eStand - Collaborative Systems for Musicians and Education

Company Information - Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

• How does the eStand work?
• What are the advantages of the eStand compared to the Freehand Music Pad?
• How is music loaded into the eStand?
• How are pages turned?
• How are markings and edits transmitted to the music?
• I downloaded files from eStand.com. How come I can’t print them?
• Can I import music software programs like Finale™ or Sibelius^a?
• How much music can be stored in the eStand?
• I downloaded music from eStand.com for my eStand, why doesn’t it open on another eStand?
• What are the copyright issues, especially for music not in the public domain?
• What hardware do I need for an eStand?
• Is the eStand available for bands or orchestras?
• Will the eStand be quiet enough for use in a studio?
• What are the eStand’s networking capabilities?
• How do I use the eStand on a music stand?
• Can the eStand be exported to Europe?
• How does eStand help the visually impaired?

How does the eStand work?
The user interface is completely “musician intuitive.” Without too much “tech-talk,” here's how the eStand Digital Music Workstation works: The processor retrieves and processes stored music data, and displays it as a digital image on a computer screen. Once a music file is loaded into the eStand’s library (e.g. saved on the hard drive), it’s a simple matter to view it, annotate and save it.

What are the advantages of the eStand Mobile Tablet (with eStand Professional Software) compared to the Freehand Music Pad Pro?

The eStand Mobile Tablet has a larger screen. At 14.1” versus 12.1” it’s over 1/3 larger.
The eStand Mobile Tablet has 25% higher resolution (1280 x 768 versus 1024 x 768).
The eStand Mobile Tablet comes standard with 60 GB of storage (versus 96 MB on the Music Pad Pro), over 600 times more storage for your sheet music library.
The eStand Mobile Tablet features 512 MB of RAM (versus 64 MB for the Music Pad Pro), 8 times the RAM to improve performance.
With the eStand Mobile Tablet, you can connect the eStand dual Footswitches, enabling movement both forward and backward in your music. The Music Pad Pro has only a single footswitch option.
Because the eStand Mobile Tablet is integrated into a Gateway computer, we are able to offer a standard 3 year warranty (versus the one year warranty included with the Music Pad Pro).
Only the eStand Mobile Tablet is a full-fledged Windows XP computer system capable of satisfying all music creation, scanning, downloading, viewing and annotating needs. It can even run Finale, Sibelius, Encore, Microsoft Office, web browsers and more. There is no comparison.

How is music loaded into the eStand?
Music can be brought into eStand Professional in several ways. The easiest is direct download of an .eSF file from eStand.com. Printed sheet music can be scanned, digitized (in a compatible format such as JPEG) and then loaded into the eStand. Sheet music already in digital formats (e.g., PDF, TIFF, JPEG) can be input from any medium, including flash RAM, CD-ROM, hard disk drives or downloaded from the Internet, etc. and then loaded into the eStand.

Music can also be imported from most music software programs such as Finale^a or Sibelius^a.

How are pages turned?
Page turns (forwards or backwards) are simple with the eStand. They can be accomplished either by keystroke, mouse click or by touching the screen (on a touchscreen system, such as the eStand Mobile Tablet).

And you’ll never have to take your hands from your instrument again with the optional footswitch.

There are a number of page-turning options that can be pre-programmed, with relation to speed or type of transition.

How are markings and edits transmitted to the music?
The user can write personal markings and edits directly on the screen with a mouse or a stylus (on a touchscreen system, such as the eStand Mobile Tablet). All markings can be saved, deleted or changed at any time. Various versions of a piece of music with different markings can be stored in the eStand.

I downloaded files from eStand.com. How come I can’t print them?
Certain downloaded music is sold without print rights. We are able to offer music in a view-only format for pricing that is significantly less than the price of printed or printable sheet music.

Can I import music software programs like Finale™ or Sibelius^a?
Yes. All music software programs are compatible with eStand software as long as they can print music. Saved files can be imported from the music software program to the eStand via any medium such as a USB connection. In the future we hope to be able to offer a more thorough and direct interface between other programs and our eStand technology.

How much music can be stored in the eStand?
The music storage is limited only by your storage. Typically each page of music requires 50KB. That means approximately 20,000 pages of black and white music can be stored on 10GB of hard drive space. Your annotations on the music and color pages will require additional space but for virtually all users the number of pages that can be stored is not a problem.

I downloaded music from eStand.com for my eStand, why doesn’t it open on another eStand?
Some downloaded music from eStand is device-specific, meaning that it is for use only on a single authorized device and can’t be freely transferred between eStand devices. This is to protect the copyright of the owner of the music. To load a copy of this song on another device, you must buy another copy.

What are the copyright issues, especially for music not in the public domain?

