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rbeasley Regular Member
Joined: 07 Oct 2019 Posts: 28
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 12:47 pm Post subject: PDF vs physical book |
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I’m working on finishing a duet book for intermediate trumpet and am debating whether to make it available on my site as a pdf or physical book. If you were to purchase a book such as this, which format would you prefer? Would you be willing to purchase it in one format but not the other? Feel free to provide your reasoning. _________________ Robert Beasley
robertbeasleymusic.com |
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multiphonic Veteran Member
Joined: 14 Oct 2019 Posts: 139
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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I'd be interested in such a book, but only as a physical book. I often pass on buying music available only as a .pdf or occasionally send to Office Max for printing, which is a hassle. I write notes on my music, thumb through sections at will, dog ear pages, view different pieces of music side-by-side etc. I've played around with music on a tablet. Physical copies work better for me. Same with academic research articles. Reading a book on a Kindle is fine as long as it's not a working document.
(Edit: Just purchased 20 Lyrical Etudes )
Last edited by multiphonic on Wed Jan 15, 2020 3:01 pm; edited 4 times in total |
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cheiden Heavyweight Member
Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 8914 Location: Orange County, CA
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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I'm eager to move my sheet music from paper to a pad/tablet. But with the high and rising cost of pads/tablets, I'm unlikely to do so anytime soon. So for now, I'm preferring printed music. If the cost of devices suddenly comes into reach I can see switching to strongly preferring digital downloads. _________________ "I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart |
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lexluther Veteran Member
Joined: 13 Jul 2015 Posts: 108 Location: Northwest, Indiana
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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pdf. All-day long! I will not buy paper books. _________________ Bb - Schilke B6, SB4-MG Soloiste
Bb - Yamaha 8310Z II, 25th Anniversary Xeno
C - Yamaha Artist Chicago Xeno
Flugel - Getzen Custom Reserve 4895
Eb/D - Yamaha 6610
Cornet - Bach Strad 184ML |
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mdarnton Veteran Member
Joined: 08 Mar 2019 Posts: 122 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 7:46 pm Post subject: |
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If I have the option to buy both for a couple of extra bucks, I do. |
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Turkle Heavyweight Member
Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 2450 Location: New York City
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 8:07 pm Post subject: |
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Honestly, think of your audience. How many intermediate trumpet players (who are most likely going to be in high school or something) have a dedicated tablet for music practice? I know that the youngest generations are the most computer/phone/tablet oriented ever, but tablets are very expensive for most families, and if they've already shelled out for a trumpet, I don't see a $1,000 tablet expenditure in their future.
Even if they do buy the PDF and print it out, 8.5x11 paper is really not a great format for music, you'd like a larger paper size, right?
I think for intermediate students, you're best off offering a book for the reasons above.
Maybe for pros, the norm is now to have a tablet, I can see that. But not for high schoolers - unless I'm mistaken! _________________ Yamaha 8310Z trumpet
Yamaha 8310Z flugel
Curry 3. |
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rbeasley Regular Member
Joined: 07 Oct 2019 Posts: 28
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 7:38 am Post subject: |
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cheiden wrote: | I'm eager to move my sheet music from paper to a pad/tablet. But with the high and rising cost of pads/tablets, I'm unlikely to do so anytime soon. So for now, I'm preferring printed music. If the cost of devices suddenly comes into reach I can see switching to strongly preferring digital downloads. |
I was reluctant to drop the money on a tablet as well. I ended up purchasing a refurbished Samsung tablet on Amazon for much less than new and it's worked quite well for me. Might be an alternative avenue for you to check out if you haven't already. _________________ Robert Beasley
robertbeasleymusic.com |
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Richard III Heavyweight Member
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 2655 Location: Anacortes, WA
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 8:00 am Post subject: |
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I have a desktop computer. I download the music to there. I play using that screen. No problem. If I want to take it with me, I'll just print out the page I need. I don't need any more physical books. _________________ Richard
King 1130 Flugabone
King 12C mouthpiece |
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cgaiii Heavyweight Member
Joined: 26 Jun 2017 Posts: 1551 Location: Virginia USA
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 8:26 am Post subject: |
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It is really nice to have music in portable format (PDF). If I need a printed page, I can print it. But I would be good either way.
I saw the complaints about the cost of tablets, but older models can be had very cheaply. Personally, I use my retired 2 in 1 laptop as a tablet. Works fine for me.
I often scan paper music to have it in electronic format, but have to admit that I prefer playing from paper. _________________ Bb: Schilke X3L AS, Yamaha YTR-6335S
C: Schilke CXL, Kanstul 1510-2
Bb Cornet: Getzen 800 DLXS
Pic: Kanstul 920
Bb Bugle: Kanstul
Bb Pocket: Manchester Brass
Flugel: Taylor Std
Bass Tr: BAC Custom
Nat. Tr: Nikolai Mänttäri Morales Haas replica |
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MrOlds Heavyweight Member
Joined: 25 Apr 2003 Posts: 726 Location: California
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 8:33 am Post subject: |
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Another vote for PDF.
It’s been a long time since paper was the preferred medium for anything. |
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Turkle Heavyweight Member
Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 2450 Location: New York City
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 8:40 am Post subject: |
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MrOlds wrote: | Another vote for PDF.
It’s been a long time since paper was the preferred medium for anything. |
Really, though? Even for intermediate-level high school students? I know that pros have dedicated tablets but do high-schoolers? It's an intermediate-level text, remember.
Perhaps I'm wrong! But I think for younger players paper is preferable... _________________ Yamaha 8310Z trumpet
Yamaha 8310Z flugel
Curry 3. |
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doitallman Veteran Member
Joined: 02 Jul 2002 Posts: 300 Location: Brooklyn, NY
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 8:50 am Post subject: |
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PDF all the way. But the option for both is nice.
