[ralph lh]

I am currently working on a project to do the solo sax thing with backing tracks and have run into some issues that I'm sure someone here can help me with. I'm no techie and have tried various types of connections but I am getting a high pitched sound when my laptop is plugged in [for power].

Not a problem when I have the laptop on battery but my battery life is too low to use for a gig longer than an hour or so - the laptop is quite old.

I have been using the earphone connection to run to my mixer. Are there other connections that can be used between the laptop and mixer? Also, I am plugging into a 1/4" line in on the mixer and thus have to use an adapter into the computers 1/8" out.

Any thoughts on this would be welcome.
Thanks

 

[MartinMusicMan]

I'm no techie either, but I've had the experience of the power supply dying and that may be what's going on with your unit and why you don't get the sound using battery power. How old is the laptop and what brand? Laptops, like all components, have a life span. But don't take my word for it. I'm just guessing here. Wait and see what other people say.

 

[Danny Troy]

Chances are your built-in soundcard in the laptop doesn't have the best output. It's impossible to cram the necessary electronics in an onboard soundcard in a laptop to give top quality sound. I ran into this problem and added a PCMCIA card, which greatly enhances the audio. Here's a link: http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/CardBus/IndigoIO/index.php Now discontinued, but probably available used on eBay.
That said, these days I am a lot more lazy and ported all my backing tracks to my iPhone, and use that on gigs. Ripping the MP3 backing tracks at 256kps preserves the quality, and is close to using a synth with a laptop midi sequencer. As a backup I carry a second iPhone, just in case. I've done hundreds of gigs with this setup, and all I can say is "it works". Any good MP3 player would be good enough.

As far as the high pitched sound, I've seen that before when on AC power, but never found a solution.

Also, if you are using the earphone output, it's outputting stereo to two channels. Hopefully you are using two channels on the mixer to accept the left/right signal. If you want to mix left and right into one mono channel, you should make a simple "combiner", using a tiny resistor. I actually use the method on gigs now, mixing left/right into one mono signal. Do a Google search on how to do this. Very simple solder connection involved.

 

[ralph lh]

Thanks for the suggestions and input on this, guys. My guess based in part on what you have said and what I have read/heard in other places is that I should use my ipad and I'm currently getting used to doing that. Probably the best way to go. Don't know how some of you use an iphone or ipod just based on how small the screen is!!! The ipad looks like it will be the ultimate choice for this.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

I say NO to the use of a computer and YES to an iPod or other MP3 player. Less bulk to move and a smaller target for theft. B

 

[Fader]

I say NO to the use of a computer and YES to an iPod or other MP3 player. Less bulk to move and a smaller target for theft. B

If it's just backing tracks you need I agree. KISS

 

[Danny Troy]

Funny, my history using backing tracks dates back to probably the late 80's. I used an Amiga 500 computer, and a 9" CRT B&W surveillance monitor, housed in a wood enclosure. For synths I used a Roland U110 and a D110, rack mounted. It all sounded great, but was a lot to lug around. As the years progressed, I switched to a PC laptop w/half rack space synth module, and finally to the iPhone. Talk about technological progress!

As far as being able to see the display, I use a program called Datacase, and without straining I can see the song list. Datacase allows wireless file transfer from PC to iPhone, and even more important, it plays songs individually. I haven't found an iPhone app that will play one song in a folder, and stop at the end of the song. Datacase solves this problem. It generally gets bad reviews, but it does the job for me. It may be available for the iPad also.

 

[Enviroguy]

+1 on the iPod. I've been using these for a while now and I even favor this method over letting the sound guy run the backing track. I've got put together an adapter to run the ipod into a XLR mic port on stage. This gives me much more control.

Also, my adapter cord splits off to a blue-tooth transmitter, that I use with a wireless earphone. That way I have no trouble hearing the track while I play. And for singing, I can run a split backing tract where only I hear the words through the earphone while the audience just hears the backing instrumentals.

 

[timobrien]

Too many issues still with using a computer to run midi tracks.

Render the midi file to a .wav or .mp3 and use an iPod or cd player instead.
(I have a $35 DVD player in my rack that plays cds or mp3s and came with an infrared remote.
Hard to get much cheaper and it NEVER gives me any problems.)

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

+1 on the iPod. I've been using these for a while now and I even favor this method over letting the sound guy run the backing track. I've got put together an adapter to run the ipod into a XLR mic port on stage. This gives me much more control.

Also, my adapter cord splits off to a blue-tooth transmitter, that I use with a wireless earphone. That way I have no trouble hearing the track while I play. And for singing, I can run a split backing tract where only I hear the words through the earphone while the audience just hears the backing instrumentals.

Just hold on a minute! You are using your bluetooth with your iPod as an in ear monitor? That is brilliant. Thanks for that info.

