At 64 years old, I can still sing my ass off, but as I get older I just don't want to store all the lyrics in my head anymore. 50 years singing and in the auto parts business. I can still remember part numbers from 1977 but when it comes to lyrics, I just seem to space out and forget cue words. I do the auto parts stuff everyday, the singing now on a part time basis. The floor lyrics monitor is a saving grace. The way I look at it, if Robert Plant, Tom Jones, Sting, to name a few can use one, then f**k it, so can I. Just glance every now and then as a reminder and bam, you put on a good show.
As a lead singer in a cover band, we several dozen songs in our catalog and there are lot of verses and words to remember. I use my phone just to help me in case I have a memory lapse, but having this as floor monitor will be huge. Thanks!
I've just built one using stuff I had kicking around. I used a 24" monitor, an Android TV box to power the monitor, and an old broadband router gives me a local WiFi network, software is Mobilesheets. My Samsung tablet can miracast to the TV box, or viceversa. The Stage prompter can also function stand alone or as a central hub for other tablets to connect to it using the WiFi. Mobilesheets can then sync the setlists and control all the tablet page turns from one foot switch. The other tablets need to be running Mobilesheets as well of course. I couldn't connect my tablet direct to the monitor like yours as Samsung in their infinate wisdom removed that functionality from the Tab A, that meant I had to look for an alternative means of getting the lyrics on the monitor. As it turns out I have finished up with a much more flexible sytem than first planned, result :)
I'm 60 years old. I've been a live performer for 43 years. I currently play guitar and sing in a 3 piece Classic Rock cover band with my brother and a lifelong friend. I also play bass and sing in another 3 piece band with my son and daughter. In addition, I have a solo acoustic show. Most all current venues offering live music in my area are brewpubs. They all want a 3 hour show. Our current setlist for each band consists of about 40 songs plus about 5 spares. My setlist for my solo acoustic show consists of 60 songs plus spares. The reason that setlist is longer is because I play 3 hours without taking breaks plus there are fewer instrumental solos. For all 3 acts, I provide sound and lighting and mix from stage. I also provide large print lyric sheets for heavy duty 1 inch three ring binder notebooks. The songs are held in premium clear sleeves. We perform with the notebooks on music stands and turn pages between songs. As we learn new material, we simply rotate songs in and out of the notebooks. This approach works well for us. However, the drummer in each band photographs each song and loads it onto a tablet they mount on a stand since notebooks are difficult amid drums. But they carry the notebooks as backup.
Not sure if this has been said yet. There’s an app called ableset that acts as a remote for ableton backing trax. It also has a feature to display lyrics karaoke style which is controlled by a midi track in ableton. That could easily be sent to your DIY wedge.
That's very cool. But having a tablet up there kinda defeats the purpose eh? Altho I think somewhere in your video it does say you can hide the tablet in the monitor ?
Thanks! I really appreciate it. With this setup, the tablet stays on the floor, out of the audience's view, instead of being up high on a mic stand. Since you can’t easily read the all the lyrics from the tablet, putting it on the monitor makes everything super easy to see. You can definitely control it from inside the box, but we like using it to display the setlist so we can quickly glance at all the upcoming songs.
We haven't had any issues. We play outdoors a lot in the summer. The background is black and the text is white, that helps and the monitor has a matte finish. Glossy would glare really bad.
It was an Amazon basics Lightning to HDMI to HDMI with the ability to charge if I needed. amzn.to/446mG5R There are some other brands that work with USBC to Hdmi if that's what yours uses.
Would I be able to use a Andriod Tablet in the same way as you have used the iPad? I have been using Setlist Helper for about 10 years now. I'm sure this will work, but if not, you have given me another option......
I also use Setlist Helper and an Android tablet. I was not able to get the lyrics to display in portrait, couldn't find a rotate function in Setlist Helper.
awesome build! What size computer monitor is that? and height/width? Also what are the full dimensions of that front area of the wedge once you remove the grill? Looking to maximize that space.
