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  • 1.  Best Apps for Directors

    Posted 02-11-2025 08:04

    Thanks to a grant, I got me a fancy new iPad specifically for my theatre program! I bought it for my mics and music....but what other apps are your must haves? Preferably free apps?



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    Analiese Hamm
    ECS Performing Arts Director
    Echols County High School
    Statenville GA
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  • 2.  RE: Best Apps for Directors

    Posted 02-12-2025 13:11

    Hello there.  I have to ask, if you want to use it for mics and sound playback, can you return or exchange the iPad?  For playback you would really want to have a full Mac so that you can use QLab. There isn't much available for iPad in the way of real playback software that does everything needed for theatre.

    Just a thought!



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    Kirk Longhofer
    Theatrical Sound Design, Audio Production, Editing and Engineering
    Systems Design and Consultation
    www.technopraxis.org
    kirk@technoprasix.org
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Best Apps for Directors

    Posted 02-12-2025 14:28

    QLab does mics?!



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    Josh Kauffman
    Teacher, Thespian Society/Drama Club sponsor
    Winfield City Schools
    Winfield, AL
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Best Apps for Directors

    Posted 02-12-2025 15:04

    Actually, yes.  It can handle live audio sources, but it's a fairly specialized use and probably not what you would want to do to handle mics in a theatrical setting.

    kdl



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    Kirk Longhofer
    Theatrical Sound Design, Audio Production, Editing and Engineering
    Systems Design and Consultation
    www.technopraxis.org
    kirk@technoprasix.org
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Best Apps for Directors

    Posted 02-13-2025 08:06

    Well, I do have a Mac too, but have not utilized QLab before. I will have to look into that.  I have an app for my mics, and then I use iPads for my music too. I was curious about StageWrite or Stage Hub?  Anyone have experience with these?



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    Analiese Hamm
    ECS Performing Arts Director
    Echols County High School
    Statenville GA
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Best Apps for Directors

    Posted 02-15-2025 23:50

    On my iPad for school productions, I use GoButton which I think was designed by the same company that designed QLab. It cannot handle multiple mediums like run lights, projections, sound and mics like QLab can... But it is great for sound cueing and it is free for one production and not that expensive for more. I do consider QLab an industry standard at this point, so I do like introducing my sound / tech students to GoButton and QLab when I can. I love audacity (Audacity Audio & Recorder) for sound editing and SoundTrap as I find GarageBand robust but far less intuitive to be honest.  Those are my quick thoughts on apps that may be helpful. Cheers!



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    Colleen Mylott
    Secondary Theatre Teacher
    Peak to Peak Charter School
    Lafayette, CO
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Best Apps for Directors

    Posted 02-18-2025 09:34

    Analiese,

    First off - use the free download of QLab it is awesome. 
    Second, I have been using StageWrite for years and I LOVE IT. If you use it on an MTI show - it come pre-loaded with all the scenes charted out for who is in the scenes. It also allows you to add in all the extra ensemble that we HS director love to include. And it has the digital script so you can connect the chart to the part of the script your blocking matches.

    You build these charts for each blocking configuration you have. And can track all the scenes movement. I have done this two ways - one - pre-blocking the scenes or having your stage manager chart it while you are in rehearsal.

    Your choreographer can also use this for dance blocking as well! 

    Then, what I also love about this is my sound and lighting designers have access and they can start plotting the cues they need and adding them to the script and the lighting designer knows exactly where to place spot cues as it collates to the number line. 
    THEN during the run of the show - the stage manager can see both sound and lighting designers cues as we run the show show off iPads or on the StageWrite Anywhere online website.

    So, all in all, I LOVE StageWrite. And anyone can use it because it is so user friendly - I have had 4th grade stage managers for my kids shows use it to chart the blocking.

    highly recommend. 



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    Scott Brusven
    Artistic Director of Theatre
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    Original Message


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