how to synch backing tracks

[Bergerdude]

Hi,
I've done alot of reading on midi and I have some questions.
Why do you need a "midi synch" on some loopers?

With a netbook...what other stuff would I need?
Abelton is free...a plus. I have a midi mouse that I use with a boss vf-1 in my rack...could I use this to trigger the computer...how?

I also have an old tr-505 that has midi...not sure how to use this either.

I'm tired of finding no keys players to play horn fills...so this is what I have come to.

I thought about the new stereo jamman but I need a new netbook anyway...which is better easier to trigger some backing tracks?

The drummer varies time...do I send him a click??

Thanks!

Sorry if these are dumb questions....

Berg

 

[voodoobassist]

Easiest way I found was to simply record your backing tracks. Pan your front of house sounds hard right, pan the click track hard left. Dump it into your ipod or whatever player you prefer, FOH for your backing tracks, whatever mix of backing and click goes to the band that you prefer. MUCH less chance of something screwing up during a performance than with a full midi rig, not to mention less crap to carry and setup as well. Just my humble opinion anyway.

 

[pasta4lnch]

^^^^+1 best (easiest) way I've found too

 

[Brattbugg]

Yep, record it and put it on an Ipod. Works with vocals too!

 

[Dave]

Gotta run a click too though. Nothing worse than getting off tempo from recorded tracks.

 

[Broadbent]

Mainstage dude, Mainstage.

Do some reading.
http://www.apple.com/logicstudio/mainstage/

also this

 

[MNAirHead]

Unfortunately we could write volumes.

Read up on "ableton live... quantize.. midi.. and simpte"

Here to help.. unfortunately we'd go on for years.. there are better books

 

[Bergerdude]

Thanks for the comments.
How do I go from the Ipod to the FOH, etc.

So I record the tracks, pan click and pan backing tracks opposite sides. 1/8" out of Ipod to ?a splitter??

How do I then split the signal to go click to drummer and tracks to FOH....is there a cord out there for this?

Thanks!

 

[crijan]

http://procablesnsound.com/items/custom/ipod-detail.htm

We use a small Behringer mixer to act as a headphone mixer so the drummer can control his mix of click and backing track as well as the level that goes to the DI to the main board.

 

[Ubersheist]

^^^^+1 best (easiest) way I've found too

+2

In the past, we burned the backing tracks onto a CD, with the click track hard panned on one side, and a mono mix of the backing tracks panned on the other side. If you put the click only in the drummer's monitor mix, it won't make it off stage in bigger venues. In smaller venues, we split the signal, and the click gets put into one side of in-ear monitors, and the other side goes out to the mains and some back into the monitors, too.

It's never crapped out on us, especially with MP3 players these days.

 

[Ubersheist]

Thanks for the comments.
How do I go from the Ipod to the FOH, etc.

So I record the tracks, pan click and pan backing tracks opposite sides. 1/8" out of Ipod to ?a splitter??

How do I then split the signal to go click to drummer and tracks to FOH....is there a cord out there for this?

Thanks!

You can McGuyver the signal out of the headphone out with splitters that you can pick up at Radio Shack or any electronics store, and probably even Guitar Center. The Radio Shack stuff tends to be of terrible quality, so bring back up(s). Just tell 'em that you want to split a 1/8" stereo jack into two XLRs. They'll point out the stuff that you'd need. That's the easy part.

The hard part is working it in with the band and the drummer to make it sound seamless...