TromboneChat

I tried looking up bluetooth page turner recommendations on the forum and wasn't very successful. I'm specifically looking at 2, but would be open to other ideas.

BlueTurn - https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... CyEALw_wcB

Butterfly bluetooth page turner - https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... ning-pedal

I have experience with the butterfly turner, and know a lot of people that use and like the BlueTurn. This would be specifically used for wedding gigs along with being affixed to my pedal board when I bust that out for gigs with my brass band.

I'm just looking for something that works seamlessly with my iPad along with being durable. I'm open to other options too.

I also found this stomp foot pedal. This might be the most durable and fit in well on my pedal board. Any thoughts and recommendations?
https://www.soundbrenner.com/products/stomp-foot-pedal

It's a little spendy, but the STOMP from Coda is built like a tank: https://www.codamusictech.com/products/ ... or-tablets

Edit: missed that you linked to it in your post. But, yeah, it's solid.

I have the BlueTurn and like it a lot, it works in every situation.
I had an AirTurn Ped before, and it just didn't work in some conditions (playing at home in socks, playing in rooms with carpet, etc.) and I very much prefer the mechanical feedback of the BlueTurn.

I have both an AirTurn Duo500 (which I got first) and an AirTurn BT500S-2. Both work very well (at least with MobileSheets, on either Windows or Chromebook). Both work on a rug, but I don't know about the socks issue.

I prefer the BT500S-2. It's built like a tank, less expensive than the Duo500, smaller, and easier/more pleasant for me to use. It's the one that travels with me to rehearsals and gigs. The Duo500 now lives at home on the floor for practicing. Some people (usually some kind of "stage performer") complain about the slight clicking sound the BT500S-2 makes, but it's really not perceptible -- except maybe if you're mic'd in a certain way? Both work really well.

I have the 4 button version of the BlueTurn. It works OK but can be hard to actuate with some shoes and or rugs. I replaced the BlueTurn with a BT500S-2. The hardware switches give a more positive feedback. I like the smaller size compared to the large paddle versions.

I have a Donner brand. It’s held up over years indoors, outdoors, and everywhere. No complaints; I’d buy one again. I believe it was somewhere in the realm of $50-75.

sacfxdx wrote: Sat Apr 05, 2025 11:53 am I like the smaller size compared to the large paddle versions.

Yes ... I was surprised to discover this. But the small unit and small "button" size just seems to be easier to use. And the "positive feedback" you mention is also a big difference. I found that with the larger paddles, every now and then I wouldn't press hard enough because of the lack of feedback.

Flic button

Wilco wrote: Sat Apr 05, 2025 1:28 pmFlic button

They are quite nice, but there are a couple of drawbacks. At least when I tried it, it didn't support MS Windows. And in general, I think I prefer a foot-operated approach rather than (with a double valve bass) having one that requires finger/thumb operation. But they definitely offer some advantages.

Tried both of those. I definitely prefer to Butterfly because it's easier tapable and the risk of kicking it around is much less.

Been satisfied with the AirTurn Duo. Has a lot of potential features I’m unlikely to ever use eg midi controller. In retrospect a simpler cheaper pedal would have done all I needed ie just turn pages.

Go get a “TikTok scrolling ring” on Amazon. Fits on the cork barrel and is like $12 on Amazon.

Cheers,
Andy

elmsandr wrote: Sat Apr 05, 2025 8:27 pm Go get a “TikTok scrolling ring” on Amazon. Fits on the cork barrel and is like $12 on Amazon.

Cheers,
Andy

That sounds like a good idea! I’ve been using a zip tie to connect a flic switch to my trombone.

Markey (and acolytes) seem to do fine with a Flic and the 3D printed mount available on Etsy. It didn’t gel with me. The delay on single tap (while it waits for the possibility of a second) was too aggravating.

Back to the OP, that STOMP is very cool. The 9V battery is a little eyebrow-raising: not a deal-breaker but makes me think whether I want to keep another battery around. If it had an 18650 cell, charge controller, and a USB-C port it would be an easier sell for me. The form factor seems perfect.

bitbckt wrote: Sun Apr 06, 2025 7:28 am The delay on single tap (while it waits for the possibility of a second) was too aggravating.

I suppose you could assign the most common function to a double-tap instead.

AtomicClock wrote: Sun Apr 06, 2025 7:37 am

bitbckt wrote: Sun Apr 06, 2025 7:28 am The delay on single tap (while it waits for the possibility of a second) was too aggravating.

I suppose you could assign the most common function to a double-tap instead.

I tried that, and have advised others to do the same. In practice, for me, I need both functions often enough that I will inevitably be annoyed by the delay at the least opportune time. Rearranging pages in ForScore to place DC/DS on forward page turns also helps, until it doesn’t.

So, you can time breath, tongue, and slide motion AND figure out how to physically reach to move a piece of paper, but not when you need to push a button to have the screen move? Look ahead! If you can’t have two measures a page memorized… I wouldn’t consider myself prepared for a performance.

Not saying that I don’t have to consider for each page turn when to turn the page and even add a mark to the music, but this isn’t that difficult. Proper preparation prevents poor performance and all.

Cheers,
Andy

Learn how to use half page turns in forscore and that (very small) delay from the flic button becomes a very minor problem.

I suppose honesty on the internet begs those trite responses. No, half page turns (which I also use) and looking ahead a few bars do not compensate when reading a new chart Airdropped a few minutes earlier.

I didn’t intend to start an indictment of the Flic. It just doesn’t work for me. Maybe a more positive anecdote would convince the OP (and maybe even me!) versus the pedals that just … work.

bitbckt wrote: Sun Apr 06, 2025 7:28 am The 9V battery is a little eyebrow-raising: not a deal-breaker but makes me think whether I want to keep another battery around.

