Pads
Found under: Settings > Song actions > Pads
Pads can be used to provide a subtle layer of background sounds matching the key of the current song, or can be full backing tracks in any suitable audio format (.mp3, .ogg, .wav, .midi, etc.). OpenSongApp, unlike many song book apps, comes bundled with 24 built in backing tracks (one for each major and minor key). These are described as 'auto' pads.
The settings available for pads are:
Volume and pan: How loud and from which speaker they will be played (some users pan pads to one side and the metronome to another to keeping audio output from a mobile device separated).
Cross fade pads: When a pad ends it can gently fade out while the next pad gently fades in at the same time. This is useful when moving between songs in a set. You can also adjust the length of the crossfade. If you try to move between successive songs too quickly when crossfading playing pads, the pad that is closest to fading out will stop immediately.
Autohide pad: When pads are started on the song display page, a button with the current time of the pad (along with the ability to pause/start it) will be shown at the top right of the screen. Autohide will only show this information for a short period of time before hiding it to clear the song display. Tapping the screen will always show the information again.
When you want to use a pad with a song, it is recommended that you use a page button, foot pedal or gesture. By default, if your song has a key set, the 'auto' pad will be used. This matches the song key and is bundled with the app. If no key is set for the song, the song pad settings window will be shown asking you to set this. Alternatively you can set this in the Edit song page.
The song pad settings page gives you a start/stop button and a panic button should a pad be malfunctioning.
You can also change the key of the song (tells the app which pad file to use), and adjust if the pad should loop (repeat once it has finished). You have various options for the type of pad that should be used for each song. This information is saved with the song.
Off: Do not allow pads for this song (useful for songs with key changes)
Auto: Use the built in pad (or custom pad) that matches the song key
Audio file link: If you have set up an audio file in the Links page, you can use this. This is commonly used for song specific backing tracks.
Song pad settings
Whilst OpenSongApp comes bundled with 24 free pad files, you are also welcome to use your own pad files. You can often purchase these online and each audio file will have a matching key that it should be used for. To avoid issues with syncing devices and losing permissions for accessing these files, you are advised to copy your custom pad files into the OpenSong/Pads/ folder.
From the custom pads menu (Menu > Song actions > Pads > Custom pads), click on the key you want to change the pad file for and then select the desired file on your device. If you cancel the file selection or choose a file that isn't valid, the setting will be reset to 'Auto'.
If you have a pack of custom pads and only have pads listed for major keys, you can often match up these to relative minor key pads too (although this can be a bit of a compromise). A list of keys/relative minors is listed below
A / F#m
A# / Bb / Gm
B / G#m
C / Am
C# / Db / A#m / Bbm
D / Bm
D# / Eb / Cm
E / C#m / Dbm
F / Dm
F# / Gb / D#m / Ebm
G / Em
G# / Ab / Fm