best Sequence playback device for backing tracks???

remo · #1 09-07-2006, 04:50 AM

My band is about to start running sequences in or sets (strings, pads, piano, just the things we can't play).. I'm looking for the best device to do this with.. bear in mind it needs to be portable, have more than 2 asignable outputs (we want to send the stereo sequence to FOH and also send an independant CLICK to the drummers headphones)..

I looked at lots of little BOSS and ZOOM mini digital recorders and they all lack the seperate outs we need to run stereo to FOH and another channel of CLICK to our drummer;s cans... any suggestions what we should use???

Oysterman · #2 09-07-2006, 07:39 AM

A laptop?

ihateusernames · #3 09-07-2006, 07:55 AM

Keyboard players are the best sequencers IMO. They know what to use, how to program it, and most of them can sing pretty well too. Outside of hiring a player, I'd suggest the keys forum on Harmony Central for advice.

DWBass · #4 09-07-2006, 08:36 AM

A dedicated laptop with the proper cabling will do the job but Yamaha has a nice little portable unit (QY100). The only downside to that unit is that is has a slot for a Smart Media card which are no longer produced (that I know of). I'm hoping Yamaha upgrades that unit to take SD cards.

TL5 · #5 09-07-2006, 09:24 AM

MIDI sequences or are you intending to send Audio?

I played in a heavily sequenced 80s band (in the 80s). We used a computer onstage, racked with the keyboard/drum machine modules located near the keyboard player. The click was on a seperate MIDI channel and sent to a dedicated drum machine that only the drummer heard.

If you plan to use audio (MD, CD, cassette - whatever), you could, pan all of the tracks intended for the FOH/monitors to one side and the click track to the other. Then distribute accordingly from the mixer. This is commonly called 'split tracks' and in most of the commercially available split tracksI've seen, there's a guide vocal that is panned to one side. (as in a kareoke tape).

IanStephenson · #6 09-07-2006, 10:14 AM

a cassette deck/iPod!

unless your planning to manipulate he sequnces in real time, then just record then. Less to carry, less to set up, and most importantly less to GO WRONG.

Ian