2024 guide to the best page-turning pedals
If you're a musician, you know how important managing your scores is when you're performing. That's where page-turning pedals come in. These modern, ingenious accessories, specially designed for musicians, let you turn your sheet music pages seamlessly, without interrupting your music.
How do you choose the best page-turning pedal for your needs? Which options stand out in 2024? Do you need advanced features or do you prefer a simple, economical product? Whether you're a professional musician or an amateur, find the page turner pedal that's right for you and optimize your musical performance on stage or in the studio.
Page-turning pedals: indispensable accessories for musicians
Page-turning pedals are accessories used by musicians, particularly pianists and guitarists, to turn the pages of their scores. scores without having to use their hands. These pedals are particularly useful for concerts, recitals and studio recordings.
There are several types of page-turning pedals:
Mechanical page-turning pedals: These pedals are placed under the music stand and are operated by the musician's foot to turn the page of the score.
Connected page-turners: more and more musicians are using iPad tablets or laptops to display their digital scores. All the musician has to do is install a special application featuring virtual pedal functions.
Special page-turning pedals for small budgets or new discoveries
You don't have to break the bank to enjoy the benefits of page-turning pedals. The models in this category will give you honest-to-goodness performance - even for professionals - at very reasonable prices.
IK Multimedia iRig BlueTurn
An excellent, easy-to-use page-turner pedal from the famous Italian brand.
Where can I buy it? On the manufacturer's website IK Multimediaor on the Thomann
Price: €77.00 to €80.00
Highlights :
Sleek, compact design inspires strength and durability.
Easy to use.
Remarkably quiet pedal.
The buttons light up blue when the pedal is switched on, which can be useful in low-light conditions.
AAA batteries included.
The iOS virtual keyboard can be easily used by pressing the left button for about 3 seconds.
Two switches (buttons) with backlighting.
Sends HID messages via Bluetooth.
Pedal compatible with a wide range of software and applications.
Features 3 different modes.
For use with iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Mac and any Android device supporting Bluetooth (Apple iOS 4.3 and above).
Areas for improvement :
The Blueturn has no reset button. To connect it to a new device, you must first "forget" it from the Bluetooth network of the device to which it is already connected.
Blueturn page-turning pedals do not have their own identifier. When using multiple pedals and multiple iPads, there is no way of knowing which pedal is connected to which device.
Despite its non-slip pad, the pedal sometimes slips on the floor.
The Blueturn uses only AAA batteries as its power source, and has no internal battery.
The Blueturn's buttons are hard to feel underfoot, are rather small and placed slightly high up, which can give rise to a few mistakes and requires a little practice.
The ON/OFF switch is located at the rear, which is not the most practical solution, especially if you want to tape the pedal to the floor (for stage use).
The blue light on the main buttons cannot be switched off.
Donner Bluetooth page turner pedal
A pedal with excellent value for money that will satisfy many musicians.
Where can I buy it? On the manufacturer's website Donner or on Amazon
Price: €69.94 to €82.99
Highlights :
Donner looks robust and well-built.
It features a "repeat" function that can be activated and deactivated directly on the pedal.
Buttons are well spaced, reliable and easy to access.
There are two sockets for adding further controllers.
Donner is quick to pair, as it doesn't need any confirmation from the iPad or iPhone to which it is connected.
Pedal compatible with a wide scale of devices, including iPad, iPhone, Android tablets, laptops, PCs and other Bluetooth-enabled devices.
The 5 buttons select from 5 available modes.
Compatible with a variety of score-reading applications.
10-meter wireless range.
Battery life of over 50 hours on a single charge.
Ergonomic page-turning pedal for comfortable use over long periods.
Areas for improvement :
A green light flashes when the pedal is paired, and can be a nuisance.
Ergonomics could be optimized: sometimes you have to press the CPU instead of the buttons.
The Donner pedal only runs on its built-in battery, so there's no way to recharge it in an emergency.
The manual supplied with the pedal is poorly translated.
The Donner has a reset button, but it is very difficult to access.
Battery life is quite low (around 50h) compared to other page-turners on this list.
Moukey Pedal Page turner
A good buy if you don't care about button noise and battery life.
Where can I buy it? On Amazonpreferably
Price: €59.99
Highlights :
The Moukey has a "repeat" function that can be controlled via a switch.
10-meter wireless range.
5 different modes.
Built-in rechargeable battery.
Tablet-compatible.
Areas for improvement :
The pedal's plastic construction doesn't give an impression of quality.
Wireless range not always operational.
Poorly translated user manual.
Low battery life (50 hours).
Lekato Bluetooth Page turner
The cheapest pedal on this list.
Where can I buy it? On the manufacturer's website Lekato
Price: 52.96 € (excl. shipping)
Highlights :
Its main advantage is its price: less than €60!
