3 track playback

K0K0

what's the best solution other than a laptop to play back 3+ tracks?

the application is for live backing tracks, I'd like to send a stereo mix of the backing track to the desk with a mono click for the drummer.

Ideally I'm looking for a dedicated device that's compact, portable and reliable. Have been using an ipod up to now but I'm reluctant to move to a laptop as I've seen too many laptop fails in live situations.

jawn

Get a 4 channel mixer and an iPod.

Have a single mp3 on the iPod with the click track panned to the left and the backing track panned to the right.

Get a mini-jack cable and splitter to have the iPod going into two channels, DI-out the 'right' track to the PA and both it and the click with still be hitting the drummers phones.

K0K0

Yes, that's the set up that I use at the moment. This produces a mono click and a mono mix of the backing track. What I require is a mono click and a stereo mix of the backing track... 3 tracks, the click, a left and a right.

Laserface

laptops are rubbish
and never use mp3 live. use .aiff or .wav files instead

i recommend a small sequencer or sampler
samplers: the mpc500 is very cheap and its a beast. the roland sp555 or sp404. I use a sp555 myself & the click works seperate for yer drummer.

or go all out and get a sequencer workstation keyboard thing.

K0K0

thanks for the recommendations laserface, I'll check em out. I had considered getting the old roland digital 8 track out of the shed, has lots of outs but wouldn't be very user friendly in a live situation.

I agree about using uncompressed files, that's one of the reasons I want to ditch the ipod.

I'm surprised I haven't been able to find a simple dedicated device for this application, I'm sure there's a market there given the prevalence of bands using backing tracks.

blindgundog

no harm droppin a line to roland uk maybe they have something under development.. or their tech heads can advise you...