Backing tracks - which media?

[Robbie_C]

So glad I found this forum, surely someone can help.

I use backing tracks and sounds, which have to be cued instantly. I've tried tapes (don't stay in constant pitch), CDs, (can skip and jump), and MP3, (Switches itself off if you don't touch it, when it needs to stay ON). I've considered a laptop, but it's an expensive option and I don't get paid much.

I haven't tried minidisc, but is that on the way out, like tapes?

Is there another option? I'm so frustrated I feel like offering a reward to anyone who can come up with a solution.

Hope someone can.

[nicemms]

Short of buying a laptop, I cant suggest much else. You have tried everything I can think of!

 

Other people with more expertise, may have other suggestions.

 

Just reme,mber that laptops aren't that expensive, bout £300.

[paulears]

The snag isn't really the format, but the player. As you say, MD is on the way out - BUT we predicted t's death two years ago, and Tascam are still supporting it. The key is using kit designed for musicians/DJs etc - these often have proper cueing facilities, and will hapily sit on pause and then burst into life on a single button pause. Domestic machines have laser savers and power savers that thwart instant start. Format should really be on convenience and quality - high bit-rate recordings in mp3 format are not really that bad.

 

Have a look on the DJ forums for recommendations on the latest kit.

[J Pearce]

Add to that fact, most mp3 playing equipment will happily play PCM wave files.

[Robbie_C]

Thanks guys

[Rob_Beech]

MD is something that crops up frequently here and the general idea is that it's on its way out, nobody uses it, and it's not recommended. I have mentioned before that this IMO is complete rubbish.

 

I work with numerous solo and duo acts, and countless bands that work to click track and almost ALL this is on minidisc. It is very rare I am given anything other for backing tracks.

 

It is a useable format and will play instantly once cued. For more flexibility a laptop would be a better bet however.

 

 

Rob

[lightsource]

Just to add, we've never had any playback issues on any format.

 

My preferred choice is high bit-rate MP3, or CD-Audio.

 

If you're having problems (which you suggest you are), then look more at the software / equipment you're using to deliver the audio, rather than the sound formats themselves.

 

A laptop would probably be you're best option.... but try it out first, and ensure the sound card / drivers are suitable, and to the quality of you're application.

 

Hope this helps..... It's a bit of a subjective tho'

 

To say though...

 

I've never known an MP3 to do anything other than play from start to finish... once it has been pre checked for consistancy. All our MP3's are tested first, and once done, no problems ever encounted.

 

If you have a reasonable quality CD player, with a reasonable quality tested disc, there shouldn't really be any problems, same with any other format.....that has been tried and tested.

 

Is there something you're not telling us, as I don't see why you should have the problems you're having with any format, if you have a reasonable knowledge of what you're doing.

 

System setup could be where you're problems lie, if you're unsure about the technical issues involved, and some simple setup errors can have devastating results on the final sound....( or or or or or la la la lakk ooof iiiiitttttt), of you know what I mean!

[Russ83]

As mentioned you can get decent laptops for £300 now and this would give you more options:

If you a given any scratched disc's the laptop will probably cope better than a standard CD player.

You can rip all your CD's to mp3 using Win Media Player (if you must, but it doesn't cost you anything extra).

Any pauses at the start of the track can be easily removed using software like Audacity (free).

"I've forgotten my CD" - if you can get the internet YouTube can normally save the day!

A nice hard drive to keep all you tracks on.

 

Be aware of possible power supply interference with some laptops (thread). To get round this I use the little Behringer USB audio box that come with the Xenyx mixers, never had any problems since.

 

EDIT: Would this thread not be better in the Sound section??

[Bobbsy]

My choice for ALL playback duties for the past few years has been computer. I've frankly had far less problems with computers than with any other medium (tape, CD, MD...I've never used an ipod/MP3 player).

