Apple Music player vs Stagetraxx 3

Savannah

Hi,
I'm a pro musician using an iPad (about 3 years old) for my backing tracks and break mp4's.

I am considering changing my platform from Pauser Pro to Stagetraxx 3 (which I've already dowloaded). I have really enjoyed using Pauser Pro, but like certain things about StageTraxx, particularly the lyric scrolling, which Pauser Pro doesn't seem to do.

There is one thing about StageTraxx that would, however put me off using it all together...
I have all my break music on Apple Music player on the iPad. When using Pauser Pro, the moment I press play to start my backtracks with the break music running on Apple player, Pauser Pro will automatically fade my Apple music player break music and start the backtrack.

When I start my backtrack on StageTraxx 3 with my Apple music player going, however, both tracks play, creating a horrible mix of two tracks competing with each other.

I have scoured StageTaxx setting, as well as the iPad settings for Apple music to see if there's a solution, but there appears to be none.

Has anyone come up against this problem, and if so, is there a solution?

Regards,
Savannah

Damir

Savannah I have all my break music on Apple Music player on the iPad. When using Pauser Pro, the moment I press play to start my backtracks with the break music running on Apple player, Pauser Pro will automatically fade my Apple music player break music and start the backtrack.

Hi Savannah, comparing Apple Music to ST3 for on stage use of any kind is like comparing a pushbike with a Ferrari, i used iTunes when it was born there was nothing better at the time and it was hopeless for on stage use when Apple music came out it was just as useless if not worse than the original iTunes player, these players are designed for teenagers that buy music.
ST3 is designed for on stage musicians and people that are serious about their music libraries, as it stores all its files within its own folder on your device, no Mickey mouse clouds here you have full control of your files, lyrics, chords, looping, midi equipment control, lighting etc, this is a musical Ferrari on steroids compared to an old pushbike designed to charge you every time you sit on it to go for a ride.
Your little mixing issue from one playlist to another is easily fixed , as every playlist can have its own volume setting so after your performance at full level set your background music playlist 10db lower and in settings set the x fade feature to a preferred Xfade time and the type , you can mix out and crash in to new playlist at full level in but 10 db down as programmed, this is great as you don't get that unwanted mix you don't like.
As you are performing in your on stage playlist just go to your background playlist select the song you want to start with, and if you want to instantly play the background just enable auto play and its done, plus if you have already played songs marked next break you will see which background songs have been played so you can easily choose the non played song.
The beauty about ST3 it has nothing to do with Apple MUSIC THANK GOD.
Cheers Damir

peter

Savannah Stage Traxx is designed to work in parallel with other music apps (like virtual instruments). It does therefore not stop the playback of other apps.

Savannah

Damir
Hi Damir,
Thanks for your reply. I'm not sure if I explained myself well enough.
I am well aware of the benefits of using a platform like StageTraxx or Pauser Pro over Apple music for live performance - that's the main reason I went for Pauser Pro in the first place (which I've been happily using for years and only looked at Stage Traxx because a friend raved about it). Pauser Pro has ALMOST all the benefits of StageTraxx, and in some respects is a lot more intuitive than StageTraxx.
I thank you for your workaround, which is certainly something I have contemplated.
One of the things I don't like doing is scrolling through endless playlists to get to my background music. I love the fact that at the moment, I don't have to scroll at all on StageTraxx to get to my setlists, so that's the reason I like the idea of switching to Apple music in my breaks - an old habit, I guess, that works perfectly well with Pauser Pro, but one that perhaps I should rethink if I choose the StageTraxx route.
Regards,
Savannah

Savannah

peter
Thanks for the unconvoluted answer, Peter 👍. That gives me pause for reflection in deciding which way to go.
Regards,
Savannah

Damir

Savannah One of the things I don't like doing is scrolling through endless playlists to get to my background music. I love the fact that at the moment, I don't have to scroll at all on StageTraxx to get to my setlists, so that's the reason I like the idea of switching to Apple music in my breaks - an old habit, I guess, that works perfectly well with Pauser Pro, but one that perhaps I should rethink if I choose the StageTraxx route.

I see and I agree with you in that respect that’s why for my larger gigs I use my ST3 on iPhone purely as my background music player and the iPad as my backing tracks and simply use the mixer to cross over I actually don’t stop play on my background music as I have hours of music I simply let it run and I auto loop the whole playlist and I just fade up the iPhone mixer fader and it’s simple plus the iPhone ST3 is my actual backup incase the iPad kicks the bucket.
I don’t like running multiple software on any computers or devices.
Sounds like you’ve got it all in hand good luck.

Damir

Just another thought, you could create a number of song called background music 1,2 ,3 etc string all the songs together in to these background music songs and use these background music large songs as normal songs and insert them wherever you like in a playlist and X over to them whenever needed so you have all the control instantly , when you want to get off stage select the background song you need and simply either hit mix or start and you go for a rest when you come back simply choose the next song you want to kick off from and hit mix again or you can use the songs volume fader to drop it down and stop select your next song to perform and you’re off and running again , I think this has a lot of merit I might consider this myself as it doesn’t require you to leave the playlist at all and gives you ability to have different type of playlist songs to choose from instantly and place them to wherever you might need you can use the song volume to pre determine it’s volume and so on.
I think that might be a great way to use background music need.
Just to add to this create one long loop and select permanent auto loop on it then you have a permanent loop of that long background music compilation that does not stop until you choose to continue performing.
Cheers Damir

Savannah

Thanks Damir,
Yes, certainly your first option is one I have used in the past. Your following one is an option I have partially tackled this afternoon, and will look further at your suggestions 👍.
With thanks,
Savannah

Damir

Savannah Yes, certainly your first option is one I have used in the past. Your following one is an option I have partially tackled this afternoon, and will look further at your suggestions 👍.

I just thought of pushing the last idea to the limit,
Imagine you create one song thats called BREAK TIME!
Then in a DAW you create 12 background music sections of say 60 minutes each, in ST3 audio segment editor you create the 12 loops of 60 minutes each and label them and colour code them cool colours represent slower background music songs hot colours represent more upbeat background songs, the sections are also named so you can easily choose the one you need and i would permanently loop all these sections.
So what you have now is the ability to easily place a break anywhere in your list and once you have it you have 12 types of background loops worth 60 minutes each, more than enough for any gig type and easily inserted in to your act.
It just gets better and better, i will try this myself and see if it is as good in practice as in theory, as i agree with you at the moment its a bit awkward, i don't like changing screens and pages for any reason if possible while performing.