Help
Getting the most from Palimpsest
The guide covers everything on three printable pages: starting your songbook, adding songs, backing up, and the Pro, Studio and Producer tools.
Getting started
- Download Palimpsest for your computer, or open the web version.
- On the welcome screen, start a new songbook. Add your name if you like and pick your voice.
- Click New song and type or paste the words, with each chord in square brackets just before its word, like
[G]Down by the [C]water. If your chords sit on the line above the words, paste them as they are and click Move chords into the words. - Make a set list, and click Perform this set to play from the stage view.
- To try the paid tools, open Settings and click Try everything free for 30 days.
Questions
Where are my songs kept?
In one folder you choose, usually Documents › Songbook, with each song as a plain text file. Any text editor can read them, with or without Palimpsest. In the web version, they're kept in your browser on that device.
How do I back up my songs?
Copy the whole Songbook folder to a USB stick or an external drive, or keep it in iCloud Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox. Doing this after each writing session is a good habit.
Can I use my songs on more than one computer?
Yes. Keep your Songbook folder in iCloud Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive, and open the same folder in Palimpsest on each computer. A change made on one shows up on the others, and Palimpsest asks before saving over a change made elsewhere.
Can I bring in songs from another app?
Yes. Click Bring in songs… on the song list. Palimpsest reads ChordPro, OnSong, SongbookPro and OpenSong files, Word documents, PDFs and plain text. Your original files are never changed.
Does Palimpsest use A.I.?
Never to write. Palimpsest doesn't suggest lines, chords or melodies. It measures your own recordings (their tempo, key and range) and shows what it finds, and the words are always yours.
Does it need the internet?
No. Palimpsest works offline. Only a few things you choose use the internet, such as co-writing with someone far away or sending a mix for review.
Where do I enter my licence key?
In Settings, under the plans, paste the key from your email and click Unlock.
Notes for Windows and Linux
See the Windows notes and the Linux notes for the warnings you may see and how to get past them.
Something not right?
Write to hello@palimpsestmusic.com. A screenshot and a sentence about what you were doing is the most useful thing to send. Only send songs you're happy to share.