Many people are (or should be) replacing a still perfectly good 9V battery in their smoke alarms every 6 months. Some alarms now come with 10-year batteries. But if you have the old style, I bet the leftover batteries still have plenty of juice to power a footswitch.

I appreciate all the recommendations. I ended up going with the Donner page turner. The one that looks like a FX pedal (linked below) . The biggest thing that sold me was the fact that it's rechargeable. One of my good friends uses the regular looking Donner turner and really loves it.

https://www.amazon.com/Donner-Wireless- ... 79498&th=1

I will say though, it was really hard not to shell out that cash for the STOMP by Coda. That thing looks legit. But if this Donner doesn't work out and I want to stay in the same price range, I'll probably roll with the butterfly.

As far at the Flic is concerned, I don't want my hand controlling my page turns. I can try to explain it, but it would be too wordy. Let's just say my left hand moves a lot while I play.

I'm circling back on this. I finally got a chance to use the Donner pedal on a gig the other night and I was very displeased by it. I kind of expected that for $60 it wouldn't be high quality, but I plan to return it.

Forgive my lack of imagination. What makes a pedal good or bad?

In my experience I had issues with the power button. Sometimes I would press it down and it would lock down and nothing would happen. So I would have to release it and try again.

Also, when I would step on the button to turn the page it wouldn't always turn right away. I ended up having stop using it during the gig because it just stopped working.

The new AirTurn ped500 works great. Yes, I have tested it on carpets. Highly recommended.

I'm a bit late, but I have this ($28, down to about $22 with coupon):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GYHWGYH?re ... asin_title

VERY solid build quality, solid metal stompbox like a guitar pedal. It's a little tricky to get setup, but it works great on my iPad.

ghmerrill wrote: Sat Apr 05, 2025 10:58 am I have both an AirTurn Duo500 (which I got first) and an AirTurn BT500S-2. Both work very well (at least with MobileSheets, on either Windows or Chromebook). Both work on a rug, but I don't know about the socks issue.

I prefer the BT500S-2. It's built like a tank, less expensive than the Duo500, smaller, and easier/more pleasant for me to use. It's the one that travels with me to rehearsals and gigs. The Duo500 now lives at home on the floor for practicing. Some people (usually some kind of "stage performer") complain about the slight clicking sound the BT500S-2 makes, but it's really not perceptible -- except maybe if you're mic'd in a certain way? Both work really well.

Does one of these have the analog switch?

WGWTR180 wrote: Mon Nov 03, 2025 11:20 am Does one of these have the analog switch?

I'm not sure what you're looking for here, but if you search for "BT500S analog" you'll discover the BT500S-6 which claims to be an "analog controller". There also appear to be some YouTube videos on this controller. None of the other BT500 products seem to support this.

I'm for the Flic. The slight delay doesn't bother me. I set my ForScore for half page turns and click well ahead of needs. It's small, so carrying it all the time in my case is easy. Battery has lasted a year so far. Just changed to be cautious. Foot pedal (Butterfly) was fine, but was a bigger bit to carry, and didn't always fit the available floor space at the gig. I use one for my bass and a separate for the big tenor. Using on an iPad.

Just started using a Flic recently. I like it so far. The delay doesn't bother me with half-page turns in ForScore, and the placement of the button on tenor falls in a similar location to the Gb lever on bass, so it feels pretty natural. The lighter weight (compared to a metal stomp box) is nice.

ghmerrill wrote: Mon Nov 03, 2025 12:12 pm

WGWTR180 wrote: Mon Nov 03, 2025 11:20 am Does one of these have the analog switch?

I'm not sure what you're looking for here, but if you search for "BT500S analog" you'll discover the BT500S-6 which claims to be an "analog controller". There also appear to be some YouTube videos on this controller. None of the other BT500 products seem to support this.

Well I think you nailed it as that's what I asked. You just don't own it which is also clear. Thx.

Burgerbob wrote: Mon Nov 03, 2025 12:03 pm https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6RBHJFY

I use something similar to this but I wished I didn't have to double-click to do a page turn... wonder if you can program it...

It only needs a single click. I've used them on gigs with iPads before and I got my own today. it's great!

Burgerbob wrote: Mon Nov 03, 2025 8:46 pm It only needs a single click. I've used them on gigs with iPads before and I got my own today. it's great!

Interesting... I'm using a Samsung Tablet with Mobile sheets and it needs two clicks from the ring to flip a page.

Any tech guys know how to change that?

That might be a question better addressed in the MobileSheets forum (https://www.zubersoft.com/mobilesheets/forum/index.php). The answer may depend on how you have it configured for page turning and what OS you're running on the tablet -- among other things.

I did try searching but no answers

Aznguyy wrote: Wed Nov 05, 2025 1:25 pm I did try searching but no answers

Try actually posting and asking. Mike is VERY quick about responding.

(In fairness to users ... some of UI/UX issues in "Touch and Pedal Settings" are a bit murky and maybe a bit more "developer-oriented" than "user-oriented". On my Windows system I do NOT use "Air Turn Direct Mode", but specify my pedal actions under Touch & Pedal Settings -> Pedal Actions: "Pedal Action Setting". I use scrolling and set Pedal 1 keys to be "Left Up, Page up" and its action to be "Scroll Up or Turn Page if at Top"; PageUp"; and I set Pedal 2 Keys to be "Right Down, Page Down", and its Action to be "Scroll Down or Turn Page if at Bottom". Don't know if this will help you.)

I have used AirTurn Ped500, AirTurn Duo and Pageflip butterfly.

Hands down, the pageflip butterfly. Switches are more reliable than the circuit boards. Yes, you will need to use AA batteries, but the reliability is very much worth it.