Choosing a Tablet for Reading Charts

[ahbass2500]

Others have correctly pointed out... Screen size above all else. I think you will be fine with Android as long as they have the app you plan on using for reading charts. You could also use one of the older iPad Pro models to reduce the price of the purchase. Ultimately you should not need a ton of processing power for reading charts. Screen brightness may matter depending on environment you plan on playing in. Even the brightest iPads are not a great reading experience in direct sunlight.

I have tried reading charts on iPhone 12 Pro Max, 2018 iPad Pro 11", and 2020 iPad Pro 12.9". Even though I am in my 30s, the 12.9" is much more usable than the smaller screens. The 6.7" on the iPhone was barely doable for me (noting the time I tried it was for a quick lookup and not an extended session).

 

[John Stephen]

If you’re not locked into any particular software app, then you can choose which tablet brand. In my case, my bandleader uses an app called forScore, which only runs on Apple iPads, so I had to go with the iPad and forScore so he and I could exchange charts. If that wasn’t the case, and I was on my own, I probably would have gone with an Android tablet. I think they offer similar or better functionality for a bit less money.

forScore is very powerful and has lots of good features, but for me the learning curve was fairly steep as I was new to all of this.

I got the 12.9 inch iPad so I could read it more easily.

 

[tkonbass]

I use both IOS and Android devices for running sound, charts and song lists and to control my in-ear mix. My largest tablet is a 10" Lenovo Tab2 A10 and that's about 5 years old now. I turn it on at load in and it easily lasts the gig with around 40% battery left. My 7 year old 8" iPad mini 2 will also make a full show but is usually under 20% by the end of the night. I agree with others saying go with a bigger screen size because I hardly use the iPad any more because of it's smaller screen.

Pretty much any tablet can handle these tasks pretty easily. I would say just go with the environment you're most comfortable with. If you an iPhone user an iPad with instantly feel familiar. Same for an Android phone user and most any Android tablet. I never had a reason to go with the latest or most expensive tablet as this is about the only thing I use them for other than web browsing.

As for software, I tried a few different apps and settled on Setlist Helper. My favorite feature of the software is being able to edit everything in a browser on my PC and then just sync the tablet. I don't care for editing on a tablet. This is especially useful for making setlists. I create my own "shorthand" version of charts and it works quite well for that. Setlist Helper is available for IOS and Android and as I said I use it on both but the interface is slightly different on the two platforms. But I like the fact that I don't have to use different apps based on the device I'm using.

 

[Loring]

I was on an android tablet - Samsung tab S. Will work fine. I used to grab chord sheets with lyrics from ultimate guitar tabs - paste them into a document and save as a pdf. Then you can just swipe to the next page for the next song. This allowed me to add notes/transpose add in pages for guitar changes etc.

I found 10” screen adequate. 12 would be better but starts to get more obvious on stage. Your stages tend to be larger than mine so in your place, I’d likely opt for a 12”.

Having said that I did upgrade to an iPad Pro 10” since the software overall is just better. Also I can control my mixer remotely with an iPad and the software isn’t available on droid…

I would recommend you splurge on a good stand adapter for it, whichever one you choose.

 

[QweziRider]

1. Will I look like a ne’er do well if I don’t have an iPad? Or would a solid Android tablet that doesn’t cost as much still make me acceptable and be as easy to use as iPads seem?

I use a 12" Samsung - Android. Nobody has ever once said a word about it versus an iPad. Very easy to use.

2. Obviously the bigger the screen, the better but how big is too big? Same for RAM and storage space as I can’t imagine there being a need for the.highest speed and storage just to flip thru sheet music and DL some MP3’s sometimes.

Mine is about 6-7 years old? I lost track. Stock unit, no extra RAM, I don't even have an extra SD card (although it can be done). Been far more than adequate for me. Again, 12" seems to be perfect for my old eyes and doesn't get in the way of everything else, visually.

3. I have no idea what some decent software for organizing your music and making it easy to find quickly exists. Got suggestions for both Apple and Android?

This is where I probably go stupid simple compared to many. I don't use any particular software. I make my charts in Word on the PC, save them as PDF files, transfer to the tablet as they are needed, use a PDF reader on the tablet that allows me to flip pages. If it's a gig with a set list, I make the set list on the PC (inserting any charts in order that I might need), save to PDF, etc...just flip pages as the night goes.

