AirTurn's BT-105 footpedal is a real page turner (video)
By Sean Hollister 
posted July 19th 2010 9:06AM
posted July 19th 2010 9:06AM
AirTurn to Launch Bluetooth iPad Page Turner Footswitch for Musicians in Q4 2010
AirTurn is developing a Bluetooth page turning footswitch for the iPad and other Bluetooth-enabled computers to help musicians turn sheet music pages hands free.
Boulder, CO (PRWEB) July 13, 2010
AirTurn, Inc. is introducing a first look at its prototype Bluetooth BT-105 page turner footswitch for the iPad and other Bluetooth-equipped computers. While the iPad is a terrific tool for reading digital sheet music, its functionality is actually hampered by the need to touch or swipe the screen to turn pages. For musicians who need both hands to play their instruments, removing a hand to momentarily touch the screen for page turns can be distracting at best and disruptive to the music at worst.
The AirTurn BT-105 automatic page turner footswitch is being designed for musicians who need to turn sheet music pages hands free. The AirTurn BT-105 connects wirelessly to an iPad or other Bluetooth-equipped computer and is triggered by foot switches to turn pages forwards and backwards. Some apps and programs that feature half page zoomed views of the music will also feature the ability to turn pages with the Bluetooth AirTurn half a page at a time. The final version of the AirTurn BT-105 will be miniaturized.
By allowing musicians to keep their hands on their instrument at all times, the Bluetooth AirTurn makes computers and tablet devices like the iPad fully usable as digital sheet music readers. Page turns are almost "magical" and completely discreet with a simple tap of the foot, allowing musicians to fully focus on the music itself.
The AirTurn BT-105 is expected to be available Q4 2010.
AirTurn, Inc., a Boulder, Colorado based company, creates and markets technologies to enhance the study, practice and performance of music. Airturn was formed in 2008. Its co-founder and VP of Communications, Hugh Sung, is also a professional pianist on the faculty of the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music and one of the most sought-after collaborative pianists in the classical music field.
More details on AirTurn and its current line of page turning systems can be found at AirTurn's website.
"In the many years of having the added stress of turning pages, or having someone do so in performance, the AirTurn is a most welcome addition to the concert and recording platform. It is a unique device which enables us to avoid the extra worry, and play seamlessly as though we are not using the score. In time, more artists will discover this wonderful invention and incorporate it into their performances." - Jeffrey Biegel, Concert Pianist
if i see another unnecessary ipad usage, i will puke!
@mahmut Clearly you've never had to turn pages.
@Baconbits you're right, it's never been the only problem. but if i could spend so much money just to turn pages, i would hire a pianist.
@mahmut
I hate the iPad ... but I think that this actually looks pretty useful
Although I do wonder if this or something similar has been around for years and just never gotten any press because it hasn't been on an iProduct? ... hummm
@mahmut
I don;t know what to say about this.... fail...
I would rather develop App that sync with conductor's iPad. So people will be able to just play their instrument and not worry about turning pages.
ps.What if I have to play instrument outside? Do I have to use Kindle or Pixel Qi tablet? or Just Use paper version.
@hazardouswaster Yes, these things have been around for a while in USB form for real computers.
http://www.musicreader.net/
http://www.bilila.com/pagescore_turner
@mahmut People will h8 Apple even in a post about a device to help musicians turn score pages (albeit on an iPad). Any excuse, I guess. H8ers are just fanboys in reverse.
why not have the ipad or iwhatever listen to what you play and turn itself when you're at the end of the page??
@inspiron41
There's your killer app. Go to it!
@inspiron41
In fact why not just get the iPad to play the music for you too? Then you don't have to worry about turning the pages at all!
@inspiron41
That's a good idea but I still like to scan 2-3 bars ahead and turn my pages early. I think that is a fairly common practice. Bluetooth foot control looks good but iPad swiping via finger is still probably* easier than turning the pages of sticky, mangled sheet music.
*Not that I have an iPad!!!
@inspiron41
Why don't they just make a set of pedals to simply plug into one of the usb ports? Wait.... oh yeah....
@inspiron41 Done.
http://www.smartmusic.com/Default.aspx
Oh wait, no iPad app for that.
@inspiron41
I had the same idea some time ago. I think it would be a good idea, kind of like guitar hero with real instruments.
Just by counting the key strokes, you can scroll the page.
and don't need to think about it as pages cause its scrollable.
one long page.
I can tell that this presenter didn't have a "hands-free" experience last night, if ya know what I mean. *wink wink*
@chaosmint
If I understand correctly what is "HANDS FREE EXPERIENCE".....
it requires FULL BODY GESTURE...like Microsoft Kinect.
Ok, so.. here's the thing. I thought of this (except using a "generic" LCD screen) in, like, 1976, when it SHOULD HAVE been made. Except... twice as wide, and the size of orchestral sheet music. Hey dude (in the picture): get over yourself; you look like a douche. It's not that great.
