Android vs Apple tablets for music

[rhatheway]

Several of the people in my trumpet section use iPads with PDFs of all our music loaded onto them. They can adjust the size of the display, adjust the page brightness, make notes on the page, highlight passages, turn the page with a foot pedal, etc.

I'm not fond of Apple products, so haven't taken that step yet. But the convenience factor sure seems enticing. I'm considering it if there's an Android app that has the same features as the ones I've seen on iPad.

Any recommendations?
_________________
Richard H
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Working on getting my chops back...

“Without music, life would be a mistake” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

1958 Conn Director 14A
1968 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1977 Reynolds Medalist CR-58

[Subtropical and Subpar]

Chances are your friends/fellow musicians with iPads are using ForScore, a fabulous program... that is only for Apple products. It keeps me in the iPad ecosystem, even though large-screen Android tablets can have much lower price tags than the 12.9" iPad Pro (and if rumors are true, the 12.9" iPad Air to be announced in a few days).

I don't know what the best Android sheet music organization software is, sorry.
_________________
1932 King Silvertone cornet
1936 King Liberty No. 2 trumpet
1958 Reynolds Contempora 44-M "Renascence" C
1962 Reynolds Argenta LB trumpet
1965 Conn 38A
1995 Bach LR18072
2003 Kanstul 991
2011 Schilke P5-4 B/G
2021 Manchester Brass flugel

[rhatheway]

[Subtropical and Subpar]

I don't think Gen 1 iPads are supported for much of anything these days. For that matter I'm not sure they can run a version of iOS that is still supported by Apple...

I will note that new iPads are supposedly being launched on May 7th and lots of retailers are having big closeouts sales on the 18-month old models as a result. You can probably get a 2002 model year 11 inch iPad (so the size of an A4 sheet of paper) for $400 or less.

ForScore is wonderful software and I've got over a thousand songs loaded onto it, plus some PDFs of Clarke, Arban, etc. If you play in band(s) that require you to lug around a book or three of music, ForScore is a lifesaver. Playlists can be assembled in virtually no time, annotations are easy to make, the half-page flip is revolutionary (so to speak), etc. Definitely worth the investment IMO.
_________________
1932 King Silvertone cornet
1936 King Liberty No. 2 trumpet
1958 Reynolds Contempora 44-M "Renascence" C
1962 Reynolds Argenta LB trumpet
1965 Conn 38A
1995 Bach LR18072
2003 Kanstul 991
2011 Schilke P5-4 B/G
2021 Manchester Brass flugel

[trumpetsnack]

I use the Microsoft Surface Pro and I think it's super underrated for musicians. It runs full Windows 11 so I'm able to run notation software, Ableton, FL Studio, video editing software, as well as using it for sheet music- all on the same device. It fits in my trumpet case and comes with me everywhere! The app I use for sheet music is called Mobile Sheets and I have no complaints there, it's great. It's nice not needing a computer AND a tablet, I use this thing for everything.

[rhatheway]

[rhatheway]

[CaptPat]

+1 for iPad Pro and ForScore, I’m in the Apple ecosystem so this lineup is a no brainer for me.
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 180S37
Getzen Custom Series 3895
_______________________________________
I play trumpet because I like it, not because I'm good at it.

[Subtropical and Subpar]

[GizB]

Another vote for MobileSheets Pro for Android. I"m a PC guy with a 12.4" Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+. As best as I can tell, Mobile Sheets does most everything Fourscore does. I can make set lists, create collections (eg, Duets, Jazz solos, etc) and specify composers, authors, artists. With the Samsung Galaxy, I can also make annotations and use a Bluetooth page turner. If you're on Amazon Prime, keep an eye out for discounted tablets. I saved a bundle on mine on Prime Day.

[gregplo]

[LittleRusty]

I love ForeScore. I ran the brass rehearsals for a twenty five instrument church orchestra.

I was able to put the director’s score into the music, link a mp3 to the score, set up rehearsal marks and if memory serves change tempo from the app. It made rehearsals go so smoothly just like having an accomplished pianist does.

[chef8489]

I use a samsung tab s9 ultra and mobilesheets. It's a pretty amazing program. You can do everything you mentioned.
_________________
Current horns
2023 Bach 19072G/43 pipe with 1st trigger
1966 H.N. White King Silver Flair
1965 H.N. White King Super 20 Sllversonic Symphony 1st trigger

[DH]

First I used to teach technology and one of the main "rules" is to identify a problem (in this case, something to play music from,) find the software that best solves your problem and then get the hardware that supports it.

Having said that I am NOT an iPerson but I do have an iWife!! I have used ForScore for years and believe it is the best software for music reading.

I also have a Surface Pro tablet and do have Mobile Sheets. This DOES work, but for me, the ForScore software works far better. And the PDFs don't take up that much room so you don't need an iPad with lots of storage.

There is very little I've wanted to do with ForScore that I was unable to do...

If it was a financial concern and I already had a Surface Pro, I might have gone with that.

Same with an Android tablet.

[benlewis]

One thing to recognize about using a tablet in a gig situation is reliability. I have colleagues who have had issues with Android tablets/software. I've been using the ForScore/12.9" iPad Pro combo for years with absolutely NO hiccups...

Of course, now I've jinxed myself... HA!

One other issue is the page turner issue. I have devised a system using nylon screws, nuts, washers, and magnets to attach a Flic Button to my horns that allow me to turn pages as I'm playing. This avoids the foot pedal situation, which to me was always a hassle and I can just swap the Flic as needed.

I just hope as my eyes worsen, Apple will keep making bigger iPads.

HTH

Ben

[LittleRusty]

[rhatheway]

[rhatheway]

[benlewis]

Richard, it's BlueTooth. I've never gotten a photo to work on here; send me a PM with an e-mail and I'll send a picture. It's really quite unobtrusive...

Ben

[cjl]

I have a gen 1 iPad. Apple stopped updating the OS at 5.something so virtually no app works any longer.

I do use my gen 1 iPad for music using iBooks, the native pdf app. I send pdfs to myself via yahoo mail which will still work using the old Safari browser. (The browser is too old for gmail to work.) I cannot mark up a piece but for a lot of music that doesn’t matter.

When I do need a set list and markup capability I use a newer (couple of versions old) basic iPad and forScore. Unfortunately, my ipad doesn’t work with the apple pen but a finger does ok and I don’t have to mark much in community band music. I have been ok with tapping the screen to turn pages, too.

My daughter, an aspiring professional, wanted a big iPad. I compromised and got her an 11” iPad Pro from Apple via their refurbished program. Looked like new. I got her a 2nd gen pen and she is happy so far.

Don’t forget - if you use a smaller, cheaper iPad, just move the music stand closer to you. Or get a lightweight tripod specifically for mounting a tablet or phone. I have read music from a phone before, too. (I’m 66 now and can still see OK).

I love the gen 1 iPad in a lot of ways. It STILL after all these years has great battery life. I use it almost every day to read music (etude/study books) maybe for an hour and charge it about once per week.

I once had a Samsung Galaxy tablet. It started out fine but Samsung never upgraded the OS. It finally would do nothing at all.

I currently use a Samsung phone and love it. I’ve never used an Apple phone. I use windows PCs. The last time I used an Apple computer was a Mac Powerbook before Jobs returned to Apple. (I have a NeXT computer but that’s another story.)

Hope that long history of me and my electronics has some value to you. If there is anything I might answer, please just ask.

Check out Apple’s refurbished items for sale on their website.

— Joe