4. What kind of average battery time can I expect out of one?

If I let the tablet set its screen brightness automatically (which seems perfect for indoor or night time outside gigs), battery usage might drop down to 80% left by the end of the night. I also like to reverse the colors (black background, white text), I don't know if that affects batter life, but it beats having a 12" screen blaring white in my face. A 4-5 hour daylight gig where I set brightness at max might drop to 45% batter life left by the end of the gig.

 

[marmadaddy]

I'm a hardcore Android person for my phone, but when it comes to a tablet for music, I use an iPad. It's what the music industry has standardized on. I use it for charts and lyrics, as a practice amp, music learning tool, and to control my monitor mix when using IEMs.

I just replaced my tablet (previous one was smashed at a gig by a clumsy percussionist) with a refurbished 32GB iPad 6 which is about the cheapest you can get without getting a mini. I'm 58 years old and the 9.4 inch screen is plenty big for me. A guitar player I work with a lot has the big iPad Pro. He loves it. I don't need something that big. YMMV.

For software on gigs, I mostly use OnSong and sometimes iRealPro. OnSong is very powerful, but a bit pricey for all the features with an annual subscription pricing model. I bought it when it was just a onetime purchase.

You'll also need other hardware.
How are you going to hold it up? If you already carry around a music stand, you can keep using that. There are also specific stands you can by just for holding tablets. I know a few people who carry those. I use a basic tablet holder that clips to the mic stand.

For page turning, I have an AirTurn BTS-200S-2 pedal. US $70 or so. There are cheaper options out there. This is a must-have for me.

 

[guitarflinger]

Ipad
Deepdish Gigbook (using it shuts down the sleep mode of your ipad)

 

[Jon Burnet]

To add to these other comments, swappa.com is an excellent place to buy used tech.

 

[jastacey]

I have been using an old Motorola 10" tablet, with 16 gigs of memory, don't laugh, it works just fine, for software, I use Setlist helper, I also learned how to modify the cord charts, a lotta times, the downloaded charts are wrong, and I think purposely, to get around copyright restrictions, at least, that's what I think, but one should go through the songs, to make sure, also you should give thought to how your going to mount the tablet, so you can use/see it, I use RAM Mounts, they are kinda pricey ( I paid $120, ten years ago, and you have to pick the parts individually, they do it that way, so you can really customize you set-up ), but it's very well made ( Lifetime warranty ), and I have never had an issue with it not holding firm, one thing I have noticed over the years, several band mates are always looking to take a peek at my charts, and yet they are the ones who believe, I need to memorize 300 songs, I just shrug my shoulders and think AH's

 

[Gustopher]

I use a cheap Amazon Fire Tab HD and it works extremely well for what I use it for, which is the Lyric Pad app.

 

[JimmyM]

Thank you all very much for the voices of experience. Here’s what I’ve figured out so far…

——iPad is a lot more universal on the pro scene and sending files back and forth is easier.

——I will be in trouble without a 12.9” screen.

—-I will also be in trouble without a page turning pedal. I assume they hook up to USB or does Apple force you to use their lightning ports? Probably either or these days, no?

Glad to know an older one that works would do the job… kinda sorta thinking about a cruise ship stint so I can put away some bank without spending much. Not entirely sold on it but I’ve always said they’re good for kids out of music school and divorced people. Who knows? A stint or two wouldn’t kill me and would go a long way to pile up a little savings.

 

[Jefenator]

I got the cheapest standard size iPad available brand new. I've been managing without, but I'll probably spring for the 13" screen next time - and the Apple Pencil. Memory capacity has been a non-issue for me. (2100 charts plus a few photos & tunes are taking up just under 16GB.)
I'm glad I went with Apple on this. The hardware is durable & stable, my two most-used apps (ForScore & iReal Pro) sync via Apple's iCloud, and then there's AirDrop, which lets me send files directly (w/o wires) to & from my desktop computer, my phone or a fellow musician's Apple device.
Most page turners work via BlueTooth.

 

[Pings Bass]

I got a cheap 10-inch HD Amazon Fire tablet and use MobileSheets Pro. I also got a Butterfly PageFlip (Bluetooth foot pedal page turner) and a mic stand mount for the tablet. It all works surprisingly well. The software imports any PDF. I keep them all in the cloud (Google drive) and can pull them up on my phone in a pinch.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

Size matters...
...reading a full sheet of music on a typical tablet (e.g. low-end iPad) would require very good eyes.

