Help Me with a live rig

[bigmonster7]

Ok, so here is what I am looking for...

I want to create a live setup where I can do a handful of things:

1. Produce beats for some live house music
2. Use midi keyboard
3. Piano keyboard for playing piano
4. Acoustic guitar hook up into ableton for effects purposes (i like to make a modified loop station via ableton. I am about to purchase Behringer FCB1010 MIDI Foot Controller with Two Expression Pedals and hopefully I can use it to make a looping station)
5. Microphone hook up for singing...

I am currently trying to work with ableton because that is what I am told is the best for beats and looping.

Ok, I know it sounds elementary the way i am explaining this, but it is hard for me to explain what kind of sound I am going for. In essence, I want to produce/play some beats and then eventually transition those beats into a song that will be mixed with guitar/piano/ or a midi instrument.. and plus vocals.. all in a live setting.

I am currently running on a macbook:

Model Name: MacBook
Model Identifier: MacBook5,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
L2 Cache: 3 MB
Memory: 4 GB
Bus Speed: 1.07 GHz

I have a yamaha PSR-225 GM keyboard that has midi hook ups. Since it is a pretty big keyboard, I plan to also get a small midi keyboard for beats purposes.

I run my acoustic electric into my computer via usb using M-Audio fast track guitar/mic recording interface. I am not really liking it (it was only 100 bucks) so I guess another question would be is what do I want to use to hook up piano keyboard, midi keyboard, guitar and vocals into my computer?

2nd question: how do should I be running all of these sounds from my computer, back out to the speakers of a venue? Should I be routing it into an amp? directly into PA's at the place?

Last thing to note: I also plan on getting Behringer FCB1010 MIDI Foot Controller with Two Expression Pedals so i can utilize all the functions I want to do.

thanks in advance if I haven't exploded your brain.

I am really just trying to understand how I should be running my setup.

[evaodland]

I would make sure your MIDI Keyboard of choice has some knobs and track controls as well (trigger pads wold be nice too)

add a small mixer to the setup to run your analog sources through and into your Audio Interface as a two channel pre-amp mixer...good for making sure your levels going into your interface are okay...

Triggering a track for capturing a clip should not be doable with a foot controller. Just keep it all simple...if you are good at doing beats with your fingers on the fly, go for it, otherwise build your beats and breaks in advance and add percussion loops live...and then use analog input for leads and accent loops.

Keep the MIDI to a minimum for a performance setup...in fact i would convert the MIDI tracks to audio loops. use the MIDI channels just for DAW control during performance.

KISS KISS KISS

keep it simple stupid....if it is one thing I found after 30 years of playing various gigs...keeping what ever rig you use simple to operate live is the way to go...

The challenge I am finding for electronica and live analog performance together is keeping it simple and keeping the controls simple. I got a huge learning curve beating me up right now...finding the simplicity in a very complex and powerful set of tools...

Basically you are creating a "instrument" that you have to play...

have fun! it is fascinating stuff...these computer music thingys....

Oh you can always strap a high hat between your knees.....lol

[bigmonster7]

So, what you are recommending (once again sorry, still getting used to proper language for equipment)...

Start with Guitar:

Guitar--->Mixer--->Ableton----(where do I want to send this through? an amp?)----->Speakers

Midi Keyboard--->Mixer--->Ableton----->Speakers

Foot controller---->Ableton?

If I get a small mixer, do I want to run that into my computer via usb input?

[evaodland]

In Theory.....

Footswitch USB MIDI Controller----------------------------->COmputer
Piano Keys MIDI OUT---> MIDI Controller with Keys USB<----- Computer

Guitar-----------------
Piano Analog Out--->----Small Mixer--->USB Audio Interface<-------------->Computer
Microphone-------------


Take outs from audio interface to PA
Take outs from mixer to PA for live instruments out.


You need three USB connections...
Assuming the footswitch is USB and MIDI controller has IN/OUT

This gives you a Analog path and a separate MIDI path...you could set tracks up for both paths...
to capture clips depending on the foot switch...

That is what I would do...I think....having a understanding of MIDI, and Audio chains is helpful.

Designing your "work flow" helps too...to create the chain of gear to do what you want...

[mikemc]

He's got a FCB 1010 footpedal, it is MIDI out. It needs a MIDI input to come into, so more like this:

Footswitch MIDI Controller----------------------------->Piano Keys MIDI IN--->Piano Keys MIDI OUT---> MIDI Controller with Keys USB-----> Computer

Your cheapest route is: run vox into one input of your audio interface and then guitar into another. Get a suitable USB MIDI keyboard with a MIDI input in the back to run the footpedal into. This allows all your audio you mentioned to be coming into Live and allows you to play soft synths with your MIDI keyboard and allow syou to control things via MIDI with the footpedal.

