Interesting post,
Sounds like the problem is faithful transfer of the original content to the=
PA? So your bound by the DAC quality of the portable device, what about us=
ing optical out to a DAC and then PA or system with e.g SPDIF input?
My thoughts,
ipad2 with the camera interface and a usb audio device - not much better th=
an the laptop.
Sony D50 with optical out to an amplifier / PA system with SPDIF in - small=
but maybe difficult to cue&play
Dedicated player like a Lynn Majik. - bigger than the laptop.
Squeezebox (requires lan/wifi connection to the server) -> Optical out to A=
mplifier, remote control, but in a live situation perhaps not good.
Use optical out from the macbook -> Amplifier and loose the USB audio card?=
- back to square 1.
Heres a list of portable players:-
http://wiki.xiph.org/PortablePlayers
Although if you want to trigger playback or sequence during a performance t=
hen
something more music orientated such as a Muse box?
http://www.museresearch.com/products/musebox.php
or dedicated players:-
http://flac.sourceforge.net/links.html
--- In "John" <> wrote:
>
> I just played a couple of .wav files through my PA system using all of th=
e devices I have on hand: MZRH1 minidisc, Zoom H2, iPod touch, and my power=
book with an external sound card (nothing fancy, just an old Xitel AN1 usb =
interface). The Powerbook/interface option sounds much better than any of t=
he others. Clearer overall, especially more detail in the low frequencies. =
All three portable devices sound pretty muddy to me, the H2 worst of all.
>
> So, does anyone know of a playback device that would be comparable in qua=
lity to the Powerbook/Interface combination but more portable than a laptop=
and perhaps more durable?
>
> John
>
> --- In "John" <jladd@> wrote:
> >
> > Greetings,
> >
> > I am looking for the best solution (although price is a factor) to high=
quality playback in a concert setting (we use nature sounds along with com=
positions for harp and cello) and educational setting (I present on marine =
conservation and cetacean communication). I have been using Quicktime on a =
Mac Powerbook for many years with an external USB audio interface (which de=
livers better quality than the headphone jack on the Powerbook). This works=
fine, but since all I am doing is playing back audio files, I would rather=
not have to drag my computer to every gig.
> >
> > I have tried using the iPod touch, but have not been impressed with the=
sound quality coming out of that into a PA system. We are talking about wh=
ales here. Low frequencies need to be well reproduced. I also find navigati=
ng the iPod touch frustrating when on stage.
> >
> > Do any of you know of a compact, well-designed, high quality digital au=
dio player that can play uncompressed WAV or AIF files? Well designed means=
being able to easily arrange, rearrange and access the tunes on the player=
, and play one at a time (the iPod plays in sequence without stopping. I ca=
n't stop the player while I'm playing the cello!).
> >
> > How do the digital recorders (PCM-M10, MZRH1, LS-7, H2, etc etc) compar=
e in terms of their digital to analog playback qualities? Is one of them mo=
re suitable than others for playback (I have an H2 and an MZRH1).
> >
> > What are others using for best quality performance of nature sounds?
> >
> > I will be comparing everything I have through our sound system, but won=
dered what you all would have to say.
> >
> > Many thanks!
> >
> > John
> >
> > Let us live in harmony with the Earth
> > And all creatures
> > That our lives may be a blessing
> >
>
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