0:50 - How i choose what to use. 9:05 - Table Layout 10:49 - Connecting everything up 13:10 - Awesome option for a power strip 13:57 - My Favorite accessories 15:49 - Tips!
oh the pressure! Maybe on the next one I'll make a point to. I got a little footage from this show which I'll probably upload tomorrow or the following day
Dude! Check out the Live:Air Action app for iOS. You could take a line out into your iPad and you’d be able to stream or record with effects or overlays etc with little effort. I just released a video demoing the audio frequency analysis in the app.
I've been performing live for 10 years with an old project. A couple of utilities i would suggest: - 2 sided tape - comes really handy if you are afraid that people will make your gear fall down - those wide, strong tapes - good for anything really - long "output" cables - many times we had to reach the dj desk with our setup which needed 5-7 meter cables - i can double Enrique about extra cables - any of them can go wrong even if you are just wiping down everything fast after your gig - if you are performing in another county be sure they have the same connectors for electricity!!! We had a situation where we had just an hour to buy adaptors for that, because they had just a bit different plugs. I hope these help! :)
The amount of time you take to help others is incredible. Thanks for all your tips and thoughts. Even knowing the tricks you have for playing chords on the circuit. It’s that level of detail and honesty about how you work that makes your channel so rad
Enrique, this is probably the best clip you have ever made. It's super useful, and very relaxing to listen to at the same time, I feel I just turned a good Netflix series and I'm totally hooked to this video. Brilliant!
Stuff I wish I heard when I started playing live: bring as little gear as possible and get a stopwatch; you would be surprised how much you will improve the quality of your set if you become more aware of how far you are into your performance/how long your transitions are
the stopwatch would definitely be a big help. I try not to go over 5 minutes per track because it can get boring. That's usually what I do when I DJ anyway. Sometimes I use my phone, but I feel like people think I'm just reading text messages LOL
Definitely solid tips, and though you use the Octotrack for your mixer and a Digitakt for more drums, the mixer has to be one of the most underused instruments in tihs country. It can be a super expressive tool, if utilized, but it requires a little extra prep. One thing I did not see you mention in your prep is the actual preparations of sounds for the set, and the fact that basically, it behooves one to dummy-proof every aspect of the live set that they can, and this especially includes LEVELS. The last thing you ever want to be doing at a gig is trying to build/rebuild a mix. Most mixers go to +6db when you push the fader to the stops, and with the exception of the Master output level, you should ideally have your sounds all set up so that when your faders hit the stops, you are summing with all of your levels at, or just below unity, to that you never cook out in the mains, and the mix is 100% solid. Long story short, you want to knock off at least 6db of pretty much every sample, drum sound or synth patch that you're going to use so that you can set the input gain to the right level to give you good dynamics and summing at +6db on the channel fader. So what I'm saying is: you go through each and every sound and sample, you will use, and you set the levels of the sounds themselves to build the mix, not on the mixer. Instead you use the mixer to bring sounds into and out of your set, not just muting and unmuting of midi sequences. Any EQing you do should just be f expressive effect int or That's a nuch more European way of going about things, and I promise you, it works well, live. You did a really good job on the rest of it.
damn, this is really solid advice for any self-mixing performer who takes the time to read and think about it. Setting all my mix sliders at 100% to be "max volume" without blowing the mains would be such a huge improvement to my workflow, LOL promise you I'm gonna remember this tip and go this direction in the future, it really explains a daily problem I didn't even realize I was having until you pointed it out.
This is great... new to the channel. I was an electribe guy years back before switching to computers and realized recently that I used to be more productive, inspired and had more fun with gear, so over Covid I copped an MPC and a 303 clone and started having fun with gear again. Resources like this are super helpful. I really like your less is more approach to building live scenarios. It’s refreshing to see how you apply this to realistic live jam scenarios.
Solid! I’ve been a gigging bass player for 30 years(! That sounds totally ridiculous to me!) , and your advise to be self sufficient is so on point. I try to keep a bag of extra cords, power supplies, d.i.’s etc. ( guitar straps? Not so important for you). The trick is to have a checklist, because I will steal stuff from that bag as life does it’s thing. Thanks for being so inspiring!
This is great stuff. Thank you! I’d love to see a 2nd video of this like ‘Preparing sessions, samples and sounds for performing’ or building the content of a live set.
Dude you are a complete techno Boy Scout, preparation is totally everything. Having back up cables is so important, in a prefect universe you'd have back ups for hardware as well. That of course is too expensive.
