Chapter 4 : Paper to Pixels by Hugh Sung

Let's get down to business. You are nervous, a little daunted, but nonetheless convinced that it’s time to go digital. Been there, done that, so I think I know what questions you’re probably asking right now.

– Which tablet, smart phone or computer is right for me?

– How do I get music into my device?

– What programs do I need?

– Besides a tablet, smartphone or computer, what other equipment will I need?

– Given the rate at which technology changes, how can I be sure that the equipment I invest in won’t be obsolete within a few years?

Let’s address the last question first. As of this writing, I will have been a “paperless pianist” for nearly 12 years. Even though the computers and equipment that I’ve used to store, read and annotate my digital sheet-music scores have changed many times over during that time period, it’s amazing to me that the very first digital-music files I scanned from my paper sources still look perfectly pristine, while the physical paper versions have already started to yellow and crumble. In other words, stop worrying.

We know that computer technology changes on almost a daily basis (for a quick reminder, re-read my headache-inducing analysis of the tablet market explosion at the end of chapter 3). The good news is this isn’t as important as you might think. If you know how to take care of a musical instrument (you know, not driving away with it on the roof of your car, changing out the valve pads on your horn, etc), you can apply that same level of understanding to maintaining your digital sheet-music-reading-computer for many years to come. And you’ll be better educated on the best computers to upgrade to when necessary.

And get this: You’ve heard of Internet cloud storage services like DropBox and iCloud, haven’t you? These are places out there in the wild blue (actually in cyberspace) that will store a copy of everything on your computer, so you really don’t even have to worry about being completely dependent on a single computer device anymore.

Here’s an easy way to remember the things you need to know – “four Cs,” the four categories you’ll need to get started.

1. Computer
2. Content
3. Containers
4. Controllers

Easy, yes (like laying a piano in C major)? So here we go.

1. Computer (picking your plastic)

Ask yourself these questions:

– How much mobility do I need?

– How big does the screen need to be in order for me to see it?

– What is the meaning of life (just kidding … wanted to see if you were still awake)?

– How many accessories am I going to need to support my computer (containers, controllers and the like)? Of course, it’s too soon for you to really know that, but patience, dear person, we’ll get there.

While tablet computers such as the iPad might be great for many musicians due to their portability and ease of use, other musicians who don’t need to be mobile (like organists or teachers working in studios) might be better off with laptops, desktop computers connected to larger monitors, or even large touchscreen computers. We’ll drill down this topic in a while. Meanwhile, just think about it.

2.  Content (other than your favorite comic books)

By content, I mean both the type of music you work with and the sources where your music can be found. For instance, classical musicians work with content based on traditional music notation containing staff lines, key signatures, notes and rests. Musicians in more popular genres work with content based mainly on text, such as lyrics, chord symbols and tablatures. Your preferred content will determine both where you find your music sources and how you get that content into your digital sheet-music computer, ranging from scans of physical books and binders to direct downloads from online sheet-music resources.

This will also determine which programs are best suited for your content needs, and what kind of interactivity you will need from your music – will you be using PDF files to draw annotations on your music? (If you don’t know, these are files that are more like photos. You can’t really go into them and change type, but you can mark them up.) Or will you use a text reader so that you can change your font sizes and transpose chord symbols on the fly? Or will you use a proprietary reader for computerized music notation from programs like Finale or Sibelius? Don’t panic … we’ll talk more about this.

3.  Containers (How do I position this thing so it doesn’t crash to the floor in the middle of the quiet section of the music?)

By containers, I mean hardware accessories used to hold or mount your computer, turning it for all intents and purposes into a digital music stand. This may or may not be relevant to a classical pianist, who can usually count on a music rack built in to his instruments to hold his tablet or support his laptop. But guitarists or orchestral musicians will almost always need a way to safely mount their computers, especially if the oboist who sits in front of you weighs 300 lbs. Container options vary widely depending on the type of computer being used. We’ll explore some of the current options later.

