loading multiple live projects

[jord peck]

Hey, I've heard of people loading multiple projects, like 1 project per song, for live performance so they can just x off the box when they get to the next song and the song is ready to go with all the correct plugins etc. Is this possible in live? or is there a better way? Thanks.

[ollyb303]

You can't open more than one Live set at the same time in one copy of Live. I have heard of people using multiple instances of Live, but IMO that is not the best way.

A better way.....

Create one Live set (.als file) which contains all of your songs. You can use multiple instruments on a single track by using Racks, Chain Selection and Clip Envelopes.

Or you could bounce your songs down to audio (if you're prepared to sacrifice some "tweakability").

Check out Tom Cosm's tutorials, they're very good.

[mazmith]

i recommend using one set that has multitrack recordings of any tracks that aren't altered during performance, make necessary racks, midi channels, and audio fx for things to be played/altered during performance. check out my DJ template post on this forum to see how i do it. this template would work for any style of music. it's all in the clips. Maz.

[jord peck]

thanks for the responses guys! i'm kinda seein where i should go with it but just to clarify i'm not actually using loops or anything that is pre recorded. it's all live audio/midi thats running through ableton. i play a full drum set, guitar, 3 keyboards, and switch on and off singing between 3 separate mics simultaneously. as you can imagine switching fx/instruments etc while doing that can be troublesome. it's troublesome even in between songs. now that you see the application if you have any other helpful tips i'd real appreciate it! thanks.

[ollyb303]

thanks for the responses guys! i'm kinda seein where i should go with it but just to clarify i'm not actually using loops or anything that is pre recorded. it's all live audio/midi thats running through ableton. i play a full drum set, guitar, 3 keyboards, and switch on and off singing between 3 separate mics simultaneously. as you can imagine switching fx/instruments etc while doing that can be troublesome. it's troublesome even in between songs. now that you see the application if you have any other helpful tips i'd real appreciate it! thanks.

fair play, sounds exciting - sometimes I lose sight of the fact that not everyone uses Live to make/perform electronic music!

I fear I must bow out at this point as I don't think I'll be much help, but good luck with it

[Blue4Ice]

I use live with my band in the main as an interface to run VSTs. I have a midi channel for each VST setup like this: -

Track 1 - Channel 1 - Roland JV2080 Channel 1 out
Track 2 - Channel 2 - Roland JV2080 Channel 2 out
Track 3 - Channel 3 - Roland JV2080 Channel 3 out
Track 4 - Channel 4 - NI B4 II
Track 5 - Channel 5 - NI Elecktrik Piano
and so on.

For my external box (JV2080) and any VSTs that accept programme changes I use my master keyboard (Oberheim MC2000EX) to send programme change messages. For VSTs that dont accept programme changes I use a rack on that channel and run multiple instances of the VST within the rack each set to the correct patch. I then use a CC message sent from the MC2000EX which is mapped to the chain select within the rack (I think I use CC#103) to select the correct instance of the plugin.

Thankfully the MC2000EX have 8 zones each able to send prog change and CC messages so it makes the setup quite easy.

[pepezabala]

Hey, I've heard of people loading multiple projects, like 1 project per song, for live performance so they can just x off the box when they get to the next song and the song is ready to go with all the correct plugins etc. Is this possible in live? or is there a better way? Thanks.

to get back to your original question: it's not possible to have a set-list of live-sets within live.
If each of your song requires a very different set up, the most easy way would be to save each song separated as it's own live set, and open/load them each time before the song starts. This can take some time, and you might need to find a way to entertain the audience during that loading time. But it might be more appropriate than activating/deactivating dozens of channels, selecting the correct VSTs in your racks etc.
However, most Live PAs will don't like the idea to stop and load sets within a show, so they reduce the complexity of their sets and build one mega-set containing all clips, instruments and efx they want to play in a concert. Check out the often mentione Tom Cosm-tutorial video about how to get back from a complex arrangement to an easy to manage liveset.