The same issues that currently exist for paper sheet music apply to music electronically distributed. Legal rights to the music are obtained by the publishers and digital versions are available directly from multiple venders. There is a great deal of music available that is in the public domain, and these works can be scanned in the eStand or electronically imported. Generally, you also have the right to make an archival copy for your own use. A scanned version for the eStand may be considered in compliance with that situation. Please check with a copyright attorney as to your rights in any specific instance. eStand systems also provide data rights protection features for copyrighted commercially obtained music. eSTAND ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO RESPECT COPYRIGHTS.

If I buy only the eStand Professional Software, what hardware do I need?
If you elect not to purchase the eStand Mobile Tablet, but instead decide to purchase eStand software for installation on your own computer, most Windows XP systems will be perfectly compatible. The basic requirements are Windows XP, 128MB RAM (256MB or more preferred), USB port for the optional footswitch and available disk storage for music (1GB or more recommended). A minimum screen resolution of XGA (1024x768) is recommended but the system will optimally adapt to your display. Our research shows that most musicians prefer at least a 14” screen. The system is designed primarily for use with a touch screen but can be used with any pointing device such as the standard mouse or a pen tablet. Windows XP Tablet® computers should be compatible with the eStand system.

eStand software can be run in portrait or landscape configuration, so a laptop turned on its side becomes a perfect eStand system. Although not supported or warranted by eStand, individuals can purchase a touch screen overlay from a third-party vendor to give your eStand touch screen capabilities.

How can I get networkable eStand systems for bands or orchestras??
A networked version of eStand is available for groups of any size. This version is available directly through eStand as a customized installation.

Collaborative networking is a major eStand feature. It is an awesome and powerful new paradigm, ultimately improving the quality of the performance and quality of life of the performers. Network connectivity is synchronized between multiple units, instantly sharing information and score changes from one eStand to other specified eStands. The musician can send and distribute edits to select performers or to the entire orchestra/ensemble - providing significant time and cost savings in the process. All marks can be saved and delivered via the network to the librarian's computer for archival storage, management, revision control, final editing to the score and more.

From two to two hundred users, from duets to full symphony with choral, eStand Systems will tailor a solution that fits your needs. Contact eStand directly for more information.

Can I use eStand technology for recording – is it quiet enough for use in a studio?
Yes! eStand Professional Performer™ Series are fanless and offer a diskless (flash RAM) version for totally silent operation using eStand Silent Footswitches. The eStand Mobile Tablet is almost completely silent as are the optional Silent Footswitches. With eStand Professional Software, the system is only as noisy as your computer setup.

What are the different levels of networking capabilities with eStand products?
As discussed above, fully networkable eStand systems are available directly from e-Stand, Inc.

However, as to file transfer, since eStand software works on a Windows computer, all your computer’s networking capabilities are available to it. As a result, it’s easy to transfer files between systems. Additionally, there is a networked version of the eStand software that lets users work together, sharing music, annotation, notes and other information. In the networked version, music need only be loaded into one system and then wirelessly transmitted to other eStands (provided that the music has sharing rights). The networked version of eStand is only available through special order from eStand; contact us at info@eStand.com for more information.

How do I use the eStand on a music stand?
The eStand Mobile Tablet will easily sit on most stable, hard-backed commercially available music stands. It weighs about six pounds, so your music stand must be able to support that weight. We also recommend that you anchor the eStand Tablet to your music stand to keep it from being knocked off. If you intend to install eStand software on your own laptop, it will also work well on a stand if the laptop can fully open flat. We are currently in the process of designing a bracket for the eStand Mobile Tablet as well as a custom music stand.

Can the eStand be exported to Europe?
eStand software and footswitches can be exported to most countries in Europe. We only offer custom computer solutions for export. Alternatively, you can purchase a Tablet Computer locally for installation of the software. There may be compatibility issues with respect to the encryption engine in non-U.S. versions of Windows XP, so, if there is a problem, contact us at info@eStand.com so that we can help you determine if your operating system will be compatible.

How does eStand help the visually impaired?
eStand can significantly improve or even help re-open the use of sheet music to the visually impaired. In Split Screen Mode, eStand can magnify your music to 100% or even more.

To achieve this result use the "split" feature, which enables you to split the screen for viewing. To best utilize this feature you would keep your screen in landscape orientation. Select the following options in the software. First choose the "Bookmark" feature, then choose the "Split" option. Then choose the "Full" screen mode. With a 15" screen the sheet music is magnified about 40%. Work with a larger screen (17", 19" or 21") and gain increased magnification as compared to paper. A 19" screen, for example, almost doubles the width of your paper music.

You may need to manually set the locations that the splits occur, as indicated by the light blue line on the screen, if the split happens to fall in the middle of a staff. When you "turn" the page, eStand will move to the next part of the split page, not the next page.

Another helpful feature for the visually impaired is the zoom feature, which enables you to zoom in closely in order to make notations on your music.

We hope that you find these features helpful and they allow you to continue to enjoy music performance.

Home