Set List Maker App Reviews

I was trying to use this app as an alternative to SetList, which has a lot of bugs. Basically I just wanted a list of songs & some way to pull up info on the songs as I went through my set. Problem is, this app is a maze of epic proportions. It's cluttered and has way too many features and menus to flip through. I technically can sort of do what I want with it, but the design is so unintuitive that I decided to look for other options. From my standpoint, it's not worth the price tag.

Been using SLM for four years and it never lets me down. Great support from the author. I wish all apps had this much quality.

I loved the app until the May 2019 update. They took the music and notes icons away from the left side of the screen as well as the slide bar controller for the music. Now, you can only play the song without controls. The icon was moved to the right side of the page. If you want to control the music you must be in one of your set lists. That's BS. If I want to play any of my songs, I shouldn't have to have them in a setlist. The old version let me play and control music from any directory of songs. Update: Got the smart list setup. Works like the original list did and you can pick different options. It just involves another step. I still liked it the old way better, but this is workable. Hence, rating up to 4 stars.

Use this on the road and in local gigs with different bands. Don't know what I would do without it!!!

Went through process of setting up family sharing. Get message stating that it is no longer shared and family member cannot open the app.

After updating to 6.0 the lyrics and song icon disappeared. I have been using it this way for years. Support says to use show or smart list. I don’t like this view and it’s bulky. I may have to find another program.

Pretty cool app, however it does not allow you to drag and drop songs between sets or to rearrange them. This is shown in their getting started video and was a KEY feature I wanted. Still waiting for support to tell me why this doesn’t work SIGH Update*** Support contacted me and show me how to do this Unfortunately they don’t clearly state how to do this in the instructions However now that I know how to do it this app is great Very cool Just make sure that you follow all the instructions this app has a lot of potential

I really hate it when functionality I depend on is suddenly removed. I was standing on the band stand, having said "sure I can do that tune" but when I go to the songs section my buttons to charts and lyrics are suddenly no where to be found, so then the whole band has to wait for me while I find a work around. This is just poor developer etiquette. Smart lists are not a work around— it means I have to make 5 clicks instead of 3 which is already 2 more than it needs to be. Sometimes I end up needing to get to a chart while the song is underway, so the amount of thinking you have to do to find it can really matter. Can't the last used song database come up as the start page? Also save functionality should really be automatic because that is the norm these days.

Now I need to choose a lay out and they are hard to figure out. I may be looking for an alternative to your app. Please stop fixing it. When it ain't broke

Worked fine, three band members payed fir the upgrade so we could sync songs, only to see that feature removed so we’d be forced to buy his other app. Would be ok if we got a refund, or even a free year on the newer app. No such luck. Stay away from this developer, can’t be relied on.

Set List Maker is an essential app for live performers! It is well organized and easy to use. I use it for live performances with an iPad and pair it with an Airturn pedal. The two together work smoothly. I also like the ability to sync with a back-up device just in case. I wouldn't want to perform without Set List Maker! Kudos to Arlo!

A great app that I rely on for my live performances. Don't know what I would do without it. Thanks for developing for this.

I've been using this app for at least 3 years now and love it! We create/collaborate to make set lists (syncing feature is a worthwhile add on), keep track of tempos, lyrics, and keys. As a drummer, I especially appreciate pulling up the set list at a gig or during practice and getting the flash metronome. We even email and print set lists from it. Improvements appear periodically with updates--it's great to witness the developer continuing to improve features and stability! I definitely recommend this app!

My purpose to purchase this app that I can share my screen/music chart to all musician while playing on stage but the connectivity is really bad. When I open song/chart from the host iPad p, it takes too long to show change on the follower iPads. The test was to put 2 iPads side by side. To test putting away 5-10 ft then we couldn't get the connection at all. If u disregard this feature then I guess you are fine. If I don't need this wireless feature to share screen, then I rather use forScore or NextPage3 app instead

No less than immediate coverage of help ticket items, connection questions, and workflow recommendations to all levels of users. I can't get this kind of feedback on any of my PC DAW software, much less iPad apps. Worth many times the price. A solid Five!

Can’t get updates on our setlist. Synch doesn’t work. It’s fine as a set list and ability to add your notes to individual song, but the promise and the price were for much more than that... save your money. Btw. Looks like earlier versions were actually better. All the good reviews are from 4 yrs back. New reviews are all bad. Update Wow. See the developer’s smug response. Now I really would advise you to save your money and use an alternative.

