I see in some other Forums that with the launch of the new iPad, several people are suggesting that the iPad is better than the MusicPad for digital sheet music display. I contest that it is not - though I admit that, depending on the accessories and programmes you buy it's cheaper AND it can do loads of other things.

• There’s a much bigger touch screen - about 35% larger (see attached)
• It’s a tried and trusted piece of kit – many thousands of solo musicians all over the world use it and many professional orchestras and ensembles. I went to a musical in London recently where I could see that all of the pit band were using them, including the conductor who was using the jumbo Conductor’s model
• It runs on the Linux operating system so it won't crash in the middle of a concert or recording, it is used by professionals whose livelihoods depend on it.
• The software is now in its 4th version refined and improved by inputs from the suggestions of many Pro musicians who rely on it every day
• It is a dedicated piece of musical equipment so it can't get used and abused for games, web surfing or anything else which could introduce a virus or unexplained slow running.
• It has a choice of stands – a short one that can sit on a H/W Music Stand or its own floor stand (both are rotating so you can use it Portrait-fashion to view one A4-sized sheet of music or Landscape-fashion to show 2 x A5-sized sheets side-by-side). OR you can sit it on the KB music desk itself, though when I do this I usually wrap a bit of strong elastic round the base for extra security. I mostly use the dedicated floor stand now that I so seldom use printed sheet music
• Freehand are the undisputed market leaders in digital sheet music technology with the world's widest selection of music available ready for the MusicPad now and more titles being added every day
• When you download a piece of music from Freehand you can transpose it or even have it played back to you
• I can easily use my Notation Software to display my own music – or an imported Midi – on it
• I can send PDF or Word Files to it. For instance for Shows I’d import the Script and place the Music in the appropriate place in the MusicPad’s Playlist
• Using the Annotation tools you can write in freehand or type whatever colour on the Screen you like which I often do for cues or to record changes in Variation or just something like “CARE HERE”. You can erase these instantly at any time
• Like the iPad, you can turn the page by just tapping the screen, but UNLIKE the iPad, you can use a floor pedal to do that
• You can also use a ½ page turn where the screen shows the bottom of the page you’re in and the top half of the next page
• I link my MP Playlists to the same order as my Registrations on the Ty 3. So if I press the MP pedal with my left foot – give it a second to absorb what key the next song is in and work out a suitable transition (my brain isn’t as quick as either the MP or the Ty 3!) then press the sequence advance floor pedal (connected to the Ty 3 via the Articulation socket) with my right foot and we’re into the next song. This is wonderful in a Show. Keep pressing the left pedal to turn the Script Page in Word and the right for the Reg Bank for the next Song (or SFX)
• You can also save a song so as not to show the Title Page, or to save repeats – so a song might run Pages 1-3, 1-3, 1-5 say
• It’s very easy to save a Playlist in the MP, and edit the playing order. And just by tapping the screen you can leap ahead to a piece further on down the playlist
• I have about 2,500 songs on my MP and am at less than 50% capacity of the USB drive
• In the UK SightRead (MusicPad Pro Home Page Apr10V1.4) been at the forefront of the move towards digital sheet music for over 4 years and have unrivalled experience.
• There is an excellent and dedicated UK Users Group which is as helpful to musicians as this one ((and another in the USA)

I think until the iPad can do most of that, I'll stick with the MusicPad!

I thought a Poll might be interesting

Freddie

Hi Freddie
Presumably you put the poll up.
One line was missing ie 'none of the above as I don't read/use music'
So put me down in that catagory
Cheers
Spike

[quote=spike;8969
One line was missing ie 'none of the above as I don't read/use music'
Spike[/QUOTE]

OOPS! Sorry Spike - didn't think of that.

Wish I could play by ear. But I have heard that people who do often wish they could play from the dots. Is that true?

Perhaps the subject of another poll?

Freddie

Yes Freddie there are times when I wish I could read music - too late now - old dog new tricks etc
Cheers
Spike