Strofa Help Center

Adding Songs

There are several ways to get songs into Strofa. Choose the method that suits you best.

Type or paste ChordPro

Tap + in the library → New Song. The built-in editor accepts ChordPro markup directly. Type your lyrics and wrap chords in square brackets: [G]This is [C]a lyric.

Import a file

Tap + → Import File. Strofa supports:

• .cho — standard ChordPro files
• .txt — plain text with inline chords
• .pdf — text is extracted; you may need to tidy formatting

Paste from the clipboard

If you have ChordPro text copied from a website or another app, tap + → Paste from Clipboard. Strofa will detect the song title from the first {title:} directive automatically.

Import from Ultimate Guitar

Strofa can import chord charts from Ultimate Guitar — with automatic conversion of UG chord markup to clean ChordPro format:

1. 1

   Open Ultimate Guitar in your browser and navigate to the chord tab you want.

2. 2

   In Strofa, tap + → Import from Ultimate Guitar.

3. 3

   Paste the tab URL or the tab text. Strofa parses the chord markup and creates a new song.

4. 4

   Review the result — some tabs may need minor cleanup — then save.

Import from SongBook Pro

If you're switching from SongBook Pro, you can import your entire library with a single backup file:

1. 1

   In SongBook Pro, go to Settings → Backup and export a .sbpbackup or .sbp file to Files.

2. 2

   In Strofa, tap + → Import SongBook Pro backup and select the file.

3. 3

   Strofa imports all songs and setlists. Existing songs in your library are skipped (no duplicates).

Keys, capo, tempo, song length, and setlist order are all preserved. Setlists that pointed to deleted or duplicate SongBook entries are rebuilt automatically using song name matching.

Attach files to a song

Any song can have a file attached — a PDF scan, a Word document or an image. Open the song, tap the 📎 icon in the toolbar, and choose a file from Files. The attachment is stored in the cloud and syncs to all your devices. If the song has no chord text, the attachment opens automatically when you tap the song — useful for PDF lead sheets.

Free tier limit

On the free plan you can store up to 10 songs. When you try to add an 11th, Strofa will prompt you to subscribe to Strofa. Strofa removes this limit entirely.

Plans & Pricing

Strofa has two tiers designed for different kinds of musicians.

Free Free

• Up to 10 songs
• Full ChordPro display, transpose, and autoscroll
• Setlists (up to 3)
• Works fully offline — no account required
• 7-day Strofa trial available from Settings

Strofa Strofa — €2.99/mo or €29.90/yr

• Unlimited songs and setlists
• Cloud sync across iPhone, iPad and Mac
• Band collaboration (invite up to 5 members)
• Live Session — sync scroll and song changes over local Wi-Fi
• AirTurn & MIDI foot pedal support
• Priority access to new features

How to upgrade

1. 1

   Open Strofa and go to Settings (gear icon, bottom right).

2. 2

   Tap Subscribe to Strofa.

3. 3

   Complete the purchase through the App Store. Your subscription activates immediately.

Song Library

The song library is your main hub. All songs are stored locally on your device first, so the library loads instantly — even without internet.

Searching

Tap the search field at the top of the library and start typing. Strofa searches across song titles, artists, and the full lyric content in real time.

Sorting and filtering

Tap the ⇅ button to sort by title, artist, key, or date added. The same button lets you filter by tag — tap a tag chip to show only songs carrying that tag. Combine tag and key filters to drill down quickly during a soundcheck.

Tags

Tags are free-text labels you add to a song in the editor (the Tags field suggests previously used tags as you type). A song can have multiple tags — e.g. jazz, bossa, weddings. Tags appear as coloured chips on the song row in the list and as a filter in the sidebar.

Multi-select

Long-press any song to enter select mode. Checkboxes appear on every row. Tap songs to check them, then use the toolbar at the bottom to:

• Copy to Band — share checked songs with your band (they become band-scoped)
• Copy to My Songs — pull a band song into your private library
• Delete — remove all checked songs at once (they move to the trash)

Tap Select All to check every song in the current view (search and tag filters apply).

