first laptop gig, didn't get to use live.....

[Guest]

Hi!

Finally christened my laptop in a bar last night, but i ended up using traktor as i was jamming with my partner who was playing records - Ableton, we gotta have pitch style touch buttons for mixing - something you can tap to slightly speed up/slow down - in traktor there are arrows either side of the song postion bar that you tap and it is like touching a record so you can gently get the tracks in sync.

I don't know if i'm just missing something and there is a way, but it seems to me the way most people will end up using live will be to mix in with records/cds/or some other source as you can't change live sets without dropping audio, and the idea is for us to work together, one playing records, one playing live.

I don't really want to use traktor as i'm really itching to use live, but the context we did it in so far was for my mate to play one or two records, then me to play a track in traktor, him using the mixer and me just as a source, this seems like really under utilising the laptop and live going to waste - i may as well have just cut him a cd!

i'm sure we'll use live asap, but i could really see last night just how important it was to be able to tap those arrows - surely there is a way to do this without having to lug in a midi keyboard, i like the fact that it all fit's in my backpack!!

cheers

[siddhu]

Why can't you use the existing tempo adjustment. Clicking the shift button allows you to change tempo in quarters?

Did you try this?

By the way, I was at Mutek and almost everybody was using Live and playing blazing and blistering 1 hour plus sets. So I personally don't thisnk that everyone will be using Live as a glorified turntable. It allows you to basically remix tracks well, LIVE

You could actually stand on the balcony behind the stage and watch what the artists were doing.

Go to

http://www.mutek.ca

and have a listen.

[Triumph]

if you have a midi controller (you BETTER have one!) --such as an Oxygen 8-- you can set a controller knob to alter the tempo. This is what BT does during his sets.

[yuval]

2 WORDS:

TAP TEMPO

[Guest]

Why can't you use the existing tempo adjustment. Clicking the shift button allows you to change tempo in quarters?

Did you try this?
.

the problem wasn't that, - it was the song POSITION, not tempo arrows I was using when jamming with a turntable DJ, I just found if i was mixing something in, i kept having to slightly jump it forward or backwards while i got the tempo right (like you do with records - like touching it to slow it down) I know others have mentioned this - one useful suggestion was to have a 'scratch' window, like in fruity loops, but i don't even think that's neccessary, just something to MOMENTARILY speed up or slow down WHILE fine tuning the tempo, and i'm not asking for glorified turntables, it would just be really helpful to be able to do that as, for example, my partner has spent a very long time accumulating vinyl and getting him to convert to laptop just aint gonna happen, so I need to be able to fit in with records/decks - I'm sure we'll get the hang of it, and it may just be that he has to fit in with me, (by him slightly speeding up instead of me slowing down or whatever)

It seems to me live is aimed more at people on their own or with both having laptops, but it would be nice to fit in with vinyl also....

Yuval, I don't see how tap tempo could do it - that doesn't help this at all, the problem isn't tempo, it's being able to physically push the track gently in sync, as opposed to rigid set tempos - just changing tempo isn't quick enough, you have to wait for one to catch up, you need to be able to help it.

[Guest]

By the way, I was at Mutek and almost everybody was using Live and playing blazing and blistering 1 hour plus sets.
You could actually stand on the balcony behind the stage and watch what the artists were doing.

Go to

http://www.mutek.ca

and have a listen.

Hi, did you mean literally there were web shots of people doing live sets from the balcony?

I had a look at the website and didn't know what i was looking for...any recommendations?

[siddhu]

There aren't any screenshots of people's software set ups on the website if that's what you mean.

At Mutek, you could stand on a balcony directly behind the stage and look over the shoulders of the artists which gave you a clear line of sight to their laptop screens.

Almost everybody was using Live on the final night which was absolutely outstanding. The crowd was absolutely losing it, it just kept getting better and better. Narod Niki was about 8 guys jamming on their laptops!!!

The sets from the finale which was Robin Judge, Monolake, Mambotour, and Narod Niki are really worth listening to as it shows you what you can do with just Live or with Live as your main performance tool.

Robin Judge was not using Live, and I couldn't make out what her software was. Mambotour used a Nord Lead in addition to Live, and I think they had a small mixer (I don't remember to clearly)

Anyway, have a listen and decide for yourself as all the sets are available at http://www.Mutek.ca

It would be intriguing to hear people's feedback on these sets so post your comments.

Siddhu

[jailes]

I'm using Live with a G4 laptop/Motu 828.

I like to split 4 channels across 2 stereo inputs on a dj mixer.

it's a good way to keep rocking.

I have a serious problem with my output levels on the 828 though.

Do i need some sort of amp between the 828 and the dj mixer?

I mean, i can't just CRANK the gain, because when i switch the mixer back over to the turntable and it's good night monitors.

And of course the idea is to go in and out of live/ etc. etc.

but with the differences in Gain, it's next to impossible.

Any suggestions?

[dpel]

I'm using Live with a G4 laptop/Motu 828.

Do i need some sort of amp between the 828 and the dj mixer?

I mean, i can't just CRANK the gain, because when i switch the mixer back over to the turntable and it's good night monitors.

And of course the idea is to go in and out of live/ etc. etc.

but with the differences in Gain, it's next to impossible.

Any suggestions?

jailes,
is there 828 software when launched adjusts output gain?
if not
phono and line level can be matched.
try this:
1. boost overall master volume
2. lower phono gain
3. boost 828 output (or increase channel gain)

if all else fails go to radioshack and buy a cheap line amp.

dpel

[Guest]

Anyway, have a listen and decide for yourself as all the sets are available at http://www.Mutek.ca

It would be intriguing to hear people's feedback on these sets so post your comments.

Siddhu

I listened to Akufen's set from may 2002 as i'd heard of him and man, if that was all done on live then the ableton PR dept need to get him on board, the way he chopped up all the radio stuff and made music out of it was absolutely brilliant, i recorded it with total recorder ($11US from www.highcriteria.com - worth having) so i can cut a CD and listen, it was superb!!

[drush]

listening to monolake now.. again. love his stuff. is he still using a TiBook, and was he using any other equipment? i know he's always been a mac guy.. tho he seems to get a lot of efx out of it while using Live.

in general, were the perfomers using things in addition to their laptops and controllers? if so, what?

re the mention of Akufen: fyi, he uses 2 laptops for his sets, both running Live. 1 mac, 1 PC.



most envious of anyone who got to see Coil.

[Guest]

Anyway, have a listen and decide for yourself as all the sets are available at http://www.Mutek.ca

It would be intriguing to hear people's feedback on these sets so post your comments.

Siddhu

I listened to Akufen's set from may 2002 as i'd heard of him and man, if that was all done on live then the ableton PR dept need to get him on board, the way he chopped up all the radio stuff and made music out of it was absolutely brilliant, i recorded it with total recorder ($11US from www.highcriteria.com - worth having) so i can cut a CD and listen, it was superb!!

i believe monolake said akufen used fruity loops for the album and live for perfomances. i might be remembering incorrectly though.

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