I tried a couple monitors that we had lying around. The one I went with is an old 21.5 HP. The inside lip that holds the grill and keeps the scene in place is only about a 1/4" larger than the screen on all sides. It was just luck that it fit so nicely. The outside dimensions are 22 1/2 L x 15 3/4 W on the face of the wedge.
Honestly sometimes this is a pain! If we switch iPads or someone changes the Settings on the Airturn it can be a challenge. I know there is more than one way to do it. Power up the Airturn Make sure it's in mode 2 (keyboard mode for page turning). My singer did not set it up like this but for some reason still works with his iPad. Set up in BandHelper: Open BandHelper and go to Settings > App Control > Set Up Airdirect AirTurn. Then turn it on AirTurn Support and added your unit Then in App Control there is a section called Actions. In there I set Up arrow, Right Arrow,Down Arrow, and Left arrow for previous, next songs, etc I hope you get it. It works great once set up.
So just ro be clear..the footswitch controls the iPad not the wedge? I have this exact set up (bought not built) but I want to cast the setlist helper I've been using on my tablet to the prompter. I think I can do it if I buy that USB to hdmi adapter, but the footswitch it came with connects to the prompter. Will that not work?
This one is a bit finicky, but the one I use with my iPad Pro works flawlessly. Getting one that charges is ideal since generally gigs are for 3-4 hours.
I think it is only a web-based editor on your PC so it doesn't actually run the same. A friend of mine has a prebuilt stage teleprompter that uses a mini PC. Not sure the program it uses, but you use PDF files for the lyrics.
Working on this exact project myself. Using Set List Maker. Two issues I keep running into. 1. How did you get your monitor to do full portrait? My iPad is locked in portrait,monitor is set up portrait but it still refuses to go full screen portrait. Gotta be something silly I'm missing..lol 2. Wanting to use an hdmi pass through splitter for a second monitor. Not having any luck making that work. Being Apple I'm sure something weird about it. Just wondering if you had any experience with this Thanks!!
I use Bandhelper, but I think it's the same company. For me in the General Settings under "External Display". In there is "Rotation " and for our set up I had to choose 270. I haven't tried the use a splitter, but yeah, being Apple, I'm sure it's not plug-and-play.
@@DustinRadtke Yup... I Use its little brother Set List Maker. And you are correct. Digging into External Display was the trick. Now to find a pass thru switch to add a second monitor. Im pretty sure Apple just has it out for me. :-) Thanks for the help.
@@DustinRadtke Thanks! My singer figured it out about an hour after I sent you a message! lol We are using a small guitar stand for the monitor. I'm too old to haul around heavy, wooden monitors!!!
Totally! If a singer just stares at it the whole time, it definitely loses its purpose. But with the larger screen, you can see it from farther away and just glance when needed. Plus, it's great because it doesn’t block the audience's view of you.
thanks for sharing this! we use a similar setup, but with the app 'Stage Traxx 3' which allows you to time-code the lyrics so they scroll perfectly, and that way the font can be MUCH larger. we shared a video here as a sample (along with in-ear monitor audio with cues) th-cam.com/video/ViN7oRh-Aaw/w-d-xo.html
@@DustinRadtke yea exactly. it works best if the band performs with click & tracks as the timing is consistently perfect, but they also have an 'auto scroll' speed editable per song so its very flexible. my favorite part that separates it from other apps is that karaoke-style teleprompting, and ability to color-code, adding chords & arrangement notes too. here's another example 'lyric video' of a mashup we do: th-cam.com/video/vIUohOuZJ-0/w-d-xo.html
![DIY Teleprompter [On A Budget]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IymMzaEdOOE/mqdefault.jpg)
![DIY Teleprompter [On A Budget]](/img/tr.png)
How do I get the lyrics in portrait on the monitor, I have followed your instructions but can't change orientation.