I know. I always wonder what would happen if my drum machine stopped working or if my synth stopped working what then? I guess maybe back up samples on a sampler? Haha
I'm a guitarist by trade, I have a back up for everything in my trunk. It took year's for me to evolve into thinking this way, although this was from being married to someone who is super organized. BTW, You could record your entire show on some kind of player, although that is not the same thing. Lol
@@RickyTinez Funny you say that. My AR2 wasn't outputting audio at a club gig a few weeks back. My fallback was the stock drum preset sounds on my Digitone until I could finish troubleshooting the AR2.. Close to 15 minutes later in the dark. Now I have a 1010 Blackbox with a bunch of drum samples as a worst case, certainly not my best performance, since the Digitone couldn't properly do synth duties if it was 3/4 tracks on drums..
@@RickyTinez It's actually a great question, I mean really - what would you do if it happened to you tonight? (i.e. a single piece of expensive, set-critical gear going out mid-performance)
Love this video! Always interesting to get into the headspace of getting ready for a live performance. The conundrum of "how do i physically fit this stuff onto a table?" was so relatable. I remember often finding myself in the position of trying to cram my setup into a DJ booth which never seems to have enough free table space! Also really good point regarding bringing your own extension cord to be as "self sufficient" as possible. Can't rely on the club to dig up a power cable in a pinch (or they end up handing you the jankiest, scariest bit of cable you've ever seen). On that note, only thing I'd add is a power conditioner/surge protector before your squid. I know it's a lot more weight to carry with you but after having some bad experiences I learned my lesson and would NEVER EVER plug my own equipment into power at a club without going through my own power conditioner first...
I started producing music in January, and now that I understand some things, I'm going to try to expand and do live stuff in the future. Your videos are super helpful just to think through the process.
I love these videos where you are kinda thinking out loud about your options. You mention finding a case that fits a board to velcro your stuff down for traveling. I'd love to see a vid of you thinking out loud about your thoughts how how to schlep gear.
Dope! I always bring extra cables when I perform live and a DI box. I’ve seen too many horror stories with live performances. The tip about the device you use to plug in your equipment is A-1 👍🏿.
At 5:13 I realized I love this channel. It was so great to see that gear realization moment in the middle of something happen to someone else🤣 great videos, the execution is 🔥
Thanks for pointing me here after watching the DAWless live setup vid ;) In this video, I found it particularly interesting how there are many possibilities to have a live setup, various combinations and also a variable amount of gear. I think this is an important point - there *are* reasons to have lots of gear, every piece has its advantages, but there are also good reasons not to take everything you own to every gig. Also... bring cables. Yes. So agreed. What could be worse than struggling for hours before or even during a show because you did not bring a $10 cable.
great video .. been playing live gear since late 80s .. n i think you nailed it all .. choices are on each performer .. *but as you said be able to cover the things you need n not depend on others /venues or other artist .. spare midi .. audio . power n usb cables are a must ..* peace ya'll
Great video dude. I am about to start playing live and am nervous for sure.... but have been DJing professional for almost 20 years so do know most about being self sufficient - and professional.
All of this 100%. When playing somewhere I've never been to, I always assume it's going to a bad guitar amp in the corner and that's it. Being self sufficient is a must, and a good look if you want to get booked again.
think this is the 3rd time I rewatching this and every time I learn more. The idea of taking as little / small rig as possible keeps hitting me in the face because it's just so, so much more fun when things are simple. The more time I spend with all my gear, the more I value smaller and smaller setups with a tight focus and super-tactile (i.e. not a bunch of 2 & 3 HP modules lol) but yea this vid's been a big influence on my thinking
most important moments are covered, well done. And yes - please make live recording, any live jams or any performances/collabs will spice up your channel even more right from the start of the year. Crowd will support your videos, straight from 360p =)
Stereo sounds are pretty irrelevant in a large venue, most are running in mono anyway. Most setups are daisy chained in mono. For live processing ive used the Behringer X-Air mixers with built in FX and control it with the Ipad app, works really well. You can also use midi to control the mixer.
thx for sharing your setup. couldn't you also technically use the digitakt as the main hub/sequencer/sampler in your setup and bypassing the octa completely?