Song row badges

• Capo badge — a small number badge (e.g. C3) on the key chip when a capo position is stored for the song.
• 💡 icon — appears when the song has a DMX scene linked. Tap it to fire that lighting scene instantly without opening the song.
• ▶ icon — indicates a backing track is attached. The track loads automatically when you open the song.

Editing a song

Swipe left on a song in the list to reveal Edit and Delete. Long-press for a context menu with Copy, Move to Band, and more. The editor supports the full ChordPro spec — see the ChordPro Format guide for all supported directives.

Song detail view (iPad)

On iPad, Strofa uses a split-view layout: the song list sits on the left, and the song viewer fills the right panel. Tapping a song in the list instantly loads it without leaving the list — ideal for flipping through songs during a soundcheck.

Setlists

Setlists let you organise songs for a specific gig, rehearsal, or venue. Open a setlist before you go on stage and Strofa will walk you through every song in order.

Creating a setlist

1. 1

   Go to the Setlists tab and tap +.

2. 2

   Give the setlist a name (e.g. "Friday at Blå") and optionally a date or venue.

3. 3

   Tap Add Songs and select from your library. Songs are added in the order you tap them.

4. 4

   Drag the handle (⋮⋮) to reorder songs. Swipe left to remove a song from the setlist (it stays in your library).

Using a setlist on stage

Open the setlist and tap any song to jump to it. Swipe right to move to the next song, swipe left to go back. If you're using an AirTurn foot pedal, the next/previous page buttons also move between songs in the setlist.

Multi-select on setlists

In the Setlists tab, long-press a setlist to enter select mode. You can then:

• Select All — check every setlist at once
• Delete — remove multiple setlists in one step
• Copy to Band / Copy to My Setlists — move setlists between your private library and the band

Private vs band setlists

Each setlist has a scope: My Setlists (private, visible only to you) or Band Setlists (shared with all band members). You can change the scope at any time from the setlist detail screen. Band setlists update in real time across all devices — edits you make appear on your bandmates' screens within seconds.

Song Viewer

The song viewer is Strofa's stage view — a clean, dark display designed to be readable across the room. On iPad it fills the right half of the split view; on iPhone it takes the full screen.

Top toolbar

The toolbar across the top of the song shows (left to right):

• Back / Sidebar (‹ / ☰) — return to the song list or open the sidebar
• Title & artist — centre of the bar
• Tuner (𝅘𝅥𝅮) — opens the chromatic tuner overlay
• Play (▶) — start / stop the backing track (appears when a track is attached)
• Share (⬆) — export the song as a PDF or share the ChordPro file

Transpose row

Directly below the title, a row shows the current key and transposition controls:

• Key badge (e.g. G) — tap to open the full transpose panel
• ♭ / ♯ toggle — switch between flat and sharp spelling for this song
• − / + — shift all chords one semitone down or up
• 💾 — save the current transposition as the song's new default key

Bottom toolbar (iPhone)

On iPhone in portrait, a toolbar at the bottom gives quick access to:

• A− / A+ — decrease or increase the base font size
• Aa — font picker (typeface selector)
• Clock (♩) — start/stop the metronome; long-press to tap tempo
• Scroll (↓) — start/stop autoscroll

Font size & font picker (iPad)

On iPad use the A− / A+ buttons in the song toolbar row to change text size, and Aa to pick the typeface. Changes apply immediately without leaving the song view.

Transpose

Transpose shifts all chords in a song up or down by semitones, live — without changing the stored version.

How to transpose

With a song open, tap the ♯/♭ button in the toolbar. Use the + and – buttons to shift by semitone. The chords update instantly on screen.

Key display

The current key and transposition offset are shown in the toolbar (e.g. G +2 = A). Strofa always shows both the original key from the file and the transposed result.

Capo mode

Enable Capo Mode in the transpose panel to display chords relative to a capo position. For example, if you place a capo on fret 2 and select "Capo 2", Strofa will display the shapes you'd fret (e.g. G shape = A sound).

Saving a transposition

Transpositions are per-session by default — they reset when you close the song. To make a transposition permanent, tap Save in the transpose panel. This updates the {key:} directive in the song file.

