What's the best software for live performance?

sleepwalker · 16th October 2006

OK. Here's the deal. I've got a Halloween gig and I need to play to a sequencer. In my studio I've been using Cubase SX and it's been stable, so I'll probably go with that.

I also own Ableton Live, but my experiences have been less than stellar. It seems to be crashing quite a bit when combined with my Powerbook G4 laptop and either Kontakt 2 or Sample Tank's Philharmonik. Live isn't as stable as I would expect from a live performance tool.

I love the concept of Ableton Live, but I still haven't really figured it out. I really want to go this direction because I think Live has a great foundation to take my live performance to another level.

Ideally I'll be streaming VSTi's out the laptop for the performance, but I may end up just rendering them to audio for safety's sake.

Any recommendations on VSTi's for live use? I really like Kontakt and ST Philharmonik, but they seem pretty hard on the CPU.

Anyway, any thoughts or suggestions? I know it's kind of a vague rant.

**Geert van den Berg** · 16th October 2006

I have not much experience with Live, I've used it a bit, but I know someone that runs it and claims it to be rock solid. Could it be that either Kontakt or Sample Tank make it crash? With DAW software it's often the plugins that are the cause for crashes.

sleepwalker · 16th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geert van den Berg

I have not much experience with Live, I've used it a bit, but I know someone that runs it and claims it to be rock solid. Could it be that either Kontakt or Sample Tank make it crash? With DAW software it's often the plugins that are the cause for crashes.

To be fair, it is always when using these two plugins that it's crashing. I know Live 6 comes with many more instruments. Since it's internal, they're likely to be more stable. Still.. Hard to justify 6 when I've used 5 so little.

dougb415 · 20th October 2006

If you're familiar with Cubase SX, I'd suggest getting V-Stack. I used it this summer and it worked great. I'm pretty sure it costs less than $60.

StrangeCat · 21st October 2006

I don't know anything about Abelton Live 6, but 5 is rock solid and awesome for live performance. I have two friends that are dj's and both use Live and small set up with a powerbook that's it!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...89565742&hl=en
he uses live check out Live at the Boom you can see his set up.
on dogsonacid he talked about his setup too.
Good Luck!

thenoiseflower · 21st October 2006

Abbleton live, 3 days to get comfy with it, and a gig.
thats all you need.

stag · 21st October 2006

I use Cubase at home... Live? depending on the job but i think i would have to go with eXT... or a combo of Cubase, Live and eXT.
I reread your post, you are on Mac so no eXT... well it´s a VST host\subhost that run on PC, very intuitive and easy to setup and yet powerfull enough to convey MIDI and audio streaming.

So in your case i would go with Cubase. Kraftwerk do it live with Cubase.

sleepwalker · 24th October 2006

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'm currently trying to decide between Cubase with the Philharmonik VSTi or Live with the Philharmonik stuff rendered to disk. Live 5 crashes WAY too much with Philharmonik and Kontakt for me to consider using it with these particular VSTi's.

I'll have them both loaded up in the event my 1st choice decides to do something scary.

Man.. Pretty gutsy for people to do this without a backup.

16th October 2006	#1
sleepwalker Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,228 Thread Starter	What's the best software for live performance? OK. Here's the deal. I've got a Halloween gig and I need to play to a sequencer. In my studio I've been using Cubase SX and it's been stable, so I'll probably go with that. I also own Ableton Live, but my experiences have been less than stellar. It seems to be crashing quite a bit when combined with my Powerbook G4 laptop and either Kontakt 2 or Sample Tank's Philharmonik. Live isn't as stable as I would expect from a live performance tool. I love the concept of Ableton Live, but I still haven't really figured it out. I really want to go this direction because I think Live has a great foundation to take my live performance to another level. Ideally I'll be streaming VSTi's out the laptop for the performance, but I may end up just rendering them to audio for safety's sake. Any recommendations on VSTi's for live use? I really like Kontakt and ST Philharmonik, but they seem pretty hard on the CPU. Anyway, any thoughts or suggestions? I know it's kind of a vague rant.

21st October 2006	#6
thenoiseflower Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 1,424	Abbleton live, 3 days to get comfy with it, and a gig. thats all you need. __________________ ---------------------------------------------------- "In an Expression of the Inexpressible..." "I just opened my back door and ran smack dab into a unicorn..." - NOT SO NEW "rules are for intersections" - UBK "in the end it is better to keep the Emperors clothes on. At least this way people's ideals wont get damaged in the process." - thethrillfactor Maudio? is that piglatin for crap? - allencollins "Funny thing about the soapbox" - Slipperman.[/SIZE]

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Need a synth for live performance	John_McEnroe	Electronic Music Instruments & Electronic Music Production	3	12th October 2006 11:06 PM
live performance	zaknbou	Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording	3	9th January 2006 02:24 PM
Single or dual processor for live performance? / live perf rig	Martin Hughes	Remote Possibilities in Acoustic Music & Location Recording	13	24th September 2005 03:47 PM
Let's talk midi software: for Live performance and composing	jho	Music computers	3	21st October 2003 05:12 AM

16th October 2006	#2
Geert van den Berg Mac Moderator Join Date: May 2003 Location: Amsterdam Posts: 3,433	I have not much experience with Live, I've used it a bit, but I know someone that runs it and claims it to be rock solid. Could it be that either Kontakt or Sample Tank make it crash? With DAW software it's often the plugins that are the cause for crashes.

20th October 2006	#4
dougb415 Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Huntsville AL Posts: 823	If you're familiar with Cubase SX, I'd suggest getting V-Stack. I used it this summer and it worked great. I'm pretty sure it costs less than $60.

21st October 2006	#5
StrangeCat Gear interested Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 28	I don't know anything about Abelton Live 6, but 5 is rock solid and awesome for live performance. I have two friends that are dj's and both use Live and small set up with a powerbook that's it! http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...89565742&hl=en he uses live check out Live at the Boom you can see his set up. on dogsonacid he talked about his setup too. Good Luck!

21st October 2006	#7
stag Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Over myself Posts: 929	I use Cubase at home... Live? depending on the job but i think i would have to go with eXT... or a combo of Cubase, Live and eXT. I reread your post, you are on Mac so no eXT... well it´s a VST host\subhost that run on PC, very intuitive and easy to setup and yet powerfull enough to convey MIDI and audio streaming. So in your case i would go with Cubase. Kraftwerk do it live with Cubase.

24th October 2006	#8
sleepwalker Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,228 Thread Starter	Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'm currently trying to decide between Cubase with the Philharmonik VSTi or Live with the Philharmonik stuff rendered to disk. Live 5 crashes WAY too much with Philharmonik and Kontakt for me to consider using it with these particular VSTi's. I'll have them both loaded up in the event my 1st choice decides to do something scary. Man.. Pretty gutsy for people to do this without a backup.