As soon as you said "what's something I know really well that I can just jam on?" every single person watching this video was like he's gonna say circuit isn't he xD amazing video
I find that wiring up gear is the most time consuming part with the highest potential of error and possibility to break things. The best thing is to have everything already wired up in a road case (like DJ coffin). This is a great option for those, who do not switch gear a lot. Unfortunately, those cases are pricey and it's hard to find the right size, if you do not want or can build a custom one. I've seen acts with cases like this, and I hope that I can go this route, eventually. The gear I would like to stick in the case would be: MiniNova, Avalon, Electribe Sampler, a small Mixer and a Distortion Pedal.
just as a tiny example, I spent 2 full days prepping to film a video with a friend for my channel... got 99% of the setup perfect, we ended up with two hours of great-looking footage and a super great interview, correct synth & drum machine levels recorded... but our lavalier mics didn't pick up any of our conversation, lol. it was working 5 minutes before camera started rolling, but a setting must have gotten changed. probably my fault, but there's SO much going on and the A/V equipment is constantly manic-depressive I mean seriously, why does audio-video equipment hate existence so much does anyone know??
Hey Ricky, I’ve just started writing on an Mpc 2500. I also have a digitakt , siren and effects I’d prefer to use live. What’s your process for moving tracks off the 4000 to your live rig? For example how do you move drum programs samples and sequences to the Digitakt?
Say I'm wondering. I see that you have both the Octatrack and the Digitakt. Now I have some Elektron gear (OT and A4), and know how to sync program changes. But I'm wondering if there is any more integration between those two devices other than just sending program changes and possibly midi signals to trigger notes? If so then it would be great to see a video of how you combine those two devices in a live show.
Haha, I do almost the exact same thing down to the ikea lamp and field notes, except now the MPC-1000 (jjos) is the mixer instead of the octa. I think someone mentioned having a stopwatch already, but another good tip is to use the headphone out of your octa/mpc/mixer and send it to an external recorder (dr-40, etc). Great video! 🍻
that's actually a really good tip. I always bring headphones thinking I'm going to play with them on and they just annoy me and I end up taking them off. I might as well put that Jack to use. Jjos lets you use the 1000 as a mixer? That sounds interesting... Hhmmmm *heads to eBay*
@@MGoolas You definitely have to subscribe to the "less is more" school of thought. I usually just bring 2 Roland Boutiques because they're easy to throw in a backpack. You can run them direct or through the MPC's built-in FX.
@@graintable I see. I mostly use my 404sx as an fx box for two outs of the mpc and launching long stereo samples that would chew mpc1k's memory fast. I need to invest in a mono synth soon. Let's not forget to praise lord JJ for his blessing.
my setup Drums : Elektron model: cycles (fm groovebox with a easy workflow). Synth Novation mininova or a microfreak samples : korg mininova Mixer: micfuns DJ 5 channel mixer
how about adding a couple of DI boxes to make sure the FOH receives a good stereo signal from your mix? Or are the outputs of the octatrack balanced already?
I'm not sure about the output of the octatrack. I think the MK2 is balanced but not the mark one. That's a good observation most places I've played just run me quarter to RCA into a DJ mixer lol
Scale modes and sequencing is deluge all the way for me. I think the digitone keys has scales mode in it. I think digitone keys, digitakt, and deluge is a powerhouse. Edit: my addition to your advice on what to bring is make damned sure you can plug in to both 1/4" jacks AND xlr male. Never assume they have the plug types you do. You can toss two trs to xlrm adapters in your bag and save on cable weight. Just test them to make sure they dont hum. The cheap ones hum.
Ducktape. Turn 4 piecies into little balls and it will be cool, steady and less vibration for a laptop. it can be used as a riser/grip in case a device is not steady because of a table that is slightly bend . Get a quality one that removes easily without leaving a mess. that and some tierips that close and open. 🤟🏿
Do you have videos of entire live shows you have done? Your demo and tutorials videos are among my very favorite. You have an excellent style. BTW, I hate Novation Circuit, and sold it -- but I love my Avalon! Is the Octatrack really that easy to use in live shows? I'll stick with my SP-404SX and Akai Force.
Hey Ricky I would love your input on the alpha base analog drum synthesizer by jomox with the black box by 1010 Music together something crazy as I have both pieces equipment what your experience is far greater than mine basically trying to say would like to see you do something with both if possible thanks again Love you videos...
Great video, so informative. Subscribed! What is not clear to me is: you were preparing for the gig the day before, how did you prepare the contents of your show in just a day? Aren't your productions tight to the instruments you initially picked to write them? How could you switch from one instrument to another in one day? Isn't it time consuming? Are you improvising sequences on the fly during the show? Thanks!
