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MusicBook Pro 6.0

User Guide

Open the guides in your language to find a feature, follow the steps or troubleshoot. You can also download the same 6.0 guide as a PDF for offline reading.

iPhone uses bottom tabs. On iPad, show the sidebar to choose a destination. Mac uses the sidebar; Bulk Manager is Mac only. Apple TV is read only.

Reviewed: 2026-10-25

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Record an idea quickly

Keep a permanent recording of your own musical idea.

Where to find it

Dash: New Idea, or an Idea’s + menu.

Steps

  1. Choose an audio Idea.
  2. Allow microphone access when asked, then start recording.
  3. Stop and review the recording.
  4. Confirm Save for a new recording, or Add when attaching media to an existing Idea.

What to expect

Ideas keep permanent audio/video. Continue Latest Idea opens the latest changed saved Idea. A paired Apple Watch can capture short audio ideas in its companion app.

If it does not work

Check microphone access in system settings. Cancel does not attach media. Failed Save keeps the recording available for retry; do not delete it to troubleshoot.

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Write and organize songs

Use Ideas for early material, Drafts for work in progress and Songs for finished material.

Where to find it

Dash or the Songs, Drafts, Ideas and Projects destinations.

Steps

  1. Create or open the appropriate item.
  2. Write lyrics and place your own ChordPro chords in brackets, such as [C].
  3. Use the editor’s musical settings and section tools as needed.
  4. Add the item to Projects to organize related work.

What to expect

A Project references your items; removing membership does not delete the source. Covers must be entered by you with the necessary rights.

If it does not work

Use the sidebar on iPad/Mac to find Drafts and Ideas. Empty new editors create no item until meaningful input exists. See the saving guide before discarding work.

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Saving, versions and recovery

Understand the local saving contract in version 6.0.

Where to find it

Content editors and their existing versions/recovery actions.

Steps

  1. Edit a Song, Draft, Idea, Setlist, Project, Stage Notes or Session.
  2. Ordinary edits autosave locally. Choose Save/checkmark to flush and close after success.
  3. Back/Close also confirms the local save before leaving.
  4. On a local failure, use Retry, Stay or Copy. Review a version before restoring it.

What to expect

Restore creates a new version. A remote sync failure leaves confirmed local work safe and pending. Import, media Add, Smart Apply, Transcribe handoff and Session completion still require confirmation.

If it does not work

Keep the editor open after a local save failure. Copy preserves text outside the editor when offered. Pending work is not a failure. Do not reinstall the app or delete its local files as a recovery step.

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Use SmartScroll

Scroll the current Song in Performance after an explicit start.

Where to find it

Settings: SmartFunctions master switch and SmartScroll; then Performance’s SmartScroll control or Live Settings.

Steps

  1. Enable both Smart switches, then start Performance.
  2. Choose SmartScroll when the lyrics need scrolling.
  3. Without a reviewed audio reference, scrolling uses song duration, BPM and sections; adjust its speed as needed.
  4. With an eligible reviewed reference, allow microphone access for local live following. Stop or use manual controls to take over.

What to expect

Uncertain live following holds its last safe position. SmartScroll never starts itself or changes Song. At the bottom, Smart Next first warns; a repeated command advances.

If it does not work

If all lyrics fit, no scrolling is needed. An invalid reference, denied microphone or busy audio session returns to manual control. It does not silently start timed scrolling. Check duration/BPM for timed scrolling.

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Transcribe your own recording

Turn a temporary recording into editable Draft Lyrics.

Where to find it

Transcribe.

Steps

  1. Choose the song language and Voice First or Voice+Instrument.
  2. If requested, prepare the language and wait for Ready.
  3. Record your own idea, normally up to ten minutes, then stop.
  4. Review the complete transcript and warnings before the editor handoff. Confirm the draft or discard it explicitly.

What to expect

Voice First adds no Estimated Chords. Voice+Instrument may suggest chords when evidence is sufficient. Permanent recordings belong in Ideas, not Transcribe.

If it does not work

Check microphone/Speech permissions and language readiness. Keep a failed recording in Retry Inbox when offered. Transcription is not guaranteed perfect or offline; review missing text and repetition.

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Use SmartFunctions safely

Get optional, reviewable help while keeping control of your song.

Where to find it

Settings: SmartFunctions; editor, Arrangement and Setlist menus.

Steps

  1. Enable the master switch and the features you want.
  2. Choose Smart Layout, SmartRhymes, SmartFeedback or SmartWriter from the relevant editor action.
  3. Review the result. Accept only the material you want using the feature’s Apply/Use action.
  4. Use Harmony Lab and Chord Inspiration for musical suggestions; SmartSetlist changes order only after Use Order.

What to expect

Smart Layout preserves written chords and intentional sounds such as oooh. SmartNaming respects authored names. Ink Studio, Audio Map and model routes depend on actual device support.

If it does not work

Unavailable models use the local fallback where offered. Private Cloud Compute is off until explicit Settings consent. No cloud consent is required to read this guide. Discarding a preview does not save its suggestions.

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Build a setlist and perform

Prepare an order of Songs and read lyrics/chords live.

