bassist_lewis Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 I'm playing in the pit for a panto in December. The MD has sent me the parts in an email and said I'll need to print them off but I have an iPad with ForScore so in my mind that seems a much easier way to read through the show and to save a small tree (or a bush) in the process. However, I've never played a show with my iPad so I wondered if anyone out there had and if they'd recommend it. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 How will you keep changing the pages ? The few show things I've done have been using the traditional printed pages, that can be challenging where page turns are concerned, but surely an iPad you'd have considerably more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassist_lewis Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share Posted November 23, 2015 I looked through the score and there are quite a few instances where I wouldn't be able to turn the page (on iPad or with paper) without stopping playing. I'm looking into page turners but I don't know if it's worth the investment as there's no guarantee of more work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Forscore is quite good at page turning, you can do it remotely, do it timed or just when you touch the screen, which is a bit easier than paper. I have played the piano with it a lot, but never on the bass. Having said that, I would want both paper and the iPad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Could you not try it out yourself with a dummy run..? Sit yourself down in cramped, dimly lit quarters and go through the set. You'll come across any difficulties, and maybe come up with some solutions. Worth a try..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 [quote name='bassist_lewis' timestamp='1448314712' post='2914474'] I'm playing in the pit for a panto in December [/quote] "Oh no you're not!" "Oh yes he is!" Sorry, someone had to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 I use the iPad with OnSong for music at church. Nothing as complicated as a score but using a bluetooth pedal to page turn and scroll up and down is a real boon - I'd say pretty much essential. If you invest in something like an AirTurn pedal I doubt that you would regret it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chardbass Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 (edited) I think an Airturn is about £40 from Thomann. If you go the paper route there is an art to turning pages without dropping a beat so to speak. You either need to read ahead and turn earlier, tape your parts together accordingly or hammer-on hard whilst turning with your right han! Believe me, you'll be amazed how quickly you can turn a page after a bit of practice. It's always good to know what is over the page if you miss the page turn though. Yup, done that plenty of times 😀 Edited November 23, 2015 by chardbass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassist_lewis Posted November 24, 2015 Author Share Posted November 24, 2015 [quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1448320149' post='2914524'] I use the iPad with OnSong for music at church. Nothing as complicated as a score but using a bluetooth pedal to page turn and scroll up and down is a real boon - I'd say pretty much essential. If you invest in something like an AirTurn pedal I doubt that you would regret it! [/quote] The Airturn is the best option for portability and price but it only works with iPad 3 and above, I have an iPad 2 so it's off the cards. Everything else is £65+ and bulky (by comparison) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 (edited) A few things to take into account. The charts you have been sent, could possibly need pencil markings when you turn up to rehearsals, things can change: Cuts, amendments, notes need changing, repeats added or taken away, dynamic markings etc. Plus if something goes wrong up on stage, the MD might need you to jump to a new section/bar number, or indeed go back. Depending on what show or panto, the issue of the iPad glowing in really dark scenes. It's not unheard of for directors, producers or lighting teams to place Blue gel over music stand lights. If you get lost on a paper score, there are visual landmarks and cues that can get you back on track, with iPads you are stuffed really. What about any charts with DC or DS al Coda? Charts with repeat bars going BACK to the page before? - It all needs checking out in depth before hand. I have used an iPad on gigs for chord charts if needed, and that works fine, but in a Pit, I would feel uneasy about things going wrong. Good luck with the show. Edited November 24, 2015 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 For panto work I think you'll find that you need Buttons .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1448353338' post='2914602'] For panto work I think you'll find that you need Buttons .. [/quote] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:170081] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SICbass Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1448353338' post='2914602'] For panto work I think you'll find that you need Buttons .. [/quote] Oh no he doesn't! (it's already been done, I know, but this is panto thread so don't expect this to stop anytime soon) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted November 24, 2015 Share Posted November 24, 2015 My charts have always ended up covered in notes, and exclamation marks etc. They tend to change too when you get to technical rehearsal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gapiro Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 [quote name='lowdown' timestamp='1448353060' post='2914599'] A few things to take into account. The charts you have been sent, could possibly need pencil markings when you turn up to rehearsals, things can change: Cuts, amendments, notes need changing, repeats added or taken away, dynamic markings etc. Plus if something goes wrong up on stage, the MD might need you to jump to a new section/bar number, or indeed go back. Depending on what show or panto, the issue of the iPad glowing in really dark scenes. It's not unheard of for directors, producers or lighting teams to place Blue gel over music stand lights. If you get lost on a paper score, there are visual landmarks and cues that can get you back on track, with iPads you are stuffed really. What about any charts with DC or DS al Coda? Charts with repeat bars going BACK to the page before? - It all needs checking out in depth before hand. I have used an iPad on gigs for chord charts if needed, and that works fine, but in a Pit, I would feel uneasy about things going wrong. Good luck with the show. [/quote] Pencil markings are no problem with most of the good softwares out there (I use mobilesheets for most of the function work, which supports tab and chords, and changing of them on the fly,but not tried for dots.) You should be able to save them between shows Good points on the codas/repeats/etc +1 for a pedal I would just print out the score and create some sellotaped parts for those that are needing awkward page turns Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBerriff Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 ForScore is quite easy to mark up and page turning is easy with a pedal such as PageFlip. I have found it much easier to find my place in rehearsals than with paper. It is more technology to go wrong though and those nice easy toe taps seemed - for me - to miss the spot under pressure. Any slight delay in the Bluetooth response would seem like an eternity and Iwould end up double clicking. So for real gigs I chickened out and went back to paper with the iPad in reserve for unexpected number calls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chardbass Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Lowdown makes very valid points (as ever) You can't beat old-school dots for speed etc- Pantos always evolve throughout the run. You can mark things up in ForScore- and I have- but you'll never beat the speed of a 2B pencil on paper. A comedy IPad/Airturn moment for me was stepping on my OC2 instead of the Airturn and getting a blistering Pino/Earth Song octave bass on a page turn :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassist_lewis Posted November 26, 2015 Author Share Posted November 26, 2015 Opted to print it all out. Can't find a compatible page turner and there's no point spending the money for one short run. Also, I can add notes, cues etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mornats Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 [quote name='bassist_lewis' timestamp='1448573102' post='2916635'] Can't find a compatible page turner [/quote] It's behind you! (Again, sorry!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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