Too much music to print if I dont use a tablet.
Too much music to carry around . Too much potential for losing or misplacing some parts etc. I rather take a SS and use the tablet than carry music from rehearsal back and forth. I always end up losing it or spilling oil on it.
Tablet makes it easier to remember what music to bring since I have all my music on one place. _________________ NY Bach 07
Couesnon Flugel
Kanstul Pic
Bach 184 cornet
Bach C 229GH 25H
Nikon D300s
Wechter acoustic |
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kozzicomma Regular Member
Joined: 27 Dec 2018 Posts: 39
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 8:54 am Post subject: |
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PDF please. If I want that in paper form, I can print the pages I need, when I need them, but I use an ipad pro with apple pencil for notes, and on forScore i can have several different layers of notes either for different styles or from different teachers, etc. _________________ Bb: Yamaha YTR-6335HS MV (Mike Vax), Bach 37
C: Bach 229H 25H
Picc: Brasspire Unicorn
Pocket Bb: ACB Doubler's
G Bugle: Dynasty 3-valve |
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Bb Bob Regular Member
Joined: 02 Oct 2016 Posts: 54 Location: Macomb, MI
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 10:41 am Post subject: |
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I agree with kozzicomma. I have the same set up and just started using the Forscore scan tool. Once you get comfortable with the app and foot pedal it’s hard to go back to paper. _________________ Trumpets: Edwards X13, ACB Copernicus, Benge CG, Olds LA Studio ‘53
Cornets: Adams CN2, Wild Thing Short, Olds Studio ‘58, Schilke XA7
Flugelhorn: Kanstul 1525 |
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multiphonic Veteran Member
Joined: 14 Oct 2019 Posts: 139
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 11:37 am Post subject: |
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Turkle wrote: | MrOlds wrote: | Another vote for PDF.
It’s been a long time since paper was the preferred medium for anything. |
Really, though? Even for intermediate-level high school students? I know that pros have dedicated tablets but do high-schoolers? It's an intermediate-level text, remember.
Perhaps I'm wrong! But I think for younger players paper is preferable... |
You are correct. |
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GizB Veteran Member
Joined: 11 Jan 2005 Posts: 200
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2020 9:17 am Post subject: |
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I'm with mdarnton - I'm willing to pay a little extra for both. For multiphonic, you might consider a Pro12:
LINK
I've had one for several years, and have been very happy with it. Thanks to Tim Quinlan's qPress publications, I just take my tablet to lessons instead of carrying a bag of books. I use Mobilesheets Pro, which allows you to make notes on the pdf documents, and is great software for organizing music and making set lists. On my Pro12 I have literally hundreds of horn parts which I've transcribed and arranged - no more lugging around tons of multiple binders.
For rbeasley - if you do this in pdf form, my preference would be a 2-staff format rather than separate parts, so both players can read from the same tablet.
Last edited by GizB on Thu Jan 30, 2020 3:27 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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JGulyas Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Apr 2002 Posts: 726 Location: Roanoke, VA
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Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2020 11:59 am Post subject: |
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Both!!
I like having the option of paper or pdf. Both my Arban and St Jacome books are falling apart and I'd love it if they were in pdf format. Seriously, think about how difficult is it to get those *stupid* books to stay open on your stand!!
Same goes for my OLLD copies of Charlier or solo lit that I pretty much have to handle with gloves so it doesn't disintegrate.
As far as whether it needs to be a "dedicated" music tablet... I don't think there's any need for a dedicated tablet; PDF files are pretty small and all tablets have enough storage to pretty much be able to fit all the rep you can think of. I use my iPad for damn near everything, anyway, from editing photos to reading music.
Cost wise, an Amazon Fire tablet can be had for $40, though the viewing area on it is a bit small. Older 9" iPads are cheap, too; just looked at one on eBay, 1st Gen 16GB WiFi only $49 with free shipping. Granted that iPad will probably only be good for PDF viewing, but it's an option. _________________ All the Best,
John
US Navy Bandsman 1996-2010 (Trumpet; Audio Engineer)
Mpc - Kanstul/Monette B6, Hammond Design custom "JG"
Bb - Yamaha 6335HGSII
C - Eastman ETR530
Picc - NoName Chinese |
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khedger Heavyweight Member
Joined: 12 Mar 2008 Posts: 754 Location: Cambridge, MA
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Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2020 4:54 pm Post subject: Re: PDF vs physical book |
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rbeasley wrote: | I’m working on finishing a duet book for intermediate trumpet and am debating whether to make it available on my site as a pdf or physical book. If you were to purchase a book such as this, which format would you prefer? Would you be willing to purchase it in one format but not the other? Feel free to provide your reasoning. |
Why not both? I think a LOT of people use their desktop, laptop, and pads for music stuff, but there's still a need for books for some people. Once you have the book typeset, I can't imagine it would be that hard to make it into a PDF....
keith |
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topazann New Member
Joined: 09 Mar 2020 Posts: 7
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 7:24 am Post subject: |
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Both. I actually like to have a nice PDF copy and sometimes print it. I do prefer cleaner versions though, so if I really care, I'd often rather buy a good edition from a respected publisher than try to deal with a poorly scanned PDF. However, when I can buy a crisp PDF version, I prefer that and will then just print it as much as I need to.
__________
Onplanners
Last edited by topazann on Sun Mar 15, 2020 7:19 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Oncewasaplayer Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 974
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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I'm a digital dinosaur in some ways but I've now switched to putting pdf files on an ipad using 4score. It will change your life. I like books but digital is the future. _________________ Getzen 800DLX cornet
Selmer Sigma trumpet |
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