Here's how I'm using MP3's currently... this is one of my stage rigs that I'm using. What's interesting about this gear porn is the way everything fits and works together, looks great, and is fairly simple. The components are a Kawai ES4 digital piano, a Freehand Systems Music Pad Pro and an Ultimate Stand VS-80 V-Stand. The Music Pad Pro is fitted with an optional tabletop stand adapter from Freehand that happens to lock solidly onto the stock music stand of the ES4 and is rock-stable, as seen here:



With the Music Pad Pro's new OS 4 the MPP can display music and playback accompaniment and/or break music MP3 files. The MP3 feature is still a bit buggy but functional. By running the audio output of the MPP into the input of the ES4 the audio comes out of the keyboard's internal speaker system in stereo... nice for intimate gigs or practice. I use Motion Sound KP-series stereo keyboard amps behind me which creates a surround-sound effect.

This rig looks great and is very efficient. The V-Stand has the added benefit of eliminating "pedal creep" - the sustain pedal doesn't move at all. Black is cool... just thought I'd share...

Hi Esh
Nice clean looking rig.
I am using the MPP also, with upgrade to ver 4. due in today. I bought the stand for it, also. I use it with the KN7000 and Bose PAS. I am anxious to try the upgrades like you mentioned.

Thanks Bernie.

Hope you have better luck with the Music Pad Pro than I did... mine took weeks of charging and discharging the batteries before they worked right, which affects the entire system, and none of Freehands "fixes" helped other than manually working the batteries back to life. The OS 4 pads are different from the OS 3 units and they sat in a warehouse waiting for the new OS to be completed which screwed the batteries. Also you have to pay $49 extra for the Premium Tools unlock code to be able to play MP3's, which is a rip, and the XMMS media player that Freehand stuck in there for MP3 playback currently doesn't work right at all. I've chewed some butt over this and you can read the details here if you like. Having said all that, I've managed to whip the MPP into a useable system and with a little more effort from Freehand I think the MPP will eventually be a good investment.

Bernie, hopefully you'll have some better luck than ESH did. Well at least I did with my MPP ver 4.0. As ESH mentioned in his posts he had lots of frustrating problems with battery charge issues. I experienced some problems myself, but by the time I got my upgraded MPP ver 4 I think tech support worked thru the issues. They gave me a procedure that's also posted on their web site for bringing the battery back to life. It worked very well and I now am able to get 2.5 to 3 hours of life from the battery. Bernie I purchased the optional overpriced floor stand. It works well. Esh that is a neat looking setup you have. Using the table stand surely reinforces the stablility of the MPP.

I also purchased the the optional tools and Esh is right they are a rip. For what the MPP costs they should give you that upgrade no charge. Although there is room for improvement to the MPP it beats hauling around those 4 inch thick fake books. I'm with Esh, the MPP has lots of potential especially with more effort from Freehand Systems.




[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 04-18-2006).]

Just wondering....for all: what percentage of your playing requires Fake Books or charts vs Memorization & playing without music?

.... for those of us with failing memories ... UH ... what was the question, again ?!?!? ....
t.

Probably about 98% of my playing requires charts. I've never been happy depending on charts/sheet music. In all honesty it sucks having to depend on fake books. I have lots of respect for anyone who rarely needs charts. Call it natural ability or maybe just very hard work and repetition. There's probably no magic bullet. Yea, I've made some attempts to memorize material and lost patience in short order trying to memorize. So.....here I am now a slave to my Music Pad Pro



[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 04-18-2006).]

I hear what your aying.....Although I can read....I personally NEVER use any fake books, charts, or any music whatsoever on stage it really holds me back from performing in the manner I want to & show better stage presence........it might sound crazy but I was taught to play with a BLINDFOLD ON as a great excercise to play & sing without looking at the keys or reading music/lyrics.....this will Definitly help anyone once you start doing it song by song, day after day try it sometime....
being a slave to the charts is a big hinderence that can be overcome with practice for sure.....plus it allows your music to breath and gioves you the ability to adlib, & improvise which makes for some really fantastic sounding musical playing it your way!!

Good Luck

I can do tons of songs completely from memory, but I also have another few hundred lyric/chord files on hand for requests, or songs I seldom do.
Since I play in the same place 3-4 nights a week, I simply can't do the same 30 songs every night. Also a big part of my job is doing requests. With the lyrics/chord charts patiently waiting in my Midjay I can do a LOT of them. Most of them. Almost all of them. Some better than others. Not all country either.
DonM

May not be so crazy.... I may just give it try I don't have anything to lose,although I'm gonna make sure the rest of the family is asleep when I try it. They think I already spend too much time at the keyboard. If they see me with a blindfold they'll have me committed to a sanitarium for sure.