 

The thing to consider is that, for basic playback, you do NOT need a high spec machine. Until my recent move, I lugged around an ancient Pentium 166MHz machine that I got for free. I installed a new hard drive, re-installed Windoze (98 SP2) and gave it 256 meg of memory and an E-mu stereo sound card. In this configuration it happily runs a freeware playback system like Soundplant and, because there are not any extra programmes running, the system has be rock solid. The only extras on the PC are EAC for ripping CDs and my old copy of Cool Edit 2000 so I can do quick edits on tracks, add compression or normalising, that sort of thing.

 

In terms of portability, a laptop would be better but a cheapie with all extraneous software removed would probably achieve the same thing for pretty limited expenditure.

 

Bob

[tall_phill]

In the past for playback I have used CDs, MD, and Computers for playback. All quite successfully, but none flawlessly.

 

Each has a different set of pros and cons. You can edit MDs, but CDs are easier to author and more readily available (both the media and the machines), computers can be great but require more equipment and have more potential pitfalls.

 

I tour with a show where we use CDs for playback. This works fine, but I am picky about which machines the production company may supply. This has less to do with audio quality than it does ergonomics. Unfortunately, my favourite CD players for live work are out of production, but some of the current Denon machines work fine. There are plenty of machines with a cue function for instant start.

 

If you have a complex list of cues then a computer is the only pragmatic option. But this doesn't appear to be this case. In which case, any of these formats will work if you have the right tools. But an ipod, discman, or mini-discman does not constitute the right tools.

 

Whatever format you go with, have a back up running simultaneously if at all possible. Then any problems are solvable with the flick of a switch.

 

Best,

 

Phillip

[Robbie_C]

Thanks for all the good information everyone. My ideal woud be high quality Mp3, but I have specific needs, I would like to set a track list pre-show, then press ONE button to start the first track, which would play, then wait for further instruction and NOT switch itself off. After maybe 3 minutes when I need the next track, I press ONE button again and the next track plays, then waits, as after the first.

I haven't found any blurb on Mp3 players which make it clear whether they can do this or not. I've bough several cheapies and found they can't, I don't want to waste money on a more expensive one to find out that can't either.

 

My act includes songs, jokes, playing various instruments and ventriloquism, and much of the time (especially with my hand controlling the puppet) pressing one button is the ONLY option.

[Shez]

press ONE button to start the first track, which would play, then wait for further instruction and NOT switch itself off. After maybe 3 minutes when I need the next track, I press ONE button again and the next track plays, then waits, as after the first.

 

The more common Sony MD players can do that (as can a few others) - it still tends to be how I run shows as I don't have to worry about cueing the next track, I can just press play. Some (DJ oriented) CD players will do this as well, but I don't think my old Denons will. A computer system will certainly offer this functionality. I suspect you may be out of luck with MP3 players though as I doubt there would be any reason for them to offer that function.

[Rob_Beech]

I've also attached over 30 footswitches to MD players (mainly sony ones) in the past to allow people to start the next track with a simple press of a pedal, wherever they are. Press again to repause or if the unit has an autopause function, you don't even need to do this.

 

I'm sure similar things are availble for pc or can be made.

[boatman]

Thanks for all the good information everyone. My ideal woud be high quality Mp3, but I have specific needs, I would like to set a track list pre-show, then press ONE button to start the first track, which would play, then wait for further instruction and NOT switch itself off. After maybe 3 minutes when I need the next track, I press ONE button again and the next track plays, then waits, as after the first.

.

.

 

For one button MP3 playback see this thread and in particular this post about Chris Moyles' website.

[propsman]

well I guess its all down to personal preference ...

 

mine is mini disc.... easy to cue .. information displayed so I can see I have the right cue ... and instant sound as I hit that play but if paused ready to go ...

 

have tried a laptop which I thought would be better but got interference from the power pact ( buzzing noise unless it was running on battery power) and also delay in play back unless I used a dj programme.

 

mini disc might be in some opinions on the way out but I personally thing its the best and easiest option.