Autoscroll

Autoscroll moves the lyrics down the screen at a steady pace so you can keep your hands on your instrument.

Starting autoscroll

Tap the scroll icon in the toolbar (or press your AirTurn's scroll button). The song begins scrolling from the current position.

Speed control

Drag the speed slider to set how fast the page moves. Speed is expressed in lines-per-minute. The last speed used for each song is remembered.

Pausing and resuming

Tap anywhere on the screen to pause. Tap the scroll icon again (or your AirTurn button) to resume. Autoscroll pauses automatically when you jump to a different song.

Follow song length

The default autoscroll mode is Follow song length. If a song has a duration set (via the {duration:} directive or the Length field in the editor), Strofa calculates exactly how fast to scroll so the last line reaches the bottom precisely when the song ends. No slider adjustment needed — just set the song length and let Strofa do the maths.

Manual speed

If no duration is set, use the speed slider to pick Slow, Normal, or Fast. The last manual speed used for each song is remembered separately per song.

Calendar Pro

The Calendar keeps all your gigs in one place — with month, day and upcoming views, Apple Maps links, and direct export to the iOS Calendar app.

Three views

• Month — shows dots on days that have gigs; tap a day to jump to it.
• Day — all gigs for the selected day with time, venue and setlist.
• Upcoming — a flat list of future gigs in date order, ideal for a quick tour overview.

Adding a gig

1. 1

   Tap the + button in the Calendar or long-press a date in the month view.

2. 2

   Fill in the title, date, start time, soundcheck time (optional), venue and the setlist you plan to play.

3. 3

   Choose My gigs (private) or Band gigs (shared with your band) and tap Save.

Export to iOS Calendar

Tap the calendar icon on a gig row to add it to the iOS Calendar app. The event includes the title, time and venue address. If you later edit or delete the gig in Strofa, the iOS Calendar event is updated automatically.

Band sync

Gigs marked as Band gigs are shared with all Strofa band members in real time — the same Supabase Realtime channel used for songs and setlists. Use the band/private filter in the calendar header to focus on what matters right now.

Contracts & Venues Pro

Store all your concert venues with addresses, photos, contact numbers and notes — then link them to your gigs so the details are always at hand on stage.

Adding a venue

1. 1

   Go to Venues in the sidebar and tap +.

2. 2

   Enter the name, address, phone number, website and any notes (parking, load-in info, sound engineer contact, etc.).

3. 3

   Add photos by tapping the camera icon — useful for remembering stage layout or the parking area.

4. 4

   Save. The venue is now available when creating or editing a gig.

Apple Maps

Every venue with an address has an Open in Maps button. Tap it to get directions from your current location — handy when you're driving to an unfamiliar venue the night of the gig.

Sharing a venue

Tap the share icon on a venue to generate a link. Bandmates who open the link in Strofa will have the venue added to their library automatically — no copy-pasting addresses needed.

Band sync

Venues marked as Band venues sync to all band members in real time, just like songs and setlists. Private venues stay on your device only.

Cloud Sync Pro

Cloud sync keeps your song library, setlists, and settings identical across all your devices — iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

How it works

Strofa uses a delta-sync approach: only songs changed since your last sync are transferred. This keeps the app fast and uses minimal data. The sync happens automatically:

• When you open the app (background sync, non-blocking)
• When you save or edit a song
• When you tap the ↻ sync button at the top of the sidebar

Real-time updates

When multiple devices are online at the same time (e.g. you and your bandmates), Strofa uses Supabase Realtime to push changes within a second of them being saved. You will see a song you just edited appear on another device almost instantly — no polling required.

Offline behaviour

Your full library is always available from local storage — sync is additive. If you edit a song on two devices while offline, Strofa uses last-write-wins conflict resolution: the most recently saved version is kept when the devices reconnect.

Trash & recovery

Deleted songs are not immediately removed from the cloud — they are soft-deleted and kept in a Trash. To recover a song, go to Settings → Data → Trash, find the song and tap Restore. Songs in the trash are permanently deleted after 30 days.

Band Collaboration Pro

Invite your bandmates and share the same song library and setlists. Any change made by one member appears on everyone's device in seconds.

