I have had my Music Pad Pro for three weeks and I'm just getting to the point where I can evaluate it fairly. Here's a few of my insights:

* The first two weeks were sheer frustration - the batteries didn't work properly. Apparently the MPP's sit in a warehouse or something until shipped and the batteries go stupid. Mine would not charge properly for weeks and that affects a lot of things... files go corrupt for no reason, the touchpad calibration goes nuts occasionally, etc. and using the AC power supply doesn't help because the power is routed through the batteries so until they work right, nothing works right. I was ready to send my MPP back numerous times. FHS has some tips on their FAQ site and Kevin @ FHS gave me tips by email (like leave it charging for 48 hours without using it, WTF - I can't use my new MPP for two days?!?) but the bottom line is nothing solved the problem except weeks of charging/discharging and testing. Now my MPP is apparently working properly, but it sucks that weeks of my time was required to get the MPP operational. I wouldn't leave the MPP sitting idle for too long either or this could all happen again. Am I the only one who had to go through this?

* I got great results right away by printing fakesheets from Band In A Box to the Music Pad Manager - this is my preferred way to create leadsheets for the MPP. I also got good results scanning from my Warner Brother's "Just Standards" fakebook which is large print (I scan at 256 levels of grayscale @ 200 DPI which produces very small FH files). But those old Hal Leonard fakebooks don't work when you try to scan those tiny scores into the MPP, so I've been spending a lot of time recreating leadsheets from HL fakebooks in BIAB. This is a huge ongoing task but it's worthwhile... I now have a backup library of my stage music that can be edited and printed easily. I've need that for many years.

* You have to pay an additional $49 to get the unlock code for the "premium tools" in your MPP in addition to the purchase cost. Some of the annotation tools in the premium tools are essential, not to mention the MP3 player. Paying additional for this also goes on my "sucks" list.

* The new MP3 player in v4.0 is a Linux freeware program called "XMMS" that was stuck into the MPP almost as an afterthought and has no integration with the rest of the OS. That means you have to use one menu or playlist to call up scores and another to call up MP3 backing tracks, which is time-consuming and yes you have to use the plastic pen to do it. I suggested to Kevin that scores and MP3 files should be retrievable at the same time and he said he would pass that idea along. The audio output works fine though so now I can do some of my piano gigs with nothing but the MPP. BTW: if you buy scores from FHS/Sunhawk then they can be played back via the midi player (single channel only) in v4... again, you have to buy the unlock code for this feature.

* The documentation that comes with the MPP is poor. Combine it with FHS's FAQ's and online forums and you almost have complete documentation. FHS refers you to http://www.xmms.org/ if you want to know more about using the MP3 player you paid $49 for.

* I am using a Memorex 2GB flash memory that cost $80 at Staples and it works great! Good to see large flash memory dropping in price.

I give the Music Pad Pro a solid "C" grade... It does the job but only afer lots of patience and IMHO this product has a LONG ways to go in development to be worth the money it costs. It sure doesn't feel like a version 4. FHS is asking for trouble to allow MPP's to ship with known battery issues that require customers to survive weeks of charging/discharging to get them to work right. Perhaps that's why there are so few magazine reviews. And just for the record, prior to purchase I would call FHS to ask questions and would get a "we'll check on that and call you back in an hour" and they wouldn't call back at all. Slackers.

If there was any serious competition for the MPP I'd have sent this thing back in the first week. The eStand software is the only thing close and it's terrible (I tried the free download... yuck!). ShowPlay has a feature that allows you to display images including scanned scores and is MUCH cheaper but I like the MPP better. Looks like I'm keeping my MPP, but buyer beware.

Thanks for the real world review. I don't know if I'd keep it with that trouble. But after you invest the time, I guess I might. One thing that really burns me up is products that don't work right. EXPENSIVE products that don't work right, that's a major PITA.

I'd love to have one but...

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

Esh

Quote:

the batteries didn't work properly. Am I the only one who had to go through this?

I bought MPP with the version 3.xx on it. I did not have any battery problems at all.

Esh

Quote:

I got great results right away by printing fakesheets from Band In A Box to the Music Pad Manager - this is my preferred way to create leadsheets for the MPP.

I got great results myself, I have a CD that has 11 fake books. I imported copies of the individual sheets to MS Paint then did the conversion to the MPP format. Takes lots of time and I still have quite a number to convert. I'm still waiting for version 4, Scott Yee was telling me they have a good exchange program. But they are very slow in expiditing. I've e-mailed them several times and called as well. Each time I get a song and dance about when this will happen. They said mid Februrary it was supposed to happen, of course they didn't say what year.

Esh

Quote:

But those old Hal Leonard fakebooks don't work when you try to scan those tiny scores into the MPP, so I've been spending a lot of time recreating leadsheets from HL fakebooks in BIAB. This is a huge ongoing task but it's worthwhile... I now have a backup library of my stage music that can be edited and printed easily. I've need that for many years.

I agree, I have some Hal Leonard books and with those tiny scores, it's a strain to see them. I was about to make an appointment with my eye doctor, but I don't think that's going to solve the problem. I've converted some using Sibeilus way too much tedious work.

Esh

Quote:

The new MP3 player in v4.0

With the cost of the MPP they should include that not charge $49.