I’ve been a singer for a long time. All different genres and styles. As such I have a boatload of notebooks and 3-ring binders full of song lyrics. This AWESOME app allows me to put all of my lyrics in one place on my iPad. The ease of importing lyrics from the web made it so easy to transfer ALL of my song lyrics to the app. It’s really easy to put lyrics to your own songs in too. I’m involved in a few different projects, and always doing guest spots so I love having the ability to create set lists for each project using the master song list. This is a great app. I no longer have to carry a huge case with books full of lyrics. Worth every penny just for that! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I play i a praise team, and have been using this app for about 2 years now. I love that I can download a song from song select and insert it right into the app. I use pads that I can start from this app... really all around great app. the rest of my time uses the Band App, and love it as well. Argo is awesome when it comes to tech support, top notch in fact!

When I first got this app, it really made my gig life so much easier and so organized. It has so many great options it feels like it was custom made just for me. Anything you want it to do, it seems like it already does. Then you quickly learn that the creator cares about your concerns and is constantly making the app better, seemingly just for the fun of it, cuz it's quite inexpensive for what it does. This latest update has a fix directly related to something I asked him about AND another update that once again improved my nightly gigs. Awesome, thanks!! Update... this app is still the centerpiece for all my gigs. I use it all the time, and all the updates are much appreciated. Thanks!

So many bugs, it's unusable.

Great communication with app creator. He helped to troubleshoot a problem and ultimately created a fix to the overall app based on our conversation. No app will ever be perfect but the customer support is great with this one! Thank you, Arlo!

Many of the problems reported here have simple solutions. For best results, please contact the developer directly if you encounter a problem.

I built myself a database with Handbase that does what Set List Maker does. It was time consuming and I can't quite get it to do everything I want it to do. Set List Maker is great I had a issue with my setlist and the developer fixed it immediately. 4 emails back and forth and the problem was solved. It was like he was sitting there beside me. Awesome! There's an update coming soon I'm told so no one else has the (rare) problem. 4 requests: 1. A field for Capo position (I'm using the Other field right now). Should appear on Perform page too. 2. One tap, in-app recording from Perform page, savable (to iTunes) and overwritable (fantastic way to practice your set!) 3. Persistent dimming of song title when double tapped on Perform page so it's easier to follow the list on stage. 4. Artist name on Perform page.

This is still a fantastic app. I really miss the sync feature. I am a solo act with 3 different iOS devices. I wonder if there is a way to sync my devices over Bluetooth. Maybe a future update?

It is very intuitive. Love the layout possibilities. It has so many organizational extras. But the most important of all is that it is so very very easy to learn. Everything is where you would want it to be if you created the app for yourself. WELL worth the price. Don't hesitate. Exactly what I needed.....and so much more. Thank you, Arlo! Ross

First thing to note is that the developers are very responsive to any issues you have, and the forum is a good source of information. There are so many features on this that it takes some time to figure out, but it does everything I need it to.

My wife and I have been using Set List Maker for a long time, and loved it prior to the 4.x updates. It is now overly complicated to use, and what is worse has no option to use a “Classic Performance View Mode" that would fix 99.9% of our current problems with it. ... Update 6/27/2017: After taking some time to experiment and learn how the new custom views work, I am now convinced this is a better approach in the long run. I have been using custom layouts for different bands and types of gigs as circumstances dictate, and have been quite pleased. SLM remains my go-to app for full performance control (and notes) - don't go on stage without it!

Love the app. Use it every day

Been using SLM for years to manage charts, lyrics, etc. A must-have app for any musician. Having fat-fingered a font setting, I contacted Arlo, the developer, and had a fix in less than 24 hours. Impressive!

This app is amazing. I used to have a huge binder of form sheets and would spend hours re-arranging the music before a gig. Now, I've got all my charts in SLM and I can reorder them very easily. The app integrates with so many other apps. For example, the music director in our band puts some new charts on our Google Drive. It's very easy for me to "Open them in.." SLM. I can also do this from any other app that has the "Open in" functionality. The developer(s) are fantastic. Their site is very informational, they respond right away to any issues. They have the ability to upload your database and provide feedback right in the app. The iPad version of this app syncs with my other iDevices. There are so many awesome features in this app. If you are a musician (I'm a drummer), you need this app. I absolutely love it!!!

