Portable Gear

[VortexRanger]

I am looking to be able to do a full performance including synths, outdoors, far from a power source. High volume is not a priority, but sound quality and portability are. It will be 1-3 musicians. Everything electric needs to be battery-powered.

Korg Poly-800
Roland TR-505
Lap steel guitar with pickup
Several battery-powered effects pedals
Various percussion instruments.

Mainly I am missing an amp/speakers. Theoretically I could also use a laptop computer if I had a battery- or USB-powered audio interface.

What is some high-quality, very portable gear? Lo-fi sound and low price point can be seen as a plus to me (after all I'm rocking a 505!), with the exception of speaker quality which I think had better be good regardless.

[Zarith]

You could get a portable power supply? They are relatively cheap...

This one cost $60 and should be able to keep 2 or 3 synths running for a few hours.

[VortexRanger]

Good idea, hadn't thought of that. I can't see the brand name on the pic you posted...

[devetron]

Good idea, hadn't thought of that. I can't see the brand name on the pic you posted...

it's a Schumacher, which is a good brand. They make car battery chargers and the like.
Beware cheap, unbranded imports for items such as this.

google "Schumacher PP-2200 Portable Outdoor Power Unit" for info on that one.

[Alex E]

I'd love to take something like a Jupiter 8 out to the middle of the desert at sunset and play pads for a while.

[StepLogik]

Yamaha QY-100

also, I've got one of those portable power packs i use during power outages and they are HEAVY. they might be portable but if you have a long way to walk/carry it bring a cart. Also, I suppose I should mention I'm a wuss when it comes to carrying heavy stuff around.

[smoothcriminal]

just curious - Burning Man?

[tallowwaters]

Us folks from NC don't go to s**t like Burning Man.

[VortexRanger]

@ smoothcriminal: More of a self-applied restriction to see what kind of musical combinations emerge, but street and festival applications are definitely in the back of my mind...

@ StepLogik: Have you used the QY-100? I've always been about equally intrigued and put off by those desktop all-in-one sound module sequence board thingies, never actually had one though.

[Projectile]

Just buy a deep cycle battery or two (like the ones they sell for RVs and boats), and a power inverter. You could power a rack of synths and a small PA for hours that way.

[StepLogik]

@ StepLogik: Have you used the QY-100? I've always been about equally intrigued and put off by those desktop all-in-one sound module sequence board thingies, never actually had one though.

its a very good scratch-pad tool. i use it when i travel, on planes, at the coffee shop, etc. since i do old-school chicago/acid/italo house, the pianos and organs are perfect and capture the M1 vibe quite well. it also has some really nice string and synth sounds. the sequencer is very easy to use and the screen is wide enough to display plenty of information. there are some decent youtube demos of it if you are want to get more of a feel for the sound quality.

[cartesia]

I've always wanted to try this one:

Nintendo DSi + DS10 Plus cartridge +a kp3 running off 8xAA batteries (you can buy prewired 8xAA battery clips from electronic store, just gotta solder on a plug that plugs into the KP3's power plug)

[Sir Nose]

My first thought was generator. Count your wattage and see how small you can go and still get by.

http://www.usa-generator.com/categories/ultralite.htm

[bhrama]

Boss DR202, SP202/303 can all be battery powered, for more samples and beats!

[VortexRanger]

In college my band used a big generator to power a whole concert in the middle of the woods, it was pretty rad... but the generator was very loud. We ran extension cords like 100 feet away from it. I'll have to look into these "quiet generator" options.