So, I'm thinking of using a laptop live...

[Count Feedback]

Soooo, I think I'm going to take the plunge.

After lugging around my hefty sampler and synth gear in Detroit the other weekend and a blown fuse in my Moog minutes before show-time (fixed & I still luv it), I think its time for a change.

I was looking at the Dell Inspiron 8600 with Centrino 1.6 Ghz processor, at least 512 megs of ram, 60 gig 7200 RPM hard drive ,and an external firewire 7200 RPM drive. I'm also looking at the possibilty of getting a Firewire audio box of decent quality (maybe the M-audio 410).

I'm also thinking of using the new Lappie as a replacement for my (rapidly aging) 1.2 GHZ Athlon desktop machine.

Anyways, up to this point I've been running my sequences/samples off the Akai S5000, midi being sent to the MS2000(vocoder) with live playing / singing on top.

Normally, I'm a Logic User that chops up his stuff and loads the bits into his samper for live use.

What I was wondering is if anybody out here uses Logic 5.5 (win) live ie: live Vst synths, with backing tracks, and Live inputs with FX?
If so, how do you set it up so you don't have to load each song individually? Basically I'm trying to find the best / quickest way to go from song to song.

If not, what software do you guys use live, and how do you use it?

[buhanan]

i'm a laptop performer. here's my setup:

inspiron 8200 (2 years old)
shipped with a 4200 rpm 2mb cache 30gb drive (this died a week ago while i was on tour), has been replaced with a 5400 rpm 16mb cache 40gb drive.
512 mb ram
1.6 ghz p4

i use an echo audio indigo dj for my sound output (routing Left for bass and beats, right for keys and synths).

overall, i've never been happier with a setup. the trick is checking for absolute stability and knowing your syntax and plugins in and out for any potential problems. also carry around a dvd-r of an image of your HD for when you go on tour.

i don't recommend making it a total replacement - keep your desktop for internet use, as the less you do on your DAW, the better. hope this helps, if you have other questions about my setup or what i do with it (i do everything from keys to sequences live).

[Count Feedback]

i don't recommend making it a total replacement - keep your desktop for internet use, as the less you do on your DAW, the better. hope this helps, if you have other questions about my setup or what i do with it (i do everything from keys to sequences live).

I hear ya there, I've got a couple machines here that i can use for the web. I'd hate to be on the road and my live set got killed by a virus.

[Count Feedback]

if you have other questions about my setup or what i do with it (i do everything from keys to sequences live).

Uhhh, oh yeah almost forgot....
So, what software do you use live and how do you set up a live set so you can get from song to song quickly? Do you use live VST synths & VST FX ie:live vox.
Thanx,
CF

[MickGael]

I use a Dell Inspiron 8500:

• 2.5 P4
  1 GIG RAM
  RME Cardbus/Multiface interface

Absolutely rock solid.

However, one thing to consider is your hard drive.

If you can budget for an IBM Travelstar, you'll get 60GIGs at 7200 RPM...

http://www.memorysuppliers.com/ibtr60at7229.html

PS - If I were using it live I would definetely use some sort of surge protector. I've played in enough clubs to know...

[Count Feedback]

If you can budget for an IBM Travelstar, you'll get 60GIGs at 7200 RPM...

http://www.memorysuppliers.com/ibtr60at7229.html

The laptop i'm looking at will include a 60 gig 7200 RPM HD, I don't know if it's a travelstar though... I better look into that.

Thanx,
CF

[buhanan]

everyone laughs, but i really do enjoy my drum programming in fl. i tried live before, and will definitely be loooking into it once the new release comes out.

i drive two keyboards, so chainer is what i use to drive the smaller one. rendering out your complex sequences to wave and syncing them has become so easy in fl, it's really solid that you only need to 'play' what you want to manipulate live. it's not totally ideal.

for budget concerns, i stick with mainly free vstis, but if something i feel is mandatory comes out, i plunge. keeping your "gear" stripped down is important, for sure.

as for switching songs, for the most part, i can do it fast enough - i string sometimes two or three songs in one file if i have to. (chainer makes this particularly easy)

you learn to manage your cpu properly to make dropouts a thing of the past, just as you would learn the limits of any gear you purchase. a good hd helps your loading times immensely.

i do not do any live signal processing, i still prefer to do that with hardware. i also play bass on quite a few songs with the band, and use that time to open the next file.

hope this helps.

[jzero]

Sorry... Nothing usefull to add... Just want to keep an eye on this thread.

[Count Feedback]

Well, thanks Buhanan!
I think I'll take a closer look at chainer, looks promising...
Anyone else??
Whatcha using live and how do you use it?
Thanks,
CF

[Count Feedback]

Bump...
Anyone????

[buhanan]

one thing that is promising is that on the horizon (from another thread) it looks like fl will be incorporating some way to use more than one midi in. this will allow me to easier drive both keyboards i use (a generic midi controller and an oxygen .

[Mr Lizard]

One of the people I work with uses a Mac with Logic and he always seems to get on fine with live performances.
I tried using my laptop once but a PA speaker fell on it and pretty much wiped it out. Wicked.