Can anyone tell if the audio output jack on the Music Pad Pro is mono or stereo? Thanks...

Jim, what is the audio output for....Doe's it just play a demo "How to use" the Music Pad?

Apparently version 4.0 of the new OS has MP3 playback capability. I hear that the v4.0 OS is now shipping with new MPP's but current owners have to send in their units for an upgrade.

Hi Esh: I recently (last week) just received my new upgraded MusicPad Pro Plus 4.0 with its new improved hardware & memory enhancement. As I'm located fairly close (less than 40 miles away) from Freehand Systems (manufacterer of the MusicPad Pro), located in Los Altos, CA, I guess I'm among the lucky first to have had my MusicPad Pro completely swapped out for a brand new MusicPad Pro 4.0 unit. Among the new enhancement features I most appreciate is now being able to display two pages at a time in landscape mode, as well as 4.0's new song 'browse & search' feature. I have several large complete fakebooks of songs (MANY 100's of songs) in my MusicPad, each in its own folder, with perhaps different versions of the same song in multiple books. The new browse function allows me to search and call up any song title, and then see/review all the different renditions available & quickly pull up the one I want.

The only glitch I notice with MusicPad 4.0 (so far) is that to perform a search, you must pull up a "keyboard" in which to enter (with your finger on the screen), the first few letters of the song title. Strangely enough, it's not possible to verify the letters you entered, or initiate the 'search function', until you close or move the keyboard. Freehand acknowledges the bug, and promises a fix in a subsequent update.

Re: the MusicPadPro 4.0 audio output. My MusicPad Pro indeed includes a 1/8" audio out jack. I haven't had a chance to test it yet, and the manual doesn't specify whether it's mono or stereo. The MusicPad Pro's audio feature is pretty basic: play, pause, and speed up/down, and only supports midi & MP3 file playback, as well as a pitch pipe & metronome playback feature, handy for acoustic solo instrument tuning & keeping time. The audio playback feature was primarily designed for playing back their Digital Sheet Music Partner's (Sunhawk) sheet music collection, which also includes a midi file of the song as well, to assist in learning the song. I'll try to contact Freehand Systems to confirm whether the single audio output jack in mono or stereo, and get back to you.

Scott

Thanks Scott... I would have just asked you directly but I didn't know if you had upgraded your unit yet or not.

It sounds like you are downplaying the audio capability of the MPP (so does Freehand apparently) but what you said is pretty cool if I can get more detail:

1. So can you call up sheet music and the accompaniment MP3/midi file at the same time or does each require it's own directory?

2. MIDI playback? So they have incorporated a GM softsynth in v4? Or is it just a basic tone for score previewing?

3. Could you try putting a minijack into the audio output and seeing if it clicks once or twice? You might look into the audio jack with a flashlight and see if there are two positive jack contacts or just one. I have not been able to get much out of Freehand at all via email... I've asked the stereo jack question repeatedly and they can't or won't answer it, which is why I asked my question here knowing there was several MPP users on this forum now.

Hi Scott
-The new landscape mode sounds interesting-cause I'm often bouncing between my left lead sheet page to a 'chord pro' page display on the right. So -does the display now show two 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" sheets ? - or what is the size of the two 'sheets' shown in the display? Thanks ! Gord

[This message has been edited by Gord (edited 01-24-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Gord (edited 01-24-2006).]

Esh, here are the answers I got from Kevin Crowder (Technical Support Specialist) at Freehand:


Yes. Open the sheet music, and then open the audio player, and hit 'play'.


Yes. With release 4, a sound chip (for MP3 playback) & software based GM Midi soft synth (for midi playback).

Inserting my stereo headphone (with 1/8" stereo mini jack) it appears to click twice.



