Want to start playing live, help!

[beni_72]

Hi,

I am wanting to start playing live sets. Dont really have much knowledge on it nor do I have a set up at home.
Can anybody suggest some good synths, effects, drum machines, samplers etc that I can look into for this.
and also as equally important, tutorials and anything I can learn from as well.

Much appreciated!

[pljones]

Ignoring the technical side for now, what musical knowledge base are you starting from? That makes a difference in how you should approach getting set up, in my view.

Technically, you'll need (again, in my view only):
- a MIDI keyboard, preferably with some built-in controllers
- a good sound card with reliable ASIO drivers
- a DAW you are comfortable with using

The easiest point to start there is usually the last one, as software is much easier to try out until you find what you're looking for. It also lets you see how far you need to worry about "synths, effects, drum machines, samplers etc" as most DAWs come with some coverage across all these. You may find your initial needs fully met.

The soundcard will depend on your hopes for live performance. Are you going to need multiple outs so someone can mix your performance outside your box? Or it is just going to be you plus an amp?

And the range of keyboard and other MIDI trigger devices is immense and really you just have to look until you see something that you think meets your needs.

As for tutorials - again, back to whether these need to cover musical knowledge or the technical side. I've not use many except the odd drumming technique guide and some configuration guides to get the best from Windows (there's a recently posted one in the Computer Setup forum now which I'd recommend if you're on Windows).

[beni_72]

Ignoring the technical side for now, what musical knowledge base are you starting from? That makes a difference in how you should approach getting set up, in my view.

Technically, you'll need (again, in my view only):
- a MIDI keyboard, preferably with some built-in controllers
- a good sound card with reliable ASIO drivers
- a DAW you are comfortable with using

The easiest point to start there is usually the last one, as software is much easier to try out until you find what you're looking for. It also lets you see how far you need to worry about "synths, effects, drum machines, samplers etc" as most DAWs come with some coverage across all these. You may find your initial needs fully met.

The soundcard will depend on your hopes for live performance. Are you going to need multiple outs so someone can mix your performance outside your box? Or it is just going to be you plus an amp?

And the range of keyboard and other MIDI trigger devices is immense and really you just have to look until you see something that you think meets your needs.

As for tutorials - again, back to whether these need to cover musical knowledge or the technical side. I've not use many except the odd drumming technique guide and some configuration guides to get the best from Windows (there's a recently posted one in the Computer Setup forum now which I'd recommend if you're on Windows).

I have a drumming background, I would say its at an intermediate level.

With the technical kind of stuff you mentioned, I actually have all that but am wanting to keep away from the laptop as much as possible and get a hardware set up.
I just feel that the laptop and DAW get in the way of my creativity and improvisation.

Tutorial wise, (apart from synthesis, drum programming etc) I was more looking at tutorials on live set ups and integrating everything.
If anyone could suggest some decent hard ware to start off with that would be ace.

Cheers

[tehlord]

Tutorial wise, (apart from synthesis, drum programming etc) I was more looking at tutorials on live set ups and integrating everything.
If anyone could suggest some decent hard ware to start off with that would be ace.

This is like saying that you want to start cooking, does anybody have any recipes. The combinations are endless.

The answer depends on budget a lot, but I would start off with a couple of grooveboxes.

At the budget end you have last generation Korg Electribe EMX/ESX-1's

At the higher end you have Elektron Analog 4/Rytm/Octatrack

[beni_72]

Tutorial wise, (apart from synthesis, drum programming etc) I was more looking at tutorials on live set ups and integrating everything.
If anyone could suggest some decent hard ware to start off with that would be ace.

This is like saying that you want to start cooking, does anybody have any recipes. The combinations are endless.

The answer depends on budget a lot, but I would start off with a couple of grooveboxes.

At the budget end you have last generation Korg Electribe EMX/ESX-1's

At the higher end you have Elektron Analog 4/Rytm/Octatrack

Cheers, will look into them.
More just wanting to get an idea of where is a good start, so I can get a better idea of it all.

[BertKoor]

I am wanting to start playing live sets. Dont really have much knowledge on it nor do I have a set up at home.
Can anybody suggest some good synths, effects, drum machines, samplers etc that I can look into for this.
and also as equally important, tutorials and anything I can learn from as well.

Hi Beni_72. If you don't mind I've been going through your posting history here. I'm reading you're on this quest now for about 5 years and to me it sounds like you're not making much progress. "Playing live sets", I wouldn't even know exactly how that differs from producing stuff at home (but now on stage) or from DJing.

In 2013 you had Ableton Live, a keyboard, a Nord Rack and an audio interface. If you still have Ableton Live: an important clue is in its name! This is exactly what many artists use on stage: prepare a set at home, and trigger what parts to play when on stage.

You don't need any real drum machines: the bread & butter ones everyone uses (TR-808/909 etc) are sampled a million times and can be download for free from everywhere.

For synths I'd dive into a very basic one, for example Synth1. It's quite powerful for a freebee, and it can produce all sounds you'd expect to come from an analog synth. Learn what it's components actually do: oscillators, filter, envelopes. Learn what all the controls do and how they help creating any sound. Take an existing track and try your best at recreating it.

You don't need any sampler: Ableton Live is a sampler. Maybe you just have to learn how to control it and/or how to get the most out of it.

So my advice to you is to get in contact with your local music school and see whether they have any courses for you. If they don't, try to have a chat with any of their teachers. Because I think you actually need someone looking over your shoulder, looking at what you're doing and giving direct feedback on how to improve, what else to try and thus get the best out of all the stuff you already have.

I have a drumming background

Have you thought about getting a set of Roland V-Drums or another set of drum pads, to trigger drum samples and other samples like loops? Maybe that's more fun for you. Not everybody is cut out to become a DJ or producer, but just being involved in making music is always fun nevertheless...

[DJ Warmonger]

If you are a drummer, you might want to try finger drumming with MPC/ MPD pads or Mashine.





These can do all the stuff drums can do plus play weird samples and FX.
Come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on your needs and budget.