done

Brian,
I have been using an Ipad for my leadsheets for almost a year now. It is hard to convince folks how clear they display until they see it in action. I have been using Music Reader Pro with my Ipad and my leadsheets are all converted to PDF format which works really well.

keep us posted.

Hammer

Brian, hell no I'm not laughing.........wait till you start discovering the many things you can do with the ipad versus just using it for lyrics. I have an iPad and use it regularly for lead sheets, but that's just a bonus. BTW I'm using unReal book. I use it for everything from storing owners manuals in Good Reader to reading e-books and my magazine subscriptions in Zinio to storing my complete photo library.............the list goes on and on. I find it so useful, that if someone said you can either have a laptop or the iPad I would choose the iPad. Of course that's not to say I would ever give up my iMac. The iPad is great, but it is not substitute for a computer.


I've looked at iPad2 I'm glad they can't keep them in stock................as a Mac fan boy, I don't want to succumb to the temptation.

Hi Brian, Happy Birthday in advance to you and congratulations on getting the iPad2. I assure you that the only laughter will come from the glees of joy from you appreciating how useful and fun the iPad really is not only for displaying music but for everything else it does to make your life enjoyable. I use mine everyday for checking email, reading & posting on Synthzone, surfing the web, and voice chatting with friends and associates for free on Skype.

In addition to it's so MANY other fantastic uses & enormous selection of useful apps (most all under $5), for viewing lyrics, chords, and/or lead sheets, you simply can't beat the iPad. I especially appreciate its thin compact (non audience distracting) size onstage, long battery life, touch sreen, and super bright sharp easy view ability both on a dark stage or outdoors in bright light. I've yet to see any other manufacturers that can match all of these attributes. I love being able to discreetly place my iPad right in front of my Tyros 4's LCD screen (undetectable to the audience) and then quickly remove it when it's not needed. In addition to Music Reader, and because these iPad apps are so inexpensive, I recommend you also checkout my personal fav music display apps below. Each include their own 'unique' features:

UnRealBook $4.99
MySongBook $1.99
GoodReader $4.99
iRealbook demo shown on iphone
iRealBook's Band in a Box type feature demo

Scott, yep they really are some very cools apps .... and just can't beat those prices. So I guess the iPad has permanently replaced the Music Pad Pro you were once using?

Hi Nigel. though I still utilize the Music Pad Pro when I want to view music scores full sized while rehearsing in the studio, when performing onstage, I utilize the smaller much lighter and thinner iPad for those songs that benefit from having a lead sheet to refer to. The ability to keep the iPad sitting at my side and then being able to quickly place it in front of the T4 screen for certain songs, and then quickly remove it without the audience ever noticing is ideal for me. No visually distracting music stand or portable office looking laptop to get in the way between you and the audience. For me, the iPad's the idea sized tablet for discreetly viewing lead sheets onstage.

Scott, wow that's a bonus that the T-4 display acts as a holder for the Ipad. Perhaps the T-5 display will have a built-in Ipad, to make it even more convenient.

Brian, no laughing here, congrats on your birthday gift. I'm sure it will give you many years of enjoyment.

I'd like to know from anyone that's actually PLAYED the software instruments in Garage Band for the iPad2 from a MIDI keyboard, what's the latency like? How much lag is there, does it feel snappy or draggy to play?

Oh, and if you haven't seen this yet, prepare to be gobsmacked! The entire Fairlight CMI IIx as an iPad app! http://fairlightinstruments.com.au/ios including the entire original library, Page D step sequencer and 3D waveform capability. A $100,000 synth as an iPad app!

Bloody hell!

(Can't wait for an iPad Synclavier, next!)

$40 for a Fairlight is still insane! And the website is very clear about the difference between the basic and Pro version of the app. Most of what you are hearing is probably from impulse buyers who couldn't be bothered to check out the details before they bought it.

TBH, the iTunes model for buying cheap software gets into a bit of trouble when it comes to Pro apps that, in the past, if sold as VSTi's, would probably have cost several hundred dollars. Asking for $40 for the FULL version, including much of the CMI III's library too, is still the bargain of the decade!

Check out what Arturia's models of things like the Jupiter-8 or CS-80 cost as a comparison. If only they were $40 a pop! When I get my iPad2, I am getting this one for sure! Even if only just to be able to say "I have a Fairlight!" which, thirty years ago, made you one of a tiny elite group of players..!