4.  Controllers (as in, “Hey fellers, watch this!”)

Controllers are hardware accessories that enable you to work with your digital sheet music in a variety of ways, ranging from digital pens for drawing annotations, to pedals and other switches that let you turn pages without using your hands. Some computer devices, like the iPad, don’t require digital pens to draw on the screen, whereas some tablets and tablet PCs already come bundled with such pens. Page-turning pedals and switches, on the other hand, are a relatively new accessory that most musicians don’t think of until they’re confronted with the stark experience of viewing their music one digital page at a time and have to consider how to get to the next digital “page” in ways that don’t necessitate finger swiping, mouse clicking, or puzzled head-scratching. We’ll look at some examples soon of various types of musicians and the 4-C configurations that best fit their needs.

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AirTurn, Inc. has announced the release of the STOMP 6 — a wireless, six switch foot pedal. The STOMP 6 connects to any Bluetooth-enabled device and works with hundreds of apps to perform tasks that simplify music performance.

OnSong has just released immediate support for the STOMP 6 which allows users to configure 40+ actions per switch. Musicians can perform hands-free with digital sheet music and charts that are easy to transpose and always stay organized. For musicians looking to enhance their stage presence, OnSong can also trigger backing tracks, stage lighting and integrate with MIDI-capable instruments, effects processors and apps for complete control. OnSong is the first app to harness the possibilities of the new STOMP 6 with its rich suite of functionality.

The STOMP 6 is designed for the professional musician who wants to add a tablet or computer into their setup. Its all-metal enclosure is designed to mount to guitar pedal boards with a 9V power supply, but can also be used right out of the box with a standard 9V battery (included) that lasts for 100 hours of continuous use.

The STOMP 6 retails for $139 MSRP and will be available for order on the AirTurn online store on 1/18/2017

Perform Anywhere
Going paperless with your music means more flexibility. Import your charts with ease or
create your own songs with OnSong. You’re always organized so there’s no more
flipping around with binders looking for the right song in the right key. Pulling sets is just
as easy. With the AirTurn lineup of foot pedals, you can play for hours without ever lifting a finger. Put your iPad in a case and mount it on a mic stand with a MANOS mount. Neither darkness, wind nor rain will keep you from the music.

Jam In Any Key
Never worry about forgetting a song again. If it’s in your library, you’re ready to jam. The powerful transposition engine in OnSong let’s you put the song in the right key. Apply a capo and OnSong handles modulating chords so you can spend more time playing music and less time remembering music theory. With the AirTurn STOMP 6 and OnSong, you can assign an action to transpose and capo on the fly.

Let The Music Play
Sometimes it’s hard to get the band back together — or maybe you’re a solo singer/
songwriter. With backing tracks, you can fill out your sound and engage the audience.
OnSong lets you link each song in your repertoire to audio tracks you can trigger with
just a touch of a finger, or the press of a pedal. Built in crossfading even lets you keep
the show flowing. The AirTurn STOMP 6 gives you even greater control of playback.

Pedal To The Metal
The AirTurn STOMP 6 features an all-metal enclosure with six, stomp-style foot switches. Mount and plug it into your pedalboard power supply or use it all by itself with a standard 9V battery (included). The AirTurn STOMP 6 connects wirelessly to most all Bluetooth-enabled devices for leveraging the capabilities of 100’s of apps in your gig.

Don’t Forget It, Preset It
Your audiences demand more and now with OnSong and the AirTurn STOMP 6, you can deliver the performance you’ve imagined. Preset MIDI and control all of your effects processors, instruments, foot pedals... even other apps! OnSong lets you link MIDI to each part of the song, or you can trigger MIDI right from the AirTurn STOMP 6. Since MIDI is built into all professional music gear, you have all the power of the pros.

Light It Up
OnSong isn’t just chord charts and sheet music, it’s all about your stage performance.
Add visual flair to your show with lighting, lyrics and video. You no longer need expensive equipment or complex programming to make your show shine. Whether you’re playing on the main stage or in the local pub, you can make a scene that draws a crowd. The AirTurn STOMP 6 lets you control it all on stage with OnSong.

Limitless Possibilities
The AirTurn STOMP 6 gives you six rock-solid switches to obey your every whim.
That might not seem like much, but assign 40+ actions to those pedals in OnSong and
you can do everything you need while never breaking from your audience. Use triggers
to perform multiple actions with one stomp, or shift into a higher gear to surpass your
physical limitations. OnSong and STOMP 6 is the perfect combination for performers.