Where to find it

Setlists, then Performance.

Steps

  1. Create a Setlist and add items in the required order.
  2. Add named timed or untimed breaks if needed, then confirm the setlist.
  3. Start Performance from the Setlist or a Song. Mac uses its dedicated fullscreen window.
  4. Use Live Settings for temporary adjustments. End Performance and confirm whether to save a Rehearsal or Concert Session.
  5. In Performance > Live Settings > External Display on iPhone or iPad, choose Google TV / Chromecast and select a TV on the same Wi-Fi. Only the active Performance display is sent. Stop Casting or leave Performance to end the session; reconnect explicitly after a connection loss.

What to expect

The host controls Song changes. Pedals and remotes share the warning-first Smart Next behavior. External displays show read-only performance content.

If it does not work

Check the selected Song and controller assignment. A live setting is session-only unless saved through its own profile action. Apple TV does not edit or capture. Never rely on an untested pedal setup on stage.

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Practice and review sessions

Focus a rehearsal on chosen sections and record what you actually practiced.

Where to find it

Song Arrangement/Practice Focus, Smart Coach and the existing Rehearsal Workspace action.

Steps

  1. Mark the sections you want to practice.
  2. Review Smart Coach’s practice Setlist suggestion before creating it.
  3. Open Rehearsal Workspace for the chosen material; use section playback only with a valid reviewed local reference.
  4. At completion, review and confirm the Session, notes and focus changes you want to save.

What to expect

Practice suggestions use explicit focus and saved session evidence. They do not infer difficulty or silently change your performance Setlist.

If it does not work

Without usable audio mapping, practice manually. A failed Session save retains the review for Retry. Viewing a Song or old Session does not count as new practice.

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Play audio, MIDI and HomePod

Listen to your own imported media through the contextual Player.

Where to find it

Tools > Player, Import or Media Library; also the Player action in a Song or Idea.

Steps

  1. Open an audio or MIDI file. Audio can be saved as a new media Idea, attached to a Song or played without saving. MIDI uses Song attachment or temporary playback.
  2. For video, choose Video from Photos in Player or Settings > Import. Choose Audio Only (the default) or Video with Audio, then Prepare Import. Review the size and destination before saving. From Voice Memos, use Share > MusicBook Pro. Independent local copies remain available if the original is deleted.
  3. Open Player and choose Play. Configure loops or speed through reviewed Player Settings.
  4. MIDI files are always visible and can use Internal Sounds. Enable MIDI Integration only to connect an external MIDI instrument or send preset cues.
  5. For HomePod, select an AirPlay output. Player Settings includes Siri and HomePod guidance.

What to expect

Opening help or Player does not start playback. HomePod is an output, not a microphone. Siri playback depends on system setup; continue on your device if asked.

If it does not work

Check the selected output and connection. Reconnection needs explicit resume. Missing/changed files or unavailable MIDI output show recovery choices. Use the same Wi-Fi for HomePod; Siri setup and permissions are separate from AirPlay.

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Sync, backup and privacy

Keep local work safe and choose what may leave the device.

Where to find it

Settings: Library, iCloud, Backup and Privacy/Storage.

Steps

  1. Enable iCloud only if you want the supported library data synced.
  2. Create a backup and save it in a location you control.
  3. Review a backup’s contents before confirming Restore.
  4. Use storage/recovery tools only after reviewing their stated effects.

What to expect

Local saving does not depend on iCloud success. Raw Transcribe audio and Idea media stay local by default. The app has no ads, subscriptions or third-party tracking.

If it does not work

Check iCloud account/status and available storage. A backup is separate from sync. Read its preview for included media; never assume every local recording is synced. Contact Support before deleting data to resolve a fault.

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Share creative work

Collaborate on Songs, Drafts, Ideas and Setlists with explicit access.

Where to find it

The item’s existing Share action. Mac Agent Collaboration is a separate Settings feature.

Steps

  1. As owner, invite participants and choose Can edit, Can suggest or Can view.
  2. Review proposed changes before accepting them.
  3. Keep editing locally when offline, then review any conflict on reconnect.
  4. Review the warning before leaving, revoking access or ending sharing.

What to expect

User Collaboration allows up to five active participants including the owner. Setlist-derived Songs are read-only unless independently shared for editing. Personal notes and setup stay private.

If it does not work

Check your current access and invitation state. Do not confuse private iCloud sync with collaboration. Mac agents require separate permissions and cannot edit or delete existing content.

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Import and export your material

Bring in material you have the right to use and export a local copy.

Where to find it

Settings: Library/Import; item export actions or system Share.

Steps

  1. Choose supported text, ChordPro, PDF, DOCX or backup input.
  2. Review the imported text and destination before confirming Save.
  3. For a URL, store/open the link and supply the text yourself.
  4. Use the item’s export action for text, ChordPro or PDF; use User Guide and PDF in Settings for this manual.

What to expect

Import remains editable and review-first. The app does not fetch protected lyrics. Song/Setlist PDFs and the guide PDF are different exports.

If it does not work

Scanned PDFs may have no extractable text; use the supported review/OCR route when available. Check the destination and file permissions. Cancel leaves the source unchanged.

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