Featuring an extended Bluetooth connection compatible with iOS, Windows and Android.
5 page rotation modes for smooth switching.
Quiet, tactile pedal operation for studio and stage performances.
Rechargeable battery for over 60 hours of use.
Extensive compatibility with various music applications.
Areas for improvement :
As with many Bluetooth devices, the connection can sometimes be unstable, leading to delays or interruptions in page control.
Although the pedal is compatible with many music and score playback applications, some users have experienced compatibility problems with specific applications.
The plastic pedal may seem fragile, especially if subjected to intensive use or rough handling.
The page-turning pedals with the best price/performance balance
Here are our top compromises when it comes to page-turner pedals. If you're looking for a pedal that's easy to use, reliable in all circumstances and don't specifically need advanced features, you'll find what you're looking for in this category.
PageFlip Butterfly
The simplest, most practical pedal from American manufacturer PageFlip.
Where can I buy it? On the manufacturer's website PageFlip
Price: €84.95
Highlights :
Two pedals for turning pages forwards and backwards, offering greater control.
Compatible with tablets / PC / Mac / Linux / iPad / iPad and Android.
Intuitive user interface.
The pedal automatically switches to standby mode after 30 minutes of inactivity.
Wireless connection via Bluetooth.
Tactile, silent keys.
Battery-powered.
Long battery life.
The anti-slip pad at the rear of the pedal is particularly effective.
The buttons are large and set fairly low, making them reliable and hard to miss.
Like other Pageflip models, the Butterfly features an easy-access reset button, enabling users to unpair it easily and pair it again with another device.
The pedal is designed to consume a minimum of battery power, with a claimed autonomy of around one year on the same pair of batteries. What's more, the indicator light will start flashing red several hours before the batteries run down completely, signalling you to change them.
Areas for improvement :
The Pageflip Butterfly requires AA batteries, which are unfortunately not included.
There is no "repeat" function or pedal-specific identifier.
It's quite large and rather heavy compared to other pedals, which gives it good stability, but it's a point to consider in your choice if you're looking for a more all-purpose solution.
AirTurn BT500S-2 Controller
The ideal page-turning pedal to suit all your needs.
Where can I buy it? On the manufacturer's website AirTurn
Price: 83.95 € (excl. shipping)
Highlights :
Over 200 h battery life.
Ability to start and stop accompaniment tracks and metronomes.
Send MIDI commands and custom keys for DAWs.
Use the free AirTurn Manager application to assign your favorite keyboard shortcuts and control hands-free recording and editing.
Areas for improvement :
Plastic case.
AirTurn PEDpro 500
An effective pedal, if you're prepared to press hard with your foot.
Where can I buy it? On the Thomann
Price: €89.00
Highlights :
Compact and easy to carry, ideal for musicians on the move.
Bluetooth connectivity.
Versatile tool that can also be used to control presentation and teleprompter applications.
Compatible with many popular score-reading applications.
The rechargeable battery provides hours of continuous use.
Areas for improvement :
Non-slip stops can be easily removed after a short period of use.
Requires considerable pressure to turn pages.
High-endscale pedals for professional musicians
These pedals are simply the best on the market. The most advanced features and the best performance are yours for the taking!
PageFlip Firefly Bluetooth/USB Page Turner Pedal
PageFlip's bestseller: a customizable, feature-packed page turner.
Where can I buy it? On the manufacturer's website PageFlip
Price: €103.95
Highlights :
5 programmable pedal modes.
External pedals can be added via two auxiliary outputs.
Versatile connectivity with Bluetooth and USB options.
Automatic sleep mode after 30 minutes of inactivity.
Backlit LEDs for optimum visibility, even in low-light conditions.
Extensive compatibility with a wide range of platforms and applications.
Ergonomic buttons for ease of use.
The Firefly's buttons feature small lights to increase their visibility, which can also be switched off.
The pedal has a "repeat" function which can be easily activated or deactivated directly on the pedal.
As with other PageFlip models, it has an easy-to-access Bluetooth reset button.
Like the Butterfly, the main buttons are large and well placed, making them easy to access.
The pedal can be recharged using AA batteries (not included) or a micro-USB port.
This port can also be used instead of Bluetooth to connect the pedal.
You can use the pedal's two auxiliary sockets to add controllers.
Pageflip has developed a free desktop application (Mac OS and Windows compatible) for customizing commands. This application also lets you configure multi-select commands for certain advanced use cases.
The pedal is designed to consume a minimum of battery power, with a claimed autonomy of around one year on the same pair of batteries. What's more, the indicator light will start flashing red several hours before the batteries run down completely, signalling you to change them.
Areas for improvement :
It would be very much appreciated if the customization software were available on iOS, and if it also made it possible to change the name of the pedal for better identification.
It's quite large and rather heavy for an accessory destined to be taken on stage. This gives it good stability, but will weigh down your backpack...