I made a video short for this question. Hopefully this helps you!
th-cam.com/users/shortsDDmj_DXtytE?si=3iQgQTsCo19Hpt7W
mine will still not turn, not sure if here is something else I'm missing
got it with your second video, thank you
@@DustinRadtke I gave tried this with Bandhelper on two tvs and won't rotate to full screen only 1/3 rd . What monitor are you using ?
At 64 years old, I can still sing my ass off, but as I get older I just don't want to store all the lyrics in my head anymore. 50 years singing and in the auto parts business. I can still remember part numbers from 1977 but when it comes to lyrics, I just seem to space out and forget cue words. I do the auto parts stuff everyday, the singing now on a part time basis. The floor lyrics monitor is a saving grace. The way I look at it, if Robert Plant, Tom Jones, Sting, to name a few can use one, then f**k it, so can I. Just glance every now and then as a reminder and bam, you put on a good show.
As a lead singer in a cover band, we several dozen songs in our catalog and there are lot of verses and words to remember. I use my phone just to help me in case I have a memory lapse, but having this as floor monitor will be huge. Thanks!
It helps so much, but be careful, sometimes you get over-reliant on it and look even when you don't need to
I've just built one using stuff I had kicking around. I used a 24" monitor, an Android TV box to power the monitor, and an old broadband router gives me a local WiFi network, software is Mobilesheets.
My Samsung tablet can miracast to the TV box, or viceversa. The Stage prompter can also function stand alone or as a central hub for other tablets to connect to it using the WiFi. Mobilesheets can then sync the setlists and control all the tablet page turns from one foot switch. The other tablets need to be running Mobilesheets as well of course.
I couldn't connect my tablet direct to the monitor like yours as Samsung in their infinate wisdom removed that functionality from the Tab A, that meant I had to look for an alternative means of getting the lyrics on the monitor. As it turns out I have finished up with a much more flexible sytem than first planned, result :)
Love it! There are so many creative ways to solve a problem.
Thanks so much! This should generate more views!!!
I'm glad you found it helpful!
I'm 60 years old. I've been a live performer for 43 years. I currently play guitar and sing in a 3 piece Classic Rock cover band with my brother and a lifelong friend. I also play bass and sing in another 3 piece band with my son and daughter. In addition, I have a solo acoustic show.
Most all current venues offering live music in my area are brewpubs. They all want a 3 hour show.
Our current setlist for each band consists of about 40 songs plus about 5 spares. My setlist for my solo acoustic show consists of 60 songs plus spares. The reason that setlist is longer is because I play 3 hours without taking breaks plus there are fewer instrumental solos.
For all 3 acts, I provide sound and lighting and mix from stage. I also provide large print lyric sheets for heavy duty 1 inch three ring binder notebooks. The songs are held in premium clear sleeves. We perform with the notebooks on music stands and turn pages between songs. As we learn new material, we simply rotate songs in and out of the notebooks.
This approach works well for us. However, the drummer in each band photographs each song and loads it onto a tablet they mount on a stand since notebooks are difficult amid drums. But they carry the notebooks as backup.
I’m not sure why there isn’t more comments on this video. Great idea. Good info with all the equipment. Needed to make this happen. Thanks again.
I have ADHD and I really needed this one.
Brilliant video, excellent simple and concise. Thank you very much for this.
Not sure if this has been said yet. There’s an app called ableset that acts as a remote for ableton backing trax. It also has a feature to display lyrics karaoke style which is controlled by a midi track in ableton. That could easily be sent to your DIY wedge.
Interesting, I'll check it out. We don't use tracks or anything, but I could see this behind quite handy since it works more hands free
Got any vids of you using your set up live in front of an audience? Love to see it. Thanks
No unfortunately, not right off hand. I'll dig through footage to see if I can find any!
Great idea man...we need to do something like this, i appreciate your sharing tutorial....happy new years!
Great idea and execution!! Thanks!
Thanks, I appreciate the kind comment!
Hello.... great video! How did you get the big monitor to show in "Portrait" mode while the iPad is Landscape?
Thanks!
It was an option in Bandhelper to rotate the external monitor.
