Quartet app

[PAUL@QUARTET APP]

hey Paul, just purchased Vol 2. I agree with the suggestions made that this app also has educational uses by including the actual voicings the musicians made on the recordings. Further, I would also like the functionality of a mixer included, so that for whatever configuration of instruments I’m working with, some additional control over the output would be great.
cheers!

Hi Jazzism. Completely agree with the point about accurate chord voicings. I'm afraid there is a simple commercial reason why there's no mixer: it would kill the in-app purchase i.e. the separated parts that many people go on to buy in order to remix or use in their own productions as the music in Quartet is offered royalty-free. We've been publishing music apps (e.g. SessionBand) for 13 years and we still haven't really made any money from it!! What we may consider is adding even more alternative mix combinations than the 8 already included to better satisfy everyone.

We are developing a web app version of Quartet but it is hugely complex and still a long way off. This will come with the separated parts and a mixer with FX and hopefully also appeal to the 50% of folks who are using Android devices (see other post about the Android app we suspended).

Hope this makes some sense!

[PAUL@QUARTET APP]

I've been using it on an iPad, which I otherwise use only for iReal, PDFs of sheet music, etc. I got all four versions.
The backing tracks are great.
The only minor nuisances are:
1. It's fiddly to change the tempo, particularly by large amounts.
2. The way the changes are shown whilst the track is playing looks (to me) rather distracting; I'd rather see the whole chart with the current bar highlighted, or even just the chart with no highlights.

Many users - especially more proficient players - have asked for the addition of the PDF chord sheet so they can see the whole song on one screen. This is on the development list and hopefully, coming soon.

Agree also that the physical area around tempo change (+/-) is a bit fiddly at the moment especially on iPhone. We are looking at the facility to key in tempos also.

[Mark M.]

I just downloaded all 4 volumes on my iPad. It seems to work great!

[Uffe Steen]

I have all 4 .
I had some trouble finding out how to choose to a setlist.
Now I learnt how to do the setlist the right way using the "edit"
I really love the playing . Very backing - like without being disturbing or boring.
Especially I love the piano intros and the great comp voicings filled with counterpoint.
Great stuff

[PAUL@QUARTET APP]

I have all 4 .
I had some trouble finding out how to choose to a setlist.
Now I learnt how to do the setlist the right way using the "edit"
I really love the playing . Very backing - like without being disturbing or boring.
Especially I love the piano intros and the great comp voicings filled with counterpoint.
Great stuff

Hi Uffe. Glad you figured it out. It's a bit clumsy at the moment so we will signpost it better. To VIEW or EDIT a Playlist you currently have to go to MY PLAYLISTS and tap EDIT (not obvious). From there, you can view, edit, change the order etc... and most importantly...actually play the songs in the playlist. Thanks

[Chi]

Yeah a 'jazz' app without a single black jazz musician in it. Odd considering it's an entirely black Art form.
'World's finest jazz musicians'= bunch of complete unknown white dudes from the north of England.
Give me a break.
Had a listen. Lifeless dead elevator music.

[PAUL@QUARTET APP]

Yeah a 'jazz' app without a single black jazz musician in it. Odd considering it's an entirely black Art form.
'World's finest jazz musicians'= bunch of complete unknown white dudes from the north of England.
Give me a break.
Had a listen. Lifeless dead elevator music.

Hi Chi

This is entirely unfair!

There are 9 top jazz professionals who have played on Quartet's 4 app volumes. Only one is from the "north of England" and that's Steve Fishwick. Graeme Blevins is Australian and Sebastiaan de Krom is Dutch. Rod Youngs is a fantastic black drummer that is widely considered to be among the best jazz session drummers.

The legendary Wynton Marsalis said himself of Steve Fishwick: " He plays from the bottom to the top of the horn while maintaining the integrity of the chords. I can't think of another trumpet player that does what he does".

All 9 contributors to Quartet are indeed among the best in the business. Here's just a small selection of each of their recording and performing credits:

Saxophones and Flutes
Graeme Blevins
Credits include Taylor Swift, Phil Collins, Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and more


Andy Panayi
Credits include Paul McCartney, Freddie Hubbard, Wynton Marsalis…


Dave O’Higgins
Credits include Max Ionata, Wayne Shorter, Stephane Grappelli…


Guitar
Nigel Price
Formerly The James Taylor Quartet. Voted UK’s ‘Best Guitarist’ in the 2016 British Jazz Awards. Credits include Van Morrison…


Trumpet
Steve Fishwick
Credits include Anita O' Day, Ron Carter, Jimmy Heath, Peter Erskine…


Piano
Graham Harvey
Credits include Incognito (MD), Stacey Kent, George Benson, Chaka Khan, Mica Paris…




Bass
Geoff Gascoyne
Credits include Jamie Cullum (MD), Sting, Van Morrison, Georgie Fame, Gloria Estefan, Guy Barker, Charlie Watts…


Drums
Sebastiaan de Krom
Credits include Herbie Hancock, John Scofield, Dave Holland, Jamie Cullum, Wynton Marsalis…


Rod Youngs
Credits include Lee Konitz, Sia, Courtney Pine, Jon Hendricks, Carleen Anderson, Natalie Cole…

[jazzgtrl4]

Yeah a 'jazz' app without a single black jazz musician in it. Odd considering it's an entirely black Art form.
'World's finest jazz musicians'= bunch of complete unknown white dudes from the north of England.
Give me a break.
Had a listen. Lifeless dead elevator music.