AirTurn DUO 500 Bluetooth Pedal
Airturn's flagship product: a reliable, customizable Bluetooth pedal.
Where to find it? On the Thomann
Price: €109.00
Highlights :
Two pedals for easy score navigation, suitable for demanding musicians.
Reliable Bluetooth connectivity with minimal latency.
Rechargeable battery via USB port.
Robust and lightweight.
The pedal can be updated via the AirTurn Manager app for iOS, Android and Mac.
Extensive compatibility with a variety of advanced music applications.
Each Airturn Duo has a unique name that appears in your device's Bluetooth settings, allowing you to keep track of which pedal is paired with which device. This is particularly useful when playing in a group, to avoid unwelcome mix-ups.
The Duo's parameters can be modified using the Airturn Manager application: for example, the repeat function can be activated or deactivated, and sensitivity adjusted.
This page turner differs from the other two Airturns in its ergonomics. It is equipped with two "tactile" buttons, fairly widely spaced, which is an advantage: they are all the more reliable and difficult to miss.
Areas for improvement :
Like the Ped Pro, the Duo is battery-powered and can't be charged quickly in an emergency, but the battery is long-lasting.
Some musicians may be bothered by the blue light that flashes every three seconds or so when the pedal is switched on.
The anti-slip pad on the Duo is a little small and slippery.
PageFlip Dragonfly Quad Wireless Foot Pedal
The enhanced version of Firefly, with two extra buttons.
Where to find it? On the manufacturer's website PageFlip
Price: € 122.95
Highlights :
4 premium Bluetooth/USB pedals for use with selected iOS/Android apps to instantly trigger up to four actions (page turning, song list navigation, volume control and multimedia content play/pause).
Compact, robust and ergonomic four-pedal design with the standard footprint of two pedals.
The two main buttons are large and well placed.
Dragonfly has two additional buttons that can prove extremely useful. For example, it's very handy for playing and stopping tracks on Spotify or iTunes without having to leave Newzik or split the screen.
Pedal backlighting.
5 programmable, customizable pedal modes.
Automatic sleep mode after 30 minutes of inactivity.
Wireless (Bluetooth) or wired (USB) connectivity.
Long battery life (approx. one year with two AA batteries or AC adapter).
Like the Firefly, the Dragonfly is packed with useful features such as a "repeat" option and reset button, is customizable via Pageflip software and has a micro-USB port for connection and recharging.
The pedal is designed to consume a minimum of battery power, with a claimed autonomy of around one year on the same pair of batteries. What's more, the indicator light will start flashing red several hours before the batteries run down completely, signalling you to change them.
Areas for improvement :
Given that it has two extra buttons, it's a shame that Dragonfly isn't MIDI-compatible.
It would be nice if the customization software were available on iOS, and also made it possible to change the name of the pedal for better identification.
While very stable, the Dragonfly is quite large and rather heavy for an accessory destined to be taken on stage.
Coda STOMP Bluetooth 4.0 Page Turner
The sturdiest page turner on this list thanks to its metal coating. An excellent choice for guitarists in particular.
Where to find it? On the manufacturer's website Coda Music or on Amazon
Price: approx. 150.00 € ($159.95) (excl. shipping)
Highlights :
Bluetooth 4.0 connection for enhanced stability.
Ergonomic buttons for intuitive use on stage.
Compatible with various music applications, including teleprompters.
Long-life battery ideal for extended performance.
The Stomp's metal casing feels very solid, and the overall impression is similar to that offered by BOSS pedals, for example.
The Stomp works with both a 9V battery and a 9V DC plug, making it easy to place on a pedalboard.
The buttons have a good haptic response, which is very appreciable: you'll know without a doubt whether you've actually pressed the button or missed it.
The pedal features a "repeat" function for fast page scrolling.
The LED indicator will turn red 10-15 hours before the pedal runs out of battery, giving you plenty of time to change the batteries.
Areas for improvement :
The counterpart of the physical response is that the buttons produce a relatively noisy click when pressed. This poses no problem in an amplified music context, but becomes annoying for chamber or orchestral music.
STOMP lets you access a keyboard mode by pressing both buttons at the same time. A good idea, but one that suffers from two limitations: on the one hand, you have to do this each time, unlike other products on this list, and on the other, if you press both buttons by mistake, you won't be able to turn the pages before pressing both buttons again. Potentially problematic in concert.
The pedal is rather difficult to obtain outside the USA at present. However, its manufacturer, Coda Music, has assured us that it is actively looking for a European distributor.
🎶 Thanks to the functionalities of the Newzikapplication, you can automatically turn the pages of your scores as you play your instrument. You can also turn the pages of your scores manually or using a Bluetooth pedal. Find and annotate all your scores on your tablet or iPad, whether you're a solo musician, in a band or in an orchestra.
