Hello my fellow pZerrrs. I don't have much experience at playing live music, let alone configuring the right setup for my specific needs, so I'll lay down some ideas hoping you might help me out...
So, this is a solo show. I'll be playing my keyboards - bass pedals while singing for at least half the concert. The remainder will be instrumental, mainly myself playing woodwinds on top of pre-recorded stuff. I've been inspired by some indian-style structures and I have pieces where there is a slow intro (a drone with textures-non measured) followed by a more dynamic part with a beat. I want to be able to switch between the two sections without puting down my flute or clarinet. I may improvize longer if I'm very inspired, or start the rythmic part quicker if people are falling asleep. How would you achieve this? I plan to have my scope rig by my side (15 dsps in a core 2 duo machine).
All in all, I'd like to know how those who do it proceed with the setting changes between pieces. Obviously i want no delay between songs, and I will want patch changes, preset changes in some synths, mixers, FX and so on. Is this realistic?
All input welcome, thanks!
E
seeking council for live rig
Glad to help, but you need to list which gear you will use.
Which app will play the pre recorded music.
Where you will need program changes, etc.
Finally a question that I can be helpful with,.....live work !!
Start by telling me about the keyboard and bass pedals.
Then proceed to the reeds performance.
Which app will play the pre recorded music.
Where you will need program changes, etc.
Finally a question that I can be helpful with,.....live work !!
Start by telling me about the keyboard and bass pedals.
Then proceed to the reeds performance.
Cool, I knew you would pop in quick Jimmy! Ok, for the keyboard rig: I have a kawai mp9000 as master keyboard, a novation xstation as complementary keyboard (and controller), an emu e5000 ultra and a set of non-midi bass pedals. Actually I've been rehearsing for a while for this part of the act and i think it's pretty much settled, although I'm always looking to upgrade and refine my sound palette.
For the woodwind/instrumental part, I'll be relying on pre-recorded music. Not sure how and if I can achieve what I've described in my 1st post. I guess it would be more realistic to have a fixed length for all the tunes... It would be less flexible but more practical. The sequencer I'm familiar with is cubase, so i'd be using it as playback/sequencing app.
For the woodwind/instrumental part, I'll be relying on pre-recorded music. Not sure how and if I can achieve what I've described in my 1st post. I guess it would be more realistic to have a fixed length for all the tunes... It would be less flexible but more practical. The sequencer I'm familiar with is cubase, so i'd be using it as playback/sequencing app.
I've always been reluctant to use my pc live, for stability reasons mainly. Now it seems that my system is stable enough for me to feel comfortable about it, and for live use it would be a godsend. I'll probably be using vsts, and even though I wouldn't, I'll want to automate my program changes, preset changes and so on, as stated in my first post, so I'll definitely need a sequencer to manage that, I think.
Basically, for each tune I'll want different FXs, different presets, patches, etc. I'd like these to be set at the touch of a single button. For the pieces with accompaniment, I'll have a background track with some automation going on during the course of the piece. For instance, a longer reverb in the meditative intro of a piece and a different fx setting during the remainder.
I guess I'm answering my own questions while asking them, but I want to know how others with some live (or other relevant) experience would approach this project.
thanks!
Basically, for each tune I'll want different FXs, different presets, patches, etc. I'd like these to be set at the touch of a single button. For the pieces with accompaniment, I'll have a background track with some automation going on during the course of the piece. For instance, a longer reverb in the meditative intro of a piece and a different fx setting during the remainder.
I guess I'm answering my own questions while asking them, but I want to know how others with some live (or other relevant) experience would approach this project.
thanks!
MD69 Is A Genius w/ Bidule, where I am familiar w/ it's live stability.
Scope and Bidule just do not crash.
I strongly advise a cheap ass hardware sequencer. You can have parts that " Vamp ". This is where the dance floor is packed and you can stay on the solo area by clicking on a foot pedal, clicking it again will take you out of the tune.
Well that's how we do it w/ hardware. I wouldn't trust Cubase live unless it's an audio only performance. Cubase w/ MIDI + audio don't work for me, but I am lame w/ that stuff anyway.
Hardware sequencers are stable as the sunrise in the East.
The MP9000 is a great piano but hardly a worthy controller. But using a hardware sequencer as a click track and program change device is what I did 4 years. It will run your lights, change programs on your synths, as both hands must be playing, and feet too !! It will shutdown your vocal effects in between songs, dim lights, change vocal effects from a room verb, to a BPM delay and back in a snap.
