Ok guys, I admit I'm a sucker for electronic gadgets. Realizing that the Yamaha Tyros continues to satisfy my music creativity & professional performance needs and that I probably won't need to upgrade soon . . .

I went ahead and ordered (online) an "Archos Gmini 400' portable MP3 + Mpeg video device, which competes with the highly successful Apple iPod & newest iPod Photo, which only supports storing & viewing still pic yet costs twice as much as the Gmini 400: http://www.archos.com/products/overview/gmini_400.html

Though I doubt I would ever use it for this purpose, the tiny Archos Gmini 400 could be connected to a TV screen to display a picture slideshow or video adding another dimension to your show.

PC Magazine Review: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1706849,00.asp

I'll let you know more after I get it, and have a chance to explore this thing. Hey, we pro musicians need to get away from work too, right? I'm guess I'm just a kid (at heart) who refuses to grow up.

Scott

Cool gadget.
I have this feeling we live in the future time of Star Trek 20 years ago.

Beam me up, Scotty

Did you consider the iRiver or not?
http://www.iriveramerica.com/products/portable.aspx

you'll like it, I've been testing it for archos since before it came out, beats an ipod hands down on features, very clean sound and recording not bad too.

Yep, the iRiver equivilent model (PMC-100) was a consideration as well, but it received a substantially lower rating (3 vs 4.5 stars for the Gmini 400) by PC Magazine & other reviewers. In addition the street price for the Archos Gmini 400 is less as well ($325): http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1641693,00.asp



Alec, I know if its' PASSED your stringent standards, the Gmini 400's got to be a WINNER

Scotty

Click the following link to hear the classic Star Trek line: http://65.24.81.11/sounds/televis/startrek/Beam.mp3

Scott why the change? dont you like the ipod you have? for a few more bucks you could have bought a Sony TR Series laptop
http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHO...tebookComputers

Donny,

NOT a change, but an 'addition' to the electronic gadget collection. I STILL love & use the iPod as much (if not) MORE than ever. I'm using the iPod 4G(40GB) to store, organize, and create interesting playlists from my entire MUSIC collection stored on the iPod. I plan to dedicate the Gmimi 400 exclusively for storing & viewing my still pic (jpeg) and video (Mpeg) collection.



I doubt that. The total cost of the Archos Gmini 400 was $331.50 DELIVERED, and the 4g 40 GB iPod cost me $399 making the total package FAR LESS than any Sony TR series laptop costs (which according to your link) starts at $2,049.99. For my type/style of gigging, the Yamaha Tyros alone (without a laptop) provides everything I need music performance wise.

Though, in addition to personal listening pleasure, the iPod is used to provide custom 'on the fly' background music playlists tailored for the gig, the Gmini 400 will prinicipally be used for personal entertainment. Then again, I'm open to finding ways to incorporate its use on onstage as well.

Because I already got a video converter (Plextor) as well as a DVD video recorder (Sony GX300), I'm already able to convert on air television programs, video & DVD movies etc into Mpeg-4 or DivX file format and can load these into the Gmini 400 for viewing at a more convenient time and watching it "anywhere" on a sharp & vidid (albeit) tiny screen. In addition to acting as an MP3 player, the Gmini allows you to fit an entire photo & video library in your shirt pocket. I have a couple of weeks to try it out, with the option to return it if for any reason I don't like it, so I'll let you all know how I like it once it arrives (next week some time).

- Scott

I was only kidding Scott although the Sony Tr series LT is awesome [sigh]... enjoy your Toys you work hard and deserve the fruits of your labor!!!

What would help many arranger players with keyboards that only have floppies and no hard disk or USB disk on key facilities would be a midi player of this size. All it would have to do to is store midi files and
have midi outs to send them to our PSR or Clavinovas that only have floppies. It would not even have to have built in voice generators; just store and send midi files would be enough.

Does anyone know of such a small, inexpensive device?

Sam

I just canceled my Archos Gmini 400 order:
http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/Forum37/HTML/009317.html

Scott

Sam,

I remember seeing MIDI sequencer programs for PalmPilot. Having done a quick search now, I followed this link http://www.brothersoft.com/midi-sequencer.html
which contains info for a number of sequencer programs for Palm/Handspring. I believe there are also some sequencing applications for PocketPC platform.

Of course, if you are willing to forgo the ability to transpose the music, or speed it up/slow it down, the disk-based MP3 player will be your best bet.

Regards,
Alex