Esh

Quote:

I am using a Memorex 2GB flash memory that cost $80 at Staples and it works great! Good to see large flash memory dropping in price.

I'm using a 1 gig and that seems to be large enough for my purposes at this point.

Esh

Quote:

I give the Music Pad Pro a solid "C" grade... It does the job but only afer lots of patience and IMHO this product has a LONG ways to go in development to be worth the money it costs.

I couldn't agree more. The concept has lots of potential but needs more development.

There are some positives for me. Not carrying a small suitcase full of fakebooks and the ablility to create playlists that match the gig disks I use with my PSR 3000. Despite the negatives I wouldn't be happy with out the MPP. The convenience of creating playlists is a great feature.

What would work better is if this hard head brain of mine could retain what's printed lead sheets, unfortuantely this aging brain of mine has never excelled at memorization.




[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 03-17-2006).]

Esh, it's regretable to hear about your MPP battery problems. If mine had the kind of problem yours did, I would have insisted that a new replacement unit be sent, or demanded a 30 day satisfaction guarantee refund, of which I believe Freehand Systems stands by.I myself never experienced your problem. Perhaps because, I always try to keep the AC adapter plugged into my MPP when at home, to maintain 'full charge', and only run on battery power when taking it out . I get around 3-4 hour battery life on gigs, but if AC power is available, I always utilize it just to be on the safe side.

Though I agree that the note/lyric font size of the Hal Leonard Fakebook leadsheets aren't as desireably large, as the large print leadsheets from the Warner Bros & Chuck Sher Fakebooks, I've found the resultant note/lyric size & clarity viewed on the MPP close to what is viewed directly from the associated original book, especially if you make sure to crop out completely, the surrounding page (white margins) when scanning & converting to Freehand (.fh) format, effectively leaving only the music itself filling the entire MPP's screen area. Doing this can result in the leadsheet displayed larger on the MPP, than when viewed from the original Hal Leonard Book itself.

I recently upgraded my MusicPad Pro to version 4.0, plus the "Premium Tools" option. 4.0 adds some good features I find useful, like Browser-Search and '2 page' landscape mode display, but feel that $49 is a lot to charge for the meager extras Premimum Tools offers. I too think Freehand should have simply included the "premium tools" features with the basic package.

Though I'm pleased with 4.0's new browse-search feature overall, there are a few glitches with it that Freehand needs to resolve before I'll be fully satifisfied. One thing that annoys me when performing a song search, is that, in addition to tapping on the screen to bring up a keyboard icon to enter text, I must also move the keyboard icon to another portion of the screen, as it automatically pops up & blocks the area of the MPP screen where the results of what you are attempting to enter (tap) on the keyboard, as well as the search button you need to select afterwards. I'm amazed that the software programmers didn't catch that. Freehand has promised a software fix for this soon in a subsequent 4.0 update. The new 4.0 browse view-search feature however (in my opinion) is worth upgrading to because it allows you to search for and conveniently view all your music, including multiple versions of the same song located in the many different leadsheet fakebook folders I have stored in my MPP's memory (USB Flash stick).

Because I find it far more convenient to utilize my bare finger instead of having to grab the thin stylus included with the MPP, I'm still finding it a little frustrating attempting to tap on the selection screen & scrolling with my finger, often having to tap 2-3 times before successfully opening given folder/song selection, or successfully grabbing scroll bar.

On balance though, I'm still happy with my MPP, especially because it allows me to have virtually all my leadsheet books in ONE place, all contained in a relatively small portable unit. In addition, the MPP allows me to organize my songs into limitless playlists, and edit chords names, lyrics, and notes on the fly, a very handy & useful tool. Though I too have some gripes, I still find the MPP the best digital music organization/display device on the market, and though seemly expensive, well worth the investment, especially for the gigging musician who benefits from having as much music as possible available at his/her fingertips.

Esh, Steve, and other MPP owners here: To avoid duplicate work effort, lets share our freehand format files. Feel free to email or call me.

Scott

Agreed. BTW: FHS was always willing to replace my MPP but they really wanted me to "try this and that first", most of which was a waste of time. It took exercising the battery up and down many times to work out the problems... now there's no need to exchange my MPP, three weeks later.

I should mention that I currently carry my own "fakebook" in a 3" binder with non-reflecting plastic sheet protectors and the darn thing is heavy and growing. It's nearly fallen off stand in the past and flipping from one end to the other to get to my songs is ridiculous. I gave up on memorizing long ago, for whoever that matters to. I believe that in the end the Music Pad Pro will address my needs, but the road to that end has been rocky.

My backing MP3 files alone take up almost 900MB right now so 2GB flash memory was mandatory from day one.

Since the battery issue is mentioned on the FHS FAQ area I think that answers my question about whether I'm the only one with battery trouble, although I'm glad to hear that not everyone has had it.

I think it's important to post real-world reviews like this one that are critical of products when they deserve it. This allows consumers to use Google or other search engines to get some facts before making their purchase. Freehand Systems needs to improve their quality control, customer service, documentation, and their overall product... hopefully with more people aware of the issues then that is what will happen.

[This message has been edited by Esh (edited 03-17-2006).]