Changelog
Follow up on the latest improvements and updates.
RSS
new
fixed
v5.6 | Fri, Jul 17, 2026
Thanks for using Drum Notation by Beat Note!
NEW FEATURES
- Beat Descriptions: A beat shows what to play. Now you can capture how to play it, too. Add a description to any beat with an explanation, a cue, or a reminder, and it appears right at the top of the practice screen so the guidance is there while you play. It's also included automatically in your PDF exports and shared beats, so those notes travel home with the groove. Edit it anytime in the app. It's perfect for teachers sending context home to students, or for keeping your own practice notes. Thanks to everyone who requested this on the roadmap!
BUG FIXES
- Long titles are no longer cut off in exported PDFs. Long titles now wrap so the full name fits the page.
- Fixed music notation overlapping the measure and exercise number labels in Focused Practice.
Remember to check out the Beat Note roadmap under the Settings screen to learn about upcoming features and vote on user-requested ones. As always, thank you for your support. This update also includes general bug fixes and performance improvements. Have feedback? Tap Settings → E-mail Derek. I'd love to hear from you!
new
fixed
v5.5 | Tue, Jul 14, 2026
Thanks for using Drum Notation by Beat Note!
NEW FEATURES
- Measure Navigation: In Focused Practice, jump to the next or previous measure using the left/right arrow keys (iPad/Mac keyboard) or a swipe — no need to leave the practice view. Playback, tempo, click, and your practice timer keep running. Left/right arrows previously controlled tempo; use the up/down arrow keys for that instead.
BUG FIXES
- Fixed rhythm count labels displaying incorrectly in 6/8, 9/8, and 12/8 time signatures.
- Fixed music notation rendering issues where rests and tuplet brackets in busy measures could overlap or display at the wrong height.
Remember to check out the Beat Note roadmap under the Settings screen to learn about upcoming features and vote on user-requested ones. As always, thank you for your support. This update also includes general bug fixes and performance improvements. Have feedback? Tap Settings → E-mail Derek. I'd love to hear from you!
Thanks for using Drum Notation by Beat Note!
NEW FEATURES
- Rhythm counting, one of the most-requested features on the Beat Note roadmap, is here! Display the count, like "1 e & a", right on your music notation so rhythms are easier to read, learn, and teach. Tap or swipe to add counts to the notes you choose, or fill a whole bar in one tap and clear it just as easily. Works with eighths, sixteenths, triplets, and every other subdivision.
Remember to check out the Beat Note roadmap under the Settings screen to learn about upcoming features and vote on user-requested ones. As always, thank you for your support. This update also includes general bug fixes and performance improvements. Have feedback? Tap Settings → E-mail Derek. I'd love to hear from you!
improved
fixed
v5.3.5 | Thu, Jul 2, 2026
Thanks for using Drum Notation by Beat Note!
IMPROVEMENTS
- Music notation rendering improved, making beats easier to read at a glance
- Increased spacing between notes on the Practice Measure screen so measures feel less cramped and are easier to follow while practicing
BUG FIXES
- Fixed the "Measure # of #" label becoming invisible when disabled on the dark navigation bar (iOS 18 and later)
Remember to check out the Beat Note roadmap under the Settings screen to learn about upcoming features and vote on user-requested ones. As always, thank you for your support. This update also includes general bug fixes and performance improvements. Have feedback? Tap Settings → E-mail Derek. I'd love to hear from you!
improved
fixed
v5.3.4 | Tue, Jun 16, 2026
Thanks for using Drum Notation by Beat Note!
IMPROVEMENTS
- Improved the articulation picker with a cleaner look and feel.
- Improved share beat/export video navigation on macOS.
BUG FIXES
- Fixed an issue where playback controls could sometimes disappear. (Thanks, MichEal!)
- Fixed an issue where beat names could sometimes be lost while editing.
Remember to check out the Beat Note roadmap under the Settings screen to learn about upcoming features and vote on user-requested ones.
As always, thank you for your support. This update also includes general bug fixes and performance improvements. Have feedback? Tap Settings → E-mail Derek. I’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for using Drum Notation by Beat Note!