They are so fast and simple to program too. Doesn't the Kawai have a small 16 track, 20,000 note sequencer?
Keep me posted, as I have been doing this kind of shit for years.
Scope and Bidule just do not crash.
I strongly advise a cheap ass hardware sequencer. You can have parts that " Vamp ". This is where the dance floor is packed and you can stay on the solo area by clicking on a foot pedal, clicking it again will take you out of the tune.
Well that's how we do it w/ hardware. I wouldn't trust Cubase live unless it's an audio only performance. Cubase w/ MIDI + audio don't work for me, but I am lame w/ that stuff anyway.
Hardware sequencers are stable as the sunrise in the East.
The MP9000 is a great piano but hardly a worthy controller. But using a hardware sequencer as a click track and program change device is what I did 4 years. It will run your lights, change programs on your synths, as both hands must be playing, and feet too !! It will shutdown your vocal effects in between songs, dim lights, change vocal effects from a room verb, to a BPM delay and back in a snap.
They are so fast and simple to program too. Doesn't the Kawai have a small 16 track, 20,000 note sequencer?
Keep me posted, as I have been doing this kind of shit for years.
No, the kawai has no sequencer on board, but the emu has. The hw seq isn't a bad idea, but the problem is: I mostly play with my mixed, finished audio tracks, not midi sequences. An "intro" can last 4 minutes (slow improv with drone), then I move on to the rythmic part for a few minutes, then back to the drone, and so on, so forth... One option would be to load these audio files as samples in a sts sampler, but I remember running into problems while recording long performances in the past, so I could investigate the possibility... or maybe a disk-streaming vst sampler...? just thinking out loud...
I guess I'll have to run serious tests with cubase to be sure it can handle it all... It's running quite stable here these days, and I wouldn't push the cpu much during my performance...
It seems h-w sequencer are really buit for the performing musicians, so I guess it's very easy to program your setlist and have all the pieces neatly running and stopping at the end and then the next sequence is ready to be fired... Not so in cubase, I'll have to fiddle around to figure workarounds, because it's built for studio work... is there a sequencer built to be as efficient as h-w for live use? maybe live?
I guess I'll have to run serious tests with cubase to be sure it can handle it all... It's running quite stable here these days, and I wouldn't push the cpu much during my performance...
It seems h-w sequencer are really buit for the performing musicians, so I guess it's very easy to program your setlist and have all the pieces neatly running and stopping at the end and then the next sequence is ready to be fired... Not so in cubase, I'll have to fiddle around to figure workarounds, because it's built for studio work... is there a sequencer built to be as efficient as h-w for live use? maybe live?
Fcb1010
I know behringer stuff gets the bums rush and it should sometimes but as an extra controler so you can free your hands, you cant go past the FCB1010 foot controller. It has ten switches that alows it to be used as a program change controler, so you can turn things on and of like effects. It allows you to change banks and synth presets. Stop and start things and I've even used it as a one note arpegiator bass synth. On top of that it has two foot controlers for volume or wha. What more do you want and it even alows system exclusive dumps so you can the functioning of the switches and foot controller and the price in europe or else in the world. Oh yea it's built like a tank. One draw back is that is a bitch to program, i'm a genius and it took me a least a week to get my head around the instrunctions and perhaps a month to be comfortable with it but on saying that i still recomend it.
Here are some application notes about the Boss RC50 Loopstation and here's a video example
it's not restricted to the loop paradigm btw - parts can have any length and don't need to be quantized.
It's stunningly simple to operate - though it looks mighty complicated the first glance.
cheers, Tom
it's not restricted to the loop paradigm btw - parts can have any length and don't need to be quantized.
It's stunningly simple to operate - though it looks mighty complicated the first glance.
cheers, Tom
Eliam, have you considered Ableton Live?
it will take any audio, VST or MIDI, and it's very easy to set up scenes and navigate via MIDI control changes, so you can extend or abbreviate any parts as you wish. It works great with SFP, and any conroller ou can throw at it.
You can also load projects within projects, so you can have a mega set of your tracks, with the ability to "perform", not just playback, that including tempo changes and key signature changes. Live is a piece of genius, IMO.
