Anyone here used an iOS app called the 'Musician Assistant'?

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Chosen89

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I've been using this app for a few weeks now and i have to say I'm loving it. I've always had problems keeping a consistent practice routine where i could make serious progress with my playing.
I had lessons a few years ago where i was told to keep a diary to log down all the exercises i do and at what BPM etc but all that did was eat into my practice time so i either slacked on my practice or didn't write it all down and stick to it.
This app basically takes care of all the boring stuff like logging everything i'm practicing on it's own so all i need to do is sit down and start playing. Really quick to enter data new data and pick what to practice, and seeing what i'm strong and weak at with the colourful statistics at a glance is awesome.
As a shredder i do a lot speed training, so another feature i really liked is how the metronome and timer always remember where i was when i finished up on each exercise and automatically set themselves back up so i can get straight back into things instead of constantly manually changing the BPM up and down and trying to remember what speeds i did last week and all that.

Love to hear anyone else's experience with this app? No guitarist should be with out it in my opinion! :D

Here's a link to their website to check it out in detail: Spectrelight Software - Musician Assistant
 
Wish it was possible to add description to the exercises. And even better, link to pdf files (or notes/tabs in some format. Or incorporate the camera so that one can take a picture of the notes) and sound files.
 
Chosen89 -Thanks! The link did it!

Can you add your own quotes? It looks like you can turn off the quotes. But I add my own inspirational quotes or practice realizations. It'd be nice if I could add them.

It'd be nice if the app worked on iPad AND a regular computer. I have my own MS Word document and a timer I use when I practice. I set it in a rotational way. Well, it doesn't rotate, I do. But every 5th day I go back to the top for my technical exercises. I practice in front of the computer and my practice document and make notations of what I did and how long it took. Does it have a timer as well?
 
henryrobinett - It does have a timer, one that automatically loads/saves and sets its self up per exercise. looks really flexible! no idea about the computer thing, i guess the feature you need from the app then is a way to just add notes and reminders about how it went? Send that thought to the developer, i found an in-app email button in the settings area, they seem to be open for user imput to improve the app.
 
Hey Henry, take a minute to check out the free version of the one I mentioned. I didn't suite my needs but IIRC it does allow you to make notes. Musical Journal
 
Thanks. I will. I need to write my OWN program for my own use! I'm so specific and I'm a real monster practicer. My logs go back many years. It's great to be able to look back and see what it is you've covered. It can almost give you confidence all by itself. I have a timer that logs itself, so I can see how much time I've spent ding this or that. But also by seeing what I did yesterday, I know what I'm working on today. But it's not all in one place.

I used to use this database program called ACT! But if they're still around, they went only PC and dropped Mac support. They had a built in timer. I created a practice client page and it was all set up perfectly. It created all the logs right there. I had that going for 10 years or so!
 
I really wanted to like this program (Musician Assistant). Definitely better than what I've seen.

But ... too much work. I have to set up all the categories?! Really? No pre-made categories?

And no exercises? So basically, I have to manually create a program, and then remember what exercises I was supposed to do? Or now instead of a book and a notepad, I have a book and an iPhone?

Yes the integration of a metronome is handy, but if it doesn't have an automatic tempo increase ... or perhaps a speed trainer ... or lessons to potentially buy ... or even potentially a custom based study plan based on user input of goals and time limitations ...

Don't get me wrong. Thanks for the recommendation. At least it seems iOS apps are finally starting to head in the right direction for musician practice.

But, I just need more in a practice program ...
 
Well wow. You want it to practice for you!? I could never use anything that had a practice regimen designed for me. Yecch! How the hell would it know what I needed to practice? How could any program do that other than your teacher? It can't be your teacher. It's a practice log and assistant. You HAVE to input the data as far as I can tell.
 
henryrobinett said:
Well wow. You want it to practice for you!? I could never use anything that had a practice regimen designed for me. Yecch! How the hell would it know what I needed to practice? How could any program do that other than your teacher? It can't be your teacher. It's a practice log and assistant. You HAVE to input the data as far as I can tell.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the 21st century:

Guitar Practice Schedule

There is no reason something like this couldn't be ported to an app. And even done better (as there are limitations with the above solution).

I never said I wanted it to practice for me ... I wanted it to AID in my practice. And something that takes me MORE work than a simple piece of paper and metronome isn't a solution as far as I'm concerned.

