KVR Audio

tk421 · Post by **tk421** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:02 pm

I would like to try playing my songs live, but have never figured out an efficient way to do it. I do not have a keyboard. I tried different ways of using FL Studio, Traktor and Back to Bascis. Back to Basics lets you assign loops and samples to different keys on your typing keyboard. The band that developed it would strap on their keyboards like guitars to play.

I guess my biggest question is switching presets and loading up the next song. If I am playing alone, how can I do it with no breaks inbetween songs? Do you open several instances of you software with differnt songs or have some kind of backing track ready while you load something else?

Another issue is does anyone really like watching someone sit at their laptop? With Back to Basics and/or FL's live mode I could wear my keyboard and be free to move more. So if anyone has performed how do you play your songs and put on a show?

And last, since I write all my songs in FL how would I "play" them. Once I created tracks that played in Traktor while I triggered some sounds with Back to Basics over it. It worked nice and kind of felt like I was playing an instrument. I have also ran 2 copies of FL djing between in live mode. This was nice because I could rearrange my songs live and turn them into something new.

So what are some suggestions or thoughts on your live experiences?

Marybelle · Post by **Marybelle** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:25 pm

Not that I'm ignoring your question but, where did you find Back To Basics? Sounds like an interesting program as I'm having difficulty keeping a live show interesting myself

pHz · Post by **pHz** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:30 pm

dont know about back to basics ... but it sounds a little like this ... http://www.soundplant.org

slainte

rob

tk421 · Post by **tk421** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:33 pm

www.reinformation.com

The band is Operation Re-Information. They are not around anymore, but they are responsible for getting me hooked on computer music.

tetraplan · Post by **tetraplan** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:08 pm

tk421 wrote:Another issue is does anyone really like watching someone sit at their laptop? With Back to Basics and/or FL's live mode I could wear my keyboard and be free to move more. So if anyone has performed how do you play your songs and put on a show?

Here's an interesting if verbose perspective (PDF).

Personally, I think it depends on the kind of music that you make and your take on live-performance.
I used to worry about this, but ultimately it's about the music, which is sound, so it's more important that people get a chance to listen then it is for them to see anything (so, Oi! You, at the back! Shut up! If you want to talk go to the fscking bar already! People are trying to listen here!).
Autechre turned off the lights during their last shows, which is a great idea.

I think it's important that people can see what you're doing though- the computer can be a bit of a black box at times and it's my experience that there are always people who are curious about what you're doing.
So during my live-performances, I had the screen at 90 degrees, so it didn't get in the way and people could see what I was doing (even if they had no idea what that was).
Looks-wise, that was it- During the first performances, I just sat at a table, during the second series i sat on the floor. No knob-boxes or anything, just a mouse. I'm looking into getting one of those Doepfer boxes, though.
But I make "sit-down" music, I can imagine these things don't apply to, say, dance music (although no lights might make for an... interesting show).

Groet, Erik

tk421 · Post by **tk421** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:40 pm

Thanks for the article and response.

pannewb · Post by **pannewb** » Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:54 pm

i believe that use can use software called energyXT to do the kind of preset loading you are talking about.

You can assign to toggle loops, and midi files to any key on a midi-capable keyboard. with some extra free software you can assign midi on/offs to samples.

http://www.xt-hq.com/

check it out.

Marybelle · Post by **Marybelle** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 12:08 am

tk421 and pHz thanks for the links. These look pretty cool! And I agree, when all's said and done it is about what the people hear not see. I'd like to blindfold my audience . . .

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 12:18 am

Well my perspective is a little different. I think playing live is all about performance. If you're just gonna sit there you may as well get the DJ to play your tunes for you. Maybe you can come up with some interesting way to perform with a PC but I sincerely doubt it. If you are really gonna put on a show you should probably invest in some kind of controller.
Alternatively, you could make it a whole non-performance thing by having your computer centre-stage on a stool or pedestal. Walk on, hit the space-bar to start playback and walk off. All you need to do is program your whole set as one big song with tempo changes, etc. Or you could use EnergyXT as a container for each song and trigger a different instance from the Playlist in Fruity. Could be the next big thing.

The Chase · Post by **The Chase** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 12:21 am

!!!

reminds me of when dj scribble got caught "ad-spinning"

tetraplan · Post by **tetraplan** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 12:46 am

I've actually been thinking about building an aleatoric music machine where the audience plays the music just by being there, walking around, talking, smoking and drinking stuff.
I'd place thermic sensors, hygrometers, motion sensors &c in the room and convert those signals to MIDI to control the sound.
Maybe use one or more webcams in combination with EyesWeb or PiDiP.
Great way of removing the makers ego from the music and solving the performance issue.

Groet, Erik

BONES · Post by **BONES** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 9:02 am

Wouldn't it be easier to just write songs, practice them and perform?

Kriminal · Post by **Kriminal** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 9:19 am

BONES wrote:Wouldn't it be easier to just write songs, practice them and perform?

davy · Post by **davy** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 9:20 am

tetraplan wrote:I've actually been thinking about building an aleatoric music machine where the audience plays the music just by being there, walking around, talking, ...

Groet, Erik

You'll like Andy Huntington's stuff...

http://www.extraversion.co.uk/projects/ ... ntain.html

tetraplan · Post by **tetraplan** » Sat Aug 13, 2005 11:49 am

BONES wrote:Wouldn't it be easier to just write songs, practice them and perform?

Heh. Where's the fun in that?

Groet, Erik