MR8 for live playback

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mrx

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As my never ending quest for a self contained guitar effect / backing track box continues, I've started wondering if the MR-8 might work.

Anyone used it for playing backing tracks live?

My biggest concern would be the bad amp models, but by using an external effects unit, the MR-8 could at least replace the MP3 player, mixer, and cables we normally need to bring...
 
We're using a VF80 for this very purpose tomorrow night. Odd UK music license rules mean there is a limit on 2 musicians where we're playing. So vox and guitar will perform, whilst I feed drums and bass into the PA from the Fostex. Net effect is, same sound, less live practice with our new band for me and drummer.

mrx was it you I mentioned the Digitech GNX3 to in this context a while back?
 
Hi Garry

Yes - you had pointed me in that direction on the guitar forum. The digitech looked like a bit of overkill to only use in our context, which is basically three songs for audition purposes.

I had started using backing tracks with a band that couldn't really put a drummer in an apartment - we'd program accurate drums, use guitar effects boards straight into the mixer, wireless headphones and have totally realistic, loud rehearsals - and all the neighbors would hear was what sounded like some guy singing in the shower. We hooked up with a drummer who knew our set and started playing out without ever having to practice with him!

Now I have a great singer, so we do basically the same thing - have the whole show on the computer and use other players who are ready to go, rather than suffering through the endless cycle of advertise, audition, practice, replace...

Problem is that many places audition new bands with 'open mic' nights - with a max of 10 - 15 minutes and three songs, we've already lost a song while struggling to plug in our kludgy 'portable' rig.

The new Zoom 707II looked promising - multi effects, volume pedal, SmartCard playback for $150 - unfortunately virtually all of the guitar effects are unavailable while playing back recorded audio.

Sounds like the VF would be perfect, considering the massive recording time and built in effects.

I'm thinking that adding a Korg AX1-G to the MR-8 might be better than what we have now.
 
We used the MR-8 live last night - worked great.

Loaded up our backing tracks on a laptop, with drums and bass panned hard left/right, ran a line from the sound card out to the MR-8 and recorded in extended mode onto tracks one and two, so drums were on one track and bass on the other.

On stage, I plugged my guitar into the MR8, and ran a line from one output to the PA. The only issue is that switching songs on the MR-8 dis-arms tracks for record, so there are a few button pushes required to get the live guitar signal back. All in all, though, it was great to have the ability to mix guitar, bass and drums individually before sending the signal to the PA - and the large faders and illuminated buttons made it much easier than other units we've tried where you have to dig through menus and navigate with little chicklet buttons.
 
We did the same with the VF80, also last night. Guitar (through a box) and vox went straight into the PA, and as I couldn't play I mixed those with drums and bass from the VF. Big advantage was that you could fade and eq the drums and bass separately, unlike playing a backing CD.

Nevertheless, using backing tracks is still horible and we have vowed never to play again unless they can take the whole band live.
 
mrx - don't know really; I thought it was kind of blues/rock, but our new guitarist and drummer say there's jazz in there. Which is funny 'cos I write the songs and I don't like jazz.

There's some stuff here http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists/album.php?aid=2045&alid=-1

which represents the songwriting but not the playing, as we have now managed to recruit two proper players as above.

Sorry - not very helpful answer.

All the best, and despite my frustration with that other thread :cool: I'm glad to infer that whatever it was is OK now.
 
Garry - Great stuff!

I don't know where people are getting jazz and blues, though - very Canadian - Crash Vegas, Cowboy Junkies, Martha & the Muffins, Toronto, etc.

What instrument do you play? You write all the material?
 
mrx- what about your band.....what style of music do you play...I want to hear.

b
 
Hi Snake -

We've been working on covers, trying to get something going again, so we haven't had a chance to work on originals. I'm thinking of just posting something with my voice to get the ball rolling.

The four CD's in my car are Replacements, Tragically Hip, Lowen & Navarro, and Dwight Yoakam, so that tends to be a cross section of where I'm coming from at present.

(Right now we're doing a lot of country because my singer can sound like anyone from modern country radio - when the Dixie Chicks fire Natalie, she could step right in and they would'nt miss a beat...)
 
mrx - I don't know where they get it either! Funny how everybody hears different things. I'm a bass player, but also had to play guitar on those tracks as we didn't have a guitarist. We do now - and at last a drummer - and it's getting a lot better.

Yes, the songwriting's all my fault.

Look forward to listening to you once you're up.

G
 
Garry -

I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff - Change Your Mind Back should be on the radio. I was singing it after one listen.
 
I love your music Garry. I'm with Mrx about Change Your Mind Back. All it needs is me doing some harmonies with your vocalist. Just kidding.
 
Well thanks guys:D I do like writing (or trying to) strong hooks.

Gospel I'm with you that they need some harmonies; we're working on that soon.
 
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