4 min read

How to Use Your iPad as a Lyrics Teleprompter on Stage

If you play live music, you have probably forgotten lyrics on stage at least once. An iPad running a teleprompter app can fix that. Here is how to set it up from start to finish using GigScroll.

Step 1: Add Your Songs

You need lyrics in the app before you can do anything else. GigScroll gives you two ways to add them.

Search online. Tap the + button, enter a song title and artist, and tap Search. GigScroll checks multiple lyrics databases and returns results when available. Review the lyrics, make any edits, and tap Save. It takes a few seconds.

Type or paste manually. If you write your own songs or the online search does not find what you need, tap the + button and enter the title, artist, and lyrics by hand. You can also paste text from another app.

A good starting point is adding 5 to 10 songs you perform regularly. You can always add more later.

Step 2: Build a Setlist

Once your songs are in the library, open the Setlists tab and tap + to create a new setlist. Give it a name — the venue, the date, whatever makes sense to you. Then tap + again to add songs from your library. Drag to reorder them until the sequence matches your show.

You can create as many setlists as you need. One per gig works well.

Step 3: Pick a Theme

GigScroll has four color themes. Which one you choose depends on where you are performing.

  • Light — Black text on white. Good for practice and well-lit rooms.
  • Dark — White text on black. Easier on your eyes in dim venues.
  • Stage — Bright yellow text on black with gold accents. Designed for maximum visibility under bright stage lights. This is the one most performers use on stage.
  • Cream — Dark brown text on a warm cream background. A softer look, nice for acoustic or coffeehouse settings.

You can switch themes in Settings at any time. Try a few during soundcheck to see which one works best under your venue's lighting.

Step 4: Set Your Font Size

GigScroll lets you adjust font size from 24pt to 72pt using a jog wheel control. The jog wheel gives you precise control with haptic feedback as you dial in the right size.

A few rough guidelines:

  • 24 to 32pt for practice or close reading.
  • 32 to 44pt for standard performances with the iPad at arm's length.
  • 44pt and above for larger stages or when you need to read from a distance.

Start at 44pt and adjust from there. You can set the font size globally or per song.

Step 5: Run Your Performance

Open your setlist and tap the green Play Setlist button. GigScroll enters Performance Mode and shows your first song in large, centered text.

Tap Play to start auto-scrolling. The lyrics move from bottom to top at a steady pace. Use the + and - buttons for quick speed adjustments, or tap the speed indicator to open a jog wheel for fine control. The speed range is 0.2x to 3.0x.

When a song ends, tap Next Song to advance to the next one in your setlist. The position indicator at the top tells you where you are — "2/5" means you are on the second song of five.

Saving scroll speeds. Once you find a speed that matches your singing pace for a particular song, save it. GigScroll remembers per-song scroll speeds, so you do not have to adjust every time you perform.

Step 6: Go Hands-Free with a Foot Pedal

If you play an instrument, your hands are busy. GigScroll supports Bluetooth foot pedals for hands-free control. Any Bluetooth keyboard or dedicated foot pedal will work.

You can map five actions to pedal buttons:

  • Play / Pause — Start or stop scrolling.
  • Speed Up / Speed Down — Adjust scroll speed without touching the screen.
  • Next Song / Previous Song — Move through your setlist.

To set it up, go to Settings, enable Foot Pedal Controls, and tap each action to assign a button. Press the corresponding pedal button and it maps automatically.

Practical Staging Tips

A few things that are easy to forget but make a real difference:

  • Turn on Do Not Disturb. Nothing breaks the mood like a notification popping up mid-song.
  • Charge your iPad. Performance Mode keeps the screen awake at full brightness. A full charge lasts roughly 3 to 4 hours. For longer sets, bring a cable and battery pack.
  • Clean the screen. Fingerprints and smudges reduce readability, especially under stage lights.
  • Test during soundcheck. Run through a song or two in Performance Mode at the venue. Check the theme, font size, and scroll speed under actual lighting conditions.
  • Secure the iPad. Use a music stand or a dedicated iPad mount. Make sure it is stable.

One More Thing: Video Recording

GigScroll also has a built-in video recording feature. You can record your performances while the teleprompter scrolls. It is optional and off by default — enable it in Settings if you want to try it.

Get Started

GigScroll is available on the App Store for iPad. You can download it here: GigScroll on the App Store.

For a full walkthrough of every feature, check out the user guide. You might also find these guides useful: setting up fonts, themes, and sizes for stage, Bluetooth foot pedal setup, recording your performances, and sharing setlists with your band.