Apps / Tech / Gear recommendations.

RuthPower

Making a separate thread to discuss the different pianos and various paraphernalia that we use and love or hate!

RuthPower

@celiajoy @alexx88 started a new discussion for this app discovery!

Ok so in terms of a notation app - I haven't tried these but I did a little digging and some other piano teachers have recommended the following:

Piascore - "I love it - I use it to "handwrite" my lead sheets, using a big iPad and an Apple Pencil. I researched a lot before I settled on this one."
Musescore - "I then export them to another App called, MuseScore, where you can make setlists and all kinds of stuff. I love being able to create them digitally, as it saves all kinds of time - and I can color code lyric verses and erase easily. 🙂 I also print everything out for back up."
Flat (free) - no feedback just one teacher said she uses it on iPad.

Because my iPad is out of date I can't actually download any new apps! 😝 But i'm going to look into android ones for my phone as I really want this as well - it's not enough to have on my computer!
I love that this is a discovery for us together! Whatever you try out let's make sure you report back.

alexx88

RuthPower celiajoy I need. to investigate these. I went to musescore. That looks like quite an undertaking to do. I watched the video.

celiajoy

Good finds, Ruth! I found flat, but haven’t tried it yet! I’ll also check into piascore.

I mostly play on my piano (acoustic? Grand? Baby grand? One w strings and hammers, you know what I mean 😂) but have a digital also - now I’m wondering what software there is (Mac or iPad) that would do an automatic transcription of what I play on the digital piano! Do you all know of anything like that?

RuthPower

@celiajoy @alexx88 Yes, I've only used the computer software for musescore - it's great for a basic pro notation software but I worked for years on Sibelius for my job. I feel like it would be potentially quite overwhelming if I was coming at it without the experience I have.. so I'm going to experiment and see if there's a friendlier option. We basically want something that is easier to get ideas down, right?

alexx88

@RuthPowe @celiajoy I was looking at musescore trying to figure it out. Can you use it to input songs you’ve figured out by ear? Either to make just a chord sheet with lyrics, or to make sheets with lyrics & notation? If you can, is it more work than it’s worth? I have an iMac iPad & iPhone. Thanks!

#doingmyparttosupportapple

RuthPower

You guys - I did a bit of trying out last night on some different apps - mind you, this was on my Android phone but here's my findings: I found ''Musescore' to really not work on the small phone screen, it was more complicated & confusing than it needed to be. I also tried 'Flat', which was much the same. The one that I thought was easy to use and quite cleverly set out was 'Maestro' - but sadly I don't think this comes for iOS. I'm going to try a bunch with the iPad if I can, but it's so outdated I don't know if I can download any! How have you found them?
Re: purpose - I would recommend using them for jotting down little riff ideas, melodies or chord progressions you come up with - chord voicings you like - use it like a little notepad. That way, when you come to make an arrangement or composition you've got some firestarters! 🔥

RuthPower

For posterity - here is the video for connecting keyboard to the iPad!

alexx88

@RuthPower I got my iPad all connected! Yay! Bought a bunch of adapters & cables. Trying to figure out how to get the sound from the iPad to go through my 2 external speakers on either side of my keyboard.

Also trying to figure out how I can connect my iPhone/iPad to my keyboard to get a cleaner recording, in a simple an inexpensive way, for when I want to record for progress feedback purposes. Don't need demo quality. I'd prefer not to use GarageBand for that.

celiajoy

alexx88 cool!! I was thinking about trying to hook my iPad up to my keyboard (although I hardly ever play on it) just to potentially use for transcribing with one of those apps!
but then the other thing I was thinking about was getting a mic to be able to record from my piano!! Too fun, I think I’ll want to be able to do that more and more.

RuthPower

alexx88 Hi Alex - so if your speakers have an RCA input - you can use a headphone out to a RCA into the back of your speakers or amp. You could also try bluetoothing from your iPad, but that will probably lag.
Re getting a clean recording without using garageband - I'm not sure - there might be a simpler just 'press record and go' app where you don't need to set up a session, but I don't know of one. Usually if I'm in a hurry, I just press my voice recorder app 'record' and play through the piano speakers.

alexx88

@celiajoy Ever since I started singing & playing, I use my keyboard more, because of the transposition key. Plus I tend to sit there when I try to figure songs by ear because I can use my headphones.

I'm really curious about these transciption apps. They'd be great for doing chord sheets & lyrics, I think! for songs figured by ear. Right now I really want to figure how I can record myself cleanly direct from the keyboard to my phone. Not sure if I need an interface or what. I think an external mic may pick up more ambient noise?? Not sure.

