If you’re a performer bringing along backing tracks for a sound guy, here’s how to get the best sound:

If you need tracks paused from time to time, or need to cue the tech who’s running the CD player, the best thing you can do is to write down what you need on a single piece of paper, along with a track list. Like this:

• Track 1 - “Song about Stuff” - we’ll tell you when to play this.
  Pause the CD when this is over, for troupe intro, then play tracks 2-4 without stopping
• Track 2 - “Song about other stuff”
• Track 3 - “Another song about other stuff”
• Track 4 - “Even more stuff”

Make sure that all the tracks are more or less the same volume. If there are any that are very quiet, or very loud, then make a note on tracklist.

Whatever method you use - audio files or CDs - we’re sound guys. We know how to make music sound good, but we probably don’t know your music all that well. Those of you with a track list like this are awesome!

CDs

A single CD, with all the tracks you need in the order you need them, is best.

Burn the CD as an audio CD on your computer, at a slow setting (1x or 2x if you can). If you’re using MP3s to make the CD, make sure they’re a reasonably high bitrate.

You may want to test that CD in a CD player before bringing it along. And having a backup/spare CD never hurts.

If you’ll need us to CD from a pile of CDs in order, with crossfades and so on, we should talk and work out a plan.

MP3 player:

We all know how to use an iPod. Set up a playlist with what you want, with a list (like in the CD section above). That should take care of it!

But, for heaven’s sake, turn the click off. That’s the setting on your iPod that makes a clicking noise while you navigate the menus. If you don’t do this, it’ll sound like this on the PA as the tech navigates the menus:

CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK

… only slightly more so.

Laptop or a smartphone with MP3s on it

We’d rather you didn’t do this, since we don’t want to be responsible for your expensive gadgets. But stuff happens, and sometimes you have no choice. If you have to: Bring whatever cables you need to plug into the board, and turn off any other applications running. Open your MP3 player of choice and make a playlist for us to follow.

Thanks! Sorry this post is so long, I was pretty rushed when I wrote it.