You guys do know that Garageband and Fairlight run on ipad 1 with iOS4.3 don't you ?

Why spend all that extra money and get what is essentially the same box? Plenty of bargain iPad 1's around (still new!!).

You could get an iPad 1 with 64gig AND 3g for about half the price of a iPad 2 32 gig!!

Anyway, it's your money I suppose. There won't be anything significantly different until iPad 3 next year.

Dennis

Well, they report that the CPU is significantly beefed up, and the graphics have about ten times more power, and if you are doing VSTi on an iPad, you can't have TOO much power, and if you do any gaming or graphics intensive stuff (video editing?) you ought to see a significant improvement. If you aren't doing much but the internet and a .PDF viewer, perhaps an old one is fine.

The cameras are new, too. Personally, I think that it's enough to warrant a new one (going to get one in a few weeks, after I get my new iMac), but for users of the old one, perhaps not. Is saving a couple of hundred dollars worth losing all the new one does? Up to you, my friends...

Well how long is a piece of string Diki Significant to you is not significant to me. The camera is only the addition of a front camera, iPad 1 already has a camera.

All the Clip holders do not fit the new iPad as it is thinner (the companies apparently are having to send out little self-sticking felt pads so the Ipad 2 does not drop out of the holder!!

I don't believe the graphics are not ten times better (maybe on the spec sheet )...more hype!!

As you say , if one does NOT have an iPad the Ipad 2 is okay for a first up purchase. But all I am saying is don't be totally blinded by all the hype, and that a 64 gig iPad WITH 3g brand new could still represent a great deal, and will be MORE than adequate for anything the iPad 2 can do. Maybe a teensy bit slower is all. Garage-Band, iMS 20, and the other synth apps all work fine on an iPad 1.

Don't forget you will also need to buy the Line 6 Midi Mobiliser/ Apple Camera Connection Kit if you want to send MIDI data out.

Personally, as I already own iPad 1, I will wait until iPad 3, when there may be a chance of a mini-usb port. There is just not enough upgrade to make it worthwhile.

I am not bagging anyone for buying an iPad 2 - go for it if you can get it , just suggesting the 1 might be what you need instead.

Dennis

Graphics aren't supposed to be ten times BETTER (more resolution), but ten times FASTER. Not probably an issue unless you are gaming, though. And Apple third party accessories have ALWAYS had to play catch-up to newer form factors (iPods, iPhones, you name it).

I would hesitate to call you out on this, but with a much faster processor, I would imagine you could either play more tracks, or get more polyphony from the Instruments in Garage Band. It's not that Garage Band CAN'T play on the older iPad, but that it is likely to be able to do MORE.

You know me, I NEVER tend to feel that upgrading from one generation to the next is usually a good idea. But I do tend to think that you might as well get the latest if it is your FIRST, as you are future-proofing yourself for at least one more generation on any cycle you choose to work around.

Get the iPad1, and you might be tempted to get the iPad3 in a year's time, as significantly better as it is likely to be. But get the iPad2, and you are probably good to go until at least the iPad4!

Ahh okay, sorry m8, I thought you meant better...Yes I agree with you on the rest.

It would make an terrific first up buy. And yes I reckon you are spot-on in that you would get higher track counts with the newer processor, as well as poly. I was remiss in not saying that as an "on the other hand..."

To be honest, had I not already got one, I would be looking at the 2 as well .

So after all that, I reckon it's great you are going to get one, and also to other SZer's who make the plunge. Maybe Nigel could create an iPad forum as well...

I think you will be really happy with it though Diki, truly.

Dennis

Is there a way to advance pages (lead sheets) via a foot pedal? What about searching for a song? Would you have to pick it up and type something or could you use a mouse to somehow scroll through a list or something?

The ideal situation would be being able to use a footswitch to advance pages and also to search. If you have to pick it up, the audience seeing you do that... not so good. (If using an arranger, you could kind of hide behind it a bit. If playing an acoustic guitar such as I often do, there isn't anything to block the view.)

If the Ipad can do these things, it would be a fab addition for me. I have long wanted to have a "teleprompter" that nobody would really know is there? As for guitar gigs, perhaps there is a mic stand gizmo. The Ipad is not so big that it would look terrible and it wouldn't hide much of you... a good thing for connection to the audience.

One last thing... for any footswitch device that exists, are any wireless?

Uh, gee, these things are over $1000? I'm out at that price. I thought they were much less.

