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Mike Harrison M&M

Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 2029 Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 7:12 am Post subject: Reading from iPads vs printed copy |
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I'm purposely a bit behind the curve with new technology, and interested in hearing from those who've stopped printing scripts in favor of reading from iPads. So, specifically for voice-over use:
Which model(s) do you like/use?
What features do you consider necessary?
Anything else I should know before buying?
Any additional comments, pro or con, are most welcome.
Thanks! _________________ Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Jason Huggins The Gates of Troy

Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Posts: 1846 Location: In the souls of a million jeans
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 8:01 am Post subject: |
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I just use a secondary monitor on my desk for sitting reads, and an iPad 2 on a mic stand for standing reads. I scroll with my trackpad while reading sitting down and just scroll with my finger on the iPad.
Markups can be an issue on scripts on the iPad, so you just need to find a program that works for you. I convert everything to F and use adobe acrobat for iPad. |
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Bish 3.5 kHz

Joined: 22 Nov 2009 Posts: 3738 Location: Lost in the cultural wasteland of Long Island
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 8:10 am Post subject: |
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I use a first gen iPad. If this is to be a tool primarily for script reading, then you do not need cameras, super-fast processors, retina screens, lots of memory, 3G or the thinnest version. Mine serves double-duty as a media consumption device (movies etc.) and it's just fine. I use dropbox to transfer between my main Mac and the iPad. Goodreader (or any of the others) are good for pdf and doc viewing). $250 or less should cover it for a used 16GB WiFi unit in perfect condition ("buy it now" from reputable sellers on ebay).
Unless you absolutely need/want the latest and greatest, then the 1st gen is still a wonderful piece of kit and can be had for a good price. _________________ Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls. |
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Mike Harrison M&M

Joined: 03 Nov 2007 Posts: 2029 Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 8:18 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, guys.
I forgot to ask: as we all know, there can be copy changes during the session. Do a s like Microsoft Word (or others) work on these devices?
Thanks. _________________ Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
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Bish 3.5 kHz

Joined: 22 Nov 2009 Posts: 3738 Location: Lost in the cultural wasteland of Long Island
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 8:30 am Post subject: |
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Pages (the Mac word processor) is available for the iPad... I think it's $10 and does well handling heavily formatted documents (It has no problem with 99% of MS Word docs). But, there are also cheaper alternatives for basic editing of a doc. _________________ Bish a.k.a. Bish
Smoke me a kipper... I'll be back for breakfast.
I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls... I will not feed the trolls. |
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todd ellis A Zillion

Joined: 02 Jan 2007 Posts: 10528 Location: little egypt
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 8:33 am Post subject: |
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open office is free and works with most everything. _________________ "i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?
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captain54 Lucky 700
Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 8:42 am Post subject: |
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The two main a s for me are Pages and Goodreader. Pages is your Microsoft Word, where you can edit copy. Goodreader converts from Docx to F and allows to mark scripts as if you were going old school marking a paper script with pencil
I haven't printed a script in months. The other valuable thing being able to copy and paste a script that is sometimes in the body of an email from an agent or client and throw it into Pages where it becomes much easier to maneuver
Doing the sit down reads at the desk, I got one of those 360 cases that allows the IPad to swivel and tilt horiz or vertical at three positions. Works great as a secondary monitor at the desk |
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Jason Huggins The Gates of Troy

Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Posts: 1846 Location: In the souls of a million jeans
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 8:43 am Post subject: |
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I had to go with the ipad 2 for only one reason, yet there wasn't enough ram to handle a specific ebook that had an especially large chapter with a lot of pictures. My ipad 1 wouldn't load the chapter reliably and fast enough.
Really, you could use any tablet. An android tablet would probably even (don't stone me here) be more cost effective. You can get one with a gig of ram and faster processor for what you can get a first gen ipad for. If you don't need specific a s (my reason for the ipad) I'd go with an android tablet.
No program that works on a computer (Mac or pc) works on a tablet (though they do have versions of many programs) because they are coded differently. You can't transfer any program to an ipad unless it is an a created for ipad. There are penury of alternatives for most every task though. |
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Dayo Cinquecento

Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 544 Location: UK
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 10:26 am Post subject: |
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Best thing we've done this year.
I can't imagine reading a script off paper now, the ipad does everything I need in a clean, slick and simple way.
Making notations is quick and easy once you get used to it.
I found you need both Pages and QuickOffice. Add a Dropbox account if you need and you're golden. _________________ Colin Day - UK Voiceover
www.thurstonday.co.uk |
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cyclometh King's Row

Joined: 06 Aug 2010 Posts: 1051 Location: Olympia, WA
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 10:43 am Post subject: |
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I love reading from my iPad. No more page noise when doing audiobooks. _________________ Corey "Vox Man" Snow
http://voxman.net |
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DougVox The Gates of Troy

Joined: 10 Jan 2007 Posts: 1706 Location: Miami
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 10:56 am Post subject: |
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My favorite text editor for the iPad? (Works equally well regardless of which iPad you have.)
A screen protector and a dry erase marker. Works like a charm.
Not so good for long form stuff, though, 'cause when you scroll down the doc, any changes/deletions/additions you've made, stay where there are, while the script moves.
And I love the XClip stand...turns a mic stand into an iPad stand for your booth. (http://www.CrisKenna.com/) _________________ Doug Turkel (tur-KELL)
Voiceover UNnouncer®
UNnouncer.com |
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Jason Huggins The Gates of Troy

Joined: 12 Aug 2011 Posts: 1846 Location: In the souls of a million jeans
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 11:07 am Post subject: |
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Ya know...I thought about using a dry erase marker for my screen. Maybe I'll gone that a shot. |
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captain54 Lucky 700
Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 11:56 am Post subject: |
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There are about a half dozen devices like this out there, some that clip on to the existed mic stand to eliminate adding one extra stand.
Only inconvenience is if you use the iPad for other things you have to keep taking it in and out of the case.. |
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Tom Test DC

Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Posts: 629 Location: Chicago, IL
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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I looked into this issue last year. A deal-breaker for me was that I sometimes get scripts in PowerPoint format, and nothing at the time could read them. (That may have changed since last year). So I simply drilled a hole in my booth to pass a cable through, and use a cheap 20 inch LCD monitor. I have a little wireless Logitech mouse that works great. My booth is crowded, so I don't have a keyboard in there for on-the-fly copy changes if the script is in Word (no help if it's pdf!).
My solution was cheap and works great. Guess I'll need some other excuse to buy an iPad? (I have an 8 yr old daughter who has been very, very good this year....) _________________ Best regards,
Tom Test
"The Voice You Trust"
www.tomtest.com |
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georgethetech The Gates of Troy

Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 1878 Location: Topanga, CA
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2012 6:18 pm Post subject: |
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Nexus 7 blows doors off an iPad 1 or 2 in regards to performance, and price.
Not locked into Apple ecosystem, more flexible.
Again, only go Nexus if you don't need to use it to record, it does everything else as good/better than the iPad 1 or 2.
Otherwise I like this keyboard: http://www.amazon.com/Adesso-Wireless-SlimTouch-Keyboard-WKB-4000US/dp/B00083Y0YG/ref=pd_cp_e_1
I have the USB version, handy for laps or tight space.
LCD monitors are $40 at Salvation Army, cables at Monoprice are dirt cheap and reliable. _________________ If it sounds good, it is good.
George Whittam
GeorgeThe.Tech
424-226-8528
VOBS.TV Co-host
TheProAudioSuite.com Co-host
TriBooth.com Co-founder |
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