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Topic: Playing Backing Tracks |
Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 27 May 2014 10:55 am |
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| I usually play my backing BIAB tracks through my computer speakers which sounds great for practicing at home. Sunday I played at my Son's wedding and plugged into an extra guitar amp to play my backing tracks from my ipod but I wasn't that impressed with the sound. Can anybody suggest an alternative that produces better results? |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 27 May 2014 11:01 am
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Could it just be the bitrate that you have the tracks converted to? e.g. with MP3 there is 128 Kbps, which is common, but personally is not very good.
If I'm going to use MP3 files, I use 192 Kbps, which produces much better fidelity.
Full fidelity is wav files, but I don't think you can load them into an iPod. |
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Glenn Uhler
From:
Trenton, New Jersey, USA
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Posted 27 May 2014 2:20 pm Losing one channel?
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This is really simple, but depending on what kind of connection you have for the iPod, you could be losing one channel. If you are only using one amp, you are definitely only hearing mono. Also, the equalization coming out of the 'Pod is defintely low on the bass, although it doesn't sound like it through 'phones.
_________________
1974 Marlen S-12 1968 Tele 1969 Martin D-35H |
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Keith Davidson
From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 28 May 2014 2:25 am
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| I forgot about the mono/stereo connection. The player's output is stereo but the guitar input is mono, thus probably only one channel. |
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Bill Duncan
From:
Lenoir, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 28 May 2014 2:59 am
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I use a small mixer then to the amp. That blends the stereo to mono.
_________________
You can observe a lot just by looking |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 28 May 2014 5:40 am
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For our wedding, we ran the prelude thru recessional from a Kindle into a Session 500 (turned up to 1.5). Everything was chosen to be single-channel friendly (much of it was mono, the Nilsson and O'Sullivan had winds on the left, strings on the right, and Buddy's Canon had some slight panning issues, but it worked).
I had to pull the lows down and highs up, but it sounded just fine.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Keith Davidson
From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted 28 May 2014 8:10 am
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Normally in a dance situation you would run mono out of both speakers. The reason being that you don't want something panned hard to the left or right for the dancers as they are moving around and wouldn't hear the panned (left/right) instruments if they are near the opposite speaker.
In mono they hear the full sound and not part of it.
Panning is fine for listening in your home or car but not for a dance.
That's what we use in our band as per Nic DuToit's suggestion and it works great. Nic is most certainly a very, very knowledgeable guy in the field of stage/sound set up, and recording, etc. |
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Keith Davidson
From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted 28 May 2014 8:12 am
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| Oh, and congrats on you wedding Lane, and on your son's wedding Andy. |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 28 May 2014 10:42 am
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| I used the wav format to convert my BIAB files then I used a stereo to mono adapter from the ipod to the amp. I'm gonna play with the conversion in BIAB some more and maybe try tweakin the amp settings again to see what happens. I might try my wife's laptop too to see if that sounds better. Thanks for some different ideas to think about guys. I'm determined to get some better results. |
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Keith Davidson
From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted 28 May 2014 10:51 am
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Andy, what I do is convert my files from stereo to mono in my software program and then use a regular stereo cable from the laptop (headphone) to the mixer inputs.
This way you get the same mix on both sides.
Not sure if this helps or not but just wanted to pass it along. |
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Steve English
From:
Baja, Arizona
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Posted 28 May 2014 11:20 am
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I use two mb-200's. Each as an aux input that goes straight to the pwr amp, so backing track volume is controlled by the ipod/pad. My eq settings have no effect on the track music.
When preparing the backing tracks, I mix/monitor/eq/effects thru the same system....no surprises when it comes performance time! 
If I require more inputs (mic, etc.) I use a small mixer in the same stereo fashion.
_________________
Always remember you're unique..... Just like everyone else |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 29 May 2014 3:38 pm
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| Lots of ways to do it I guess. Thanks for all the different ideas guys. I'll report back with my final solution. |
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