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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Nov 2011
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OP
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I need to purchase a reliable device for playing backing tracks in MP3 and MIDI format. Not a Mac guy so iPads, or other Mac devices are out. A regular Windows laptop is a possibility, but Windows isn't always reliable.
Someone suggested I look at Chromebooks that run on ChromeOS. Don't believe I need a particularly high end device as it will only be used for playing MP3 and MIDI files in a live performance situation. The MIDI files would be played with an Android karaoke app via a soundfont. Chromebooks come with different CPUs (Intel, AMD, Mediatek). I'm just looking for a device that is reliable for this task, i.e. won't choke, crash, stutter, etc.
Have you used Chromebooks for this purpose, what has been your experience? If so, what CPU would you recommend? Thanks for any advice!
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I would slightly disagree in that windows has been very stable for years now I never have trouble win windows 10 it handles midi and audio very nice. The problem with chrome books and such is your kind of stuck eith dealing with apps or web based software. There is just so much out there for pc and Mac. I play live on an iPad with a program called Jamzone. I have also used both BiaB and Realband
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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convert your midi tracks to mp3 and use an ipod touch. you can get older versions second hand off ebay cheap so get two and you can have a back up ready every time you gig. as usual, i'd advise one playlist per song as that stops the ipod playing the next song in the list. and the playlists will be in alphabetical order.
cheap and reliable solution and easier to carry around than a laptop or chromebook.
and with mp3s you aren't dependent on the quality of the synth on the device - you can use your home set up with whatever vstis you like to get the sound you want.
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Another obvious option is Linux.
My wife has happily used it for years, long before even realising that it wasn't Windows.
You could even use a Raspberry Pi for that.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 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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OP
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Upon more thought, perhaps a Windows laptop would do the trick, as long as it's clean, without bloatware, and things that cause problems, you're right Win 10 is stable, I haven't experienced any crashes or lock ups except perhaps when I have all kinds of multitasking happening from time to time.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Nov 2011
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OP
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convert your midi tracks to mp3 and use an ipod touch. you can get older versions second hand off ebay cheap so get two and you can have a back up ready every time you gig. as usual, i'd advise one playlist per song as that stops the ipod playing the next song in the list. and the playlists will be in alphabetical order.
cheap and reliable solution and easier to carry around than a laptop or chromebook.
and with mp3s you aren't dependent on the quality of the synth on the device - you can use your home set up with whatever vstis you like to get the sound you want.
Regarding the ipod touch, is there an app available that will only play one song and then stop without going onto the next song?
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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I always preferred a "player" rather than a laptop because operating systems have interrupts that can cause a very short, but discernable, dropout as the OS runs a quick "seek" process to see if there is a task waiting. Be aware of the output quality when you look to save money by going Chromebook if you do in fact go laptop-ish. I had good results with an iPad Nano. Others will swear by laptop. What I don't get is the desire to run full program and introduce the variable of tracks playing. Dump to WAV and play WAV files and KISS.
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Playing one song at a time can be achieved on an ipod touch with one song per playlist.
Last edited by Bob Calver; 01/13/22 10:13 PM.
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... operating systems have interrupts that can cause a very short, but discernable, dropout as the OS runs a quick "seek" process to see if there is a task waiting. Modern OSs shouldn't really suffer that effect just on tasking, but WiFi is infamous for hogging the CPU. Often just turning of the WiFi will fix late-arrival drop-outs. Dump to WAV and play WAV files and KISS. Aye.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2025 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
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OP
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I don't want to have to make a playlist for every single song; that seems a little nuts? There's got to be a program for windows, and an app for ipod that allows you to stop after playing a single song, no???
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It's the only way to play songs individually on an ipod that I know. Not too onerous on a pc and the playlists can be sorted in alphabetic order.
I didn't need more than 40 to 50 songs for a gig allowing for changes to set lists on the fly.
If you find an alternative please let us know.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
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Anytune Pro is what you want.
Android
iOS
Mac
Check it out.
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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OP
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I was told there's a setting in VLC player for "pausing on the last frame" which I suppose will also technically stop playing at the end of the song. I'm going to give it a try..
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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The ipod touch is pretty small.. What about the iPad Mini? Could I get an older generation model and use that for playing tracks without worry of freezes, lockups, etc?
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I agree, and would recommend that you get either an iPad, or iPad Mini, if the smaller size is important. However, to solve your setlist playback problems, depending on what else you also do for managing setlists, Lyrics with Chord charts or sheet music etc, I would highly recommend you check out Onsong, for IOS devices. It will allow you to manage all your sets, lyrics, with chord charts or sheet notation PLUS playing the associated backing track when you are ready. Tracks can be either MP3 (as recommended) or Midi files, which it can play with any of the available IOS soft synths. Any newer IOS device can handle this just fine. Onsong is one of the best products available for this purpose with an amazing array of cool features for managing songs and setlists. Checkout onsongapp.com for the details.
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