Creating a band

1. 1

   Go to Settings → Band and tap Create Band.

2. 2

   Give the band a name and tap Create.

3. 3

   Tap Invite Members and share the invite link via Messages, email, or AirDrop.

The mode bar

At the top of the sidebar you will see three mode buttons:

• 🔒 Private — shows only your personal songs and setlists
• 🎸 Band — shows songs and setlists shared with your current band
• 🎭 Session — Live Session mode (requires Strofa; see Live Session)

Tap a button to switch. The active mode is highlighted in amber. The song list and setlists update instantly to show only content for that scope.

Member roles

All band members can add, edit and delete band songs and setlists. The band owner (the person who created the band) can also remove members and delete the band entirely. There is no read-only member role.

Song scope

When you add or edit a song, you choose whether it's My songs (private) or Band songs (shared with your whole band). You can move a song between scopes at any time from the song list (long-press → Move to Band / Move to My Songs). Band songs appear in the Band tab on all members' devices within seconds of being saved.

Privacy isolation

Private songs are never visible to bandmates — not even the song title. Strofa enforces this at the server level using row-level security (RLS). If you leave a band, your private songs are unaffected; band songs remain on the band account.

Live Session Pro

Live Session lets one device control what all other devices display — in real time, over local Wi-Fi, with no internet required.

Starting a session (Master)

1. 1

   Make sure all devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.

2. 2

   On the master device, go to a setlist and tap Start Live Session.

3. 3

   A session code appears (e.g. STROFA-4821). Share it with your band verbally or via message.

Joining a session (Client)

1. 1

   On each bandmember's device, go to Live Session → Join.

2. 2

   Enter the session code or select the session from the auto-detected list.

3. 3

   The client device now mirrors the master: song changes and scroll position sync in real time.

What syncs

• Current song (clients jump to the same song instantly)
• Scroll position (smooth, low-latency)
• Setlist navigation (next/previous song)

What does not sync

• Transposition (each device keeps its own key)
• Autoscroll speed (clients can scroll independently)
• Song edits (use Cloud Sync for that)

ChordPro Format

ChordPro is a plain-text format for writing songs with chord annotations. Strofa supports the standard ChordPro spec. Here's a quick reference.

Basic syntax

Chords are written in square brackets, inline with the lyrics they belong to:

Directives

Directives give the app metadata and structure instructions. They are wrapped in {curly braces}:

Supported directives

Foot Pedals & MIDI Pro

Keep your hands on your instrument. Strofa includes native SDKs for AirTurn (App Direct Mode) and Flic 2, plus HID keyboard-mode pedals and MIDI controllers — all fully configurable from Settings.

AirTurn setup

1. 1

   In Strofa, go to Settings → Equipment & Connections → AirTurn and tap Connect.

2. 2

   Put your AirTurn pedal into pairing mode (hold the power button until the LED blinks). The AirTurn SDK finds and connects it — no iOS Bluetooth settings needed.

3. 3

   The status dot turns green. Use learn mode to assign actions to each pedal.

Default AirTurn mapping

MIDI mapping

MIDI controllers connected via USB or Bluetooth are automatically detected. Default mappings:

Bindings are fully configurable — see learn mode below.

Pedal types

• AirTurn — wireless Bluetooth foot pedal. Uses native App Direct Mode SDK — pairs inside Strofa, not via iOS Bluetooth settings.
• Flic 2 — wireless smart button. Pairs inside Strofa (Settings → Equipment & Connections → Flic 2) — not via iOS Bluetooth settings.
• HID pedal — any USB or Bluetooth pedal that presents itself as a keyboard. Pair it in iOS Settings → Bluetooth like any keyboard.
• MIDI controller — USB MIDI or Bluetooth LE MIDI device. Detected automatically when connected.

Flic 2 setup

1. 1

   In Strofa, go to Settings → Equipment & Connections → Flic 2.

2. 2

   Tap Pair new Flic button. Hold the Flic button for about 6 seconds until it blinks white and connects.

3. 3

   The button appears in the list. Strofa automatically restores paired buttons every time the app starts — no re-pairing needed.

