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I want to use my BIAB backing tracks at open mics but I can't figure out the best way to do it. I am not up to date on iPhones, etc., so I don't know if you can download the mp3's to an iPhone and then plug the iPhone into the PA system. Or maybe I should buy a karaoke machine? Can you download mp3's to those devices? Any tips?
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Quote:
you can download the mp3's to an iPhone and then plug the iPhone into the PA system
This is the way I've been doing it for years. Well over a dozen, if you count MP3 players.
Sometimes I encounter a house PA system that is not stereo. In that case, I usually bring two small amps with me to put up front and get stereo backing tracks. I also do that if I have little confidence in the person doing sound.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Thanks Matt. So that does work, hey? I guess I need to buy an iPhone. Do I need any special cord or anything that goes from iPhone to PA?
Last edited by jptjptjpt; 10/27/12 10:34 AM.
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Seriously, you use your phone for playing your backing tracks at a gig!  And I thought I was running lean for setup. 
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One time I was at songwriter night and someone was on stage doing that. Between her second and third song, I called her.....
Can you say "airplane mode"?
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Quote:
Thanks Matt. So that does work, hey? I guess I need to buy an iPhone. Do I need any special cord or anything that goes from iPhone to PA?
You can buy ANY kind of MP3 player that has a display so you know what song is coming. Or you could get with WITHOUT a display, set it to "shuffle", and play stump the ban with yourself....
The esoteric here may want to go on and on about which device is better, but it's just playing back files by running an app. VLC, Windows Media Player, Winamp.... Honestly, unless people like Clive Davis or Quincy Jones are in the audience with their critical ear, any player will do. Laptop, notebook, tablet, phone, whatever. You are going into a PA of some form factor anyway.
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Burn a CD and let the sound man play it? Extra Cheap way.
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Quote:
Seriously, you use your phone for playing your backing tracks at a gig! And I thought I was running lean for setup.
Gig? No.
But the OP asked about an open mic, so I answered for the case in which I might play a song or two at some event. For a gig, I bring the whole carload.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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I would recommend mp3 players that make it easy to generate playlists on the device. Not easy on the iPhone, in fact - impossible with the built-in music player.
Sansa devices are in abundant supply here at our house because of their ease of use. Attach them like a drive to your PC. You can find refurb units online for cheap.
Difficult to use mp3 players: Samsung and Philips.
-Scott
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Thanks everyone for your tips and suggestions.
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One thing to keep in mind:
If you're playing a solo act, it can be really useful to take advantage of MIDI automation to change patches on synths, parameters on effects, chords on vocal harmonizers etc. Doing so can expand what you are able to do with one person without being distracted by stepping on stomp boxes at all the right times, changing volume levels, etc
And the easiest way to take advantage of MIDI automation would be to use a notebook computer running a sequencer such as RealBand. The sequencer can send all the MIDI data to control your external hardware (assuming it's all MIDI controllable). It takes a little longer to set up all the MIDI automation, but once you have it in place it's like having an invisible unpaid sound man handling all the details of your performance.
But, if you only want backing tracks to play along with, a small audio device like an MP3 player would be easier... that approach just provides less functionality. In the end, it depends on what you want to accomplish and on the gear you have to accomplish it with.
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Quote:
Burn a CD and let the sound man play it? Extra Cheap way.
+1.
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