That's very cool. But having a tablet up there kinda defeats the purpose eh? Altho I think somewhere in your video it does say you can hide the tablet in the monitor ?
Thanks! I really appreciate it.
With this setup, the tablet stays on the floor, out of the audience's view, instead of being up high on a mic stand. Since you can’t easily read the all the lyrics from the tablet, putting it on the monitor makes everything super easy to see. You can definitely control it from inside the box, but we like using it to display the setlist so we can quickly glance at all the upcoming songs.
How well can you see the monitor outdoors during the day? We play a lot of fests that are in the sun.
We haven't had any issues. We play outdoors a lot in the summer.
The background is black and the text is white, that helps and the monitor has a matte finish. Glossy would glare really bad.
Hi Dustin, which model of "old IPad" have you connected to the monitor? Let me Know something more about it...
The one our singer uses is an iPad Air 2 from 2014. We used my 2020 iPad pro once too. Both worked great.
Thanks buddy!
This is awesome, thanks so much for putting this up. My band is doing the same thing, can you help me with which HDMI converter you used?
It was an Amazon basics Lightning to HDMI to HDMI with the ability to charge if I needed. amzn.to/446mG5R
There are some other brands that work with USBC to Hdmi if that's what yours uses.
@@DustinRadtke thanks so much !! trying to make this work with an Ipad Air
Can I use my iPhone if I don’t have an iPad?
I haven’t tested it myself, but it should work. The BandHelper app on the iPhone has all the settings needed to control an external monitor.
@ Thank you so much for the reply 🙏🏽
Would I be able to use a Andriod Tablet in the same way as you have used the iPad? I have been using Setlist Helper for about 10 years now. I'm sure this will work, but if not, you have given me another option......
I also use Setlist Helper and an Android tablet. I was not able to get the lyrics to display in portrait, couldn't find a rotate function in Setlist Helper.
awesome build! What size computer monitor is that? and height/width? Also what are the full dimensions of that front area of the wedge once you remove the grill? Looking to maximize that space.
I tried a couple monitors that we had lying around. The one I went with is an old 21.5 HP.
The inside lip that holds the grill and keeps the scene in place is only about a 1/4" larger than the screen on all sides. It was just luck that it fit so nicely. The outside dimensions are 22 1/2 L x 15 3/4 W on the face of the wedge.
How did you get your monitor into portrait mode instead of landscape?
In the app under general settings, there is a section for External Display. There is a section called Rotation that I changed until it was correct.
Im trying to duplicate this build. But my airturn bt500 /s4 isn't cooperating. What settings did you configure?
Honestly sometimes this is a pain! If we switch iPads or someone changes the Settings on the Airturn it can be a challenge. I know there is more than one way to do it.
Power up the Airturn
Make sure it's in mode 2 (keyboard mode for page turning). My singer did not set it up like this but for some reason still works with his iPad.
Set up in BandHelper: Open BandHelper and go to Settings > App Control > Set Up Airdirect AirTurn. Then turn it on AirTurn Support and added your unit
Then in App Control there is a section called Actions. In there I set Up arrow, Right Arrow,Down Arrow, and Left arrow for previous, next songs, etc
I hope you get it. It works great once set up.
Great video. How did you get the lyrics in portrait mode? Mine will only work in landscape mode.
Thanks! I have a couple shorts on possible fixes, but this one is probably your issue.
th-cam.com/users/shorts189tMknq1Mk
@DustinRadtke thanks so much for this information!! I will try this when I am infront of my unit! Fingers crossed. Thanks for your time!
So just ro be clear..the footswitch controls the iPad not the wedge? I have this exact set up (bought not built) but I want to cast the setlist helper I've been using on my tablet to the prompter. I think I can do it if I buy that USB to hdmi adapter, but the footswitch it came with connects to the prompter. Will that not work?
Yep, The footswitch we use controls the app via Bluetooth, and the monitor is just a second display really.
@@DustinRadtkewhere did you get the foot switch?
