"Optimized" Rig for Jamming to Backing Tracks

[des0free]

I've been experimenting with rigs for live jamming to backing tracks, acoustic guitar + vocal. After much testing, I've settled on the below - sounds great, is simple (no laptop/phone, interface, or separate mixer needed), and lets you do everything with footswitches:

- Acoustic Guitar and Mic into TC Helicon Play Acoustic Pedal. Guitar and vocal effects and 4-channel mixer (mono guitar + vocal, + stereo backing track). 100 slots for guitar/vocal settings, change via footswitches. Outputs 2 XLR for stereo PA speakers.

- Boss RC-5 pedal - to play backing tracks, not used as a looper. Holds 100 backing tracks (24 bit WAV files) and play/stop when you hit the pedal. Optional FS7 footswitch allows you to select backing track, otherwise you have to bend down and turn the knob (not so bad). Outputs stereo which I feed into "aux" input on TC pedal.

- Two JBL EON612 PA speakers (12" bass + tweeter). High-quality, can get loud, thumping bass. Was lucky to get them for less than half price as they are discontinued.  (You could also just use 1 as a monitor, with a mono backing track, as it is plenty loud...)

- Guitar: Taylor GS mini with Amumu SP60 magnetic pickup - the "Bodyrez" effect in the TC pedal makes it sound good.

- Vocal Mic: I have a CAD D90 dynamic mic and AT-2010 condenser mic. Both sound good, the condenser maybe slightly better, but could be more prone to feedback.





 

[StephenM]

now you should go find some place to play!  cool stuff...

[Oldrottenhead]

I've not recorded anything new of late as I've been jamming to backing tracks on positive grid sharp 2 practice amp. I can send anything from my mobile to play along to. The app that comes with it also has a lot of cool backing tracks too. Of late I've been playing along to ambient drone tracks.

[bruno]

That looks like a fun setup. This always start simple, and then get added to, until it becomes too complicated, and then requires simplification. Or is that just me? :-) have fun

[StephenM]

"Don't go back to Rockville, and waste another year."

Rockville, REM!

great band and a great song... and cool guitar too... I like REM... glad to see their name on your TC screen...
I was just listening to Matthew Sweet who reminds me of somewhere between Neil Young and REM...

I hear what Bruno said about getting more complicated.... it doesn't have to but it might.
I learned I can rock with just an acoustic guitar... but add in some harmonica and that is cool...
but I do love the gadgets.