Now, if you don't think you have enough inputs because you want to run audio from other things (like keys), then how many other audio inputs do you want to run into it, and how much do you want to spend. You can either stay with your current 2-input interface and use a mixer for all audio, or get an interface with more inputs.

That is what I would decide first.

[bigmonster7]

What I am going to do tonight is get you a more detailed (with proper equipment names and description) to show you how it is currently setup.

I need to review a couple things and terms to make sure I am understanding you guys clearly. Don't get me wrong, I have been playing music for 8 years now. Most of the time I have just messed around with equipment, but I never took the time to understand the logic between getting sound from point A to point B.

For example, my piano keyboard (which has a midi in and out on it) is currently hooked up to my mac via an M-Audio midi connector: http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Uno.html

so my current (and obviously misunderstood/out of date) understanding of midi is that to hook up a midi device there must be an in and out on the device. In my case, my keyboard has the midi in and out plugged in on one end, and my computer plugged in via usb on the other.

So how what I think might be best is that I will draw a picture of how I have everything running now. That way, you guys can point out where I am going wrong and/or where I can make the necessary changes.

[UKRuss]

Mike has hit the nail on the head.

You either need a better interface with more inputs or a mixer to continue using the one you have. This takes care of your audio: Guitar, Vocals, Piano

For your midi as has already been mentioned you need a midi keyboard that has midi in/thru and midi out. The FCB will send midi out to the in/thru of your midi keyboard and the midi keyboard out is connected by the computer using either the midi interface you currently have or the midi in on your new interface if you buy a new one. This will allow your midi keyboard to control soft instruments and your FCB to control Live parameters, looper, clip launch etc.

Job done.

[bigmonster7]

I am doing research on everything you guys are saying (only because somethings I don't understand... my fault.. trying to learn).. in the meantime, here is a picture of how I have my current setup.

I should pay you guys for all your help! I know I asking questions like a 5 year old in a college class room. So also, thanks for your patience.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs602.snc ... 2954_n.jpg

[AceLuby]

I am doing research on everything you guys are saying (only because somethings I don't understand... my fault.. trying to learn).. in the meantime, here is a picture of how I have my current setup.

I should pay you guys for all your help! I know I asking questions like a 5 year old in a college class room. So also, thanks for your patience.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs602.snc ... 2954_n.jpg

1) I would find a keyboard that already has a USB port so I could use the keyboard's MIDI ports to input a foot controller, like the fcb1010.

2) I plug everything into the mixer (guitar, vox, bass, any other audio) then plug the output of the mixer into the interface. If you are only using the guitar then this may not be necessary.

3) Run the output out of the M-Audio device. I don't think you'll have any other option if that is the interface you're using within Live.

4) Depends on the foot controller. A fcb1010 needs a MIDI input which means you'll need to plug it into your keyboard or another USB->MIDI interfaces you have in your pic.

5) If you're talking about another electronic keyboard, just put the audio out into the mixer or your interface. If you're talking about mic'ing a real piano, then the mic will have to be plugged into your mixer or interface.

Hope this helps. I have a one man band setup like this, so let me know if this is confusing.

[bigmonster7]

I am doing research on everything you guys are saying (only because somethings I don't understand... my fault.. trying to learn).. in the meantime, here is a picture of how I have my current setup.

I should pay you guys for all your help! I know I asking questions like a 5 year old in a college class room. So also, thanks for your patience.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs602.snc ... 2954_n.jpg

1) I would find a keyboard that already has a USB port so I could use the keyboard's MIDI ports to input a foot controller, like the fcb1010.

2) I plug everything into the mixer (guitar, vox, bass, any other audio) then plug the output of the mixer into the interface. If you are only using the guitar then this may not be necessary.

3) Run the output out of the M-Audio device. I don't think you'll have any other option if that is the interface you're using within Live.

4) Depends on the foot controller. A fcb1010 needs a MIDI input which means you'll need to plug it into your keyboard or another USB->MIDI interfaces you have in your pic.

5) If you're talking about another electronic keyboard, just put the audio out into the mixer or your interface. If you're talking about mic'ing a real piano, then the mic will have to be plugged into your mixer or interface.

Hope this helps. I have a one man band setup like this, so let me know if this is confusing.

wow. thanks for all the detail. I am going to get back to this after work. I will update later tonight.

Thanks again. You guys are great!

[bigmonster7]

I am doing research on everything you guys are saying (only because somethings I don't understand... my fault.. trying to learn).. in the meantime, here is a picture of how I have my current setup.

I should pay you guys for all your help! I know I asking questions like a 5 year old in a college class room. So also, thanks for your patience.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs602.snc ... 2954_n.jpg

1) I would find a keyboard that already has a USB port so I could use the keyboard's MIDI ports to input a foot controller, like the fcb1010.

