How do you/would you perform live? (electronic artists)

[Mesogears]

Just wondering what everyone's live methods are (or, if you have yet to perform live, what equipment you'd use).

Considering I don't have that many (presentable) songs released, I've never had a chance to do any live shows yet. However, if I ever had to to perform, I'd probably go for a Launchpad, since they're relatively affordable and bundled with Ableton.

[3ternal]

I'll go with an APC40, LPD8 and a self-made template for Ableton Live. The template itself consists of 2 audio tracks with effects from which I play songs, so as to emulate traditional DJ software.

[Mesogears]

Oh yeah, one more thing: I'm getting an MPK Mini, so I'd probably throw that in as well.

[the4thImpulse]

I perform almost every week.

I've been running Ableton for live shows since September.

I use an APC40 to control a simple 2x2 setup (two regular channels and two loop/sample based channels). I have running VU's on the APC for both channels as well as master volume. I have a custom built 'smart' mixer with EQ's, filters, and filtered volume controls to create a 'better' sounding (or just unique) mixer. All songs are warped and split up into cue points and loops which I can control with the APC, they are saved in the form of an ableton set so I can easily drag all contents into the live set whenever I want (thanks to Ill.Gates for that).

I use a Lemur to control a third party step sequencer plugin in Live as well as some master effects (a delay and reverb and various parameter of each). The step sequencer is a simple eight channel, 16 step sequencer controlling abletons 'Impulse' plugin. I use to add my own drum samples during transitions and stuff to spice things up and keep me busy on stage.

All audio gets routed through a Koass Pad 3 for extra fun before going out to FOH.


In the future when I am perfroming my own music I work on ways to do more 'live' stuff but everyone knows one person does not simply play live electronic music (like dubstep/house) easily 'live'.

[Freewave]

I'd likely beatmix my set (after of course planning it out in advance) with my trusty dj mixer and my dual cd player. What i'd like to do if i did a bronycon (especially if the local Denver bronycon gig DOES pan out) is be able to use my own several piece dj lighting and perhaps sync in some of my pmv videos with the music somehow on a projection screen from my pc. Not sure how easy that would be and of course the chance that anyone except someone local would want me over others is the huge obstacle.

[topitmunkeydog]

I've been looking around for this sort of stuff so thanks for the suggestions (mwaahaha)
I'm considering Novation Launchpad and LPD8, but the MPK Mini looks pretty cool too. I've never used these things so if anybody can recommend one over the other for a beginner that would be nice.

After seeing the Dj "Daedelus" perform live, I've really wanted a Monome, but they are so bloody expensive! I guess they are pretty much the same as all the other things mentioned except they are prettier and have more buttons. Oh well.

[ChocolateChicken]

I press the space bar and dance around. I also pretend to push buttons on my laptop and pay close attention to the screen to make it look like I'm doing something, but really I'm just letting the songs play and doing nothing else.

The crowds always love it.

[XXDarkShadow79XX]

This is gonna turn into a gear thread. :P

But I'd just use a Stanton SCS 4DJ if I had one. And maybe a Midi Fighter turbo just for the hell of it. XD

[MRPPony]

I perform almost every week.

I've been running Ableton for live shows since September.

What the...here I thought you were a photographer but you're actually making a living as a DJ, eh? Hmmm....

Anyway, I've never performed (at least my music) live yet. There was one time I "technically" performed because the DJ that was there said, "Hey, I gotta take a piss. Mind mixing for me if the song ends before I get back?"
I haven't heard anything yet, I may get a chance to perform live at an upcoming con. Anyway to answer your question, just be ready. Have your DJ setup, have a specially made playlist for your set to give it that, "Oh he/she's giving us something special for us" along with some unreleased tracks to toss in that special feeling I mentioned above, and just enjoy yourself.

If I can perform at a con, I'd get my Stanton M.203 mixer (standard two channel 3 EQ mixer), Kontrol X1 for effects/looping, Stanton STR8-30 turntables and Traktor Pro (might want to change it to digital playback if people are bumping the table which I hear happens a lot) and make a playlist specifically made for that day. Since you can make music, making an intro to usher in the rest of your music or maybe a "filler" track if you can't seem to mix in key wouldn't be hard. Also looping helps so much. If mixed and done right, you can make a completely new track with nothing but loops.


