Which IPod, etc best to use live

I would like to start compiling songs for live play, maybe next year or so.

What is the best system for the Korg series: 800/3x/900

Thank you

The direct player in the Korgs will be the best bet, unless you want a random play option. That's one thing I miss bout the Yamaha s950 - the MP3 player had a shuffle feature, so when I used a folder for break tunes, it was varied each time. The waitresses appreciated it!
One point - the 900 does not put out the same volume that the other models did - maybe it's a mastering thing, but the MP3 files are quieter than the smfs in my unit.

The 600 has a master volume control for mp3s in GLOBAL. Could that be the problem? Don’t know if the 900 has this feature.

Thanks. The 3x 61 will be by next board, pretty much convinced (albeit the "silent slab" LOL as you proclaimed it I do like the speakers, but afraid to miss out on the power.

The 3x is almost a perfect instrument in my eyes. It's a shame I play so many venues where i really NEED the speakers. I'm at an Atlantic City casino this weekend, and the load-in is horrendous .... I have to travel ultra light, and the 3x would not cut it there. PA900 on a stand, Bose at my side ... quiet, compact and quick in and out.

The 900 does have the MP3 volume ... I have it at max. I'm working backwards with this keyboard - turning everything else DOWN to get the voice and files to come up where they belong.

So the Korg Soundbar for the PA3X isn't an option? It seems a shame to have to use a poorer sounding arranger, simply because you don't want to tote the soundbar (or get a case that fits the Korg while the bar is attached)...

Something else to consider might be in ear monitors. If you use the standard 'sit on the ear' type buds, you don't stop external sound getting in (as the full seal in the canal types do) so you don't lose audience interaction or an awareness of how hard you are hitting the room, but clarity of what you are playing and singing is just about perfect. The Bose sub will make them sound full, and as to weight to tote around... LOL

I always keep a pair in my gig case, in case either I have no time to set up the Mackie hotspots, no room, or the room is too quiet to use them! They have saved my buns on several occasions.

Diki dont you remember Dave had the sound bar...too much to lug around......

You might also look into a batch program that levels and boosts your entire MP3 keyboard file collection in one go.

Particularly if you are doing a lot of old tunes, and using old MP3's, their level may not be very hot compared to MP3's you got more recently. Or, if you are preparing your own MP3's, you may be recording the backing at too low a level, or not using some compression and especially limiting to raise the overall amount.

There are programs out there that can scan an entire folder of MP3's and bring them all up to an average level. Most MP3 computer players have stuff running in the background (Soundcheck on the iTunes program, for instance) that turns up the quiet MP3's and turns down the really loud ones. But they don't alter the file itself, they just program an offset in the player. But put those files in a keyboard, and all that is gone.

But there are programs that alter the files, and boost or cut them all in one go. Maybe that's your solution, there?

http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/

No... forgot. But there comes a time when you need to decide that something is needed more than the inconvenience of lugging it around. To have to pick an inferior arranger, with what seems to be an unacceptable VH quality because you don't want to lug around its speakers seems a poor decision, at least IMHO.

Bottom line is, do you lug around the soundbar, or do you lug around an external VH, power supply, cables, etc.? There's no way you can acceptably simply lug around the arranger (unless you kid yourself you are OK with not having as good VH as you had before), so all you are deciding is what to lug around extra.

Dave's decision on the soundbar came before he found out the problems with the VH in the 900. Perhaps it is time to reconsider?

I won't go back to the 3x - I have tried one too many times to live without speakers, and I just won't do it again. I play too many jobs where a small, unobtrusive setup is required, and in those settings, the mic is not as important as my dance rooms. At any rate .... I'm not giving up on the fact that Korg and TC will make this right - it's not a Rolls Royce, but it sure should be at least a Cadillac!

Diki,
I did raise the levels of all my MP3 files in garage band and re-saved them .... it's better now, but the Yamaha player has so much more oooomph.

It just seems to me that the 900 is a dressed up 600, which couldn't hold a candle to the 800. Dave, do you have a comparison 900 vs 600? Just curious

No aftertouch - no semi-weighted keybed - only one media player ... just to name a few.