[rek]

Is anyone using a good pdf reader for gigging? Is it worth it to load hundreds of songs into Mobilesheets Pro instead of just using a pdf reader?

I've always created setlists in my pdf reader and used that with a windows 2 in 1 laptop. Worked fine but now my pc has died so I thought I'd try a 10.1 inch Samson galaxy - smaller footprint on stage. I installed foxit for reading pdfs and mobilesheets pro and there isn't much difference in viewing a pdf - both render about the same size and clarity. It looks like I'll save time creating setlists once everything is entered in mobilesheets but getting hundreds of songs in there looks like a ton of work. And with foxit I can see my bookmarks and jump around in the list rapidly - important if the list is long. I haven't spent any time to speak of with mobilesheets so maybe I can do that, too. Just wondering before I take on this giant task. It will be big because I don't have songs saved as isolated pdfs, they are either in fakebooks or previous setlists and I extract them from there and merge them into new setlists.

 

[lydian]

I've used Mobilesheets Pro on gigs for several years. I have about 6,000 tunes in it now if you count fake books. I find it far easier than using a pdf reader mainly due to set lists and collections. There is also no need to extract fakebooks to individual pdfs. MSP can import the bookmarks you already have, or you can make your own bookmarks. If you have individual pdfs, those import straight in. If you have multi-page books, you can use the bookmarks already in the files, or use csv files others have already made, or (what you're dreading most) make your own indexes. Making your own isn't so bad if you can get the index copy/pasted into excel. Massage that a little, and you're good to go.

With set lists, I just filter the book I want to build the set from, i.e., 1st tenor in big band, then tap all the songs in set order. Ditto, for my sax quartet, trad jazz band, jazz combo, etc. I can make collections by instrument, band, fakebook, whatever. The same tune can also belong to several different collections at the same time. I can't imagine trying to do all that with a pdf reader.

I tried and failed to use a 10.1 screen. At my age, I need full-size sheet music, so I stick with a full-size 2 in 1 laptop.

 

[rek]

Thanks for the quick response. It still sounds like a bunch of work but maybe not as bad as I thought. I'll give it a try, knock off a bit at a time and see if it seems worth it.

The jury is still out on the 10.1. I always kept the stand low to be less visually distracting but because this is much smaller I won't mind having it up higher. That may offset the smaller print - I hope!

 

[KeithL]

I use MobileSheets on my Samsung tablet and ForScore on my Apple. These apps can provide a lot of organization options if that's what you want but they can also be used with a lot less setup work if you want. The MobileSheets Pro Companion App will load onto your PC and allow you to do batch uploads so you can upload charts very quickly if you want and also create easy backup files of all your charts to be easily transferred to a new tablet if you get one.

I've been using Mobilesheets for funk band gigs for almost 10 years now and couldn't live without it. Definitely worth the $15 or whatever small amount it sells for.

 

[Lisa Seifert]

Is anyone using a good pdf reader for gigging? Is it worth it to load hundreds of songs into Mobilesheets Pro instead of just using a pdf reader?

I've always created setlists in my pdf reader and used that with a windows 2 in 1 laptop. Worked fine but now my pc has died so I thought I'd try a 10.1 inch Samson galaxy - smaller footprint on stage. I installed foxit for reading pdfs and mobilesheets pro and there isn't much difference in viewing a pdf - both render about the same size and clarity. It looks like I'll save time creating setlists once everything is entered in mobilesheets but getting hundreds of songs in there looks like a ton of work. And with foxit I can see my bookmarks and jump around in the list rapidly - important if the list is long. I haven't spent any time to speak of with mobilesheets so maybe I can do that, too. Just wondering before I take on this giant task. It will be big because I don't have songs saved as isolated pdfs, they are either in fakebooks or previous setlists and I extract them from there and merge them into new setlists.

Anyone still here on this thread? I use mobile sheets on my surface pro... and my challenge is the battery life. What do you all do?

 

[lydian]

It may be time to replace your battery. Even after a 4 hour gig on my laptop (2-in-1similar to a Surface), I still have 85% battery left, so that’s never even remotely been an issue for me.

In the mean time, turn your backlight down as much as you can stand, turn off Wi-Fi, and make sure no other programs are running in the background. If you don’t use a pedal, turn off Bluetooth too. If you can’t plug in on stage, at least plug in during breaks.

Hope that helps.

 

[Lisa Seifert]

thanks. i dont know if battery replacement is possible. but i will look into it.

 

[lydian]

Should be similar process to replacing an iPhone battery. You’ll have to have it professionally done if you’re not mechanically inclined. It’s going to be expensive though. I checked some prices, and a pro battery replacement on a Surface costs more than I paid for my entire laptop. Good luck.

 

[liggy]

I’d suggest using a power bank for the time being.