Laptops on stage

rcaz

Hey, I'm looking to hear from anyone who plays gigs with a laptop.

I've been doing a lot in Ableton and Pure Data recently and over the past while, and I've always been thinking "some day I'll get to use this with the band", but I'm fed up of being limited to just guitars bass and drums, so I'm trying to get my head around a laptop setup.

I've got the software I want and I know how to use it, I've got appropriate controllers, all I'm lacking is a good interface.

I figured I'd want maybe two inputs (a guitar input and a microphone input for live processing and sampling) and a few outputs (stereo out for FOH, maybe two headphone mixes for me and a drummer). At the moment I'm looking at an M-Audio Profire 610 and a MOTU Ultralite MKIII.

It's the conventions of playing with this stuff on a stage I'm worried about. What do you guys use? How does it work for you?

Grolschevik

I played with a band last year that did this. Wolfpack Riot. They have a myspace page, so you might be able to PM the guitarist through that.

KindaMaybYesBye

I play with an Axiom 49, Dell laptop running Vista and M-Audio Fast Track Pro as my output. Works fine but can be a hassle with playing bass live too. One word of advice would be to learn your set-up inside out, especially with regards to drivers. I was sound checking before and had the wrong driver selected and made myself look like a complete fool. Also music store do a great laptop stand for around €20, alot better than sticking it on a table/stool.

drumdrum

^^^ As he said, know your setup inside out backwards!!

Things inevitably will go wrong from time to time, even during live playing and you will need to know exactly how to fix any issue that may arise.

On another note, and this may seem basic but its often overlooked, but bring along a multiplug adapter with a long chord to every gig! Not every venue will have a spare plug onstage and the last thing you want is you laptop to be out of juice half way through a set!!

KindaMaybYesBye

A very good resource for anyone using Vista. Some info on how to optimise your laptop for audio usage.

http://duc.digidesign.com/showthread.php?t=250709

booooonzo

For Live i would recommended (and i used to hate when people done this) a macbook pro unless your willing to, or already do know windows very well.
(I do but still use a mac)
7200rpm drive is important
interface i would recommended http://www.focusrite.com/products/saffire/saffire_pro_24_dsp/
Or any RME one.
Although I now use an Maudio Ozonic which has controller and keyboard too so its very handy.
Mate has the fastrack pro on OSX too and it seem decent.

rcaz

booooonzo wrote: »

For Live i would recommended (and i used to hate when people done this) a macbook pro unless your willing to, or already do know windows very well.
(I do but still use a mac)
7200rpm drive is important
interface i would recommended http://www.focusrite.com/products/saffire/saffire_pro_24_dsp/
Or any RME one.
Although I now use an Maudio Ozonic which has controller and keyboard too so its very handy.
Mate has the fastrack pro on OSX too and it seem decent.

I've got an MBP so I'm pretty happy with my computer and will be for the next few years. Just the interface I'm looking at.

I had looked at those Focusrite Saffire Pros, and it's a contender! Currently measuring up against an M-Audio Profire 610 and a Presonus Firestudio Project. Don't fancy the MOTU much anymore.

FoldedFox

I use the Novation Xiosynth 25 as my audio interface, Run the laptop through that and then run it through my Korg Kaoss Pad and then all through a DI box. I use Deckadance as my mixer on stage. Works perfect as a stage set up. The Xiosynth doesn't need any software to run on a laptop and it also has a X-Y controller which you can use for your own tunes as well as the Synth sounds from the Keyboard.

PMI

Hi, I do this 5-7 nights a week Live.

Live = 2 Laptops (Windows) 1 Midi Controller Keyboard, M-Audio Fast Track Pro and Motu Ultralite 3.

Ableton and other VSTi's.

Personally I would recommend you have firewire on your laptop or a nice Mac Book Pro for the consistant transfer of data back and forth with the audio in's etc...

Pro's and cons to the whole setup, if I had my way I would use a Muse Receptor 2 for my live rig, as I find loading VST's and other patches can be slow on a laptop and I play in a band that does not stop for 10 seconds and does 25 songs straight through the night.

I would recommend the Motu over anything else out there, as it has 8 stereo multi outs too, allowing you to send your sample / guitar inputs to a different channel on the desk while your synths stay on a separate stereo feed

This is just cracking the Ice on the thing I will let you guys chat more and drop in again if I can help anymore

Good luck