What do you need when using live at a gig??

sonorous3 · Post by **sonorous3** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 12:53 pm

ive never used live b4...what do you need?

- comp/laptop
- live
- tracks
- my firewire soundcard (4 out)
- controller

is this all? anything else? any special wires for grounding or anything?

jeskola · Post by **jeskola** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 1:08 pm

youll also need a wire to connect your laptop to the mixer, youll need a power supply (NEVER rely on batteries).

subterFUSE · Post by **subterFUSE** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 1:13 pm

The most important thing you need is a ground loop isolator.

99% of the time you plug a laptop into an audio sysem, you will get ground loop noise. You'll need an isolator to cure it.

They range in price from $15-250, dependng on what you get and how many inputs/outputs it has.

I have several in my setup at home. I have an ART DTI, and an ART T8 rackmount unit for the desktop computer and its gear.

But.... the best isolator I have found is the cheapest one I have. $15 at Radio Shack. Absolutely, positively the best isolator... no joke.

I have a new laptop computer, and it has a large power supply because it is a Pentium 4. The ART isolators will not stop the ground loop noise for my new laptop.... but the cheap Radio Shack isolator works. So far it is the ONLY isolator I have found which can stop the ground noise from my new laptop. Not even the $200 rackmount isolator works with it.

anonymouse · Post by **anonymouse** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 1:16 pm

industrial tape to secure any power adaptors to their sockets, incase some moron catches a cable on his foot and pulls it from the wall

monitor headphones

little pieces of paper with your phone number on it for chicks who come up to the booth begging for your number

chewing gum

CD & battery driven CD player of back-up material to fade-in just incase your putah crashes.

1 full rehersal run-through of your set at home

packet of tissues incase beer or other liquids get on your kit during the gig

dj_statikfire · Post by **dj_statikfire** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 1:29 pm

I typically bring only my powerbook and UC33e controller. And a Y'cable. And a backup Y'cable.

THat is all I need for a standard A2 loadout.

THX,
Jason D

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 1:37 pm

A small flashlight in case you need to troubleshoot.

montrealbreaks · Post by **montrealbreaks** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 1:58 pm

Talent.

Sales Dude McBoob · Post by **Sales Dude McBoob** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 2:02 pm

5 full rehersal run-throughs of your set at home... plugging stuff in through different amps/powered speakers/stereo each time so you don't get used to it sounding a certin way.

I brought 2 DI boxes for the main outputs of my Ozonic. I used them but I think I could've gotten by without them. At any rate, it's a good idea to have something for the main outs- cables. My main outs are balanced 1/4". I brought 10 foot cables that were balanced 1/4" to male XLR. Just in case the club you're playing only has cables on stage to plug mics into. Worst case scenerio type stuff.

A power strip. A power conditioning RF filtering one if you got the means, but even a rinky dink cheap one is a million worlds better than not having one at all.

I just played my first live show with Live last night. It was cool. I want to do more! I'm going to buy one of those Radio Shack things... thanks for the tip.

elektrovert · Post by **elektrovert** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 3:08 pm

subterFUSE wrote: But.... the best isolator I have found is the cheapest one I have. $15 at Radio Shack. Absolutely, positively the best isolator... no joke.

Is it this one by any chance:

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?c ... id=270-054

dannyk · Post by **dannyk** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 3:09 pm

Bring yer brain.

Don't stay awake overnight, drive for 6 hours and then start drinking the afternoon of the gig.

When tech stuff goes wrong, which it can, you need a little wit about you to troubleshoot. When you're.. um.. emotional, there's no way you'll be able to work out why the drums are only coming out of one speaker and why your synth is making no noise.

Know your setup backwards.

Computers are complicated - try and make it as simple as possible for you. You can't always pull off the amazing stuff you had planned at home the first time you play. Build up to it gig by gig.

spiderprod · Post by **spiderprod** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 3:37 pm

keep a spare of your cables ,i keep on forgeting cables everywhere ,it's always good to have some spare .

sonorous3 · Post by **sonorous3** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 6:39 pm

ok so besides from the basic stuff i missed like headphones and rca cables....i need a ground loop isolator....1. where do i attach this and 2. what is a y cable??

kabuki · Post by **kabuki** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 6:59 pm

Also, keep in ming the DJ booth itself: Where are you going to set up all this gear? Usually a venue won't let you remove their hardware to make room for yours, so find a table/platform/riser etc that can be placed on a turntable platter to hold the laptop/mousepad/controller etc.

Also, a FAN is a good idea, a small one that can fit in the corner to keep all that expensive hardware cool (clubs get hot if you are doing a good job).

An umbrella if you are playing outside.

MOST IMPROTANT PIECE OF GEAR: Backup music (CD Player/iPod/etc) to use when the whole set crashes. Because eventually it will.

sonorous3 · Post by **sonorous3** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 7:02 pm

kabuki wrote:Also, keep in ming the DJ booth itself: Where are you going to set up all this gear? Usually a venue won't let you remove their hardware to make room for yours, so find a table/platform/riser etc that can be placed on a turntable platter to hold the laptop/mousepad/controller etc.

Also, a FAN is a good idea, a small one that can fit in the corner to keep all that expensive hardware cool (clubs get hot if you are doing a good job).

An umbrella if you are playing outside.

MOST IMPROTANT PIECE OF GEAR: Backup music (CD Player/iPod/etc) to use when the whole set crashes. Because eventually it will.

Why will eventually crash?? Im still sticking to live3...it is the most stable out there trust me...i have a kick ass computer..l4 crashed twice...l5...well lets not go there...l3...absolutley nothing so far...even after 4 hours of djing...l3 rules

subterFUSE · Post by **subterFUSE** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 7:16 pm

elektrovert wrote:
subterFUSE wrote: But.... the best isolator I have found is the cheapest one I have. $15 at Radio Shack. Absolutely, positively the best isolator... no joke.
Is it this one by any chance:

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?c ... id=270-054

Yes. That's the exact one.

Best isolator I have found yet.... and I spent $200 on a rackmount one for home. Sad, isn't it?