I use a PC, or hard-copy, but for a tablet, I would want something with a LARGE screen. For Android, I would go with Lenovo. A large screen from Apple will "break the bank", but can be very nice.

Unless you are just going to view PDF files, I would research the software availability for iOS vs. Android.

 

[jastacey]

Here are the parts I use for my Ram Mount System:
RAM® Double Socket Arm with Round Ball Plate
RAM® Tough-Claw™ Small Clamp Ball Base
RAM® Tab-Tite™ Tablet Holder for 10" Tablets with Case + More

 

[jnewmark]

I see a lot more guys in local bands using an iPad. I'm old school and memorize everything I can, or just wing it if its a 145. I always wonder though if you can become too dependent on them, like for every song, and then they malfunction or die; then what ? I do own an iPad, ( my second ) because the first one died on me with no warning. Luckily it was still in warranty, so Apple replaced it.

 

[stretch80]

I have a Microsoft Surface - which has a big screen, you'd think it would be perfect, but the only decent program I could find (musicnotes) has no support for making notes on the music - so it's useless.

So I've gone back to paper until better Windows software shows up, or I breakdown and get an ipad...

If anyone knows of a better Windows program...speak up!

 

[ga_edwards]

I have both an iPad Pro 11" and a smaller Kindle Fire 8". I've been using ipads for band stuff pretty much since I got my iPad 2. I take it to every rehearsal for all manner of reasons.

We all use bandhelper in my band. They have an app for every conceivable platform and is quite powerful. I don't read sheet music live (or tab for that matter), but there's a couple of songs that catch me out every time so I have the tab in my 'personal lyrics' section for those songs. The app syncs across devices, you can even link them up live and have your bandleader update setlists and choose songs on the fly. You can have scrolling lyrics (or ascii tab) saving the need for a Bluetooth page tuner (but still works with them if you want), or you can upload and attached pdf or jpegs for sheetmusic if you need it. It also has powerful midi implementation, that lets you control it or external devices with personal midi messaging. Great if you use something like the Helix with a patch for every song, or use backing tracks or click tracks.

I bought the kindle fire this year as I upgraded to the iPad pro end of last year during lockdown and didn't really want to take a £600 tablet device to every gig - partly because of the risk of theft, but also damage. I've had my mic stand knocked over a few times by over-enthusiastic punters - one time I saw my iPad hit the floor screen first in slow motion, luckily it was unscathed (although the perpetrator got a mouthful)

For just tabs, lyrics and possibly scores, the inexpensive kindle fire is great. You do need to "hack" the device to install google play, as the Fire OS app store is rather restrictive and contains out of date apps (as I found with the ultimate guitar app!). But this is not difficult at all, even for a novice.

The 8" Fire is fine for my use, but if you're a little optically challenged, you may prefer the larger 10" versions. The Fire range also have SD card slots, so you can easily expand the storage if you find it's too meagre.

 

[JimmyM]

I see a lot more guys in local bands using an iPad. I'm old school and memorize everything I can, or just wing it if its a 145. I always wonder though if you can become too dependent on them, like for every song, and then they malfunction or die; then what ? I do own an iPad, ( my second ) because the first one died on me with no warning. Luckily it was still in warranty, so Apple replaced it.

Some people claim they get dependent on the music sheets, but not me. Unless it’s hard or I don’t play it regularly, I have no problem memorizing a song after about three or four times with the chart. And I do a fair amount of gigging where sight reading is a requirement. I even memorized a handful of pieces from the Bach cello suites. Took me more than four times though

 

[ahbass2500]

—-I will also be in trouble without a page turning pedal. I assume they hook up to USB or does Apple force you to use their lightning ports? Probably either or these days, no?

The ones I have used hook to the iPad over bluetooth. I have tried Pageflip Butterfly (my toddler broke it) and recently purchased an AirTurn BT200. I prefer the durability and pedal switches on the AirTurn. AirTurn also has rechargeable battery and can run off a pedalboard power supply. Pageflip's only real advantage over the AirTurn is that it has silent switches. The AirTurn has a low volume click similar to a normal pedal. This click is likely fine for most performers, but may not work for quieter groups (for example small wind/string ensembles).