Re: Live Performance - Best Playback System for Accompanying Duo

On Feb 7, 7:28 am, "Bob Howes" <bob.ho...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Rick Powell" <rkpow...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:2e16a5e3-f378-4c1b-93f3-354bb57ccb54@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Here's the gig.  We have 2 (or sometimes 3) guys who do acoustic gtr w/
bass.  Need to add recorded drums/keyboards to performance.  Have one
of those Bose stick systems, can upgrade to a larger system when
necessary.

I can put all the music together in PT, but need a playback system.
I'm figuring a laptop will do it.

1. Best interface for laptop PC > sound system.  Do not want to spend
over $200 or so.  Will consider scouring ebay, etc. for good used
system in EC.

I'm not 100% clear whether you want to output several distinct tracks and
have the ability to mix live or just want a stereo output.  Your budget is
light for a true multichannel interface, but for stereo there are lots to
choose from.  Check out offerings USB offerings from Edirol and EMU both of
which have nice units to suit your budget.  Ignore advice to use the built
in laptop interface.  These are unbalanced, noisy and (often) use the
headphone socket so the levels will be adjusted by that volume control.



2. Best program to put together a playlist/do playback, etc.  Want the
flexibility to put together a fixed set, but be able to change on the
fly if we get requests.  System to stop between songs unless
programmed to play selected songs back to back.  Ease of use and
reliability a must.  DJ's do this all the time, right?

Three choices for you.

For freeware, just download and use Soundplant.  This lets you make every
key on you laptop keyboard a hotkey for a specific track.  Not exactly what
you asked for but the price is right.

For cheap and pretty darn good, there's "Sound Cue System".  This lets you
have a preset playlist triggered one after the other with a "go"
button...but also have the hotkey function if you want to change things.
The premium version will let you have the mult channel capability if you
want it.

Best but expensive time is the Stage Research SFX system.  Does pretty much
everything...costs a bomb.

Bob

I'm just using a stereo mix w/drums, synth, percussion, whatever
already pre-mixed.

I saw an Edirol USB to audio unit for about $200 that had balanced TRS
outputs and an output volume control. Had a few bells and whistles I
didn't need (like 2 mic inputs) but looked like a good unit. We'll
probably try the RCA outs on the HP laptop first, and if the sound
isn't there, go with an interface.

For playback software, freeware Winamp looks like it would do the
trick. You can assemble setlists into playlists, and set preferences
so that it plays the first song, then jumps to the next song and
stops. Then the operator can start the next song whenever. Or, grab
a song out of the pile and play it as needed, when straying from the
playlist. If there is a program that is more user friendly than
Winamp, I'd look at it - I'll check the ones you suggested.

Thanks for the help,

RP
.