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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,753
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,753 |
I'm starting to create more and more backing tracks for live performance again. (Will be using BIAB 2022 UltraPak and Reaper on PC) I'm a guitarist and vocalist. I've been playing drums with my feet (2 Roland SPD-1 units under my left foot, a tambourine and LogoRythm block under my right foot) for the past several years but as I get older my legs and feet can't do 2 - 3 consecutive nightly gigs without binding up or at least having pain. I end up cutting way back on the foot drum activity to make sure I can do it well on select songs.
I've also been using my printed chord charts in a 3 ring binder on a music stand. I want to start migrating over to basic backing tracks on a large tablet I can see. I think I'd like a program on the tablet that plays the track and scrolls through the chord charts at the same time so I can use it as a cheat sheet to prevent me from getting lost on the wrong chorus or forgetting words.
Ideally the tablet will replace my foot drumming, 3 ring binder and music stand. I'll put it on a table that clamps to my mic stand.
So, here's what I'm thinking my basic needs are.
* Large enough tablet for me to see easily.
* Battery life; 4 hours or longer. One less cable to run.
* Bluetooth; kind of would like that but I'm thinking I'll often run a passive volume pedal on a stereo cable between the tablet and PA or some other way to control volume with my feet. So BT might not be necessary.
* AirTurn; This might be handy but I prefer to not add any more gadgets than are necessary. If I can get by without flipping pages by foot would be better.
* Easy to arrange/rearrange my song files. I like putting a number in front of the song name and letting it auto arrange like a PC does.
* Easy to transfer my song files and lyric files from PC to the tablet.
* An app or program for the tablet that scrolls through my own home PC made song charts as the backing track is playing. The reason for this is because of my own eye sight. Putting an entire 1 0r 2 page chart on a single large tablet screen seems like the font would be too small in many situations. I'm picturing it running like a teleprompter with 2 - 4 or maybe 6 - 8 lines at a time. Not sure if this is possible.
I won't be able to check this forum until week nights California time so don't think I'm not paying attention. I'll be back.
Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Does the noise in your head bother me ?
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,145
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,145 |
from personal experience, the more complicated you get the more risks you run. why not convert your backing tracks to mp3 and play through the PA?
use a cheap ipod touch and create a separate play list for each track - that stops the problem of the ipod just playing tracks in succession.
the play lists will be in alphabetical order so its easy to find the song you want
or maybe you could number the playlists and get them to sort numerically? i don't know.
you can back up the ipod on another one - cheap off ebay.
the main problem is aching legs - me too! but don't overcomplicate the solution. and the mp3/ipod route will be very cheap
Last edited by Bob Calver; 01/04/22 02:18 AM.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,643
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Veteran
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,643 |
I'm with Bob on keep-it-simple.
I do use tablets, though mostly for lead-sheets (MobileSheetsPro), occasionaly for accompaniment (iRealPro). I have two tablets, both quite old, an Asus "Nexus 7" and a 10" no-name clone. Both have been good. Some of the band use mobile 'phones for chord-sheets, but my eyes are too old for that.
For daytime outdoor gigs, we all normally use paper music on a board on a music-stand with plenty of good spring-clips ... Tablets can be really hard to read in sunlight through sunglasses. Without the board and clips, windy gigs can prove tricky keeping a hold on the paperwork. Music stands can blow over :-)
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 878
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Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 878 |
I'm an instrumental musician (guitar). At gigs I play over backing tracks I create with BIAB and my DAW (Logic).
I perform using mp3 files on my ipad or iphone. I usually take both IOS devices to a gig so I have backup
I use anytune Pro for setlist and playback management. Its great software gigging.
It has a variety of features (loop sections, part markers, etc) that i find especially useful
I can easily change tempo and key if I need to.
I also use a Irig Blueboard Bluetooth midi pedal to control Anytune. This gives me the ability to start/stop, next/previous tune, loop on/off, etc commands from a foot pedal. Brilliant.
Depending on the venue I either use bluetooth to or cables connect from the ios device to the PA. I always make sure i have 2 sets of cables just in case.
I am unaware of a simpler yet more powerful setup for this type of gigging. If you find a better approach please let me know.
biab2025(Mac) Latest Build
Mac OS (Latest)
Apple Mac Mini M2 pro 32GB Ram
Logic Pro (latest or pretty close)
Heddon Super Spook XT (Mullet)
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,753
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,753 |
Thanks for your recommendations. I’ve used MP3 files on an MP3 player and android phone a lot. That’s how I did it for many years up until around 6 years ago. I’m just hoping to get rid of the music stand and my home made fake book folder at the same time as easing up on my foot work.
I’ll have a look at Anytune.
Does the noise in your head bother me ?
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 270
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 270 |
Check out OpenSongApp, it was developed for use by Worship musicians but works just as well for heathens like me.
I have been using this for about 4 years, I roll my own backing tracks in BIAB and RealBand, the resulting MP3 goes into the appropriate folder, a .txt file with lyrics and chords in another. Point one at the other and the lyrics scroll as the track plays. Like most things there's a bit of a learning curve, but it works well for me and has numerous options to enhance visibility. AFAIK it's Android only.
Vintage
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,753
Expert
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OP
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,753 |
Thank you Vintage, I’ll be checking that one.
Does the noise in your head bother me ?
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