Anyone using iPad for charts?

Stereo Joe · #1 11-18-2010, 08:35 AM

I've been seriously thinking about purchasing an iPad to use as a library for all of my charts and lead sheets. Taking just the iPad to every gig and always having all my charts seems really great compared to the pile of binders and fake books I have to pick from at home.

Is there anyone using an iPad for this purpose? I know there are dedicated music reader devices, but I'm liking the iPad idea for all its other possible uses as well.

My main concern at this point would be using the iPad for charts in a rehearsal situation where I have to edit my music (add a repeat or coda for example).

Can anyone think of any pros or cons associated with going this route?

bamabass · #2 11-18-2010, 08:37 AM

I love mine. It works great and now I have have books and books of material at my finger tips. I use it for a lot of church praise and worship stuff, and can transpose on the fly. It is a great tool.

Stereo Joe · #3 11-18-2010, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamabass

I love mine. It works great and now I have have books and books of material at my finger tips. I use it for a lot of church praise and worship stuff, and can transpose on the fly. It is a great tool.

Nice! What kind of software are you using that lets you transpose? Do you use a .pdf reader for the charts or something else?

pasta4lnch · #4 11-18-2010, 08:41 AM

wow - that's gotta be cool! I wonder if there is a real book app yet?

(I sure there are ten)

Stereo Joe · #5 11-18-2010, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

wow - that's gotta be cool! I wonder if there is a real book app yet?

(I sure there are ten)

I've got a real book app on my iPod touch and it's pretty sweet. It does chord changes only, but lets you transpose and create your own charts. It also has a built in player now that works kind of like a simple, cheap Band-in-a-Box for practicing.

TimK · #6 11-18-2010, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamabass

I love mine. It works great and now I have have books and books of material at my finger tips. I use it for a lot of church praise and worship stuff, and can transpose on the fly. It is a great tool.

how do you do this? I have been thinking about this for a while. I have 3 binders full of sheet music that would be great to get "scanned into" the ipad. escpaiclly the church "charts"

is there an app that does that or another program? can you turn the pages? details please. I'm very curious about how you are using this. I'm sort of a computer dummy

PM me maybe?

interp · #7 11-18-2010, 08:45 AM

I use mine all the time, and very successfully. There is a company called TheGigEasy that makes a great mic stand adapter that holds the iPad very securely in either portrait or landscape position. I highly recommend it.
I have all my charts, lyrics, set lists--everything--on my iPad, and everything is accessible almost instantly.
That is not to mention all the musics apps for practicing, learning, refining your musical skills outside of the actual gig.

bamabass · #8 11-18-2010, 08:48 AM

Here is what I am using at the moment
http://www.appstorehq.com/onsongforipad-ipad-210372/app

Jim Nazium · #9 11-18-2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stereo Joe

I've got a real book app on my iPod touch and it's pretty sweet. It does chord changes only, but lets you transpose and create your own charts. It also has a built in player now that works kind of like a simple, cheap Band-in-a-Box for practicing.

I have the Droid version, which doesn't have the player, but does allow you to transpose and has over 800 songs. I've used it on gigs a couple of times in a pinch, and it got me through the tunes. I would think an Ipad version would be awesome with the much bigger screen.

TimK · #10 11-18-2010, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamabass

Here is what I am using at the moment
http://www.appstorehq.com/onsongforipad-ipad-210372/app

The reviews on this are pretty poor. Works ok for you though? I have hundreds of pages of worship sheet music, from charts to scores that I;d love to get onto an ipad. How do you get your music on the ipad. Scan it, then email yourself, then copy and paste? Seems difficult. is there a better way to get actual paper music into this app?

PS LOG rules!!

bamabass · #11 11-18-2010, 09:07 AM

It is a little cumbersome, to input the files in so they are fully useable, ie...transpose on the fly kind of stuff, but you can also load them in as .pdfs and organize them and all with the app, but just not have the transpose function.

I do a few songs at a time here and there as I have time and then replace the pdf. It is a labor of love...lol, but once it is done it is really amazing. The interface is just a bit clumsy but you can load in what you already have and hit the ground running.