That’s cool, and I had no idea they made an HDMI converter for the iPad.
This one is a bit finicky, but the one I use with my iPad Pro works flawlessly. Getting one that charges is ideal since generally gigs are for 3-4 hours.
How did you get the monitor in portrait mode
I made short on it.
th-cam.com/users/shortsDDmj_DXtytE
Can this be done with a tablet?
Never tried it with an android tablet, but Bandhelper is on Android so I'd imagine you can.
Will the band helper software work with a Windows 10 pc
What foot switch did you use?
We used an Airturn. It was built nice, but kind of a paint to sync.
great video dustin..can i a use a mini computer like a dell windows pc 20 gb hd? does bandhelper work with desktop pc?
I think it is only a web-based editor on your PC so it doesn't actually run the same.
A friend of mine has a prebuilt stage teleprompter that uses a mini PC. Not sure the program it uses, but you use PDF files for the lyrics.
Very helpful
Does it take some kind of app to make this work? I''m getting nothing....
Yes, I use Bandhelper.
Thanks for reply...but what I meant was an app to get the "picture" from Ipad to monitor. I haven't been able to make that happen.
It's all done through the Bandhelper app and a HDMI dongle to the monitor.
Working on this exact project myself. Using Set List Maker.
Two issues I keep running into.
1. How did you get your monitor to do full portrait? My iPad is locked in portrait,monitor is set up portrait but it still refuses to go full screen portrait. Gotta be something silly I'm missing..lol
2. Wanting to use an hdmi pass through splitter for a second monitor. Not having any luck making that work. Being Apple I'm sure something weird about it. Just wondering if you had any experience with this
Thanks!!
I use Bandhelper, but I think it's the same company. For me in the General Settings under "External Display". In there is "Rotation " and for our set up I had to choose 270.
I haven't tried the use a splitter, but yeah, being Apple, I'm sure it's not plug-and-play.
@@DustinRadtke Yup... I Use its little brother Set List Maker. And you are correct. Digging into External Display was the trick. Now to find a pass thru switch to add a second monitor. Im pretty sure Apple just has it out for me. :-) Thanks for the help.
@@DustinRadtke Hey Dustin - Do you mean the General Settings in the iPad?
No, these are settings inside the BandHelper app
@@DustinRadtke Thanks! My singer figured it out about an hour after I sent you a message! lol We are using a small guitar stand for the monitor. I'm too old to haul around heavy, wooden monitors!!!
Genius!😀
So instead of looking down at the iPad you're looking down at the wedge. FAIL.
Totally! If a singer just stares at it the whole time, it definitely loses its purpose. But with the larger screen, you can see it from farther away and just glance when needed. Plus, it's great because it doesn’t block the audience's view of you.
Try Dylan songs with 20 verses then talk to me😂
thanks for sharing this! we use a similar setup, but with the app 'Stage Traxx 3' which allows you to time-code the lyrics so they scroll perfectly, and that way the font can be MUCH larger. we shared a video here as a sample (along with in-ear monitor audio with cues) th-cam.com/video/ViN7oRh-Aaw/w-d-xo.html
Interesting! You wouldn't have to worry about losing your spot then. Thanks, I'll take a look at the app.
@@DustinRadtke yea exactly. it works best if the band performs with click & tracks as the timing is consistently perfect, but they also have an 'auto scroll' speed editable per song so its very flexible. my favorite part that separates it from other apps is that karaoke-style teleprompting, and ability to color-code, adding chords & arrangement notes too. here's another example 'lyric video' of a mashup we do: th-cam.com/video/vIUohOuZJ-0/w-d-xo.html
And age. Memory . And just not liking the song. I'm bad at remembering lyrics to songs I don't care for. My bad. But.
It's nice to fall back on, but it is super easy to get locked into the screen.
🤦 'Promo sm'!!
I wish! I could use the extra money to buy eggs!🙂
Your monitor is 24 inch ? Thank you !
Yep, 24"
Thank you ! God bless you!
Thanks so much!