My band plays with a drum machine.

For years we’ve brought the it along with us when we play shows. This has been fine, but there’s two problems:

1. It needs to download songs one at a time – meaning a pause of about 1 minute where I just babble.
2. We’re bringing the device we write and record on with us out into clubs. It’s a robust system, but I’d like to not be fucked if our touring rig goes south.

So it’s time for a plan B. I’d like something
A – that can store at least 45 minutes of high quality sound
B – is rackmountable and tough
C – that allows for changing the set order while we're on the road
D - bonus point for having a start/stop footswitch.

So far, my ideas are ...

Ipod nano (w/direct box) –
Pro – plenty of storage, can program playlists
Con – need to create a rackmount scheme and I’m worried it’s not as tough as I’d like. Also could run into EMF problems or battery issues.

Numark MP102 rackmount CD player
Pro – Enough storage on CD, presumably tough enough. Self contained.
Con– Don’t like having sketchy CD-Rs as storage solution. Numark quality?

I think my ideal things would be as tough as the CD player but using a non-moving parts storage/playback and with a more flexible programming interface. And have a footswitch.

Can anyone help me out here?

= Justin

i've played many shows with an ipod playing tracks, and it worked great.

A Digitech Jamman takes regular flash cards(I have a 2 gig in there, which is plenty), can be controlled by foot. Should be tough enough.

MRoyce wrote:A Digitech Jamman takes regular flash cards(I have a 2 gig in there, which is plenty), can be controlled by foot. Should be tough enough.

This looked okay, but I realized it's a mono out signal. I need stereo.

Dang.

= Justin

Justin from Queens wrote:Ipod nano (w/direct box) –
Pro – plenty of storage, can program playlists
Con – need to create a rackmount scheme and I’m worried it’s not as tough as I’d like. Also could run into EMF problems or battery issues.

I'm just talking out of my ass, here, but this is honestly the first idea that came to mind. If you're not completely opposed to a weekend construction project:
-> Go to Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc, and buy the cheapest phonograph you can find.
-> Go to a hardware store or a TSC or whathaveya and buy decent amount of chicken wire.
-> Go to one of those places that sells foam and buy foam.
---> Gut all of the electronics out of the record player until all that's left is the faux-woodgrain box, the clear plastic lid, and black plastic base. Keep all the little plastic grommets and whatnots handy.
---> Line the top, bottom, and sides with chicken wire. Long time ago I read an article on how chicken wire will actually deflect EMF disruptions.
---> Line the box with the foam so baby is secure.
---> Run an extension cord into the box through the old power chord's hole, this will alleviate battery issues. Run the new audio cable through where the old audio chords ran.
---> Lay the iPod with its AC adapter and the DI box in the whole kit and kaboodle.

Open lid, start song, close lid, repeat. Or even snazzier, use one of those remote controls iPods have to change up the songs. iPods have remote controls, right? I don't own one, but they make all kinds of goofy shit for 'em. This takes care of the foot switch. Unfortunately, you wouldn't be able to read the display.
This would also double as a snazzy home stereo set-up.
Other posters = better ideas. Other posters = probably not as groggy.

I was so bored at work today that I actually drew you a little diagram.

Charlie D wrote:

Justin from Queens wrote:Ipod nano (w/direct box) –
Pro – plenty of storage, can program playlists
Con – need to create a rackmount scheme and I’m worried it’s not as tough as I’d like. Also could run into EMF problems or battery issues.

I'm just talking out of my ass, here, but this is honestly the first idea that came to mind. If you're not completely opposed to a weekend construction project:
-> Go to Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc, and buy the cheapest phonograph you can find.
-> Go to a hardware store or a TSC or whathaveya and buy decent amount of chicken wire.
-> Go to one of those places that sells foam and buy foam.
---> Gut all of the electronics out of the record player until all that's left is the faux-woodgrain box, the clear plastic lid, and black plastic base. Keep all the little plastic grommets and whatnots handy.
---> Line the top, bottom, and sides with chicken wire. Long time ago I read an article on how chicken wire will actually deflect EMF disruptions.
---> Line the box with the foam so baby is secure.
---> Run an extension cord into the box through the old power chord's hole, this will alleviate battery issues. Run the new audio cable through where the old audio chords ran.
---> Lay the iPod with its AC adapter and the DI box in the whole kit and kaboodle.

Open lid, start song, close lid, repeat. Or even snazzier, use one of those remote controls iPods have to change up the songs. iPods have remote controls, right? I don't own one, but they make all kinds of goofy shit for 'em. This takes care of the foot switch. Unfortunately, you wouldn't be able to read the display.
This would also double as a snazzy home stereo set-up.
Other posters = better ideas. Other posters = probably not as groggy.

that's pretty brilliant. i HATE seeing ipods/computers on stage. so lame. this would alleviate that.

also, if you watch out on woot.com, you can get one of those sandisk things or even a lame zune for less than $100. they have mp3 players of some description at least a couple times a month, and they are always super cheap. no need to pay the style premium on an ipod that's going to sit in a box.

You could get a minidisc player cheap and that way you could back up to a few minidiscs in case of any accidents. And if you just got a generic footswitch you should be able to sort something out. But yeah I think Charlie D's idea is better.
Edit: Oh and back in the day when I used a minidisc, mine always seemed really robust, you could get a rackmount (or 'seperate') version too if you wanted.

get a drummer.
often you have to kick them to start and stop, and they're not rack mountable,
but hey tend to be semi programmable

Charlie D wrote:I was so bored at work today that I actually drew you a little diagram.

This is wacky. I don't think this is the solution we'll go with, but I'm glad you pulled it together.

= Justin