impairments.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Beta limits
- The current SyMusOMR beta does not recognize tablature, lyrics, chord symbols, titles, or free-form annotation text.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- bothchecked 19 Sep 2026
- File formats
- It imports MusicXML, MIDI, MXL, and Symphony files, and exports PDF, MusicXML, MIDI, AAC, and Symphony files.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Handwriting
- The Handwriting tool recognizes notation written with Apple Pencil, touch, or a capacitive stylus; it is the only paid feature identified on the product pages.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The app supports MIDI input, AirPlay streaming or screen sharing, and iCloud backup and sync.checked 11 Oct 2026
- iPhone
- Owners of Symphony Pro can download the iPhone app free of charge, with project viewing, editing, playback, import, and export.checked 11 Oct 2026
- MIDI support
- Yeschecked 19 Sep 2026
- MusicXML support
- Yeschecked 19 Sep 2026
- Notation
- Users can create and edit standard notation or tablature, with up to 64 instruments, 45 staves, and four voices or layers per score.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Parts extraction
- Yeschecked 19 Sep 2026
- Playback
- The app includes more than 100 built-in instruments and supports real-time part recording, looping, and per-track MIDI output.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Product
- Symphony Pro is a music notation app for composing, editing, viewing, and playing scores on iPad.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Support is available by email, user manual, and community forums; the manual says the team aims to assist seven days a week.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Tablature support
- Yeschecked 19 Sep 2026
- Upcoming capability
- SyMusOMR is an active beta for converting score images into editable notation, and the maker says it is planned for a future Symphony Pro update and a standalone app.checked 11 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Nochecked 19 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Mac
- Version 6 is available on macOS devices with Apple Silicon, starting with the M1 generation.checked 11 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker
- The product site identifies Xenon Labs, LLC; its About page names Philip Lee as lead developer and CEO and gives no headquarters or founding year.checked 11 Oct 2026
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