And I was a part of it!!!!!!!!
That's a story I could still tell my children's children...*lol*

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Greetings from Frankfurt (Germany),
Sheriff ;-)

Ladies and Gentlemen,
that was a perfect example of an in-topic post gone to hell....
And only Europeans are to blame, North and South combined.

Anyway, serious now , did anyone try the software I suggested, or had a look at the tablet PC's? They seem quite good.

Before finally deciding on going with the MusicPad Pro, I spent a lot of time analyzing and comparing not only the costs, but the setup work required, in going with a MusicPad Pro, vs a standard laptop PC, or even a Tablet PC. I wrote-off tablet PCs from the 'get go' because they're a lot more costly than even the MusicPad Pro is, of which is a tablet PC too.

My findings are that even though a standard laptop PC may be cheaper, a laptop's landscape mode format with flip down keyboard really interferes with viewing accessibility, on stage mounting, as well as appearance on stage. No matter how positioned on stage, it always looks (to the audience) like you're working at your computer, not creating live music. A few years back, working acoustic piano bar gigs, I used to utilize a laptop PC for lyrics & chords, as well as for occasionally running midi backing tracks. The patrons often seemed more interested in what was coming from the laptop screen than what I was playing live, In my experience, a traditional style laptop PC on stage has become more synonomous with hi-tech geek-dom then acoustically inspired LIVE keyboard-vocals. Whether it's being asian (asians & computer geekdom have become stereotypically synomomous), or something else, I've found a laptop PC on stage more a distraction giving my audiences the impression I'm a karaoke DJ rather than legitimate musician.

On the other hand, the MusicPad Pro is (on my gigs) not perceived as a computing device (even though it is) and instead, a non-distracting screen, similar to the LCD screen on my Tyros. The MusicPad Pro seamlessly integrates un-noticeably in my setup, resulting in no bulky distracting music stands, fakebooks, or loose sheets to contend with anymore either. I've got any one of many hundreds of song charts stored in my MusicPad called up (as required) by merely tapping the screen, and in under 8 seconds (or less), and because I only utilize the device for viewing charts/lyrics as a road sign reminder, it gives the desired audience impression that I'm able to play just about anything off the top of my head now.

In the rehearsal studio, all on the MusicPad alone, I'm able to arrange, make editing changes, add arranger instructions & notations to the music writing directly on the screen itself (no pencils or erasure marks) and the results look as clean as the original score because it all remains in digital format. Yes, the MusicPad is more expensive, but its superior viewability specifically designed for Music format Display & editing cabilities outpace a PC laptop in all areas of music display. . . period. In addition, the size of the notes and text of the music can often be auto resized to appear significantly larger than on the original paper version of the music because all margins are cropped to eliminate ALL wasted surrounding white area, and the bright no glare backlight screen afforeds ez view from most all angles: both close, to the side, and well as pretty far away from the screen as well, making for convenient viewing by not only the primary player, but other musicians on stage as well. With the MusicPad Pro, no screen scrolling (via having to press a key) as a PC laptop requires, as you have the option of triggering page turning via footpedal, or simply tapping the screen anywhere. I'm not knocking the laptop for its power to do many different things not music display related, but think that for the performing musician, the MusicPad Pro a far better value, for the music display/editing tasks it was specifically designed for.

My dad taught me to utilize the best tool designed for a specific task. I'm glad I listened to him.

Scott

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 05-01-2005).]

Hi to everuone,
I also have been following this thread with much interest as our music is all hand written on manuscript paper (very neat) but having to carry a duplication of numerous ring binders full of paper (very heavy) for 2 individual keyboard players I've often thought there must be a better way of working.

I tried scanning a sheet of music into MS Word 2000 & the results are very good including all of the colour highlighting, except all 4 edges of the sheet are cut off/missing. If I scan the same music into Photostudio 2000 the music is reproduced exactly but only in black & white. I would be greatful if someone could tell me if i'm doing something wrong & point me in the right direction.

I've been following Scott's reports on the Music Pad Pro & while this seems like the ideal tool, in our situation we may need 2 of them with 2 keyboards sitting side by side with a space between them. (A very expensive option down here).

Yours In Music
Alan

Allen,

You must set up your flatbed scanner for documents, and then set the scanner's margin width. Most documents, lettes, etc, have one-inch margins all the way around. Most sheet music goes almost to the edge of the page on both sides and the bottom. Just set up the scanner so it has no margins and that should solve your problem.

Cheers,

Gary

This seems to be a really good and tricky idea. The only point that bugs me is the 'wireless' option because I've used a wireless mouse and I was not very impressed. After 2 short weeks the battery started to faint. I didn't realize that at first because the mouse didn't work correct on screen which is normal for track balls. I realized it the first time when the mouse receiver didn't receive a signal transmitted by the mouse anymore.
You can't imagine the joy that I had - a non-reacting windows. You can't swap the mouse while the PC is running so I couldn't shut down my PC on its normal way. Only the little switch at the back of my power supply could fix this problem...

...et cetero censeo Microsoftem esse delendam...

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Greetings from Frankfurt (Germany),
Sheriff ;-)

A laptop isn't really lighter, I'm afraid!
Maybe a small palmtop with a clear display...or better with the option to connect an external LCD screen AND the option to connect a mouse because without a mouse Gary's trick wouldn't work fine...

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Greetings from Frankfurt (Germany),
Sheriff ;-)

http://www.kn7000.net/fusion_forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=2&thread_id=22#70

Kind regards
Kenneth www.kn7000.net

I use a wireless mouse at the office every day, 12 to 14 hours daily, also a wireless keyboard. I only have to change the battery in the mouse about once every three months, and the one in the keyboard has not been changed in six months. Batteries will eventually fail, including those in my wireless mic system. That's why I have lots of spares with me at all times. The only think I don't have a spare for is my wife--but there have been times when it was considered for a few moments.

Cheers,

Gary

Terry Mason in the UK emailed me and reminded me of something I almost forgot about. With a scrolling wheel mouse, if you hold down the control key on your keyboard, then move the scrolling wheel, you can enlarge or shrink the screen's display.

Try it--it works great, especially for old, poor-sigted guys such as myself.

Gary