Hi not sure if you are in the USA, doesn't matter, but follow this link to pay, every little bit helps. thanks!!

Fund for Reparations NOW!

[Aidybopper]

I really like this app. It feels so much more real to play along with than alternative ones. I appreciate it must have been a big challenge to create. May I suggest the animated piano/guitar chord symbols could be dropped to save processing power? I think most users of this app would have no need for them.

[voxo]

i bought it but havent used it as Band in a Box is my main backing track companion....Old methods die hard

[pawlowski6132]

Yeah a 'jazz' app without a single black jazz musician in it. Odd considering it's an entirely black Art form.
'World's finest jazz musicians'= bunch of complete unknown white dudes from the north of England.
Give me a break.
Had a listen. Lifeless dead elevator music.

Fuck off you stupid ass.

[PAUL@QUARTET APP]

I really like this app. It feels so much more real to play along with than alternative ones. I appreciate it must have been a big challenge to create. May I suggest the animated piano/guitar chord symbols could be dropped to save processing power? I think most users of this app would have no need for them.

Thanks for the feedback and kind words. You may be right about the chord symbols. Need to study the user data. It is clear that Quartet audience ranges across the spectrum from absolute beginner to professional. We are currently working on a static portrait chord chart alternative view for more experienced players who don't want the animated chord screen...others really like it. Finding the right balance is the hardest part. Appreciate your feedback. Paul

[gvurrdon]

A static portrait-oriented chart sounds great - thanks for looking into it.

[PAUL@QUARTET APP]

A static portrait-oriented chart sounds great - thanks for looking into it.

Thanks. It's a big ask because the app is landscape but we are committed. Will probably be January/ Feb before it's ready. Also means Quartet will sit nicely alongside ForScore on iPad which we know a huge number of user are already using for top line melodies and more. Cheers

[pawlowski6132]

How 'bout option to show chord functions instead of or in addition to chord names?

[PAUL@QUARTET APP]

How 'bout option to show chord functions instead of or in addition to chord names?

Sounds like a good idea. Could you elaborate on exactly what you mean by chord functions? What would you like to see?

[Mick-7]

Looks good, any plans to leave the Apple box? - Windows or Android.

[pawlowski6132]

Sounds like a good idea. Could you elaborate on exactly what you mean by chord functions? What would you like to see?

The function of the cord in the progression expressed with a Roman numeral. I'm sure you guys have seen this it's standard notation.

[PAUL@QUARTET APP]

The function of the cord in the progression expressed with a Roman numeral. I'm sure you guys have seen this it's standard notation.

Yes of course. OK thanks for that. Let me feed it back to the wider team. Thanks again

[PAUL@QUARTET APP]

Looks good, any plans to leave the Apple box? - Windows or Android.

We are building a web app version but it's a long way off. We did publish an Android version called Quartet LITE (mentioned it in an earlier post on this thread). It was a simplified version that we could guarantee running smoothly across the huge range of Android devices and OS versions. However, Android users felt short-changed that it wasn't the same as the iOS version (same audio but less features) so we suspended it in April. We are currently rethinking Android. We think if we have a relatively high minimum OS requirement, we might be able to replicate the iOS version but it is a very intensive app and we have to be sure it will run well for everyone. Thanks

[gvurrdon]

Thanks for looking into the Android version.
Indeed, it can be difficult to do Android development; I've written apps that work nicely on my Nexus/Pixel hardware and then found that some users of some Samsung phones run into problems, for example.
The "lite" version sounds interesting; I missed it earlier in the thread.

[PAUL@QUARTET APP]

Thanks for looking into the Android version.
Indeed, it can be difficult to do Android development; I've written apps that work nicely on my Nexus/Pixel hardware and then found that some users of some Samsung phones run into problems, for example.
The "lite" version sounds interesting; I missed it earlier in the thread.

Thanks gvurrdon. The LITE version for Android was a tidy app but users (understandably) felt short-changed because of the lack of features. We will be looking at it again very soon - we promise.
Cheers Paul

[gitman]

I've just recently discovered this app, it was mentioned by a fellow pro player (keys in the HR Bigband/Frankfurt) who uses it regularly and raved about it. You guys are on to something big and I'm already a fan !

[equenda]

Unfortunately Quartet App is not available on the Italian App Store.

Ettore

[CCC]

Paul (Quartet app),

Feature request please! Can we get an output volume control in the Quartet jazz standard app itself?

The interface I use (Tonex One) depends on the computer app to regulate its own output volume. Without this, the volume of playback from Quartet is maxed out rendering it unusable.

The terrible workaround is to export a file and rely on QuickTime app’s volume control for playback loosing all of quartet’s features.

Thank you
-ccc