RuthPower

alexx88 Yes sorry - should have read this comment before I replied - an external mic will pick up more ambient noise -you could get an interface, but that's more if you want to put into your computer and produce demos in DAW software etc. this is what I use. - But as I say, if you just want it for reference you don't need to buy one of these - I just had a quick look and this app looks interesting as a quick single-track recorder for midi - Nocturne

alexx88

@RuthPower I was at the store today & got RCA cables. The same store where I got my keyboard & speakers. They recommended the cables, but the jack is the wrong size. I have to go back tomorrow & get the smaller size. 🙄

They also recommended the Focusrite Scarlett interface, as well as https://www.guitarcenter.com/IK-Multimedia/iRig-Pro-Duo-I-O-Audio-MIDI-Interface.gc?rNtt=trig%20pro%20duo&index=1. They were out of stock of both.

Another place recommended https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GOTWIN--tc-helicon-go-twin-2-channel-audio-midi-interface-for-mobile-devices.

A Roland forum recommended this: https://www.amazon.com/Saramonic-Microphone-Interface-Professional-SMARTRIG/dp/B078HK2ZBY

Supposedly all of them will be able to record cleaning directly from the keyboard to my phone. I have to check them all out. I don't have any plans at the moment to get involved with DAW.

RuthPower

alexx88 oh dang! That's frustrating. Yes - I think out of all of those the Focusrite Scarlett is the most reliable - it's pretty standard in the industry for reliable entry level interfaces. That TC Helicon one has bad reviews, they are good brand for vocal effects pedals but I've heard their other stuff isn't great.
That iRig Pro Duo looks pretty amazing. I would go for something where the cable that connects to your iPad/iPhone is not fixed - ie you could get a different chord later on because if you update your iPhone to a new one later down the track and they've changed the lightning input, then you'll have to replace the interface as well (or find an adapter).
I had that originally with mine, I had the 30-pin connector and then got my ipad and had to get an adapter for the lightning connection. So annoying!

alexx88

@RuthPower That's a great point about not getting something with a fixed cable! I've been reading reviews, which is helping me to learn a little more about this stuff too, which is good. At least now I feel like I can ask some intelligent ?'s, where before I didn't know enough to know what I needed to know about lol.

I did read some negative stuff about TC Helicon last night. Looking for reviews also brings up new equipment, & now I want to check into the Zoom U24 https://zoomcorp.com/en/us/audio-interface/audio-interfaces/u-24/ & the Yamaha AG 06 https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-AG06-6-Channel-Mixer-Microphone/dp/B00TY8JFSC?th=1.

I think the Yamaha may be a little overkill though. The Zoom looks like it may be a potential contender, but I read somewhere it doesn't work in stereo, & I think I need it to do that. Again, still learning what I need to have. All this talk of pre-amps, & phantom power, condenser mics & ribbon mics. My Google list is growing by the minute!

Right now I'm thinking either the Scarlett, the iRig, which I don't think has a fixed adapter cable, & maybe the Zoom.

RuthPower

alexx88 NICE! Wow, you are getting into it! So impressed! Yeh - it is always nicer to have that stereo output if you can, because then when you're listening through headphones (or on speaker) you can hear the piano going from one end to the other... it's subtle, but nice. How exciting! I definitely want to know what you end up deciding on!

alexx88

@RuthPower I ended up getting the iRig Pro Duo. They said it’s really good with phones & tablets, & can also be used with laptops. Hopefully it will be delivered soon.

Now it’s snow balling. lol. I realized if I plug my phone directly into the keyboard to record, I won’t be able to record vocals. Now I need to get a mic! And a mic stand! Hoping I can get one that will attach to my keyboard stand somehow. 🎹🎤 More research 😳🙂

RuthPower

alexx88 It does get a bit addictive once you get into the technology! So much fun though! I have a boom arm stand that clamps onto the front of my keyboard stand - it's good but also a bit clunky. Sometimes I would prefer just a normal mic stand.

alexx88

Gear update. I ended up returning the iRig I/O Pro Duo, right after I got it. It worked great, but I think it really shines if you use it portably, because of the batteries. You end up plugging into all sides of it, so it's kind of awkward depending on where your cables are coming/going, & where you can place it.

I returned it for the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Generation, which now works with phones & tablets too. Next up is trying to get the mic stand positioned in a way so I can see my sheets & my hands lol, & learning to navigate Garage Band. I got an AKG P420 condenser mic, which evidently means I need to record the piano & vocals in 2 separate tracks because of the sensitivity of the mic. I made so many calls & went to so many stores, & the consensus was a condenser mic v. dynamic one. My playing time has really taken a hit the last month trying to get all this gear set up, but it's time to get back to business!

RuthPower

alexx88 ooh this is so exciting! yes that key tapping sound might come through on the vocals - but sometimes it makes it sound more live - and you might be able to taper off that lower end out of your mic recording to cut some of the key noise out - or, just sing & 'fake play' the keys which is sometimes what I do if I can't do one without the other!
This is exciting! I didn't know the new scarlett works with phones - now I want the new one!!! Oh it's going to be so exciting when you can record your performances!!!! 🤩🤘