Help! I need a live rig

Mon Oct 14 04:50:04 CEST 2024

Sorry to bring this old tread back up, but was wondering how you guys like the MPC stuff.
I’ve never used an MPC and it looks like fun, but also with a steep learning curve. I currently have no time for learning curves ;-)
Also considering shipping the cirklon to the US. Might be a better option…
Thanks,
Tom Adam
tom.adam at thebigear.be
www.thebigear.be

> On Mar 15, 2023, at 11:58 AM, Tony Scharf <tony.scharf at outlook.com> wrote:
> 
> Interesting…I’ve been working on setting up a live rig for similar reasons.  
> 
> For me, its these devices:
> 
> Akai MPC Live II (long samples, sequencer, MIDI router)
> Roland SP404mkII (ambient drone loops and other one shot hits)
> Elektron Octatrack II (Most of the performance actually happens on this)
> AudioThingies Miicromonsta 2 (great synth, small package)
> Arturia MiniFreak (keys, sounds)
> Korg MicroKey AIR (to control play the main bits. 
> 
> I use a USB hub and connect everything to it and the MPC acts like the MIDI host.  
> 
> But seriously…you probably don’t need all of that, particularly if you’re going to be singing, too.
> 
> I’d go with a 1010music Black Box and Blue Box, and then maybe a synth depending on your style and if you want to play any keys.  if you want a cheap, light synth that punches way over its price tag, I can’t recommend the MicroMonsta enough.    The MiniFreak is also just excellent.  
> 
> Another good all in one box alternative might be an Akai Force, but I gave up on that because it didn’t (at the time) have a way to change tempo in a set, or create a setlist so you could easily load up the next project (seriously…its a major flaw).   the MPC avoids that by being pattern based and not clip based. 
> 
> Or just put it all on a backing cassette tape and pretend its a Karaoke show. thats easiest on your back. 
> 
> Tony
> 
> 
>> On Mar 14, 2023, at 4:25 AM, Ibi Sum <ibisum at gmail.com <mailto:ibisum at gmail.com>> wrote:
>> 
>> Another vote for the 1010 Blackbox!
>> 
>> ;
>> --
>> seclorum 
>> 
>>> On 13.03.2023, at 22:21, Matt Seil <xeno6696 at gmail.com <mailto:xeno6696 at gmail.com>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I can speak indirectly about the Squarp Hapax.  It's a MIDI sequencer, so you would be required to use another device to manage samples/loops/etc.  I have a Squarp Pyramid and from a live-sequencing perspective, it does most of what you want, the Hapax solves the Pyramid's main limitation in that you can only have one project running at a time (one song at time.)  I *absolutely adore* my Pyramid but I don't do live gigs. 
>>> 
>>> The Hapax allows you to load 2, but I don't know beyond that if it allows for you chain loading--i.e. if you have midi sequences for Anger, with Bargaining loaded, after you transition fully to Bargaining, I'm unsure if you can dump Anger and then load Acceptance.    
>>> 
>>> That being said, in lieu of the Cymatic you could consider the 1010 Blackbox--you can stream 16 stereo channels if you use a UHS-II sdcard and coupled with the Hapax (or another midi sequencer) you could readily map out your phrase samples and trigger sequences to other devices.  I haven't used mine for live sets either but if you need something that can do what the Cymatic does but with a GUI (and some synth control) I would recommend it.  The blackbox site keeps a list of sdcards capable of streaming all 16pads simultaneously. 
>>> 
>>> On 3/13/2023 1:48 PM, Andrew Robinson wrote:
>>>> Thanks for all the feedback, folks. Lots to think about here! 
>>>> 
>>>> I agree Ableton would make a lot of sense, but I really don't want the show to just be me hiding behind 2 laptops wiggling a mouse. I want the audience to be sure that I'm doing things that affect the sound, which means something pad-based for arranging, add that to the cost of a second laptop (I'll be doing video stuff on the other) and we're into dedicated hardware price territory.
>>>> 
>>>> The Playaudio12 or the Cymatic Audio LP16 would be good as part of a laptop setup, but they don't have a UI, so they don't fit my needs.
>>>> 
>>>> SamplTrek looks interesting as a budget option, will research to see if it covers enough of the things I need.
>>>> 
>>>> My shortlist at the moment is:
>>>> 
>>>> Synthstrom Deluge (tiny display, appears not to be available new?)
>>>> Squarp Hapax (don't know much about it, low RAM so might not be suitable?)
>>>> Octatrack (the most expensive option, not sure if RAM limits it too much?)
>>>> Akai MPC Live/One (Initial impression is that these are very cut-down versions of the Akai Force, but for about the same price, surely that can't be right?)
>>>> Akai Force (not ideal, but UI seems great and connectivity is right - it mixes down, streams multi-track audio from HD/SSD/ SD card, has decent FX, class compliant midi, enough cv/gate outs that I won't need external box for that, etc.). 
>>>> 
>>>> I think the Force is winning at the moment, as it seems to need the lowest number of additional boxes to get me to where I want to be. Lots more review videos to watch on youtube though!
>>>> 
>>>> - Andy_R
>>>> 
>>>> On Mon, 13 Mar 2023 at 16:40, Peter Korsten <peter at severity-one.com <mailto:peter at severity-one.com>> wrote:
>>>>> Hey Andy,
>>>>> 
>>>>> > ...so, what should I be buying?
>>>>> 
>>>>> This YouTube short conveniently showed up in my recommendations today: 
>>>>> https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RXEZCeVUb_o <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fshorts%2FRXEZCeVUb_o&data=05%7C01%7C%7C7d1ccb01e6de4fbc7c2108db246e1160%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638143827398476707%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3vn9qOHyqU9T7kPsgMLtrUPZ8zW8aUUsqJYViRNOlt8%3D&reserved=0>
>>>>> 
>>>>> It mentions this product: https://www.iconnectivity.com/playaudio12 <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iconnectivity.com%2Fplayaudio12&data=05%7C01%7C%7C7d1ccb01e6de4fbc7c2108db246e1160%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638143827398476707%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=d6b%2FJWnw7yVUvdk04%2Ftzk1GijsIaxEdczHpKRQqzS%2Fw%3D&reserved=0>
>>>>> 
>>>>> The guy uses Ableton Live, which you mentioned, on two laptops, and the 
>>>>> above device.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Scan Computers have it for £479, though not in stock until the 25th. 
>>>>> Others don't have it, or have it for £599. 
>>>>> (https://www.iconnectivity.com/uk-dealers <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.iconnectivity.com%2Fuk-dealers&data=05%7C01%7C%7C7d1ccb01e6de4fbc7c2108db246e1160%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638143827398476707%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3VseK4UVaZpIYutwG00cPfHkpg%2BRtwyEuryZLT2UAzU%3D&reserved=0>)
>>>>> 
>>>>> Disclaimer: I know neither Ableton Live nor this product, so it's not an 
>>>>> endorsement.
>>>>> 
>>>>> - Peter
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