Anyone ever run live gigs through their DAW?

if6was9

An idea I had ages ago was to skip the mixing desk at a live gig and do it all on my PC using my interfaces, doing all the Eqing, compression, and all that in the box.
After some thought about routing I gave it a go and did 2 gigs a few weeks ago doing everything in Reaper.


I was amazed at the flexibility of it, I ran the main P.A left and right out using the main monitor outs and ran the monitors through the line outs.
I set up 2 tracks as monitors, sending these out to the line outs. I was able to get right in there with my eq plugin and notch out all the problem frequencies quickly and accurately, I managed to squeeze tons more headroom out of my main P.a and monitor speakers and by putting a limiter on these channels too I was able to get my volume up without worrying about clipping the amp and screwing my speakers.
I set up some effects tracks and was able to eq the reverb and delays to make room for the main vocal.
After each band had finished sound checking I saved their project so when they hit the stage I could just open the project and their sound was there instantly.

I couldn't get over the flexibility of it and there were no latency problems or issues with anything. I'm defintely going to do this more often- It didn't take any longer to set up and the its beat any desk I've ever used hands down.

Any of you lads ever tried this?

JonathanAnon

I have thought about this but would never try it. I get the backing track into MP3 format and then see about what to play it with. Currently using an ipod, and a creative Zen, and looking for something better.

There are a three main reasons I wouldnt use my DAW live:
1. Issues with latency, which you have said you didnt incur, but is likely to happen at some stage. The PC is also likely to crash at some stage, and this is not something that you would want to happen.
2. You have to bring your PC / laptop, which I dont like because a) it could get robbed, and b) gives the audience the impression that you are just a DJ.
3. I like to have something thats easy to use live, and mp3 players are much easier for this type of thing. cant image using either a mouse or touchpad for moving between tracks.

But whatever works for yourself;)

Savman

if6was9 wrote: »

I couldn't get over the flexibility of it and there were no latency problems or issues with anything. I'm defintely going to do this more often- It didn't take any longer to set up and the its beat any desk I've ever used hands down.

Obviously you haven't used a digital desk which does all of the things you describe :pac:

if6was9

JonathanAnon wrote: »

I have thought about this but would never try it. I get the backing track into MP3 format and then see about what to play it with. Currently using an ipod, and a creative Zen, and looking for something better.

There are a three main reasons I wouldnt use my DAW live:
1. Issues with latency, which you have said you didnt incur, but is likely to happen at some stage. The PC is also likely to crash at some stage, and this is not something that you would want to happen.
2. You have to bring your PC / laptop, which I dont like because a) it could get robbed, and b) gives the audience the impression that you are just a DJ.
3. I like to have something thats easy to use live, and mp3 players are much easier for this type of thing. cant image using either a mouse or touchpad for moving between tracks.

But whatever works for yourself;)

I don't mean use a computer to play along with live, I mean have the pc take place of the mixing desk for the sound tech mixing it.

Although I've been using a pc as my guitar rig along with a power amp and cab for the last 8 months and its working great too- never had it crash on me!.

I haven't used a digital desk yet live, true- haven't played in/ done sound a venue with one yet. Done stuff on a D command before in college before though!

Savman

if6was9 wrote: »

I haven't used a digital desk yet live, true- haven't played in/ done sound a venue with one yet. Done stuff on a D command before in college before though!

Once you use one live, ain't no going back tbh. All the outboard, processing and effects you will ever need at the press of a button. Patch patch patch, anything anywhere.

One small step for man...

Obi-Jim

i've thought of this before, for some smaller gigs where you are so restricted for equipment, that you feel redundant. Or, for some FX or plugin changes that aren't possible unless you have nice equipment to work with. But, it somehow just seems too unreliable in my head. And yes, everything like that can be done with a digital desk. However, aside from possible latency and possible unreliability, it can work, i guess.

I'm not a big fan of digital desks though, tbh. I like having a rack and my individual channels. Everyone will argue "digital or not digital" i suppose.

(the soundcraft Vi6 is pretty close, workflow-wise, to an analogue desk, i've found)

Savman

Obi-Jim wrote: »

Everyone will argue "digital or not digital" i suppose.

And, ultimately, there will only be one winner. The choice is remarkably simple, embrace the digital age or get left behind.

You think, in 20 years, people will still be lugging around 80kg analogue consoles? Analogue is dead.

I though about this before too...if you were using plugs with little latency it could probably work quite well i thought..although i never tried it..

Clank

if6was9 wrote: »

I don't mean use a computer to play along with live, I mean have the pc take place of the mixing desk for the sound tech mixing it.

Thats my idea of a nightmare..... gimme a desk, digital or analogue at least ive a control surface.