Looking for testers for new iPad application

Phil Smith · #1 07-23-2010, 08:24 AM

Greeting folks,

I have an application for the iPad called iGigBook that's almost ready for release but before I release it, I'd like to get it into the hands of a few more people and get their feedback.

The application allows you to load PDF versions of various fake books i.e. classic real book 1, 2 and 3, New Real Book 1, 2 and 3 and others into your iPad so that you can search for tunes by title and composer and create set lists comprised of tunes from various books. The application allows use of the book in a non-linear fashion and eliminates the need to carry one or more books with you. The iPad becomes your single fake book source.

If you're interested PM me or contact me at mail@realbook.us

Thanks...

fabledsoe · #2 07-27-2010, 03:43 PM

Have you found anybody yet?

I don't have an iPad, but I am very interested in seeing this app.

Bass · #3 07-28-2010, 03:42 PM

I don't have an iPad nor do I know how to read music. (Well I know how sort of, I'm just not really able to in practice).

fdeck · #4 07-28-2010, 09:32 PM

How's it differ from a PDF viewer?

Phil Smith · #5 08-01-2010, 03:24 PM

With a PDF viewer you still use your book in a linear fashion though a few of them have paging and bookmarking in addition to text searching. iGigBook provides the functionality of a PDF viewer in addition to having indexes for over 30 popular fake books so that you can effectively use the books(as a combined entity) in a non linear fashion i.e. viewing/searching the books by song title or composer as opposed to page number.

For example, if you load a PDF or Real Book 1, 2 and 3 into the iPad you can search across all three books as if they were one combined volume. You could also create a set list using the Set List Manager that has tunes from all three books.

Jazzdogg · #6 08-01-2010, 04:56 PM

I don't own an iPad, but I'm curious about your program.

Is the display large enough, bright enough, and legible enough to use as a substitute for sheet music on a gig?

How do you handle page turns for multi-page charts?

Phil Smith · #7 08-01-2010, 07:23 PM

I just used it for a reading gig i.e. notation and it works, a tap at the bottom section of the current page advances to the next page, at tap at the top goes back to the previous page. It's not ideal i.e. you still have to use your hands but it does beat having to turn an actual page especially for music that's not formatted with page turns in mind, that's what I was dealing with on Saturday and my gig was outdoors, so no clips, wind problems.

fabledsoe · #8 08-04-2010, 08:24 PM

I like it! Makes me want to get an iPad just for the app.

Would you be able to load new/arranged charts to the app as well?

Phil Smith · #9 08-05-2010, 08:59 PM

Absolutely, there's an on line book management system where you can index a PDF of original charts. The reading gig I used it for was from a PDF of music scored for the show.

bobbykokinos · #10 08-22-2010, 06:38 PM

Are you still needing testers?? I have an iPad for gigs.

Michael Eisenman · #11 08-27-2010, 12:45 PM

I used a similar app on a gig last night, and it worked fine, especially when a breeze kicked up. No pages flying off the stand.

Fortunately, all but one of the songs were one-pagers. I'd love to see someone develop a footswitch to change pages.

To answer a previous question, the iPad display is large enough for Real Book use, but I wouldn't consider using it in the orchestra, as handy as that would be.

Phil Smith · #12 10-03-2010, 02:25 PM

iGigBook has been submitted to the app store awaiting approval.

Here's a video demo of it along with wireless page turner:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4jmELJD5z0

For all of you iPhone/iPod Touch owners, iGBMobile(iGigBook Mobile) is available for sale on the Apple App Store.

macribas · #13 10-07-2010, 09:39 PM

I thought of using an apple magic trackpad as the footswitch, but I haven't tested it. It's bluetooth and it is large enough to be pressed with your feet. I don't know how long it would last in a gigging schedule though.

Phil Smith · #14 10-20-2010, 04:34 PM

Now available for sale in the iTunes App Store

bobalew · #15 10-31-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Smith

Now available for sale in the iTunes App Store

Phil, I still have some things to learn about it, but I am VERY happy with this app. Thanks for a handy tool that is already doing good things for me.

Phil Smith · #16 10-31-2010, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobalew

Phil, I still have some things to learn about it, but I am VERY happy with this app. Thanks for a handy tool that is already doing good things for me.

That's really good to hear and thank you for the kind words. BTW, version 1.10 has just been made available which has some bug fixes and an improvements in the data synchronization.