BUG FIXES
- Fixed an issue where looping playback could go silent after repeating several times. This most commonly affected beats with longer loops or count-in offsets, where playback appeared to continue but no sound was produced. Looping playback is now rock-solid, repeats indefinitely, and keeps the downbeat perfectly in time on every cycle. (Special thanks to Micheal for helping track down this issue and for the research that helped uncover the root cause!)
Remember to check out the Beat Note roadmap under the Settings screen to learn about upcoming features and vote on user-requested ones. As always, thank you for your support. This update also includes general bug fixes and performance improvements. Have feedback? Tap Settings → E-mail Derek. I’d love to hear from you!
improved
fixed
v5.3.2 | Mon, Jun 1, 2026
Thanks for using Drum Notation by Beat Note!
IMPROVEMENTS
- Switching between Bluetooth headphones, speakers, and other audio devices is now seamless during playback, so you can keep practicing without restarting the app. Thanks to Michael for reporting this!
- If playback is interrupted by a phone call, Siri, or an alarm, Beat Note now resumes exactly where you left off, including the current loop position, helping you stay focused on your practice session.
- The lesson-sharing onboarding status indicator has a fresh new look that’s easier to spot, making it simpler to track your progress and see what steps remain to share your first lesson.
BUG FIXES
- Fixed an issue on iPad where playback controls could become unresponsive after connecting an external display via HDMI. Thanks to Dave for reporting this!
Remember to check out the Beat Note roadmap under the Settings screen to learn about upcoming features and vote on user-requested ones. As always, thank you for your support. This update also includes general bug fixes and performance improvements. Have feedback? Tap Settings → E-mail Derek. I’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for using Drum Notation by Beat Note!
IMPROVEMENTS
- New teacher onboarding checklist now automatically appears on first launch to help educators quickly set up and discover the most valuable features and workflows.
BUG FIXES
- Fixed a crash that could occur when exporting audio if a beat name contained a forward slash (/). Beat names are now handled correctly during export. Thanks to Adam for reporting this!
Remember to check out the Beat Note roadmap under the Settings screen to learn about upcoming features and vote on user-requested ones. As always, thank you for your support. This update also includes general bug fixes and performance improvements. Have feedback? Tap Settings → E-mail Derek. I’d love to hear from you!
new
fixed
improved
v5.3 | Wed, May 20, 2026
Thanks for using Drum Notation by Beat Note!
NEW FEATURES
- New users now get a quick onboarding experience so Beat Note can tailor your first session to how you play and teach.
- Educators now get a guided setup checklist to help you create, customize, and share your first beat with students. Each step is tracked automatically so you always know where you stand. Includes a free PDF export for you to try.
IMPROVED
- Improved audio and visual playback alignment when using Bluetooth headphones, AirPlay, screen mirroring, and similar wireless devices. Thanks, Kaleb!
FIXES
- Fixed an issue on macOS where pressing the space bar while editing a beat name could accidentally start or stop playback. The space bar shortcut is now reserved for playback controls only. Thanks, Micheal!
- Fixed an issue on iPad where tapping "Clear All Notes" did not immediately refresh the beat grid. Thanks, Pietro!
- Fixed the articulations popover appearing too close to the edge of the screen on iPad (portrait) and macOS. Thanks, Kevin!
Remember to check out the Beat Note roadmap under the Settings screen to learn about upcoming features and vote on user-requested ones. As always, thank you for your support. This update also includes additional bug fixes, performance improvements, and stability enhancements. Have feedback? Tap Settings → E-mail Derek. I'd love to hear from you!
improved
v5.2 | Fri, May 8, 2026
Thanks for using Drum Notation by Beat Note!
IMPROVEMENTS
- Added hardware keyboard shortcuts for macOS and iPad users with external keyboards.
- Spacebar now toggles playback start/stop across all four practice and edit screens.
- Up and Right Arrow keys increase tempo by 1 BPM.
- Down and Left Arrow keys decrease tempo by 1 BPM.
- Hold Shift while using arrow keys to jump tempo by ±10 BPM, matching the existing long-press button behavior.
- Both vertical and horizontal arrow directions are supported so tempo adjustments feel natural regardless of which keys you prefer to use.
Remember to check out the Beat Note roadmap under the Settings screen to learn about upcoming features and vote on user-requested ones.
As always, thank you for your support. This update also includes general bug fixes and performance improvements. Have feedback? Tap Settings → E-mail Derek. I’d love to hear from you!
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