If i can only cleanup my database of mistakes doing batch imports of songs and midi presets, AND copy songs and midi presets between databases (for different bands) I would keep using this. I feel like i deserve these simple features for the money I paid. I am used to selecting multiple things in deleting in almost every computer I use. Pretty simple it seems. But no, still not available despite it being pretty obviously needed by others in the forum. Honestly, NOT to bash, just an honest observation, the developer got greedy, it seems. I have seen logical and reasonable feature requests that got answered with something like, “Sorry not available but if you upgrade to bandhelper...” I have switched to OnSong.

I have used this app for almost two years. It is very powerful. It took me a while to learn everything but...wow, I can't live without it on stage or at rehearsals. I'm a drummer. I work in several projects with ever changing set lists. I can easily add and change lists on the fly. I attach lyric sheets, lead charts, and notes to every song. I use the scrolling feature like a TelePrompter for songs I sing. It can also be used for sheet music. I use the metronome for starting tempos. I use the recording feature where I occasionally listen to a sample of the song to help remember the intro and feel (I can't remember stuff anymore😎). It's my most used app!!!

I've used Set List Maker for years after having tried every (and I mean EVERY) set list management app that was available in the App Store at the time. The available feature set was amazing when I first purchased it, and it's only gotten better as Arlo has added new features over the years. I have since migrated to Arlo's BandHelper service (which is also amazing because I am much more easily able to share charts, notes, and lyrics between all of my band mates), but I still use Set List Maker for the odd one-off solo gigs that come up from time to time. Great app, totally worth every penny! Thanks Arlo!

Overall, I like this app and the ease of running a show, keeping songs in one place, getting rid of paper set lists/notes, etc. However, with the last couple of updates, I have run into an issue where i have to save a set, close out, reopen the app, and the set I just saved has disappeared! Every time! It's enough to make me mark this app down by 2 stars.

If you enjoy losing your documents, wasting your time, and having apps crash, then download. If not, look elsewhere. Great concept and features, but way too many bugs.

Great app, down fall for me is, when I upgraded my iPad when I did a data sync it was incomplete. Not all the song titles switched over and in the edit mode it showed "missing songs". Also none of my documents transferred over. But everything else is great

Not sure what they were going for on this recent update. It took some time to get the previous version where it could be useful. This really is not a useful version for live performances. Back to using the reliable Gigbook for me.

I was looking for an app to replace GoodReader for song sheets and set lists. What I wanted most was flexible integration with page turning pedals. This app was in the list of compatible apps with my pedal. Unfortunately the app is pretty abysmal. It's UI is reminiscent of an old MS Access app. It is not intuitive, it requires you to spend an insane amount of time doing manual song input. No Dropbox integration, no wifi integration, only iTunes sync to get data imported. Not acceptable. Do yourself a favor and only input a few small songs to start (shouldn't take more then a few hours) so that you can test the performance mode. It doesn't always turn pages on swipe commands and my page turning pedal (which works fine sending keyboard commands during song input) does nothing, despite being mapped to commands in the database. Basically, the app can't do anything useful for its intended purpose and anything else requires an in app purchase, can't imagine doing that... This means for me that I'm still on the lookout for a replacement for GoodReader... Sigh.

I use this app all the time. Lots of great features - adding music, lyrics, practice schedule, notes about the show, BPM, etc. And most impressive is the ability to customize with user defined fields (you can do just about anything). You can also sync with other users, and develop automation if you need to. Managing your song list and and shows is very simple. I have been in bands for 30 years….1000’s of shows, this is a great tool. Cost is worth every penny.

There are only a few apps that I use at every gig and have proven to be indespensible. Set List Maker is one of them. My favorite feature is the MIDI support. I just select a song from my song list to view the lyrics, and all of my MIDI devices are set to the proper patches/program changes. And....I can control "next song" or "previous song" to appear by using a couple of small MIDI controller buttons that are within reach while I perform. This is not a simple app. You have to spend time with it to figure out how to get it to do exactly what you want. With power comes responsibility. So read the manual and dig in!

This is an awesome app. However, I've experienced a significant problem recently: If I sync our playlist (the 2nd set in our show, for example) make changes, then sync again, the whole set will delete. This happened during tonight's show and it was disappointing. Other than that, great app. It also would be cool if you could copy one previous show's playlist into a different show.