B

 

[Fader]

Just hold on a minute! You are using your bluetooth with your iPod as an in ear monitor? That is brilliant. Thanks for that info.

B

Just the other day I was wondering when wireless gear would convert to bluetooth. It seems like the next logical step. I was at a large outdoor venue recently and the FOH engineer was sitting in the bleachers half way up during sound checks and running the whole thing on an iPad. He was able to wander around the space as he worked. It's pretty amazing the things they're coming up with.

 

[The Saxist]

I use Creative MP3 players(until I got a Roland Juno Di with built-in song player) specifically because it has a "play once" mode. Don't have to reach for the stop button before it slams into the next track. I think you have to create a single tune play list for each track in the IOS world. Of course, someone may have an app for that now...

 

[dexdex]

Isn't Bluetooth timelagging too much ?

 

[ralph lh]

Well, lots of progress and while frustrations continue I am having fun with this. But a further question...

Have reverted to using my ipad - can't see enough on my ipod screen - and while things mostly are going ok, I have now run into an issue with some tracks playing just fine but with some tracks I am getting only one side of the stereo. No MIDI. All my files are mp3 format, 44100 16 bit stereo. Most are 256 bit rate but some are as low as 128. Don't think that this is the problem since the tracks that play fine are at various bit rates. Have also tried various cords from the ipad to the mixer - TRS & TS. Sure wish I actually 'knew' what I was doing.

As Danny was noting above, yes I am using the earphone plug for my out. Is there some other out that I can use on the ipad? I have just assumed that was the thing to do.

Any thoughts about why some of my ipad files would play with only one side of the stereo while most are just fine?

Thanks guys.

 

[Woosax]

If you get the noise only when running with the adapter, your problem is likely a ground loop. You need to lift the ground pin on the plug of the computer power supply. You can get a ground lift adapter at any hardware store for less than a dollar. Alternatively, you can just snip the third pin off and be done with it.

 

[ralph lh]

Hi Woosax, are you responding to an earlier post further up the line? If you are responding to my last post, noise is not an issue any further - got that out of the way - my question is about the loss of one side of the stereo track.

Thanks

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Ralph. Make sure you are using a true stereo cord from ipad to amplifier/p.a. and not a mono.

I can not say why it is doing this on some songs and not others but this might be part of the problem.

B

 

[Danny Troy]

Well, lots of progress and while frustrations continue I am having fun with this. But a further question...

Have reverted to using my ipad - can't see enough on my ipod screen - and while things mostly are going ok, I have now run into an issue with some tracks playing just fine but with some tracks I am getting only one side of the stereo. No MIDI. All my files are mp3 format, 44100 16 bit stereo. Most are 256 bit rate but some are as low as 128. Don't think that this is the problem since the tracks that play fine are at various bit rates. Have also tried various cords from the ipad to the mixer - TRS & TS. Sure wish I actually 'knew' what I was doing.

As Danny was noting above, yes I am using the earphone plug for my out. Is there some other out that I can use on the ipad? I have just assumed that was the thing to do.

Any thoughts about why some of my ipad files would play with only one side of the stereo while most are just fine?

Thanks guys.

If some tracks play both channels, it has to be in the ripping of the MP3. Are you ripping from a wav file, or do you get the MP3 files off the Net. Try playing those same files on other devices, and they will probably give you the same problem. Doesn't sound like a cable problem.

Also, you should be fine using the earphone output. I use that output on my iPhone (used it for 4 gigs this week!) and it's fine. Of course, you need to have a good sound system, or at least an amp with good two or three way speakers. I use a Behringer 180w amp, with an EV woofer, Piezo tweeter, and the horn that came with the amp. Sounds great with the iPhone. Not quite as good as when using a synth/midi and laptop, but still very good. Always try to rip the MP3s at 192kps or higher. I would use 128kps as a last resort.

 

[hakukani]

Just the other day I was wondering when wireless gear would convert to bluetooth. It seems like the next logical step. I was at a large outdoor venue recently and the FOH engineer was sitting in the bleachers half way up during sound checks and running the whole thing on an iPad. He was able to wander around the space as he worked. It's pretty amazing the things they're coming up with.

Pretty soon the FOH engineer will be able to run the show from home. heehee (ok maybe not... but what a dream!)

 

[OpraSax]

I have a suggestion for those of you who are using an iPod, iPad, or iPhone. There is an app in the app store called "iReal b". Before a recent update, it contained backing tracks for many standards, and for your own original songs. If you download it, you can go on the forums and download the original 1200 standards onto your device.
The app plays a rhythm section background in a variety of styles (some packs must be purchased, such as latin sounds). Even if you add new songs, the device will play the new chords. You can customize the tempo, style, and the amount of times the piece is repeated, along with telling the device to repeat certain measures. You can even adjust the volume of each component of the virtual band. The files can be exported to WAV format, too. I would recommend getting it.