Thought I'd share some stuff I've been mucking around with lately although many of you probably already know this stuff. And no, I don't have any connection to either product other than as a happy customer.
I recently got an android app called "Mobile Sheets" for compiling sheet music and set lists etc. I don't actually use it live but it's been very handy for keeping track of, and practicing for, the three different bands and the songs I need for each one, plus all the other songs I've accumulated over the years.
There's a stack you can do with it however for me the most advantageous bit is being able to attach an mp3/wmp sound file to each sheet.
The other thing I recently found was a really good free pitch and key shifting program called BestPractice. Playing a lot with my kids they tend to change key from originals quite a bit, particularly those sung by men, with changes of four semi-tones quite common. This sometimes means a big difference to a line that sounds good with the original but doesn't work with them. BestPractice now allows me to practice at the key they play in. Sure, sometimes it makes the original singing sound like a chipmunk or a real low Barry White, but at least i'm able to go over the lines I want at the key I need. Also, as most people know some songs, particularly older ones, were recorded slightly off key and these can be brought into key. Now, I can save the changed file to the sheet music and play away in the key I need. Mobile Sheets also allows multiple song files to be attached to each sheet so I can have the original attached as well.
I've got a bluetooth receiver hooked up to the stereo so now whenever i want to practice I simply turn on the tablet and stereo, hook up the bluetooth from the tablet, pick a song and play it to play along to. It took a bit of setting up and linking the music to the sheets but now it's done it makes practicing what I need really easy.
And no, I don't have any connection to either product other than as a happy customer.
I recently got an android app called "Mobile Sheets" for compiling sheet music and set lists etc. I don't actually use it live but it's been very handy for keeping track of, and practicing for, the three different bands and the songs I need for each one, plus all the other songs I've accumulated over the years.
There's a stack you can do with it however for me the most advantageous bit is being able to attach an mp3/wmp sound file to each sheet.
The other thing I recently found was a really good free pitch and key shifting program called BestPractice. Playing a lot with my kids they tend to change key from originals quite a bit, particularly those sung by men, with changes of four semi-tones quite common. This sometimes means a big difference to a line that sounds good with the original but doesn't work with them. BestPractice now allows me to practice at the key they play in. Sure, sometimes it makes the original singing sound like a chipmunk or a real low Barry White, but at least i'm able to go over the lines I want at the key I need. Also, as most people know some songs, particularly older ones, were recorded slightly off key and these can be brought into key. Now, I can save the changed file to the sheet music and play away in the key I need. Mobile Sheets also allows multiple song files to be attached to each sheet so I can have the original attached as well.
I've got a bluetooth receiver hooked up to the stereo so now whenever i want to practice I simply turn on the tablet and stereo, hook up the bluetooth from the tablet, pick a song and play it to play along to. It took a bit of setting up and linking the music to the sheets but now it's done it makes practicing what I need really easy.
And no, I don't have any connection to either product other than as a happy customer.