Great idea, good features, but not particularly intuitive--you really need to dig into the documentation to make this work well. Also, some edges and buttons aren't particularly responsive. At least one major bug is that editing text colors in the lyrics pane crashes the app consistently. I use this app at every gig, so I'd love to see it continue to develop. It should still be in beta and offered for free with so many issues, but I've found no better alternatives.

There is no other app EVER that I've experienced that has such great tech support than SLM. Arlo's (creator) timely responses to my questions when I'm pinched for time and getting ready for a gig is worth choosing this app over any other. It's ability to custom layouts gives the artist an edge when in front of an audience. I've used the app for about a year now in my vocal gigs and Arlo still continues his same excellent service when I'm in need of an update on how something works OR ready to step it up to the next level and choose to utilize yet another of the many available tools in the app to serve my needs on stage. Arlo is definitely vested in the apps success. His frequent updates help to correct bugs as they arise. And he'll definitely take your feedback and make it work toward your advantage. He makes it happen. Not an "all talk, take your money, then no action" type of guy here!! This review is coming from someone who demands excellent customer service as I expect the same performance from myself as an artist. High standards is what I expect and you'll get it from Arlo as he stands by his product.

Response to developer: Just because you announce something six months in advance does not make it right. You have changed your original product and its functionality (as many have paid for) in order to force people to move to another product with a monthly subscription. It’s wrong. When Bandhelper reaches is it saturation what next? Update: What a scam! Create a great app, get everyone to buy it, and then make it worse so you are pushed to buy his other app with a monthly subscription fee. Guess it wasn’t working that well because now he takes away syncing which is what buyers have already paid for. The price of this app has also gone way up - I’m sure to force you to do the same. I will not buy BAND HELPER for this reason and encourage others to do the same. I will be filing a complaint with Apple. Feels like extortion to me. ————————- This used to be the greatest program - worthy of awards. I have recommended it to many musician friends and colleagues. With the latest major upgrade I now hate it and it seems to be the consensus with those that I have spoken with. The problem with the latest version is that too much time is spent on unnecessary configuration and formatting. That's what programmers are for. The whole look and operation is now uncomfortable. What used to be a no-brainer, simple to use program now requires a learning curve. Not that I can't figure it out, but I find myself spending way too much time trying to configure the software and it takes time away from what it's really all about - the music. I have been using the new version for weeks now and I still get frustrated at every gig. The fact that you need to watch videos to learn it and are instructed to do so speaks volumes. We all finally decided at our last gig to ditch it. What a shame. I will probably still archive my lyrics and music library here but can no longer recommended it for the performing musician. Back to printed set lists for a while. There is a lot here but much is really unnecessary for most performing musicians. Ideally, I would like to see the old version come back and then offer this version for those who have the need, desire and patience to spend the time it takes. I have a lot of respect for Arlo Leach and his programming abilities but this version is more about the programming than the music. As the old saying goes "if it ain't broke don't fix it." I need a Set List Maker!

This app has morphed into a "must have" for my band. All 6 of us use it every week! Arlo has graciously listened to his users and incorporated the most useful and convenient features imaginable. The app allows you to do anything from having a simple, easy to read list of songs, to controlling all your on-stage midi devices (and video)! When I prepare a setlist for our shows (we perform several times per week), I alert the band to download it. I there are any changes, no problem... we can update anytime, even at the gig! The app is set up so you can scroll lyrics (with or without chords), and you can have useful fields visible onscreen that help with program content, count-off hints, time remaining for show, etc. Setlistmaker is even essential for rehearsals. For example, you can attach recordings AND alter their tempo and key so your band can rehearse right along with the song. There is so much customization available it's ridiculous. But it never becomes difficult to manage or understand. Whenever there is a problem (which is rare), Arlo addresses it right away! This app is AMAZING and worth every penny!

The app overall works fairly well, but has displayed some w**** behavior at times. Occasional track skips, navigation can be a bit cryptic at times and the printing functionality could be improved. Support is OK if you follow all of the exact support instructions from the author, but it will automatically send data without your knowing it…. which can be a real problem if you have limited internet access and are on a MB plan.

