iPad Software for Lead Sheets? What do you use?

[Bassamatic]

I have been using DeepDish Gigbook for 3-4 years to hold and organize all my PDF sheets on my iPad . I can organize them by music style, artist, song name, etc. and make collections and set lists easily. I want to recommend this to a friend, but I recall someone saying that this is no longer supported and I see no updates for 2 years, it seems. Makes me nervous.

I did a long search - found quite a few, but most do TOO much (i.e. OnSong) and want you to import text files or make the files in the program so keys can be altered, etc. I just need a PDF organizer with the potential of making set lists for shows. I found one called LE Lead Sheet - it seems to be a lite version of DD Gigbook, but won't run on my OS10 - needs 11 and I can't update to 11. Also found BandHelper, but it seems a bit overkill.

Suggestions, please!!

 

[PaulCISSA]

I’ve used SetList Maker for a really long time, written by the same fellow that wrote Band Helper (Arlomedia). He almost abandoned it a few years back, trying to force the user base to adopt BandHelper (subscription model) but got a lot of pushback and lost a good bit of his installed base in doing so.

That said, I like what it does for me and even though I don’t use all the midi-capabilities, I do like it’s flexibility and especially the Bluetooth screen sharing across other band members devices. I have over 1K songs in four separate databases that represent the different bands I work with as well, so I have an investment in my data already.

If I found another application that was more tailored to my work as a bassist (not a BL), I’d jump on it. Since I always seem to be the tech for whatever band I’m working with, I also seem to use tech more than the other musicians. I consequently find myself also being the “secretary”.

 

[DaddySangBass]

Piascore works well for my pdfs. Import from Dropbox, create set lists, links to Youtube for play along. And it's free!

 

[Febs]

Have you looked at ForScore? forScore

It does quite a bit more than what you are looking for, but it can definitely do all of the things you need.

 

[play4sanity]

Also a forScore user. Love it. Only down side is that it is iOS only as far as I know.

 

[Febs]

Also a forScore user. Love it. Only down side is that it is iOS only as far as I know.

That's right. I now use a Surface Pro myself, so I use MobileSheets, but when I was using an iPad, I liked ForScore a lot.

 

[tfer]

OnSong. I’ve tried others, but for my band’s purposes, there’s nothing better.

It’s gotten really expensive over the past years though. When I got it, it was $9.99!

 

[PaulCISSA]

OnSong. I’ve tried others, but for my band’s purposes, there’s nothing better.

It’s gotten really expensive over the past years though. When I got it, it was $9.99!

YIKES! That IS pricey. $30.00. Somebody's making money....

 

[oren]

Have you looked at iGigBook? That’s what I use, though for me the prime advantage is that comes with premade indexes for most of the common jazz fakebooks.

 

[mrcbass]

I use an Android tablet which is not supported by OnSong (at least at last check) which I've heard very good things about. I use an app called SongBook. It's a pretty awesome tablet tool:
- It supports text files (for lyric/chord type charts) or PDFs for scores. I've used both, but primarily with text files.
- Text files can be edited (including a transpose option) on the tablet (but changed altered versions won't export back to my PC). PDFs can not be edited
- It has a decent scrolling (teleprompter) option, so if you actually need to work off the full lyric chart, you can. I found that I had to format my charts differently to use the scroller, but it is a nice option.
- Ability to organize songs by category (I use this to group songs by each of my bands) and then allows creation of specific playlists (I set up each set in order) and has a swipe option to go to the next song.
- I think it was even free; if not it was cheap (because I am!)

 

[TheBamaSlamma]

YIKES! That IS pricey. $30.00. Somebody's making money....

Worth it even if you don't use all the features.

 

[Bassamatic]

Thanks!! I will check out all the suggestions. I used Mobile Sheets on my Android tablet and liked it, but not available for iOS.

The biggest problem is finding the apps! There is no single easy name for the type of app. Songbook, lead sheets, set lists, PDF manager, Band music, etc etc.

 

[BassGeekJack]

I like to use iReal Pro. It's maybe more back-track focused for practicing and such but it has thousands of charts on it and there's forums where people upload their own– you can find most anything and edit the key/tempo/view etc. You can also make your own playlists.

 

[ctbass]

Onsong.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I use OnSong for PDF files and would recommend no other. It’s not as cheap as others but it’s actively supported.

 

[Bassamatic]

My friend uses OnSong, but it seems to be way overkill for me. I just want to store and sort PDFs, and make set lists. However, because of the support, it might be the best final choice. Deep Dish GigBook works just great, but I am concerned it may not continue to be supported.

 

[PaulCISSA]

My friend uses OnSong, but it seems to be way overkill for me. I just want to store and sort PDFs, and make set lists. However, because of the support, it might be the best final choice. Deep Dish GigBook works just great, but I am concerned it may not continue to be supported.

I'm in that place with SetList Maker. Eventually, I'll be stuck with having to make a choice, so you have my thanks for starting this thread. OnSong might get my business. It does seem to have the deepest support.

 

[JCW308]

OnSong here, too.

 

[jastacey]

I use Setlist Helper, and use an Android tablet, been using it for 3/4 years, like it

 

[Hambone70]

Invalid Link Removed

Been using this with Bluetooth footswitch for 4 years. Works great!