Each Flic 2 button supports three gestures you can bind independently:

HID pedal setup

A HID pedal (keyboard-mode foot switch) pairs like a Bluetooth keyboard:

1. 1

   On your iPhone/iPad, open Settings → Bluetooth and pair the pedal device.

2. 2

   In Strofa, go to Settings → Equipment & Connections → Keyboard / HID pedal and set the type to HID.

3. 3

   Use learn mode (see below) to bind each key to an action.

Mapping buttons (learn mode)

In Settings → Equipment & Connections (or MIDI), tap an action — Page down, Page up, Next song, Previous song or Toggle scroll — then press the pedal button or send the MIDI message to bind it. Tap Clear to remove a binding. AirTurn, Flic 2, HID and MIDI all share the same action set.

Bar Signal Easter egg

A hidden feature for letting the bar know you need a drink on stage. Tap the 🍺 button in the song view and Strofa fires a signal — plus a little "Cheers!" animation. It runs entirely over local Wi-Fi.

Finding it

Press and hold the STROFA logo in the sidebar for three seconds to open the bar-signal screen, then turn it on. The 🍺 button now appears in the song toolbar (iPad).

Two ways to signal

Pick one or both — they can run at the same time:

• DMX — flashes a PAR can in Strofa orange on your lighting rig. Uses the Stage Lighting connection; just set the start channel.
• Shelly smart plug — blinks a lamp plugged into a Shelly plug five times. Just enter the plug's local IP address.

Shelly setup

1. 1

   Plug a Shelly plug (Plus Plug S / Plug S Gen3) into a socket near the bar and connect a lamp.

2. 2

   Use the Shelly app to connect the plug to the venue's Wi-Fi; note its local IP address.

3. 3

   In the bar-signal screen, open the Shelly tab, enter the IP and tap Test — the lamp should blink.

Settings

Open Settings from the gear icon in the sidebar. Options are organised into groups — here is what every setting does.

Account

• Sign in / create account — with email & password or Sign in with Apple.
• Subscription — shows Free or Strofa and your trial status (days left). Tap to open the upgrade screen.
• Restore purchases — re-activate your Strofa subscription after reinstalling or on a new device.
• Sign out.
• Delete account — permanently removes your account and all cloud data (type to confirm).

General

• Language — English, Norsk, Deutsch, Français or Español.
• Display — opens the display options below.

Display

• Theme — Light or Dark (the app restarts to apply it).
• Font size — base text size for songs.
• Font family — the typeface used for chords and lyrics.
• Chord format — International (C, Am…) or Norwegian (H for B).
• Prefer flats (♭) — show flats instead of sharps when transposing (can be overridden per song).
• Lyrics only — hide all chords and show just the words.
• Chord diagrams — show guitar fingering diagrams (coming soon).
• Autoscroll & speed — turn autoscroll on and pick Follow song length, Slow, Normal or Fast.

Playback

• Live Session — choose the transport: Supabase (internet) or local Multipeer.
• Metronome duration — Until off, 10 s, 20 s or 30 s.
• Metronome sound — turn the audible click on or off.
• Metronome auto-start tag — songs carrying this tag start the metronome automatically.

Equipment & connections

• Stage Lighting (DMX) — Art-Net controller, universe, rig and scenes.
• Soundcraft Mixer — connect to a Ui-series mixer to mute the PA.
• AirTurn / Flic 2 / HID — native pedal and smart button support.
• Pedal song switch — paging past the end of a song jumps to the next song in the setlist.
• MIDI — connect USB/Bluetooth controllers and map messages to actions.

Data

• Import / Export — import songs (ChordPro, Word, PDF, Ultimate Guitar) and back up or restore your library.
• Sync — turn cloud sync on/off, force a full sync, see the last-synced time, download missing audio, or clear the local cache.

About & Help

• About — app version, build date and the full changelog.
• Community — link to the Strofa Facebook group.
• Report a bug — email bugs@strofa.no.

Jazz Standards Catalog

Strofa ships with a built-in catalog of 1,382 classic jazz standards — chord charts ready to import in one tap. Open it from Add song → Jazz Standards.

