Hi, I'm thinking of getting an iPad2 and need to know if it will display sheet music. My local store had no idea! I prepare music with 'ABC Notation' and sometimes with 'Finale' on my pc. They print out directly, or I can pdf them and mail them to friends.
Can my pc send them straight to an iPad?
Does anyone do it, is it easy to read?
Is it readable in daylight?
Thanks
Graham OsP

Maybe this is the kind of thing that you are looking for?

http://www.musicnotes.com/ipad/

The Archangel

Originally Posted by Old string Plucker

Hi, I'm thinking of getting an iPad2 and need to know if it will display sheet music. My local store had no idea! I prepare music with 'ABC Notation' and sometimes with 'Finale' on my pc. They print out directly, or I can pdf them and mail them to friends.
Can my pc send them straight to an iPad?
Does anyone do it, is it easy to read?
Is it readable in daylight?
Thanks
Graham OsP

It will work.

Ideally you will convert your notes to PDF, as that is the easiest format to work with on the iPad.

Take a look at ForScore, it is the best sheet viewer and has a lot of other functions. Personally do I use Medley for playing notes, it is basic, but suits my needs. ForScore is more advanced, if you play rhythmical, you can even set a speed and it will turn the page automatically.

However, you could also convert notes to Midi and than use SymphonyPro to display them. I enjoy using SP, as it displays the midi file as notes, but also plays back the song, in case I get stuck and want to hear how it should sound, When using the iPad as a sheet viewer, that is a really nice feature.

Anyhow, ForScore is a must. If that leaves any wishes open, or you want to work with midi's, then SymphonyPro is the next stop.

Regarding daylight, I just use it indoors, if that is what you mean by daylight, then there is no problem with readability, just increase the brightness to 50%+. But if you intend to use it for playing open air, will the sun pose a slight issue.

One thing, which I don't like is that it only plays 1 page at a time, with printed notes, I place three pages next to each other, so when using the iPad, more page turns are needed. But in the end, I am lazy and just end up learning page for page

Overall does the iPad work really well as a sheet viewer. Especially since you always have all notes with you. The one thing, which may or may not be an issue is the screen size. The iPad display is smaller then an A4 page. I used a Kindle DX before getting the iPad as a sheet viewer (both have the same screen size) and the decrease in size can be tiring for the eyes. YMMV

You can PDF the output? So it'll display on an ipad with no problem. Just play around with the print/page settings to optimise it for the ipad screen size but it'll display fine!

Hi Folks,
That's excellent, just what I needed to know. Am I right in assuming that as one can load apps like symphony, I could also load my ABC Notation Player which plays the 'dots', adjusts tempo to suit, allows 'dot' editing and adding chords and lyrics when wanted. If I can down load ABC, then my world is perfect.
Graham.

Originally Posted by Old string Plucker

Hi Folks,
That's excellent, just what I needed to know. Am I right in assuming that as one can load apps like symphony, I could also load my ABC Notation Player which plays the 'dots', adjusts tempo to suit, allows 'dot' editing and adding chords and lyrics when wanted. If I can down load ABC, then my world is perfect.
Graham.

You should realize that the iPad runs a different operating system then Windows/Mac, so none of your programs will work on the iPad, you have to find apps, which do the equivalent of your programs. But from the description will SymphonyPro do what you are currently using abc notation player for.

SymphonyPro let's you compose sheet music, add lyrics and play the composed music. You can further adjust the playback speed.

Welcome, Graham, from Cali! I see you have some good people helping you!

Try this link......
http://www.symphonypro.net/

The Archangel

Originally Posted by Gabriel1

Try this link......
http://www.symphonypro.net/

The Archangel

Or ask me

But yes, that app is one of it's kind for composing on the iPad.

Originally Posted by DontUnderstandMyIpad

Or ask me

But yes, that app is one of it's kind for composing on the iPad.

Was I butting in where it wasn't required.......I do sometimes have that particular habit!

The Archangel