Anybody use a ipad or Tablet onstage?

[anotherfreak]

is there a app for this?

I have been seeing folks using them for charts, and I was wondering what the process is for calling up a chart.

my idea so far:

take pics of all the charts(with the ipad) and scroll through them by sweeping left/right?  this seems very cumbersome, and would seem to be hard to pull a chart "at will" even if they were alphabetized. I guess if you are working from a set list you could make a slide show that goes along with the list.

what I have:

1. cd rom with all my real books scanned in as PDF's 

2. pages of lyrics saved as word docs

3. scans of words and lyrics in jpeg form

4. my wife has a 2nd gen Ipad, 16g wifi connectability

I am new to a mac, but I'm learning. I take suggestions really well

 

[geoff_hartwell]

Get OnSong. Stay the hell away from ForScore.

I tried several, and I settled on OnSong after numerous positive recs from peers (full-timers) and it rules.

its amazing at text, PDF, charts, set lists and has so many advanced functions- you could even automate wireless DMX for your lights shows with it!!! But is easy to use, really.

You can also instantly and wirelessly "beam" charts and set lists to other band members that have the app, at rehearsal or at the gig for a sub, if needs be.

now my MacBook is so old I can't even connect my ipad to it because the OS is so out of date.

So i set up a free Dropbox folder online with the MacBook in about two minutes, dragged 400 charts in Word, Txt, PDF, etc into the Dropbox folder, fired up OnSong on the iPad, connected it to my Dropbox and the charts were there instantly. So I have a backup online that doubles as sharing for subs that don't have OnSong.

Do it!

[anotherfreak]

THAT'S EXACTLY what I wanted to know, thanks so much!!!

[Teh]

Another OnSong user here.  It can read everything -- simple .txt, MS Word, ChordPro, PDF, etc.  Allows you to Convert files and then edit text and ChordPro files, build set lists, save to DropBox.  Older versions allowed you to download direct from tab/lyric sites but they killed that feature a couple revs ago.

I use it with an AirTurn Bluetooth pedal to scroll through charts.  You never have to touch the iPad during a gig.  The iPad is mounted to the mic stand.

[Montelovesco]

I got an app called iKlip on my iPad, but never used it. So...

[HAMERMAN]

I have not tried OnSong but I am a big fan of Set List Maker. I bring my iPad to rehearsal but it's also on my iPhone which is handy since I always have my phone with me. (I don't need to use it at gigs for lyrics since I don't sing.) Besides being a place to collect all of our bands songs it makes it very easy to build set lists for shows (hence the name). Once you have a set list made you can email a PDF to everybody in the band so band members without the program can still get set lists. It's available for IOS and Android. When used on stage it can be set up to auto-scroll lyrics. There is also an option for MIDI so that you can have it control patch changes. To share your bands "database" among band members you just sync to the cloud. Other band members just need your database name and password.

When you set up a gig you can add lots of extra information like the clubs phone number and address, how much you got paid, the name of the person who handles booking etc. You can also add your own fields to songs so in my case I add a field for what patch I am using on my Roland GR-55. I can print set lists that show the patch field but since I am the only one that needs that I send out set lists without that field to the other band members. The developer seems to be open minded and does add features pretty regularly.

If anybody who uses OnSong has tried Set List Maker I would love to hear how the two compare.

 

[anotherfreak]

Thanks so much guys, I missed out on using my ipad for a show last week, and somehow in getting all my stuff organized I didn't need any of it(can't say I saw that coming)

You guys are AWESOME, and you know it all.

Thanks for sharing, maybe someday I can be helpful as well

[Ting Ho Dung]

I have a friend who used his iPad for his backup band. It's simply boring. But he seems to get booked. That probably isn't what you're looking for though. I'll go back to NetFlix now.

[scottcald]

On March 15, 2016 at 8:24 PM, Ting Ho Dung said:

I have a friend who used his iPad for his backup band. It's simply boring. But he seems to get booked. That probably isn't what you're looking for though. I'll go back to NetFlix now.

Yeah, the ol' making a decision only based on cost.  I'm sure your friend is good, and it's probably easier for him to organize.  

[Ting Ho Dung]

9 hours ago, scottcald said:

Yeah, the ol' making a decision only based on cost.  I'm sure your friend is good, and it's probably easier for him to organize.  

Really lousy sound but this is him playing my eclipse. You can see the iPad. I could ask him for more information for you if you'd like. 

 

[scottcald]

Cool.  I'd be interested in if he just uses stereo files in iTunes or some other sort of DAW or other software.  Thanks for posting it.  Good stuff.  

[Ting Ho Dung]

I'll ask him. I know they are all backing tracks. And they all begin with the digital metronome annoying boops. 

[Ting Ho Dung]

On 3/16/2016 at 11:18 AM, scottcald said:

Cool.  I'd be interested in if he just uses stereo files in iTunes or some other sort of DAW or other software.  Thanks for posting it.  Good stuff.  

He says you can call him after lunch (Eastern) I'll PM you with his number.

[JimHalinda]

Another app is Band Helper. My band uses this, it allows us to share schedules, setlists, etc. I don't know how the others compare, but I'm happy with it.

[anotherfreak]

Update:

I got Onsong, and WOW, talk about comprehensive toolkit

I prolly don't need a lot of what it does, and I am learning a ton of how to work with it.  Just imagine being able to transpose a song and beam it to the rest of the rhythm section for a singer, just about instantly.

I did end up buying a Bluetooth keyboard to ease up my input time  and awesome-ly I can keep my ipad in the "stand" and do everything from my lap with the keyboard.  I am in LOVE, I did get a drop box acct, and it seems to work pretty flawlessly.  now, if I can just keep from sending "post-it's" to the rest of the band on their charts

[geoff_hartwell]

Right?!?!

awesome. Keep us in the loop

[anotherfreak]

ok,

I have used the ipad with onsong a couple of times, and it is impressive! Even if just for a set list with Capo notes

I have "beamed" my transcriptions to other band members I have changed keys on the fly, I have used it's capo function to make songs easier for the folks I'm playing with. The only thing I haven't tried yet that is on my mind is sending post it notes to band members(mostly inappropriate jokes that would be funny in the moment, but to tacky for "out loud"  So far very stellar and easy enough to use. Prolly even easier for someone who has ANY mac experience

BUT,

I am getting curious about setting up a private wifi network and having my setlist control my DMX lightbars

It looks as though I need a Airport Express $100 and a Ethernet->DMX port $150

like so:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DMXking-eDMX1-Ethernet-DMX-Controller-3-pin-Art-Net-ArtNet-sACN-E1-31/121930825559?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D777000%26algo%3DABA.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D36499%26meid%3Dad1d774edc894910bd1f0ec99ca55852%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D111945031896

and I'm in business!!!!

Airped to turn pages and lighting scenes attatched to each of the pages and then I don't have to touch anything but the guitar(with my hands)

Tech is AWESOME!!!!!!!

a bit spendy though  but no less amaizing

another vote for Onsong