I’m thinking of running a similar set up but with MPC Live instead of Octatrack. Taking a DJ/Live performance approach to future beats/house inspired hip hop stuff (think some of Kanye’s catalog, Goldlink, Kaytranada). Samples/loops/stems from the MPC, Synth and pianos on Nord Stage, Bass on a Roland juno module. You think it could work out? I’m a keys player, hence the keyboard heavy approach
im not good at writing things down how make music i just go with the flow with the ear then next thing i know im finished working on the track how ever love ur videos i do
my personal tip, is to have kind of a higher up holder for the second line of instruments (NOVATION) in your case. This allows me to get the instruments closer, as the high of the holder deals with AUDIO outs off the 'first line' instruments, 3-4 cm will do. Additionally, the 'second line' is easier to access, as it's higher, so you kill 2 birds with one stone.
Hey man, so I was wondering if there's any chance of cuing the stuff I'm playing and listen to it before giving it to the output via speakers in clubs. Just pre listen to maybe the synth I'm playing and when its nice I can mix it into the system.
both, depends on what i'm feeling. Also the type of show. Is it going to be kids who just want to drink, get wild and dance? or is it people who care about the craft and sound. But i've used both about evenly.
I am quite New to all this and have almost No experience with performing live. Now the beats I make are mixed the way My partner and I think They should sound, so we don't want to play the instruments separately. Do you have some advice for what gear to use in That situation.? Appreciate it.
Hey Ricky helloo!!! , (first of all, THANKSSKSSS) and now my question: what do you suggest? I have no money for a digi or an octatrack? I have a circuit (and I love it, I could sleep with it :--) I´m wondering now: is it so capital? so important to have an elektron stuff?? do I have to sell my car or something to get that gear?? (I´m dreaming with a digitakt)...
AAA batteries in the clip-on light are better though because if it runs out of juice halfway through a set, you can just throw new batteries in. I'm too forgetful to remember to plug in the rechargeable one before a show. :D
very true, it's a easy back and forth between those two. Some say they have about 14 hours of battery life which is pretty awesome. I'm sure you get about the same with regular batteries though. Also a regular batteries better for the environment? :X my hippie is showing
0:50 - How i choose what to use.
9:05 - Table Layout
10:49 - Connecting everything up
13:10 - Awesome option for a power strip
13:57 - My Favorite accessories
15:49 - Tips!
Yo Enrique you should see if you can film one of your shows. I would like to see you in action!
So much this!
+1
oh the pressure! Maybe on the next one I'll make a point to. I got a little footage from this show which I'll probably upload tomorrow or the following day
@@RickyTinez You should post it, we don't expect your show to be perfect, we follow you, don't judge you, c'mon Enrique!!:) Kudos
Dude! Check out the Live:Air Action app for iOS. You could take a line out into your iPad and you’d be able to stream or record with effects or overlays etc with little effort. I just released a video demoing the audio frequency analysis in the app.
I've been performing live for 10 years with an old project. A couple of utilities i would suggest:
- 2 sided tape - comes really handy if you are afraid that people will make your gear fall down
- those wide, strong tapes - good for anything really
- long "output" cables - many times we had to reach the dj desk with our setup which needed 5-7 meter cables
- i can double Enrique about extra cables - any of them can go wrong even if you are just wiping down everything fast after your gig
- if you are performing in another county be sure they have the same connectors for electricity!!! We had a situation where we had just an hour to buy adaptors for that, because they had just a bit different plugs.
I hope these help! :)
nice tips
The amount of time you take to help others is incredible. Thanks for all your tips and thoughts. Even knowing the tricks you have for playing chords on the circuit. It’s that level of detail and honesty about how you work that makes your channel so rad
Enrique, this is probably the best clip you have ever made. It's super useful, and very relaxing to listen to at the same time, I feel I just turned a good Netflix series and I'm totally hooked to this video. Brilliant!
I’m really loving your channel Ricky, I love the way you think out loud and how you talk us through that thinking. Keep it up. So good!!!
Thank you so much for the support and hanging out. I appreciate you izidave
Stuff I wish I heard when I started playing live: bring as little gear as possible and get a stopwatch; you would be surprised how much you will improve the quality of your set if you become more aware of how far you are into your performance/how long your transitions are
the stopwatch would definitely be a big help. I try not to go over 5 minutes per track because it can get boring. That's usually what I do when I DJ anyway. Sometimes I use my phone, but I feel like people think I'm just reading text messages LOL
been doing gigs for almost 10 years now, some solid advice in there!
Definitely solid tips, and though you use the Octotrack for your mixer and a Digitakt for more drums, the mixer has to be one of the most underused instruments in tihs country. It can be a super expressive tool, if utilized, but it requires a little extra prep. One thing I did not see you mention in your prep is the actual preparations of sounds for the set, and the fact that basically, it behooves one to dummy-proof every aspect of the live set that they can, and this especially includes LEVELS.