Gord: Good question, especially because I often utilize leadsheet + a chord pro lyrics-chord sheet similarly to you. The screen resolution is 1024 x 768 dimension with maximum viewable MPP+ screen area : 9-3/4" x 7-1/4 . Typical printed music is printed on 8-1/2 x 11 size paper, but eliminating the margins, the actual music itself (staff, notes etc), takes up a much smaller area. Thus, the music itself is displayed (on the MPP+) the same size as viewed on as the original did on 8-1/2 x 11 paper. In two-page view mode, the MusicPad Pro+ 'reduces' the size so 2 pages are viewed at once (side by side) with the MPP+ positioned on its side (landscape mode), making the notes & lyrics appearing smaller. For reading lead sheets, chords, and lyrics, I find this size acceptable, but for serious score reading, it may be a bit difficult. I personally prefer the ability to view 2 pages in landscape mode, because this further diminishes the notice-ability of the MusicPad on stage.

In addition to the new 2 page view mode feature, other new 4.0 features I appreciate are the convenient browse & search mode, and the new added ability to easily enter/edit (right on the pad) new chords, lyrics, as well as entering/editing of notes (already supported in the orginal version). I'm not sure if I'll have any personal need or use for the new audio (MP3/Midi) playback or wireless connection features, but you never know, I eventually may will afterall.

Ok folks: I continue to atest the MusicPad Pro to be the best music investment (2nd to the keyboard) I've made. Musically, I'm pretty much paper free now, thanks to the MPP+. Thanks to Freehand for FINALLY getting release 4.0 out to us.

Scott

Scott, you are fortunate to have your unit changed already. I have been patiently waiting for contact from freehand promised on 1/15/06. Still no news. I have now sent them a follow-up email.

I bought the MPP+ because of the promised capability to annotate the scores (in 4.0).

Here's hoping.

Graham

Graham: Please be aware that Freehand is only now finally finalizing their MusicPad Pro+ 'hardware upgrade' program exhange procedure. I was assured by Kevin Crowder that he's doing everything he can to get you and fellow MusicPad Pro+ owners upgraded as soon as possible, processing upgrade orders by MID- FEBRUARY (as per announcement on Freehand's website homepage): http://freehandsystems.com/

Hang tight Graham . . . I think you'll find it worth the wait. - Scott

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 01-24-2006).]

Scott, how do you enter something right on the pad? You mean with a wand or something? Have you seen what this looks like? You freehand it or just how?

EDIT: Website shows it like you draw on it. With a wand, I assume.

------------------
Bill
Yamaha PSR2000

[This message has been edited by SemiLiveMusic (edited 01-24-2006).]

Bill: For lyrics & chords (text), in OS 4.0, you have the option of either drawing them in (with the stylus) directly on the screen, or pulling up a 'pop up keyboard' on the screen, and then TYPING (entering) on the keyboard (with your finger or stylus). I find with 4.0's new lyric & chord popup "keyboard entry" system to produce superior results, as trying to draw freehand yields pre-schooler looking results at best. Music 'notes' & music symbols are entered from a dedicated pop window as well. All notes, lyrics & chords (text), can be edited, deleted, and sized as well. All the above can be done either directly on the MusicPad, or on your PC, via MusicPad Manager software. - Scott

Thank you very much for this news Scott... I will be ordering a Music Pad Pro directly. The MP3 playback capability is the clincher for me... I can potentially do my acoustic piano w/accompaniment gigs with nothing more than an MPP and my Motion Sound KP-100. The other features are helpful too, including the wireless networking capability which would allow me to transfer files via my home network. Even a handy GM softsynth too... clever. Landscape mode sounds like it now works like it should, and it reduces the MPP's visual impact if you turn it sideways and set it on a keyboard stand. Cool.

Esh, great to hear you've decided to become a MusicPad Pro+ owner. I'm confident you'll find it as helpful & useful as I do. All Synthzone friends interested in purchasing a MusicPad Pro+. Contact Kevin Crowder at Freehand Systems (800) 917-1949 and let him know I refered you. He'll take good care of you.

- Scott

Scott:

Thanks for the info, I wasn't aware that version 4 is now avaliable. Just sent an e-mail off to Kevin regarding the same.For what it's worth I also mentioned in my e-mail to Kevin, that you're a great spokesman for MPP.

Kevin told me yesterday that everyone will get an e-mail very soon as to the procedure for upgrading.

Bernie

Scott

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 01-25-2006).]

Scott and Bernie:

Thanks for the info on the upgrade to MPP 4.0