We are sometimes asked how NetTracks compares to other products and services, so here we share our take on three other products that we highly regard and compare them.
Mobile apps and streaming services are mature and competitive markets. There are many quality mobile apps; Starting a streaming service businesses has proved challenging, though the potential rewards are great.
By comparing NetTracks to these other services, we hope to shed light on NetTrack’s core prospect.
The features of these apps and services overlap, and there is room to use and own multiple of them for differing purposes.
iRealPro
Apple iOS and Mac app, providing backing tracks algorithmically generated with audio configurable per instrument.
ForScore
Apple iOS and Mac Musical Score Manager app, supporting backing tracks and some score streaming.
Stage Traxx 3
Feature-Rich Audio Player and controller for stage performance, with
MIDI controls, audio enhancing and image association.
Comparative Analysis
| iReal Pro | ForScore | Stage Traxx 3 | NetTracks | |
| Core Prospect | Backing Tracks stream algorithmically generated audio, configurable per instrument. | Musical Score Manager supporting backing tracks and some score streaming. | Configurable Audio Player with support for attaching images. | Streaming service for {audio, image, metadata} with backing track audio player. |
| Core Features | Configurable Backing Tracks, Chord Charts, Streaming Service via Forums, Can author one’s own charts and share. | Feature-rich Score Reader, Foot peddle support, Score mark-ups, Score Streaming Service, Some audio track association. | Feature-Rich Audio Player for stage performance, MIDI controls. | Educational Backing Tracks stream, Focussed backing-track player, Full lead sheets (image) support, Comprehensive metadata, Side-loading one’s own tracks, Setlist sharing. |
| Unique Selling Point | Quickly get adequate-quality backing music and chord charts to well-known songs and quickly adjust key, tempo, rhythm, and instrumentation. | Managing one’s collection of (mainly classical) scores | A central tool for managing stage performance | A highly accessible experience for playing along to quality educational artists’ musicians’ backing tracks. |
| Target Market | Students of Jazz, Blues, Folk, Country and similar to access chord charts and basic accompaniment. | Classical Music Students and Performers | Performing Individuals and Bands | Students of jazz, blues, folk, country, and similar and extendable to other genres. Woodshedding, Jamming and small individual venue gigs. |
| Comparison to NetTracks | No lead sheets; No artist performances; Good chord charts; Large library of shared songs provides a defacto repository of song harmony (chords); | Partners with streaming services providers, providing great accessibility for acquiring scores. Focusses on score technology; | No streaming service; Some metadata facility for entry of one’s own metadata, some of this is tailored to educational artists musicians’ backing tracks. Good audio engine and audio controls for a band. |
Each product has its strengths and targets different markets with overlapping feature sets. NetTracks‘ unique selling point (USP) is its highly accessible experience for playing along to quality, educational artist’s musicians’ backing tracks. It’s feature set targets that market. When one appreciates just how inaccessible the experience is without NetTracks, one sees why NetTracks is a game changer. The other products mentioned above do a great job targeting their markets, but none effectively address NetTracks’ market.