Half-playbacks are used in the live music scene in all sorts of scenarios: When solo acts or vocal duos play small stages; when the band has to ditch the drums in a cramped club; or when the venue's backline won't allow for decent miking – that's when half-playbacks step in. They're a practical way to make any gig sound good, whatever the circumstances. With the confidence of their own recordings as a backing band, artists can focus fully on playing their instruments and keeping the crowd entertained. Since CDs and USB sticks with simple instrumental tracks don't really cut it anymore, the M-Live B.Beat 128GB takes the whole concept of playback a step further: It plays multitrack recordings that can be individually adjusted in the mix on the fly. It lets artists work with their setlists and playlists flexibly, and can even play videos to be linked to the music.
The M-Live B.Beat 128GB plays music files in WAV, MP3, OGG, Multitrack Audio (MTA), and Stem formats, as well as MIDI files, video formats like MP4, MOV, AVI, and photos too. Multitracks with 8 stereo or 16 mono channels can be imported straight from a DAW into the B.Beat and saved there as backing tracks. The B.Beat can also sync the music with videos and images, which can then be sent to a projector or video wall via the device's integrated HDMI port. Its six individual outputs hook up to a mixer, so a multitrack signal can be mixed live if needed. The B-Beat can even transmit lyrics and sheet music to a prompter wirelessly. At when it's time to count it off, users can either start the track from the device itself or use a pedal they've connected. Power comes through a USB-C port; with a suitable power bank, the unit could run for up to six hours off the grid.
The features and functionality of the M-Live B.Beat 128GB are designed with real-world professional use in mind. The unit is more compact than a laptop, and more importantly it's designed purely with one reliable function in mind: Anyone who's had bad experiences with computers crashing on stage will appreciate how easy the B.Beat is to handle and how steady it runs. Careful prep of the sets at home means bands can hit the stage with complete confidence. Thanks to M-Live's proprietary MTA format, which splits songs into eight tracks following a standard layout, an entire set can be consistently managed from the mixer, with mutes, EQ, and effects. Being able to add video will take any show up another notch: This raft of functions also makes the B.Beat a great tool for project presentations, art installations, multimedia performances, or even as a karaoke machine.
M-Live is an Italian manufacturer that specialises in playback devices for on-stage applications and backing tracks (which are available via the company’s Song Service online platform). The company has its origins in Midisoft, which was founded in 1987, and has a wealth of experience in its field. One of the flagships of M-Live’s product range is the Merish playback machine, which was originally designed as a MIDI player and has been continuously developed so that it now provides a versatile all-in-one solution for on-stage playback and for karaoke events.
Mounted on a bracket, the M-Live B.Beat 128GB can be operated by musicians as they play on stage, or by techs right at the desk. Depending on the scale, complexity, and demands of the show, users can go for stereo recordings or work with MTA files. This also makes it easy for artists to adapt their sets if their bassist doesn't show up or the venue's smaller than they expected. The key functions – like mixing the signal sources and navigating playlists – are so straightforward that the talent can focus entirely on their performances and the crowd. Solo entertainers can load their own backing tracks in MP3 format onto the unit, but M-Live also offers multitracks and karaoke versions with lyrics or videos via its Song Service website.