EnergyXT - the "LIVE" machine

[guime7000]

This post is a great idea Caleb...

I often use eXT on stage (but I haven't had the time to try the live mode of the sequencer), no laptop but a *big* computer (with screen etc...), and really would like to see how other people use eXT Live........I mainly use the sampler and many VST switched by the mean of midi CHs comp.......

What I can say is that it's really stable if your computer is in good shape (and if you know which VST causses fatal crashes...) but there are still missing features (like MTC send or read) that would make eXT a great great great Live host.........

Tom.

[jura]

but there are still missing features (like MTC send or read) that would make eXT a great great great Live host.........

Tom.

+1

[asseca]

As a side note - this is the kind of thing I'm hoping that Energy eXTra will provide in the future - a great eXT-centric resource for musicians who want help in linking a great application with practical music-making and performance.

Caleb, I think this is an excellent idea.

I have found normal bulky PCs or Shuttle-type PC more reliable to lug around than notebooks. Notebooks seem to be mechanically flimsy compared to "normal" PCs. It is also quicker and easier to repair a "normal" PC...

[Caleb]

This sounds good.
I've also heard that laptops are somewhat unreliable in live situations depending on what audio interface you use. Apparently a USB audio interface is not the best idea.

A rack-mounted PC for your live music setup only and a strong audio card seems like the go. In fact it might be a good idea to go for a DSP card if it's proved itself for these types of tasks. Reduce some of the effect-load on the PC itself.

I'm guessing it doesn't necessarily cost much more than a notebook either.

Has anyone thought of adding Receptor to this mix? It seems like not a bad idea to me because just like a DSP card, this will take some of the load off your computer for some of the more intense CPU-hoggers in your projects. Of course, then the expense does go up a bit.

OK - if we're thinking rack-mounted PCs, what's out there? what's good? what's the best way to set it up for live work?

Configuring a computer can be the life and death of performance I imagine. So what's a winning formula?

I'm glad that people are liking that idea.
For many of us, composing is a solitary bedroom or home-office activity that rarely finds its way into the public arena except virtually.

The idea of taking your show on the road is quite daunting and you start thinking of all the people/instruments etc. you need. It's enough to paralyse you with fear.

But maybe it is possible for us to get out there and have a go. So let's find a way to make it easier for us EnergyXT 'closeted' composers to 'come out' if we want to.

Caleb

[asseca]

Just for this discussion what might be ideal:
A rack-mount case which can house a standard MoBo...so if the MoBo dies you can replace it yourself...

Some users might even consider placing a 17" LCD monitor in a rack...

[guime7000]

Well, the problem I experienced with a *real* (opposite to laptop) computer is that HDD are not designed to be taken away on the road...I irremediably crashed my live HDD last week after a 1200km trip in a car......Laptops HDD are much more elaborated to support the stress of road trips......

I thought I could build a home-made PC-rack (as *professional PC-racks are really really expensive), but it's not as easy as I thought, and this wouldn't have resolved the problem of the delicacy of HDD.......I think I will soon buy a laptop, with a firewire or PCMCIA interface (I suggest you to forget USB connections for live audio performances, as you can encounter alimentation problems that could cause a crash during the set...).....

I've looked at the receptor, but it's far too expensive for me.........

+1 for the laptop is that you don't need to travel with your screen, which takes a lot of space in the car....

PS: asseca, can you tell me what a MoBo is ??

[jamesb]

I think a rack mount pc is a good idea. I think I'll do that for my next one, and have my mixer, power amp and everything all in the one rack. That way, you can just turn up, plug in the keyboard and it's all already connected and ready to go. There are nice 19" rack cases on wheels now too

The Shuttle is good and small, I carry it around in a milk crate with a 12" monitor, all power cables and MIDI already hooked up so there's minimal setup time at the gig.

Guime7000, what's MTC read and write?

[guime7000]

MTC means Midi Time Code, and permits you to sync a groovebox (for eg. or a Jamman or any midi device) to your computer; just have a quick look there and you'll get more infos on MTC.....

A rack mount PC is a good idea, BUT it doesn't solve the problem of HDD fragility......

[Caleb]

Hard Drive fragility is a reasonable concern I would imagine.

Is it better to use external harddrives or those fancy removable ones do you think? If they are transported outside of the case this might have advantages as you could wrap them up in a towel or something and insulate them against shock.

I'm a Seagate fan myself because they look like they can withstand a bomb blast.

I imagine hard drive selection will be quite important for a live setup.

Caleb

[herr_prof]

well if the gigs warrent it, and stavility is absolutley mission critical I would do the best of both worlds and get on of thsoe ruggadized laptops that are miltary spec:

http://www.infohq.com/Computer/ruggedized-notebooks.htm

Expect to pay about twice as much as a normal laptop though

[guime7000]

Yop, i think unmounting the HDD everytime you move your live setup is better than nothing (that's what I do now....)...But the problem of the size of your live setup still remains..We are 8 musicians and 2 technicians in my band and it's a pain when we have to move....Bass and guitar don't anymore use amps as they have PODS....and I have to transport a computer (a big volume of air that takes space in a car), a *conventionnal* screen (LCD are expensive and you never know what can happen on stage...), keyboard and mouse (that's not the biggest part )....Laptop is an investment, but surely the best setup for live (all professional musicians playing with a computer use laptops (mainly MacOS for the stability, but I hope the Linux version of eXT is on its way so that I can throw Windows for ever and be sure my computer will never chrash on stage !!!)

[asseca]

PS: asseca, can you tell me what a MoBo is ??

a MoBo is a MotherBoard

AFAIK most modern hard drives ( 3 1/2" and 2 1/2 ) are equal in terms of shock resistance and vibration.

Usually when you travel with a notebook you automatically put it on a car seat or something soft.

If you treat a normal PC/Rack the same way by placing it on, say 15cm of foam, during transport, it should be equally safe to lug around.

Extra safety: mount Hard Drive with special rubber grommets.

Tip: have a duplicate hard drive (exact data copy & same model) with you on the road. If nr.1 gets damaged, replace with nr.2

PS: personally I am still a fan of Maxtor drives...

[Newbie Brad]

I have absolutely no experience playing out with a computer and VSTs but I have been thinking about these same issues you guys are discussing. I am probably playing a show in September where I need to travel and best case reproduce some experimental fretless electric guitar + software music I've been doing at home on the desktop. All my recent style has come from mangling fretless electric guitar kernals with VSTs from DaSample, Smartelectronix, xoxos, etc.. I was thinking about replicating some of this live with a laptop and I like Energy, though I haven't gotten a license. I think Energy would be an easy way to go. I'm deciding whether to get a laptop and try that route for travel or to travel with a limited pedal collection. Keep hashing out the ideas!

[guime7000]

a MoBo is a MotherBoard :Razz:

Non english (french in fact ) speaking person apologies mode on

If you treat a normal PC/Rack the same way by placing it on, say 15cm of foam, during transport, it should be equally safe to lug around.

Extra safety: mount Hard Drive with special rubber grommets.

You're right, but a *conventionnal* computer already takes a lot of space...If you add 15cm of foam on each side and at the bottom, you won't need a car anymore to transport it, but a high loads truck instead [/quote]

[asseca]

You're right, but a *conventionnal* computer already takes a lot of space...If you add 15cm of foam on each side and at the bottom, you won't need a car anymore to transport it, but a high loads truck instead

You are right, but it is MUCH less than an old Hammond B3 with 2 leslies, a friend of mine carted around for years...

Or a Guitarist with 3+ cabinet stacks...