Complex live setup (as a sequencer & backup)

[vinco]

Hi everybody!

I'll try to describe the best I can what I need for a show I'm working for.

The band:
- drummer with electronic pads + live percs
- bass
- guitar
- violin/clarinet
- accordion
- keys 2 / SFX / saxes
- 2 singers
- keys 1 (myself, musical director)

I run sequences/click on my 2nd keyboard (only used for this), a yamaha motif es6.
We also have a gigastudio setup for the samples library (misc.). Program changes are sent to the ES6 and my main keyboard ES8 (same for keys 2).

The show:
- I make some calls to the band on each song (ie counting the new section, grace calls, etc.)
- I'm watching the show (while playing) and change the music accordingly (loop one section, remove another, etc.)

Right now, everything works well but our backup system is not efficient:
- if a musician is sick, we have to replace his parts with another musician.
- we have recorded some parts on giga but most of them have to be triggered manually (usually by the 2nd keyboard).


So here's my question.

I know Ableton Live pretty well and I thought it could do what I'm looking for:
- Sequencing all songs, having clips for each independent section and instrument.
- If a musician is sick, I just need to unmute the track. Same for my calls.
- I can trigger the different sections with a midi controller by assigning them to knobs and individually configuring each clip in loop mode or one-shot depending on the situation.

But I have 2 problems:
1/ we have some songs with tempo changes (gradual) and unless you're in the arrangement mode there is no way to change tempos on the scene window.

I know it is possible to assign a tempo to a master scene but this won't work for gradual tempos.

2/ Though it is possible to load a live set as a clip, it brings up the same problem as before. Plus we need get rid of the giga setup and use only Live for our sample library (with Kontakt for ex.). But how could I send program changes for each song/synth in a clip?


I'm open to any other solution. Money is not really a problem. I just want something that's extremely reliable (we have 10 shows a week) and that's easy to setup/maintain (we always do changes in the arrangements).


Thanks for your help !
Vincent

[Ru_C]

Originally Posted by vinco

Hi everybody!

I'll try to describe the best I can what I need for a show I'm working for.

The band:
- drummer with electronic pads + live percs
- bass
- guitar
- violin/clarinet
- accordion
- keys 2 / SFX / saxes
- 2 singers
- keys 1 (myself, musical director)

I run sequences/click on my 2nd keyboard (only used for this), a yamaha motif es6.
We also have a gigastudio setup for the samples library (misc.). Program changes are sent to the ES6 and my main keyboard ES8 (same for keys 2).

The show:
- I make some calls to the band on each song (ie counting the new section, grace calls, etc.)
- I'm watching the show (while playing) and change the music accordingly (loop one section, remove another, etc.)

Right now, everything works well but our backup system is not efficient:
- if a musician is sick, we have to replace his parts with another musician.
- we have recorded some parts on giga but most of them have to be triggered manually (usually by the 2nd keyboard).


So here's my question.

I know Ableton Live pretty well and I thought it could do what I'm looking for:
- Sequencing all songs, having clips for each independent section and instrument.
- If a musician is sick, I just need to unmute the track. Same for my calls.
- I can trigger the different sections with a midi controller by assigning them to knobs and individually configuring each clip in loop mode or one-shot depending on the situation.

But I have 2 problems:
1/ we have some songs with tempo changes (gradual) and unless you're in the arrangement mode there is no way to change tempos on the scene window.

I know it is possible to assign a tempo to a master scene but this won't work for gradual tempos.

2/ Though it is possible to load a live set as a clip, it brings up the same problem as before. Plus we need get rid of the giga setup and use only Live for our sample library (with Kontakt for ex.). But how could I send program changes for each song/synth in a clip?


I'm open to any other solution. Money is not really a problem. I just want something that's extremely reliable (we have 10 shows a week) and that's easy to setup/maintain (we always do changes in the arrangements).


Thanks for your help !
Vincent

The songs that have the gradual tempo changes...will you be needing to change the actual length of them on the fly? or is it merely the mix you are improvising with (parts coming in or out)

[Stiff]

You're really not going to like this answer, but the only app I would really trust in a Live situation is Live. If I were in your seat I'd try to work around your problems with it.

Bad news, I know...