Playing as a duo ????

[Chelsthom]

I am shortly about to start playing live shows with my wife, who has a fantastic voice. We have aquired all new gear, as in PA etc and have put together about 50 songs.

I am now trying to decide the best way to play the backing tracks, most of which are midi files (mainly just drums and bass) or just drum machine tracks I have made (and converted to WAV). All are currently stored on my laptop which I hook up through the PA system and play direct from the laptop.

Does anyone have any suggestions, there are differing opinions as to whether I should put them on MP3, mini disk, CD etc or just play straight thru the laptop.

We both have previously played in bands so all this is a bit new to us, have any of you guys done similar or have suggestions???????

[YowhatsupT]

i'd convert to MP# codec and still play them through your laptop but have a backup of all your MP3s. Definatly not mini-disc.

[Chelsthom]

Why do you say definately not mini disc. I have never used them but just curious as why not.

[crowbarr]

yeah im intruiged as to why you said "definitely not mini disc" too, personally its the one i thing i would definitely do as the sound quality is superb and the chances of there being a problem which could destroy the gig is minimal whereas on a laptop there are millions of things that could go wrong

[banditt]

I have been playing solo gigs for about two years now(Classic rock,blues and country). I have drum loops and then record a bass to that and then I play guitar and sing live to that. I use a Laptop and have never had one glitch using it. As for a Minidisc there is nothing wrong with that. the playback sound is really good. I use wav. files as Mp3 files are so much more compressed as opposed to the wav file. plus I have all kinds of room available on my laptop. ;)

[ModestCargo]

I would just go guitar and vocals and forget about the backing tracks.

If that's not an option then pick up a cheap (but good) home stereo CD player at a pawn shop or something and use CDs.

[goldentone]

For performances, I see nothing wrong with playing backing tracks directly from the laptop. Of course it's very important to have backup copies of all those backing tracks you put so much hard work into creating. So you might also want to have them on CD. In any case, make sure you have something to fall back on in case of an equipment failure.

[nighthawk]

Using like Acid 4.0 on the laptop. Make sure you have two, and then burn cd's ot the material just in case.. if a song needs to be lengthened, it can be in Acid... I do this for karoake, but play drums, bass, keys, mandolins and all behind the guitar, and keep my leads, or if I can bring a guitar in, do them live.

[Slipstream]

I'll back up the back-up idea. You could use the laptop, but have a CD player handy if something goes wrong (like a hard disk crash). Most amps have a CD-in that you could plug in a portable CD player in a pinch.

[elvisdudette]

aww duos with ur wife? thats very nice i wish some nice guy who was musicaly talented do a duo with me that would be to sweet lol

[ModestCargo]

elvisdudette you know I would but I don't live there lol

[elvisdudette]

^lol nice to know modest hehe ;)

[Acoustic Belle]

I'm lucky i have a good mate, who i play with every week , we just need the confidence to go out and play in front of people, I'm really nervous, about it.
Prehaps with two guitars you wouldnt need backing tracks what do you guys think? we are both acoustic players, myself finger-style he can play most things.

I've been offered to play in my local pub, but I'm terrified about it.

Belle

[banditt]

Hey Belle. You have to go for it! I did. I just practiced until I could do all my songs and watch the TV at the same time. It's like autopilot after that. Just start the song as if your sitting in your livingroom and play like you mean it. Even little mistakes will go unnoticed by the general public. Trust me I know :o Just go have some fun. ;)

Banditt

[Acoustic Belle]

thanks Bandit,
Thats what I plan to do choose songs I know well and just enjoy myself
but I'm still nervouse and unsure which ones to play.

Belle

[YowhatsupT]

heres why you shouldn't use minidisk, they are a pain in the but. You lose them like crazy, and they dont hold as much as a good DVD :)

[Chelsthom]

WOW, just found this post I put up back in november. Havent looked at it recently.
Heres the update, I have the tracks on the laptop, which I convert from midi to wav. and dump on a master CD. I also have a mini disc player that has an in-built CD player and direct dubbs to Mini disc. So generally I play the tracks thru the mini-disc, as the CD's are more prone to damage and scratching I keep them purely as masters, plus you can add and delete e.tc on mini disc.

Anyway, since November we have done quite a few shows and I have also been playing in another accoustic style (no backing tracks) duo with another guy. We play stuff totally different from what Ive been doing and its great.

A Duo of Duo's, lovin' it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I read a few of the posts about confidence and anxiety, and cant agree more, especially with Bandit (?). The mor you play the easier it gets. I was wetting my pants the first couple of time, now, its just "Lets get into it and have a bit of fun"!!!!!!!!!!

[supercobra]

Be careful with the MIDI. You don't want to be totally canned, ie unable to repeat a chorus an extra time, or let a few bars go by before starting into a verse.

Most people expect a duo to sound like 2 good musicians, not a band in a box. If she can sing and you can play, why mess with the canned stuff?

I used to do a duo w/ MIDI 10 years ago. The obsession I had at the time with making great backing tracks was lost on my audience; however, most people will figure out very quickly if they are hearing karaoke.