Revised 11/12/18 All previous issues we've had over the years that we've been using SLM have been resolved. You will never find a better developer than Arlo when it comes to taking care of the customer. There are no alternative apps out there that can perform all the functions that SLM does like, backing track control, lyrics, midi control, device linking.... and much more. Database Sync seems to be a sore spot with a lot of people, but after we figured it out, it is faster and easier than the original method. We use another app called "Instashare" that allows us to share the data without using an internet connection. It took us awhile to figure it out, but it now works flawlessly. Revised 5/10/16 I am a long time user of this app, and my band is completely reliant on SLM for our performances. It controls everything, from playing the drum backing track, setting the guitar effects presets and vocal harmonizer presets, displaying and scrolling the lyrics on the other musicians iPads. It did all these things, and much more, flawlessly, up until a little over a year ago, when things started degrading. We used to be able to link or iPad over Bluetooth, but after one of the updates, that feature no longer worked and we then had to pack a WiFi router along with us, as that is the only way we can now link the iPads for lyrics display. Arlo blamed Apple for the Bluetooth failure, and I believe him, but it shouldn't be listed as a feature if it doesn't work. When we started using the WiFi, a new and more serious issue arose. Occasionally, on stage, right in the middle of a song, the app will crash! The music stops, and there we stand looking like deer in the headlights. Embarrassing, to say the least. This had been happening occasionally for just about the past six months. After several troubleshooting reports, Arlo told me that he thought he knew what the problem was, but considerable time would be required to find a fix. This was back in January. Still no fix. Still getting occasional performance failures, but very intermittent. Don't get me wrong. This is an amazing and powerful tool that we have built our entire performances around. This is unfortunate in one aspect. We are so dependant on SLM, that we could not go out and do a gig without it. I see several reviews here I wouldn't agree with. I don't think it is all that expensive with the add ons. For the features it offers (when working normally), there is no other app that even comes close.

This app does everything it promises and it's organized smartly. Everything is connected. Everything is easy. It's customizable. You may need to buy one or more in-app purchases, depending on your needs. I use it to call up patches Yamaha MX49 keyboard from my iPad Air 2. I use the iRig MIDI 2 (cables included) to connect the iPad to the keyboard. This will make your life easier onstage. Call up a set list, choose the song and any number of patches are right there at the touch of your finger. You can also call up backing tracks that are on your device, right from the song page. Beautiful!

Perfect App for a lead worshiper at a small church.

This is a great musicians tool and a 'gotta have it' addition to your gig bag! No more paper, cards, or sticky pads! Not only will bands love it, but the solo act will benefit greatly (as only can be experienced by simply using it)! You'll never go back to your old way of doing whatever you were doing! The bad news is that now you'll probably have to purchase an iPad holder that mounts to a microphone stand, but come 'on... join this crowd and experience what a great set list maker can give you! I do agree that it was good (on a previous version) that it automatically added the document name, but Arlo and his team will probably correct that oversight soon!

The app is useless on my phone now. When you open it, everything is fine but the second you go to another page the two command bars overlap each other. I can't add new songs or new set lists without also hitting another command. Help!

I've been using set list maker from when it first came out and I must say that it just keeps on getting better and better. Can't wait to see what future updates bring.

I got this app a few years ago and it was the greatest thing to have. Now it’s the worst app to have. I spent a lot for all the upgrades. And the sync is discontinued. Don’t get it unless he fixes it. It should get better not worst.

I bought Set List Maker 4.2.8 and its great! It does songs and set lists of course, but the Bluetooth, midi, and video functionality set it apart for me. I also appreciated only paying for the core (impressive) products I need, with the ability to grow into more complex products as needed. It's $12 well spent,

This app is a crucial part of my rig. I use the midi functionality with a midi interface to my keyboard to change patches when I select a song. The ability to pull charts from Google Drive is great.

I have been using Setlist Maker for a few weeks now and I like it. It's a handy app for creating and maintaining a database of a all your songs. I have just started to explore some of the advanced features. The app is powerful but not always intuitive, hence a 4 star rating. Overall, I would recommend giving it a try. I am looking forward to the newest version that will be released very soon. With a few minor improvements this could easily be a 5 star app.

What a massive update this is! I can't wait to explore the whole lot, it'll just take a lot of time. But on the downside, it is still missing one feature that would be really useful (to me at least) - creating a song in a Shows menu. When you press Add songs there should be a little + sign to add a new song that will directly go to the show.