The first fear linked to digital scores is almost always the fear that the device will run out of battery on stage or in rehearsal. To put everyone on the same pagechord on this subject, we conducted a little experiment: we filmed an iPad using Newzik for an entire day. Click here to watch the video!

The video and its shooting conditions

1. Shooting conditions

As explained in the video, this little "experiment" was carried out under very specific conditions:

On the one hand, the iPad remained connected to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, with brightness set to maximum. On the other hand, this iPad Pro dates back to 2015, and was one of the first we bought. It has travelled the world with us over the past few years as we have accompanied orchestras in their rehearsals and concerts on Newzik.

So we obviously weren't expecting optimum performance in terms of battery life. However, the experience is much closer to reality this way: not everyone can have a freshly purchased latest-generation iPad Pro!

2. Video conclusions

According to this short video, our iPad has a battery life of around seven hours and thirty minutes. As mentioned above, as this iPad is at the end of its life, we can expect a more recent iPad to easily last up to 10 hours without charging.

"It's 10% for every hour of use" - Jean Miron, Youtube comment.

That's certainly enough time for most concerts. As mentioned in the video, in seven hours and thirty minutes we would have had time to play Mahler's Third five times! However, if we're being completely honest, this autonomy, although sufficient in most cases, can pose a problem in two main situations.

Firstly, in the case of an opera: as the pieces can be very long, if the musician has a slightly dated instrument, the battery can potentially pose a problem at the end of the work.

The second, much less problematic situation is that of a long rehearsal. Rehearsals or studio sessions can sometimes last for days on end, and the drums can, once again, be a problem.

Apart from these two situations, a battery life of seven and a half hours is still ample for most musicians. However, the two situations mentioned above are not uncommon... So how can we solve this problem?

Solutions

The first thing to do to avoid battery problems is, of course, to ensure that your iPad is always fully charged before your rehearsals or concerts. For all-day rehearsals, a good solution is to plug in your iPad between noon and midday. One hour's charging can add a good two hours' autonomy!

But as mentioned above, sometimes that won't be enough. But don't worry, we've got plenty of advice for you.

1. External batteries

A good first solution is external batteries. This kind of device lets you charge your iPad without having to plug it into a mains socket.

To choose the right external battery for use on stage or in rehearsals, however, there are a few criteria to pay attention to.

The first thing to check is the charging capacity of the external battery. An iPad has a capacity of around 30,000 or even 35,000 milli-watt hours (depending on the model). So you'll need an external battery with a large enough capacity to provide a full charge. However, you don't have to buy a battery capable of fully charging your iPad. You can buy one with a lower capacity, but which will allow you to keep your iPad "on a drip" for the duration of a concert or rehearsal, to avoid running out of battery, without wanting to charge your iPad to 100%.

Another important point is the presence of the USB Power Delivery system, which is only compatible for tablets with a USB-C port (which is the case for the latest generations of iPads). This technology is an "intelligent" charging system that adapts to your device's needs, guaranteeing optimal recharging.

You also need to be careful about the size and weight of the external battery. Indeed, if you need to use it on stage (in the case of an opera, for example), you'll need to think about opting for a discreet model.

Speaking of discretion, there's one last question to ask when buying an external battery: where do you put it when you're on stage? If you're using a traditional lectern with your iPad, then no problem - you can easily place it next to your iPad without anyone being able to see it. However, if you're using a special iPad lectern, you'll need to think about installing a stand on your lectern to hold the battery.

2. The flight case for orchestras

After several years working with orchestras around the world, we realized that there was no solution for charging and storing iPads that was both efficient and mobile. Indeed, most of the products available on the market are too heavy or too difficult to move. So we decided to create our own flight-case in collaboration with Rythmes & Sons (a French flight-case specialist), specially designed for orchestras.

This unique device can store and charge 40 iPads at a time, and is equipped with two fans to dissipate heat. We've also installed a key or code locking system to guarantee secure storage. This solution is specially adapted to the needs of musicians and stage managers: the flight-case is exactly 1.20 m wide, which is the standard size for most trucks, and can be safely stacked. You can also store pedals, styli, Wi-Fi terminals... in a dedicated space.

If you're interested in this solution, you can order it through us. We invite you to contact us directly by e-mail at contact@newzik.com !

3. Best practices for optimizing your iPad battery

The above solutions are suitable for situations where maximum iPad battery life can be a problem (operas, long rehearsals...). However, even if these situations don't directly concern you, it's still important to take care of your equipment to ensure optimum performance. Here are a few tips to help you optimize your device's autonomy:

Upgrade to the latest software version : Apple system updates often incorporate advanced power-saving technologies.

Adjust brightness: you can reduce brightness by opening the Control Center and dragging the brightness slider downwards. You can also activate automatic brightness adjustment in Settings > Brightness and display.

Activate energy-saving mode: this mode can be activated when the battery is almost discharged. This mode reduces screen brightness, optimizes device performance and limits system animations, which of course helps to limit battery consumption. Your iPad will prompt you to activate it when the battery is low.

Prefer Wi-Fi to cellular data : If you need to access the Internet while working on your music, Wi-Fi consumes less battery power than cellular data! We therefore recommend that you always use Wi-Fi whenever possible, as this will limit battery consumption.

Avoid extreme temperatures: An iPad is designed to withstand a wide range of temperatures (0 - 35°C), with a comfort zone between 16 and 22°C. Temperatures above 35°C can irreversibly damage the battery. If your device is exposed to very cold temperatures, battery life will be reduced, but will return to normal if the device returns to mild temperatures.

If you need to store your iPad for a long time (several months): it's best to charge it to 50%, switch it off and make sure the battery doesn't drop to 0%. If you fully charge it, or leave it discharged for a long time, the battery may lose some of its capacity.

Conclusion

We hope this short article has reassured you about the performance of an iPad in terms of battery life. If it hasn't reassured you, we hope it has given you some solutions to avoid battery problems if you're on stage for more than seven hours!

To conclude, we can assure you of one thing: we've been aware of this problem since the early days of Newzik's development. The application is optimized to consume as little energy as possible. In all the projects we've carried out around the world since 2015, iPad autonomy has never been a problem for anyone, and everything has always gone smoothly.