Playback tech has become a pretty employable niche in the touring market. I've toured with up to 6 mac minis in playback world.Īs you can see it gets expensive and complex quickly. Bands like Phoenix or M83 often end up with 4 or more computers (playback A and B, VST A and B). Other considerations are the system on an SSD, running tracks on a separate drive (ideally also SSD or at least 7200rpm HDD), and don't run playback and VST from the same system. Playback control is usually done through a midi or OSC interface, split to both systems so if one goes down the other picks right up. Industry standard playback systems are generally dual redundant systems (mac mini's are popular, although less so now that they've dropped quad core) with interfaces by Motu, RME or Antelope, running to auto input switchers like a Radial SW8.
Stepping up from there is a computer and interface combo BUT to do it effectively and reliably it requires a lot of care and it is considerably more costly. If the iPod thing works for you guys, its about as foolproof as it gets. So, is this the best way to run a backing track live in my situation? We do have some stereo effects, which is one downside of using the above method, but from what I've read, unless you have a great PA system, the audience really won't be able to tell the difference. I assume, other than using some sort of tape deck, this is the safest way of running a backing track? My initial plan was to use an iPod and use the old 'pan the click w/ backing track for the drummer left, and pan the backing track without a click right' and to use a splitter, with one side to the drummer's headphones and the other to the mixer. The goal is to create a system as fool-proof as possible. Since the band is new, we have shows scheduled at small clubs later this spring, where the PA system is usually sub-par and there is no sound guy who is familiar with your set. I've played shows with backing tracks in the past using the MacBook Pro, audio interface, running Pro Tools set-up and although it gave us more control, there was one show where the band before use was also using IEMs and messed with the mixer settings, and the backing tracks failed. The album is very layered with synths, but for the time being we are using a combination of backing tracks and MIDI keyboards running Main Stage to recall synth patches. It is a new band, but the record was completed solo, so the band is being formed after the fact. I am in the process of rehearsing a live band and we are trying out different methods of running backing tracks for our show. I realize this has been asked before, but with the changing technology and my specific situation, I was hoping to get some advice as to the best way to run backing tracks live.
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