I use the Airturn Bluetooth with the app Unrealbook, on an iPad 1.

The pedal itself was only $79...You can get an iPad 1, still new, for much less than half of the $1000 you stated...You must be looking at the 64gig model with 3g as well....

Dennis

I use the air turn blue tooth as well for page turns and the iKlip as a holder, it fits nicely on a mic stand.

There are some incredible deals on iPads either at Craigslist or in the case of ATT, they have cut the price of the 64 gig 3g by $300 The new 64 gig 3g is $829. versus $529 for the iPad1
ATT iPad 1-64 gig 3g $529

As for memory, if you're not going to put a lot of audio, video or photos on there, what would you need for memory? 16gb enough?

Is the memory expandable?

16g is a LOT of memory if just loading PDF's Bill, but, in truth what happens is we all get tempted and in fact DO load up all kinds of other stuff

Apps, games etc etc...With the iPad 2 now out, there are bargains galore for the 64gig iPad 1..all still new as well

Dennis

What are the advantages of these pad things versus using a small laptop? Just sayin..

Well Scott uses one sitting in front of his Tyros screen so he can view it clearly while he plays. You sure wouldn't be able to do that with a laptop. Because it has a touch sensitive screen it doesn't require all that extra real estate for a qwerty keyboard.

Because a picture can be worth a thousand words, here again are the pics I posted on My Tyros2/iPad Setup thread back in November 2010.

Yep Scott, you came to mind straight away when Donny asked that question. And thanks for the photos to show what you are doing. You really have integrated the iPad into your keyboard setup very nicely.

With UnReal Book able to associate a backing track (audio or MIDI) or a Performance load (via sys-ex) to each and every chart, I can see that memory going faster than you might think... especially if you use high bitrate MP3's that sound almost identical to CD quality (or even full .wav's if you want the ultimate sound quality)

My fakebook pdf collection is only about 1 GB so far, but I haven't been collecting for very long (any help will be appreciated!).

Scott... do you actually PLAY with the iPad like that? How do you get to the T4's screen, or see what is going on?

I think, with these displays obviously very affordable now, that it is time for the arranger manufacturers to start to incorporate them into the keyboard itself. Yes, Korg, Yamaha, Ketron, and Roland back in the day all have nice color screens, usually touch sensitive (time for Yamaha to jump on board, IMO), but none of them were this kind of size. What we currently have is just too darn SMALL to be as useful for chart and lyric display without a lot of restrictions.

Imagine an iPad that pops up, hinged at the back (a la Korg) on your arranger... wow! Just what the doctor ordered!

Yes Diki, that is why I said "...if just loading pdf's.." Note that I did go on to say we all do get tempted to load other things. A LOT more

And if you can actually tell the difference between a 256 mp3, and a 320 mp3 you are better than 90% of the population And I reckon the other 10% only THINK they can hear a difference

If I did a blind test you would NOT pick the difference!! For backing tracks why on earth would you want to use a wav file for goodness sake!!!! Way too big for no discernible benefit.

And as for midis, sheesh you could fit a gazzillion into 16 gig!

My iTunes collection is at 9 days worth of continuous music(about 14GIG) and I have ALL of that on my iPad, together with all the MP3 backing tracks I use, all the midi files I need, my PDF book collection (as in novels etc) all my PDF manuals, all my PDF charts and scans, two dozen apps with associated data files......

AND Angy Angry Birds!!

I still have nearly 35% storage left. Mine is a 32gig model.

If I was buying now, after careful consideration of exactly what I use my iPad for, I would definitely go for one of the deals for an iPad 1 64gig...Much better value. I would also make sure I got 3g as well.

Dennis

YES! Of course I do. I don't need to see the T4's LCD screen while playing a song because the song's settings are accessed via REG (1-8) buttons.
I'm able to, whenever I want, simply pick the iPad up with one hand and set it next to me between songs, or simply leave it sitting next me until I need it again. It's very convenient and handy to call upon if/when needed.

In addition to the iPad, when I don't require a lead sheet music, I've also got 100's of lyric/chord files (.txt)I that I've got linked to song REGS (1-8) which automatically appear on the T4 LCD screen when performing those songs. All the while, from the audience vantage point, there's no onstage music stand or laptop to distract from the performance.

Afraid my iTunes collection is already about 55GB (and most of it is just ripped at 192kbps or 256kbps) and growing daily...