Our worship pastor has one, and every morning, we get together and he sends it all to my ipad via bluetooth, and I have everything. If he changes on the fly, it is sent to my ipad and I am updated. It is a great tool

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimK

The reviews on this are pretty poor. Works ok for you though? I have hundreds of pages of worship sheet music, from charts to scores that I;d love to get onto an ipad. How do you get your music on the ipad. Scan it, then email yourself, then copy and paste? Seems difficult. is there a better way to get actual paper music into this app?

PS LOG rules!!

SteveC · #12 11-18-2010, 09:12 AM

I use Good Reader on my iPad. Works great. The update lets you edit. I haven't tried it yet. I guess there are lots of options.

I amusing it for music I scanned. I don't have the fake book or whatever.

I will never go back. I hope to get the stand attachment soon.

I prefer it over dedicated music readers because it doe that and EVERYTHING else. Between sets I can go online, check email, whatever.

TimK · #13 11-18-2010, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bamabass

It is a little cumbersome, to input the files in so they are fully useable, ie...transpose on the fly kind of stuff, but you can also load them in as .pdfs and organize them and all with the app, but just not have the transpose function.

I do a few songs at a time here and there as I have time and then replace the pdf. It is a labor of love...lol, but once it is done it is really amazing. The interface is just a bit clumsy but you can load in what you already have and hit the ground running.

Our worship pastor has one, and every morning, we get together and he sends it all to my ipad via bluetooth, and I have everything. If he changes on the fly, it is sent to my ipad and I am updated. It is a great tool

very cool. i suppose its not any more of a labor of love than when I have to reorganize my binders every 3 months

The transposing feature is not something I need anyway. I mostly just need organization, storage and access to my library.

can you make "pencil marks" or somehow write on this if changes are made to a chart? for example, skipping a second ending, or adding/removing repeats, marking intros, tags etc...?

billoetjen · #14 11-18-2010, 09:37 AM

Thanks for the thread! Coolest application of the iPad, yet!

bamabass · #15 11-18-2010, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimK

very cool. i suppose its not any more of a labor of love than when I have to reorganize my binders every 3 months

The transposing feature is not something I need anyway. I mostly just need organization, storage and access to my library.

can you make "pencil marks" or somehow write on this if changes are made to a chart? for example, skipping a second ending, or adding/removing repeats, marking intros, tags etc...?

Yes you can....you can actually add little yellow post its

Phil Smith · #16 11-18-2010, 03:33 PM

I developed an app called iGigBook which indexes over 30 of the popular fake books and let's you search through all of it by song title or composer. It also allows you to create set lists which you can email to your band members and even include a PDF attachment consisting of the tunes in the set list. There's also a wireless page turner app for the iphone/ipod touch that I developed.

BassesForTheWin · #17 11-18-2010, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stereo Joe

I've been seriously thinking about purchasing an iPad to use as a library for all of my charts and lead sheets. Taking just the iPad to every gig and always having all my charts seems really great compared to the pile of binders and fake books I have to pick from at home.

Is there anyone using an iPad for this purpose? I know there are dedicated music reader devices, but I'm liking the iPad idea for all its other possible uses as well.

My main concern at this point would be using the iPad for charts in a rehearsal situation where I have to edit my music (add a repeat or coda for example).

Can anyone think of any pros or cons associated with going this route?

I myself have a Love/Hate realtionship with Apple.

I love them becasue of thier products

But i hate them becasue of the iPad (a giant iPod Touch 3rd Gen)

If anything, get a Amazon Kindle, that is more of a book thing, but it probably wont have what you want on that.

BigOldHarry · #18 11-18-2010, 03:48 PM

As far as I can see, that is the sole reason to own an ipad. Were I gigging Jazz for aliving, I'd own one just for that.

KTFunkAlive · #19 11-18-2010, 04:24 PM

Keep in mind that the screen is small (half the size of standard paper) so if it's on a single music stand out in front for all to see, well...

I've heard the next wave will have an 8 1/2" x 11" screen. If so, that will be the end of binders.

Febs · #20 11-18-2010, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassesForTheWin

But i hate them becasue of the iPad (a giant iPod Touch 3rd Gen)

If anything, get a Amazon Kindle, that is more of a book thing, but it probably wont have what you want on that.

I own a Kindle, but it's not well-suited for this purpose. I'm giving serious consideration to getting a iPad specifically to use to replace my paper charts.