Its funny how I'm trying to sound as if I've got a lot of experience in this but I just read about it. Damn, my first life performance is going to be a disaster, I can feel it xD

[vladnuke]

I would just go full pendulum and pull out my guitar for some of the bass lines and maybe live drums. That's how I'd want to do it.

[MRPPony]

I would just go full pendulum and pull out my guitar for some of the bass lines and maybe live drums. That's how I'd want to do it.

Oh yeah forgot to mention that, bring some live instruments to play! Guitar, piano, viola, flute; Whichever is best. Drums you'll have to have someone mix for you or just have it premixed but that'll be great to do. Oh man that'll be so much fun!

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Probably just be the boring guy and use a controller and Traktor :v

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

I hear the term APC40 a lot. I've seen a couple reviews, but I'm not entirely trusting of them. So, would you guys recommend it? I would probably do well to have more than just my Numark Controller to play with, right?

[the4thImpulse]

I hear the term APC40 a lot. I've seen a couple reviews, but I'm not entirely trusting of them. So, would you guys recommend it? I would probably do well to have more than just my Numark Controller to play with, right?

Its a midi controller designed for ableton performances, not really regular DJing. If you want to DJ like everyone else its not for you. I have spent a lot of time mapping it for my ableton sets as the stock scripting sucks, imo. You can do a lot with it though, so if you're up for the challenge and want to spend lots of time working with midi you can get some crazy results.

Do I trust mine? Absolutely, I love the thing.

[JayB]

I'd do pretty much as I did here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9GEDla7L3g

Just that I'd nowadays would use a laptop for the beats, because it sounds better.

[Pseudo]

I use Traktor for my sets and don't bother with recording, every mix I do is pretty much pulled out of my ass and live (not that I would screw up often, which surprises even me). I do as much as I can to please the audience, when I did an event at a beer garden lounge for a hotel in Canberra (hometown is best town), half the time I was going around with a drink chatting to people and asking them about the music.

I think it's a long-term thing going, but it's good to go RIGHT to the audience, as you get live feedback AND they see you as a cooler guy who can take time from his work out to please others. That's just a tip.

I use a boombox (if needed) and my laptop. I do have some hardware, but I stick it on the table for show and do jack all with it, so it doesn't look like I'm just checking my emails. :p

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

I hear the term APC40 a lot. I've seen a couple reviews, but I'm not entirely trusting of them. So, would you guys recommend it? I would probably do well to have more than just my Numark Controller to play with, right?

Its a midi controller designed for ableton performances, not really regular DJing. If you want to DJ like everyone else its not for you. I have spent a lot of time mapping it for my ableton sets as the stock scripting sucks, imo. You can do a lot with it though, so if you're up for the challenge and want to spend lots of time working with midi you can get some crazy results.

Do I trust mine? Absolutely, I love the thing.

Well, it sounds like something I'd have a use for at some point.

[bartekko]

Alone I would go with using a pad controller (like launchpad or an APC40) to trigger parts of a track which would be rendered as single-instrument loops while playing the lead synth melody + bass if the synth is boring itself. For longer sets, at some point i would switch to just playing loops of my track while messing with knobs skrillex - style.

I want to make a band at some point and go all pendulum with that, but if i don't manage to do that to the point of everything played live, I'd keep a laptop around to trigger uncovered parts.

Bass Music... Launchpad while abusing the modulation wheel.

[Navron]

I export looped sections of my songs from Cubase in 4 parts:
- Drums
- Bass
- Lead
- Ambient/SFX

I'll then import them into Ableton and arrange the song in 4 different columns, from which I can then add effects and trigger different combinations of song parts with my APC40.

Anything like tempo changes and automated effects I'll do exclusively in Ableton, simply because I tried once to import a loop that slowed from 120 to 80 bpm in the original song. never again