I'm not asking for much. Give me a metronome, WITH automatic speed increase. Give me the ability to link a lesson to a PDF, audio file, or internet link. Give me built in categories covering 80% of most musician needs, with the ability to add my own. Allow a "check box" mode for such categories, along with an input of time available and weights for the categories that I determine, that would then plan out a practice session ... which then would automatically setup the correct timers, and then move to each lesson automatically without me having to manipulate it.

Then as a cool bonus, offer up various practice schedules that could be downloaded/bought ... plans that would be adjusted depending on how much time you have. So for instance, you have a traditional "Increase Speed" program ... or a dedicated "Sweep Picking" program you do for a few weeks ... or maybe a "Songwriting" or "Music Theory" ... or maybe the structure of Vai's "8 hour workout" in content spread out over different days ... or an overall program that incorporates technique, theory, improvisation, songwriting, ...

Like I mentioned earlier, this isn't impossible. The above site is partially there.
 
I wouldn't want pre-made exercises to be in there. However, import/export of exercises would be golden. Then share or download ones that suit your needs.
 
Exactly!

I wish I could program ... or find time to do it. Because I'm sure what I described would blow the waters off of every program out there (what little there are).

It really isn't different than an exercise program. Imagine an exercise program where you had to manually input EVERY thing you do from scratch. Now imagine a program where you have that capability, but also 80% of exercises you could ever think of easily clickable to build your PERSONALLY CHOSEN workout program in seconds.

A program for music that basically replaces a piece of paper and metronome is no good for me. I would contend it takes more time to use technology in that case. Give me a journal, metronome, AND productivity tools ... now we are getting somewhere.
 
Hi guys, as well as being a guitarist and Fractal Audio fan I'm actually also the creator of the Musician Assistant. I noticed theres some great discussion here, lots of questions and valid points so i thought id step in and address them.

First thing to note is the Musician Assistant is in it's infancy at v1.1, development of it is an iterative process. As i'm currently a one man team, it takes a bit of time but im working on some great new features and hearing discussions like this is valuable information.

So whats the plan?

Im working on lots of new features that will greatly enhance the apps functionality, i'll run through some of them in short form.

  • View sheet music / tabs for each exercise via PDF or image capture
  • Ability to add descriptions and notes/voice notes for exercises
  • Top level Profiles to hold more than one routine (have different data sets for those that perhaps play more than one instrument or manage more than one routine)
  • In-App Store that will allow those that choose to, to download preset routines that they can then tweak or use as is (I'm working alongside some great bands and teachers that will help create and supply material). A quick side note, this app is being used by more players than just guitarists. This is the reason it initially comes with no data as there is no way of predicting who's buying it and for what purpose, so instead of having a large preset database of material that could be mostly useless to different players you can customise it completely. The new store will allow a place to create preset data for all instruments so players who want routines can just add what they want when they want.
  • Connectivity. Ability to share routines with other users, e.g. teachers & students

So that's a little of whats going on right now. It's a tall order, and as an indie developer building a startup financial constraints are unfortunately something i have to take seriously. This is why i chose to release the Musician Assistant and have it grow over time which allows some revenue to come in, and more importantly, the ability to have the application shaped by the very people who use it to hopefully create the best tool possible for musicians to make their practice more effective, efficient and productive.

All suggestions and feedback are welcome, this public discussion is excellent as i mentioned earlier, ill keep checking this thread to provide answers. But as this is Fractal's forum, ill also provide other places that you can get in touch with me too, as well as keeping updated on developments with the application.

Also a quick thank you to those of you who purchased the app, the support is greatly appreciated.

Direct Email: faisal@spectrelightsoftware.com
Facebook: Spectrelight Software | Facebook
Website Contact Sheet: Spectrelight Software - Contact
 
What bvaughn is getting at is beyond the scope of this app in its current state. I like the fact that its small and open ended. If it were what he's wanting, I wouldn't buy it. Not because I think it's a bad idea, it's not what I need.
 
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Hey faisal thanks for stopping in and posting. I like the ideas you have for the app. Especially the option of keeping it open ended or purchasing practice content.

I just purchased this app a few days ago and was wondering. Is there a copy/paste function for creating categories? Lets say I have categories for scales such as Major, Minor, Pentatonic, Chromatic etc. Each of those could have sub-categories for each position or I may want to have a routine for each string per scale or mode. With copy and paste I could setup the first category, lets say Major, copy and paste it. Rename the new one to Minor and so on.

Any chance of an iPad version and the ability to sync the data amongst your devices?
 
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