Midi playback to Fender M-DEC guitar amp.

[SandyE]

Hello,
I'm thinking about buying a Fender M-DEC guitar amp which has a built in midi sound module.
The amp can't store midi files, only play a streaming file. How can I use the amp when I'm away
from my PC? An ideal external box for me would be one not too big physically, a hard drive and USB
port to which I could copy multiple midi files from my PC, and a panel which I could easily select the
midi file I want to stream to the M-DEC. This box should not have a sound module itself (hopefully keeping the price down) since the M-DEC will take care of that. Do such devices exist? I'd appreciate any advice on brands, plus any experiences you've had with them. Another question along the same line- would the quality of the midi playback depend more upon the midi box or upon the M-DEC sound module?
Thanks
Sandy

[folderol]

What you're describing is a hardware sequencer. Yes they exist, but I've not had any dealings with one for years (when the still saved and loaded from floppys). Might be something on e-bay or you could try google.

Sound quality would be determined entirely by the M-DEC, timing accuracy should be good, but would be dependent on both units.

[kara]

I don't know the M-DEC but know a litle bit about the G-DEC
Be aware that MIDI is only data and NOT music, basicaly it is just a stream containing instructions like 'Note D on, Note OFF,....' so what you hear will only depend on the soundmodule in that M-DEC and won't change with another midi module.

I would be reluctant to buy a hardware midi-player for live gigs. Don't forget that the more you have on a live gig the more can fail on a bad moment ie. in the midle of your gig.

You could consider a couple of alternatives... why use midi on stage? prepare you backing tracks as MP3 and put them on a i-pod or equivalent ?
If you have some money to spend have a look at the soniccell from Roland : http://www.roland.com/products/en/SonicCell/index.html , a brand new concept which looks very promissing.

Hope this helps, don't hesistate to ask other questions

My golden rule for live gigs : Keep it as simple as possible

k
 

[rharv]

Something like these will work.  Hard to find new anymore at a reasonable price as they all
seem to include their own synth..

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=midi+sequencer&category0=

As for brand- Roland, Yahama, Korg... all good.  I prefer Roland as I'm comfortable with their designs and how they function usually.

[SandyE]

Yes- it is a G-DEC amp, not an M-DEC I'm talking about.
So I now understand that I need to find a hardware sequencer if
I decide to go the midi route, but you've stirred my interest in MP3.
I assume I can find software to convert my midi files to MP3, but
how would I connect an IPOD to my guitar amp? Do they make an
adapter that would convert the IPOD cable to a 1/4'' jack that could
drive a normal guitar amp, or would I have to buy an amp with a
RCA or other special input? I'm using a vintage Fender Vibrolux
tube amp and all it has is the normal 1/4'' inputs.
Come to think of it, how would the sound quality be if I converted by files to WAV instead of
MP3 and connected an ordinary CD player to my amp?
(Thanks to all of you for your feedback)

[rharv]

The wav/cd player would sonically be your best bet
plus to backup the whole show would just mean burning another CD.