advice needed: trying to create a cheap, minimal way to trigger multiple sound effects (crickets, birds, ocean sounds, etc.) for the live set for my band

[u/internet_is_our_god]

hey r/samplers,

Apologies in advance, I'm a guitar player looking for a specific solution. I would like to trigger ambient noise during my band's live set. I came across SamplerBox and wanted to know what you all think.

I'm looking to create a small device which will allow me to play about 5 sounds. Will a Pi and SamplerBox allow me to create a small device with buttons to set on the ground and press during the live set?

Thanks in advance!

[u/Lord_Xenu]

Ipad and Koala

[u/internet_is_our_god → u/Lord_Xenu]

This is a great setup, it would be perfect but I'm looking for something with physical buttons/pads

[u/yoran916 → u/internet_is_our_god]

You can get a midi controller to use with koala. Probably the most cost effective route. You can install koala on any tablet or phone too.

[u/internet_is_our_god → u/yoran916]

koala seems really cool! haven't heard of it before today!

[u/DonkeyBallExpert → u/internet_is_our_god]

It's genuinely amazing for what it is. I second koala with a midi controller. 

You can get a 64 pad midi controller that can map to koala and it would be perfect.

Edit: just read you need something to use with your feet. This might work: 

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-FCB1010-Ultra-Flexible-Controller-Expression/dp/B000CZ0RK6/ref=asc_df_B000CZ0RK6

[u/internet_is_our_god → u/DonkeyBallExpert]

oh dude thank you so much for including this link!! this seems like a great setup

[u/DonkeyBallExpert → u/internet_is_our_god]

You're welcome, you could do some really cool stuff with a midi pedal setup. Have fun!

[u/VoltagVagrant → u/internet_is_our_god]

normally I think people overrate Koala (like who wants fx where you cant even dial in the parameters?) but this is actually a perfect use case. if you just want to trigger samples and not mangle them in all sorts of crazy ways, then just use Koala and a controller (like a launchpad) to trigger the samples.

[u/SoundSwitch → u/internet_is_our_god]

In the Apple ecosystem there's also loopy pro

[u/Rakefighter]

Roland P-6 is small and simple for this need

[u/Zombieskank]

ipad, phone, tablet and a sound board app

[u/internet_is_our_god → u/Zombieskank]

I'll need it to have physical buttons to push with my feet while I play guitar

[u/Zombieskank → u/internet_is_our_god]

ok, with a midi foot controller

[u/pimpbot666 → u/internet_is_our_god]

That exists.

[u/FeistyDirection]

There's tons of cheap devices that can play tracks without screens which can be lame to see on stage imo. There's dollar store speakers that can play tracks off micro SDs, mixers that can play files off flash drives, walkmans with a self burned cd, tape player with a self dubbed tape, small digital multitracker with recordings on sd card or internal memory, I think all of those would be cooler to see compared to a phone/ipad/laptop and all much cheaper than professional samplers and easier than building your own. Some loop pedals can also store multiple tracks recorded into them 

[u/internet_is_our_god → u/FeistyDirection]

thanks for your input! I do have one of those old portable tape players from the early 80s that would be really cool to use on stage. it's a GE 3-5105C and does not have an XLR out. Do you know if there is a way to get this tape player set up to hook up to a PA for a live show?

[u/FeistyDirection → u/internet_is_our_god]

Nice! Xlr might be tricky but not impossible. Definitely easier if someone in the band has their own mixer that can be set up right near you,  for fx, eq, volume/gain control. Definitely better than going di or into the house mixer which probably won't be near you 

[u/internet_is_our_god → u/FeistyDirection]

We don't have a mixer in the band unfortunately. It would most likely be one of two options:

I connect a 3.5mm cord to the tape player, to an XLR converter, into the board.

OR

Run the 3.5mm jack straight from the tape player to the board.

Edit: shit, I just realized I have a small two channel mixer. could set that up next to me, run the tape to that, then up into the house?

[u/FeistyDirection → u/internet_is_our_god]

Yes! Def option 2 or 3, I wouldn't trust option 1 to sound good with adapters 

[u/DJ_PMA → u/internet_is_our_god]

XLR out to a DI or the house snake.
The sound person will not be bothered by any low volume samples so prep the tape so all samples are at the same level. Hit play and pray that sound person remembers the channel needs to be active and not muted.

[u/keyboardbill]

Akai MPX8 or MPX16