Browsing & importing

• Search by title, composer, or key.
• Filter by style: Swing, Ballad, Bossa Nova, Latin, Waltz, or Other.
• Add a single tune with the Add button (already-imported tunes are marked).
• Import all adds every tune in the current filter at once.

Lead-sheet charts

Standards render as real lead sheets: equal-width measures with consistent bar lines, section labels (A / B / C), and 1st/2nd endings (voltas) shown with a repeat sign. Transposition, the ♭/♯ preference and the Norwegian chord format all apply.

Finding audio

Every tune has three audio search links: WikiLoops (backing tracks to play along to), Great 78 (Archive.org) and National Jukebox (Library of Congress). The two historical archives are direct, public recordings and cover mostly older standards — newer tunes are usually found on WikiLoops.

Backing Tracks & Attachments Pro

Attach audio and documents to any song. Everything syncs to the cloud so it appears on all your devices.

Backing tracks

• Add audio with the play (▶) button in the song toolbar.
• Pitch follows transposition — transpose the song and the track plays in the new key at the same tempo.
• Scrubber — drag the thin bar to seek; a stop (■) button appears while playing.
• Remove a track with a long-press on the play button.

Document attachments

• Attach a PDF, Word document, or image to a song.
• View it full-screen — it opens automatically when a song has no chord text.
• Foot-pedal scroll works inside PDF and document attachments too.

Guitar Tuner

A built-in chromatic tuner uses your device's microphone to show the note you're playing and how far off it is.

Tuning

1. 1

   Open the tuner from the tuning-fork button in the song toolbar, or Settings.

2. 2

   Play a single string. The detected note, octave and frequency (Hz) appear.

3. 3

   The needle shows how sharp or flat you are. It turns green when you're in tune.

Reference pitch

Use the −/+ buttons to set the A4 reference between 440 and 445 Hz (useful when playing with a fixed-pitch instrument or an orchestra).

Metronome & Tap Tempo

Give a song a tempo and the metronome can click it for you — handy for counting in.

Using the metronome

• Start / stop with the clock button in the song toolbar.
• Visual beat — a bar at the top of the screen flashes in time.
• Audible click can be turned on or off in Settings.

Tap tempo

Long-press the clock button to open the tap overlay, then tap along with the music. The BPM is calculated as you tap and saved to the song.

Auto-start

Set a tag in Settings → Playback → Metronome; any song carrying that tag starts the metronome automatically when opened — useful in a setlist.

Stage Lighting (DMX)

Strofa can drive DMX512 stage lights over Wi-Fi using the Art-Net protocol and an Art-Net node (e.g. an eDMX1). Configure it under Settings → Stage Lighting.

Setup

• Controller IP — the address of your Art-Net node on the local network.
• Universe — the DMX universe to send on (usually 0).
• Start / Stop — begin or end transmission; Blackout drops all channels to zero.
• Fade — optional smooth transitions, 1–10 seconds.

Building a rig

• Groups — create fixture groups with a name, colour roles (red / green / blue / dimmer), a start channel and a fixture count.
• Live mixer — a master fader plus a fader per role in each group.

Scenes & songs

Save the current look as a scene (preset). Attach a scene to a song while editing it; then tap the 💡 next to a song in the list to fire that look instantly.

Transmission rate

Strofa sends Art-Net packets at 40 Hz using a native hardware timer in the strofa-artnet module. This matches the DMX512 standard refresh rate and ensures smooth fades and instant response to scene changes — without polling or JavaScript timer drift.

Soundcraft Mixer

Connect to a Soundcraft Ui-series mixer (Ui12 / Ui16 / Ui24R) over the same Wi-Fi network to mute the PA straight from Strofa.

Setup

1. 1

   Make sure your iPad and the mixer are on the same Wi-Fi.

2. 2

   In Settings → Soundcraft Mixer, turn it on and enter the mixer's IP address.

3. 3

   A green dot confirms the connection.

Mute from the song view

When connected, a mixer button appears in the song toolbar. Tap it to mute or unmute all channels — handy for silencing the stage between songs or during announcements.

Contact

Found a bug or something not working as expected? Send an email to bugs@strofa.no and we'll look into it.

Please include your device model, iOS version, and a short description of what happened.