It's not exactly "cheap", but there's a lite version, that has most functions of sequencing, though limited in terms of tracks and VST handling... the demo of the full version is uncrippled, except for the saving part, so you can try it out with your own music and see how it feels.
T
it will take any audio, VST or MIDI, and it's very easy to set up scenes and navigate via MIDI control changes, so you can extend or abbreviate any parts as you wish. It works great with SFP, and any conroller ou can throw at it.
You can also load projects within projects, so you can have a mega set of your tracks, with the ability to "perform", not just playback, that including tempo changes and key signature changes. Live is a piece of genius, IMO.
It's not exactly "cheap", but there's a lite version, that has most functions of sequencing, though limited in terms of tracks and VST handling... the demo of the full version is uncrippled, except for the saving part, so you can try it out with your own music and see how it feels.
T
Damn,
Live looks awesome, and I must say the Boss RC50 takes the Oberheim EDP a step further as well.
Great stuff.
Hardware, and software has sure come a long way for these type of performances.
A DJ I worked with used Ableton and had many options for alternating his scene changes, etc. His audio was created in the Kyma Capybara and did some really bizarre and amazing stuff.
My first rule which has worked for years and years....................................
KEEP IT SIMPLE.. Have a way to play out of any crashes ( Ouch ) by having certain hardware available. The Kawaii should do the trick,
The E5000 would be a great backup to whatever VST based app you use.
The Beatles show here in LVegas that my friend streams the re done masters from uses Gigastudio 3 Orchestra and the 32 channels it offers.
It is super solid for a DAW Streamer, and they also took the Grammy's Sunday. What a party.
http://majorscaleaudio.com/
Live looks awesome, and I must say the Boss RC50 takes the Oberheim EDP a step further as well.
Great stuff.
Hardware, and software has sure come a long way for these type of performances.
A DJ I worked with used Ableton and had many options for alternating his scene changes, etc. His audio was created in the Kyma Capybara and did some really bizarre and amazing stuff.
My first rule which has worked for years and years....................................
KEEP IT SIMPLE.. Have a way to play out of any crashes ( Ouch ) by having certain hardware available. The Kawaii should do the trick,
The E5000 would be a great backup to whatever VST based app you use.
The Beatles show here in LVegas that my friend streams the re done masters from uses Gigastudio 3 Orchestra and the 32 channels it offers.
It is super solid for a DAW Streamer, and they also took the Grammy's Sunday. What a party.
http://majorscaleaudio.com/
Hi,
as S4L say KISS principle is the rule for live situation!
bidule can do the job as long as you have a small vsti load (doesn't work if you have to spread the load on MP core).
Live can do the job if you need to go a step further (more vsti, native fx...)
BTW if you buy a native sampler for this, take one which can be rewire slave. It might help if you have problem when it is integrated in the host. In that case set it rewire slave and it will be "outside" the host reorganization on scene change.
One overlooked problem with live situation is the Power supply. On stage, Power is not as clean as in your studio! You will need to prepare your rig for this:
replace the power inlet with schaeffner's one (for european at least, other country should have equivalent manufacturer),a good fuly isolated UPS, good power cables and checking for ground loops.
and a backup solution (DAT for example) is all go wrong!
cheers
as S4L say KISS principle is the rule for live situation!
bidule can do the job as long as you have a small vsti load (doesn't work if you have to spread the load on MP core).
Live can do the job if you need to go a step further (more vsti, native fx...)
BTW if you buy a native sampler for this, take one which can be rewire slave. It might help if you have problem when it is integrated in the host. In that case set it rewire slave and it will be "outside" the host reorganization on scene change.
One overlooked problem with live situation is the Power supply. On stage, Power is not as clean as in your studio! You will need to prepare your rig for this:
replace the power inlet with schaeffner's one (for european at least, other country should have equivalent manufacturer),a good fuly isolated UPS, good power cables and checking for ground loops.
and a backup solution (DAT for example) is all go wrong!
cheers
Thanks for all the input! I've never really used Live, but I will look into it for sure. I think Live running on a recent laptop could be an interesting option for me. I'll look into that too, it would be much less bulky than my rackmounted desktop. Those loopstations are something too! I've seen a guy using Live as a loopstation and it was pretty impressive, although I tend to find that these live-built tunes end up sounding more like clusters than artistic beauty. But that's just me, I guess in the right hands they can make miracles...