PdfCraft: a free Adobe Acrobat alternative for musicians
PdfCraft is ArtCraft's free, open-source "PDF workbench: read, organize, combine, split and secure", the job Adobe Acrobat does. It runs on macOS, Windows and Linux, and as a web build. Touring and releasing music runs on PDFs, and this is the app for putting them together.
What musicians use PdfCraft for
- Riders: the tech rider, stage plot and hospitality rider combined into one file.
- Press PDFs: a one-sheet and press clippings in one document.
- Statements: splitting out the pages of a long royalty statement you need.
- Securing a file before it goes to someone outside the team.
Signing a contract? Do it in Aden
Don't print, sign and scan. In Contracts & signatures, attach the contract as a PDF, add the people who need to sign, and send. Each signer gets a link and signs with a mouse, a finger or typed text. The signed PDF is filed with the track, album, show or tour it belongs to, and a list shows what's still waiting for a signature.
Match your paperwork to your songs
Have a folder full of old contracts, artwork and statements? Smart file matching in Aden reads the file names in a folder you pick and matches each file to its track, so you attach everything in one pass. Nothing uploads until you confirm.
Riders travel with the show
Put the rider on the tour or the show in Aden, so the promoter's agreement and the rider sit next to the date. See CADCraft for drawing the stage plot that goes in it.
Get PdfCraft
Download it from PdfCraft's page on getartcraft.com, or install the Craft Launcher to get every ArtCraft app at once. See all the ArtCraft apps for musicians.
FAQ
Is PdfCraft free?
Yes. PdfCraft is open source and free to use on macOS, Windows and Linux.
How do I get a music contract signed online?
Upload it to Contracts & signatures in Aden and send it. Each signer gets a link to sign, and the signed PDF is filed with the song, album, show or tour.
What should a tech rider include?
Your input list, the stage plot, the backline you bring and need, monitor and power needs, and a contact for the day. Combine them into one PDF so nothing gets lost.
Less admin. More music.
More guides
CADCraft is a free, open-source CAD and drafting app. How artists draw stage plots, studio layouts and set designs with it, and send them with the show.
DeckCraft is a free, open-source presentation app. When an artist needs a deck, and when a pitch link and a press kit page work better.
DesignCraft is a free, open-source page layout app. How artists lay out posters, one-sheets and vinyl booklets with it, and get them to fans and promoters.