Originally Posted By: mrgeeze
<...snip...>
Gigging with tracks is a lot more than just playing back tracks.
Library management (hundreds of tunes)
Creating Setlists - be prepared (10-20 songs per set)
Navigating songs as they play. Id sections (intro, head, outtro, Solos)
Looping sections of a song (eg more choruses for improv)
Slow down, speed up (if you like).
Change Key (if a singer shows up).
Eq sound for a particular song (sometimes one is just too boomy)

Mp3 files and a solid IOS app is my choice.
I use a tablet and have a mirror copy on my phone.
It just works.
Easy, reliable.<...>


My setup is similar but with some differences.

I don't do setlists. I read the audience while I'm gigging, and decided what song to play next. Sometimes at the very end of the song I'm currently playing.

For example: If it's a fast song, and they look like they need another, I'll cue up something the same speed or quicker--but as the song goes on, and they start to look tired, I'll change my mind and cue up a slow song or something else.

For that reason, a tablet won't do. I require a keyboard.

I have two computers up and running, I only need one, but the second one is up and ready to take over if there is a problem. I use ThinkPads, and in the last 20-some years, I had to move the USB->Audio interface to the other computer twice. The audience didn't know there was a problem.

I just retired a 2002 ThinkPad, they are ultra-reliable.

1) I use Windows File Explorer, put the songs in alphabetical order, so I only need to type the first few letters to highlight the next song.

2) I hit ENTER and the song starts playing in Windows Media Player

3) Then I hit ALT+TAB to focus the computer back to File Explorer.

4) Type a few letters of the next one, and hit ENTER when the song I'm playing is done (repeat 3 and 4)

This allows me to decide what to play next and to start the next song immediately after the previous one.

I've never been clairvoyant enought to figure out in advance what people want and when they are going to want it. So calling songs on the fly is my way to give the audience the best experience that I can.

Some of my songs I have more than one mp3. One might be a bit faster or longer or have some other difference so that I can choose via the situation.

More complete methods of what I do can be read here
https://www.nortonmusic.com/backing_tracks.html

There is more than one right way to gig with tracks, this is the way that works best for me.

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

Last edited by Notes Norton; 07/05/23 07:45 AM. Reason: Typo (I'm TYPOMAN, writing all wrongs)
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