2) I plug everything into the mixer (guitar, vox, bass, any other audio) then plug the output of the mixer into the interface. If you are only using the guitar then this may not be necessary.

3) Run the output out of the M-Audio device. I don't think you'll have any other option if that is the interface you're using within Live.

4) Depends on the foot controller. A fcb1010 needs a MIDI input which means you'll need to plug it into your keyboard or another USB->MIDI interfaces you have in your pic.

5) If you're talking about another electronic keyboard, just put the audio out into the mixer or your interface. If you're talking about mic'ing a real piano, then the mic will have to be plugged into your mixer or interface.

Hope this helps. I have a one man band setup like this, so let me know if this is confusing.

ok.. first follow up question: do I need an interface if the mixer I get has a usb hook up to my mac? Also, I plan on replacing the M-Audio fast track. For some reason when I use it in Ableton, I can only hear my guitar in one ear. If I do need an interface, any recommendations for a replacement?

also, any mixer recommendations?

When it comes to foot controllers, like the fcb1010, in order for it to connect with my mac, it has to go through the MIDI IN port on my midi keyboard (or piano keyboard) or a midi cord that converts to USB? correct?

I was referring to my piano key board. It works fine, but two things are an issue: 1. too big, and 2. it is a yahama SR225 and it doesn't seem to map with any music program. So that is why I am thinking of get a small midi keyboard, and using the yahama for straight keys.

I guess the sound I am going for is a mix between radiohead's techno appeal, folk music, house music/hip hop beats, jazz...

[bigmonster7]

I am looking at this mixer: http://www.amazon.com/ALESIS-MultiMix-8 ... =de_a_smtd

But I am trying to figure out how do I hook up my midi keyboard to the mixer?

Or do I still put everything except the midi through the mixer?

I guess this was one other issue I was running into... I had guitar running through m-audio fast track into mac via usb and then my keyboard via the midi converter to usb. Thing is, I have to keep changing the audio source (m-audio vs. internal mac source).. so I figure with the mixer as the only plug in, I won't have to keep doing that?

[mikemc]

I am looking at this mixer: http://www.amazon.com/ALESIS-MultiMix-8 ... =de_a_smtd

But I am trying to figure out how do I hook up my midi keyboard to the mixer?

Or do I still put everything except the midi through the mixer?

Your diagram may or may not indicate all of the outputs, but you also indicate a piece of gear you did not have before, which is the Midisport Uno.

Given the gear you have in your diagram PLUS A MIXER,
you do this with your midi:
FCB1010 --midi cable->Keyboard---midi out-->Midisports--USB-> Computer USB
You do not hook up the Midisport MIDI out, you don't need it.

Then, if you *want to use the inboard sounds on your keyboard*
you do this with your audio:
Keyboard ---audio---> Mixer channel in
Vox ----audio-------> Mixer channel in
Guitar---audio------> Mixer channel in

Then you hook the mixer main outs into the Fast Track audio ins.

Then you run the audio out of the Fast track into your monitors headphones etc.
The following diagram is self-explanatory:

[mikemc]

Also, the mixer you are indicating is a USB audio interface on it's own: 4 ins and two outs, so you are duplicating the stereo interface you already have.

You can use any audio mixer, which will be less expensive, given the routing I describe. You can get more audio ins for the same amount of money or less, for example:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha-10-I ... 1172628.gc

Regardless, you will be mixing down to stereo prior to putting audio into the computer.

If you had a multi-in interface with midi, you just plug all your stuff into it:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/UltraLite3Hy/

where everything has it's own input, and you mix in Live, but that is more expensive [edit] but I think most people would agree this is the "right way" to do it, you are using the software more fully and as it is intended.

[UKRuss]

I am looking at this mixer: http://www.amazon.com/ALESIS-MultiMix-8 ... =de_a_smtd

But I am trying to figure out how do I hook up my midi keyboard to the mixer?

Or do I still put everything except the midi through the mixer?

Your diagram may or may not indicate all of the outputs, but you also indicate a piece of gear you did not have before, which is the Midisport Uno.

Given the gear you have in your diagram PLUS A MIXER,
you do this with your midi:
FCB1010 --midi cable->Keyboard---midi out-->Midisports--USB-> Computer USB
You do not hook up the Midisport MIDI out, you don't need it.

Then, if you *want to use the inboard sounds on your keyboard*
you do this with your audio:
Keyboard ---audio---> Mixer channel in
Vox ----audio-------> Mixer channel in
Guitar---audio------> Mixer channel in

Then you hook the mixer main outs into the Fast Track audio ins.

Then you run the audio out of the Fast track into your monitors headphones etc.
The following diagram is self-explanatory:

I'm putting this on my studio wall!! Genius.