That is pure awesomeness!!! I have been thinking about using using my iPad to display sheet music instead of my netbook, but this can take it to another level. I didn't even hear about notebook version of the pedal. I'm so getting one when it's out!
Am I the only person who thought this was Miyamoto-san at first glance?
as a professional pianist that's been performing and teaching for 27 years, here's my two cents on this load of claptrap:
1) footpedals to turn your pages - really? then what are your feet doing when playing? surely those brass knobs attached to the bottom of the piano are more than just footrests to provide entertainment to your feet!
2) this breeds a whole new level of laziness for pianists. learn to turn your own pages while playing - it's not difficult at all.
3) if there IS a conflict in page turning, get a slave to do it during your concerts. they're plentiful to find, and they can be bought cheaper than this product.
4) if you really have to read your music while performing - and on a screen far smaller than most musical scores - you blew it big time. because ultimately, you COULD have just memorize your music and saved yourself 40 bucks for coffee, a couple slaves as mentioned in the previous point, and possibly another piano lesson to get schooled on your laziness.
@1230asdf I agree that this seems like a really odd contraption for pianist, but for string players (I play the violin), this is actually a very useful tool. I never use my feet but because I use both my hands all the time to play, I literally have to stop (if I am playing more than 2-3 sheets of music, which happen more often than not), turn the page, get the next 2-3 pages of sheet music in order, then start playing again. The ability to play continuously with this would be very helpful, although I wouldn't say that it's completely necessary.
@1230asdf I agree with elbarto83. Pianists can keep the music going in the left hand while they turn. For a violinist or a violist to turn, everything stops, even if for a short time. That's why we usually share stands in an ensemble, so one can stop and turn and the other can keep playing. And yes, it's great when you can memorize for a solo recital. We tend to read more as we only have one line of music to look at. Chamber music is really where something like this can take off. You're the only one on your part and you're expected to play every single note - not drop a measure at a page turn. The iPad really is too small for music on a stand though. I've been doing something similar with an HP TC1100 for a while now. There are a number of USB foot pedals to choose from, and tablets do come in bigger screen sizes if I ever wanted to bump up from the 10.4" of the hp. I have had an eye on the 12" motion le1700.
@1230asdf
God, you're so stupid! Has it crossed your mind that maybe this is for people who haven't necessaryly "been performing and teaching for 27 years"???
And then there's the part about buying a slave. Really? How old are you again? I'm starting to doubt your "27 years" of playing and teaching.
@vqro: turning the page yourself while playing takes a few moments to learn and costs you nothing. over 2 decades of playing and teaching is not a prerequisite, but i mention my years of experience to help provide some credibility from an actual musician - apparently, it means nothing to you since you're so apt to sling mud at a total stranger.
i point these things out as a piano teacher so that not everyone blows their money on something that's not helpful to playing the piano effectively. if you've ever performed scores of music that required 40+ page turns, you probably should've memorized the music or hired a page-turner.
you still miss my main point that your feet are busy with the piano's pedals as well - why have another set of pedals unless you're playing the organ?
that said, i'm not totally discrediting the usefulness of the AirTurn. it's understandable if it's used for some contemporary works which don't afford ample time for page-turning, but i would still default to a person to help turn my pages, as that's one less thing i need to consider while focusing on performing.
also, as a violinist, i definitely see practical use for the AirTurn in ensembles and orchestras since your stand partner needs to stop playing to be the page-turner; heck, even for solo playing i would be up for. but again, my point was that it's not a good tool for the pianist.
apparently, sarcasm doesn't translate well to you; when i said "slave", i jokingly meant the person who turns your page. so don't be stupid yourself, okay? 'kay.
@1230asdf
First, this can be a very useful device for collaborative pianists (formerly known as accompanists), where memorization of music is often (usually) not an option, and even if possible, usually not advisable. (that is, most good collaborative pianists will have large portions of the music memorized, but will still use the score for the same reason other chamber musicians use a score).
Second, hiring (or "volunteering") a human page-turner, while practical for single performances (as a collaborator), is still a pain for rehearsals - whether personal rehearsals, or with the other collaborating musician(s).
Third, while learning to "turn your own pages" is admirable, even virtuous, it still doesn't solve the all-too-frequent situation of needing to use both hands for passages right at the point of the page turn.
Fourth, the right foot is obviously heavily involved much of the time in operating the damper pedal, but the una corda and sostenuto pedals are used much less frequently for most music - so put the page-turn pedal on the left.
I think the airturn is a great idea (and if you visit their website, you'll see that they have products designed to be used with a wide variety of devices - not just the ipad).
The pedals have more wires than the rest of it.
Couldn't the whole thing be made wireless? Those pedals are huge, I am sure batteries that last longer than the iPad could watch for a single click could fit in each one.
I noticed that when Harry Connick Jr was on American idol this season, he and his orchestra all had their sheet music on LCD panels. I wonder if they were using some sort of synchronization system to keep everyone together w/o a conductor.
Chao.....LESLIE Chao.