Playing Keyboards and Sequenced Drums on Stage

keydoggy · Post by **keydoggy** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 1:51 am

What's the best way to play keyboards (not trigger loops, actually play) on stage using a PC w/plug-ins? I'm hoping I can use Cubase or Ableton Live or both and sequence (or pattern) sampled or midi'd drums and play the keyboard at the same time.

I'm freaked because I can't find out how to change keyboard (plug-in) patches during a song. Some songs I use 6 or 7 different keyboard sounds. I'd like to have a vague idea how to do this before I spring $1500 on software and interfaces.

My controller keyboard is a four zone job, so I could change midi channels easily during performance. But I don't know if this is the best way to do it.

Can someone point me in the right direction?

HatHead · Post by **HatHead** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 10:25 pm

Hello - careful with using Cubase live, it is not reliable enough - it could crash on you on stage.

I make my drum sequences into wavs in Cubase and then load'em appropriately into Live as clips.

You can use Steinberg's VSTack to just play VST plug-in synths and use your MIDI keyboard controller's program change commands to change VST plug-in programs.

Still, what you want to do is tricky with one computer and you'll likely have to fight the PC config to eliminate some pops and crackles. (or use 2 computers)

Good luck!

HatHead

keydoggy · Post by **keydoggy** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 11:46 pm

Thank for the feedback Hathead! I'm still figuring out how best to do this, so your advise is well received. I'll check into VSTack. Also maybe project 5.

Peace out

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 2:52 am

watch out for P5 for live performance, it is a cpu hog. I use Live and FL Studio live all the time. I've tried using vsti's but to be totally honest, its sketchy for a live situation---I've had them cause enough problems in practice that I just gave up on it (using FL to rewire them). Someday when Live implements them, we'll be set, but I think the combo of using rewire and vstis is problematic. I think your best bet would be to get a good sounding keyboard that suits your needs (I use novation K station) and get your sounds from that, or if you have a keyboard already and want more sounds, get a sound module.

Ryan

HatHead · Post by **HatHead** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 3:10 am

[quote="Anonymous"]... or if you have a keyboard already and want more sounds, get a sound module.

Ryan[/quote]

...or have a dedicated computer for VSTi and just use it as an instrument - this is what I do (works great). I don't even have to look at the second computer - it is really just a VSTi sound module and all MIDI control is done via my keyboard; actually much of Live and all VST program set-ups are managed from my keyboard controller without me having to look at or touch my computers at all during a performance.

If you buy one or two more good sounding keyboards and/or modules, you might as well just buy another computer...this is how it worked out for me anyway.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 25, 2004 7:30 pm

I do synth's and samples for a hard-core band. I'm using reason for synths and it's really stable. I use a radium 49 key controller running through my E-mu E5000 sampler which can split a single incoming midi channel into dozens of different channels w/ transposition and other features and send the data to Reason and Live. Plus it's a brilliant sampler that is going to strat getting some serious love if all this talk of Live 4 w/ midi clips is true.

Since we don't use a click track i have a key assigned to tap tempo and pretty much start and stop the sequencer as needed using keys and controllers to mute various mixer channels for different parts of the song.
Works well so far. Will get it's first Big Rock Show test next sunday at the HOB in vegas opening for Orgy. Will let you know how it goes.

Aaron Zilch
grade 8

beateater · Post by **beateater** » Thu May 27, 2004 1:11 am

I'm running Live on a PM 1.5 laptop, Firewire 410 interface, Novation Remote 25 USB controller (controlling Live) and an old Roland D-70 (as a midi controller- not for it's onboard sounds) to midi in on the 410.

On the laptop I'm running Brainstorm Forte (VSTi host app) with all my softsynths in it.

Basically the Remote controls Live and the D-70 controls Forte (my softsynths). Forte is the shit 'cos you can save and load whole combinations of VSTi.

Each app is assigned to it's own stereo out of the 410. If you wanted to mix them just bus them together then out of the 410.

Haven't got around to getting the VSTi audio into Ableton but I suspect there is a simple solution, I just haven't need to suss it 'cos I haven't need to do it yet.

Hope this helps some,
Cheers

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu May 27, 2004 1:30 am

actually, I just had them running out of the same outs of the 410 without doing anything.

HatHead · Post by **HatHead** » Tue Jun 08, 2004 6:21 am

[quote="beateater"]

On the laptop I'm running Brainstorm Forte (VSTi host app) with all my softsynths in it.

[/quote]

Hello! I can't seem to google Brainstorm Forte - do you have a link? I am about to try Chainer. I tried VSTack but was getting contention on my MOTU 828 (snaps and pops) between it and Live whenever both are played together.

thx & peace!

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