A CD player good for transcribing?

[deckard]

Greetings -

Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced CD player, machine or small (bookshelf?) system that works well as a transcribing tool?

In other words, one which has the "right" buttons/controls for playing back sections repeatedly, & is relatively easy to use & master.

(Preferrably one with some kind of treble/bass control(s) - I know most smaller players/systems don't have them.)

I want to get something for my music/practice room (aka bedroom) that won't cost me an arm & a leg... so I can leave the big system in the living room...

Anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks!!

[The BurgerMeister]

look into one of the tascam bass trainers (CDBT1MKII). you can put any cd in there, play along with it, speed up or slow down the music without changing the key of the track, speed up or slow down the music AND change the key of the track.... and i believe you can loop sections of the track.

might be what you're looking for. usually about $150. the optional power supply is about $20. i would get it.... the thing eats through batteries like it's its job.

[dlloyd]

If you have a computer in your practice room, the Amazing Slow Downer is just what you need.

Dumb name, fantastic software.

http://www.ronimusic.com/

[WillPlay4Food]

Originally Posted by jetpackbassist

look into one of the tascam bass trainers (CDBT1MKII). you can put any cd in there, play along with it, speed up or slow down the music without changing the key of the track, speed up or slow down the music AND change the key of the track.... and i believe you can loop sections of the track.

might be what you're looking for. usually about $150. the optional power supply is about $20. i would get it.... the thing eats through batteries like it's its job.

I second the Tascam. I bought about a month or so ago and it is fantastic! Make sure to get the MKII (2nd edition) model as it is much easier to use and has a built in tuner & metronome. My Tascam serves as my headphone amp, tuner, metronome and CD slow downer (and speed upper) which allows me to practice during lunch at work without having too many gadgets.

Also the Tascam provides both line out and headphone out so you can record your practice sessions. This has helped me clean up my technique.

The battery comment is dead on as well. I have the power supply but I use rechargeable batteries as well. With the rechargeables, I get about 90 or so minutes of use before the batteries are dead (basically two lunch time practice sessions).

[deckard]

... for the suggestions - much appreciated!

I went with the Tascam MKII and am quite happy with it so far. Got the power supply too...

It's a great little unit.

After playing with it for a few days, I decided to run the Tascam line-out into my cafe walter headphone amp & plug my bass guitar and headphones into the cafe walter, using the Tascam mainly as a CD player/looper - and I've been extra-happy with that as the cafe walter seems to have much better bass guitar sound/tone than the Tascam (JMHO).

(If I want to fiddle around with the effects on the Tascam, I can always go direct to that.)

I just knew TB was the right place to come for ideas & assistance!



edit: p.s. - the instruction booklet for the MKII is as poorly written & organized as anything I have ever seen - too bad, as the product itself is quite nice.

[Bass7755]

I got a MKII last week. I really like it!
But, it sound a little "warbly" ...kind of like the
old CD players in a car going over a speed bumps.
Oh well... I'll spend some more time with it and hopfully
I can get the kinks worked out.
Dan

[deckard]

Yeah, Bass7755, I too found that the more you slow the MKII down the more warbly it gets... looks like we'll both be workin' out those kinks (with apologies to the Davies bros.)... still, a great little unit.