The last thing you ever want to be doing at a gig is trying to build/rebuild a mix. Most mixers go to +6db when you push the fader to the stops, and with the exception of the Master output level, you should ideally have your sounds all set up so that when your faders hit the stops, you are summing with all of your levels at, or just below unity, to that you never cook out in the mains, and the mix is 100% solid. Long story short, you want to knock off at least 6db of pretty much every sample, drum sound or synth patch that you're going to use so that you can set the input gain to the right level to give you good dynamics and summing at +6db on the channel fader.
So what I'm saying is: you go through each and every sound and sample, you will use, and you set the levels of the sounds themselves to build the mix, not on the mixer. Instead you use the mixer to bring sounds into and out of your set, not just muting and unmuting of midi sequences. Any EQing you do should just be f expressive effect int or That's a nuch more European way of going about things, and I promise you, it works well, live. You did a really good job on the rest of it.
damn, this is really solid advice for any self-mixing performer who takes the time to read and think about it. Setting all my mix sliders at 100% to be "max volume" without blowing the mains would be such a huge improvement to my workflow, LOL
promise you I'm gonna remember this tip and go this direction in the future, it really explains a daily problem I didn't even realize I was having until you pointed it out.
This is great... new to the channel. I was an electribe guy years back before switching to computers and realized recently that I used to be more productive, inspired and had more fun with gear, so over Covid I copped an MPC and a 303 clone and started having fun with gear again. Resources like this are super helpful. I really like your less is more approach to building live scenarios. It’s refreshing to see how you apply this to realistic live jam scenarios.
Thanks for sharing your love to hardware Ricky
Natural story teller... you feel drawn to it.
Solid! I’ve been a gigging bass player for 30 years(! That sounds totally ridiculous to me!) , and your advise to be self sufficient is so on point. I try to keep a bag of extra cords, power supplies, d.i.’s etc. ( guitar straps? Not so important for you). The trick is to have a checklist, because I will steal stuff from that bag as life does it’s thing. Thanks for being so inspiring!
Thanks for watching Pat! That checklist might be my next thing.. sounds very handy
This is great stuff. Thank you! I’d love to see a 2nd video of this like ‘Preparing sessions, samples and sounds for performing’ or building the content of a live set.
That's actually a really good idea. That's exactly what I did the day after this video lol. I should have just hit record
Dude you are a complete techno Boy Scout, preparation is totally everything.
Having back up cables is so important, in a prefect universe you'd have back ups for hardware as well.
That of course is too expensive.
I know. I always wonder what would happen if my drum machine stopped working or if my synth stopped working what then? I guess maybe back up samples on a sampler? Haha
I'm a guitarist by trade, I have a back up for everything in my trunk. It took year's for me to evolve into thinking this way,
although this was from being married to someone who is super organized. BTW,
You could record your entire show on some kind of player, although that is not the same thing.
Lol
Enrique Martinez Music nah go drop a couple pills and let the next act finish up the job
@@RickyTinez Funny you say that. My AR2 wasn't outputting audio at a club gig a few weeks back. My fallback was the stock drum preset sounds on my Digitone until I could finish troubleshooting the AR2.. Close to 15 minutes later in the dark. Now I have a 1010 Blackbox with a bunch of drum samples as a worst case, certainly not my best performance, since the Digitone couldn't properly do synth duties if it was 3/4 tracks on drums..
@@RickyTinez It's actually a great question, I mean really - what would you do if it happened to you tonight? (i.e. a single piece of expensive, set-critical gear going out mid-performance)
Dude, you freaking killed it with this one. So many good tips.
Had a dream about the possibility of a squid cable last night, game changer!!! Thanks for the reminder.
Love this video! Always interesting to get into the headspace of getting ready for a live performance. The conundrum of "how do i physically fit this stuff onto a table?" was so relatable. I remember often finding myself in the position of trying to cram my setup into a DJ booth which never seems to have enough free table space! Also really good point regarding bringing your own extension cord to be as "self sufficient" as possible. Can't rely on the club to dig up a power cable in a pinch (or they end up handing you the jankiest, scariest bit of cable you've ever seen). On that note, only thing I'd add is a power conditioner/surge protector before your squid. I know it's a lot more weight to carry with you but after having some bad experiences I learned my lesson and would NEVER EVER plug my own equipment into power at a club without going through my own power conditioner first...
between you and Ricky I feel like I'm going to be 10x more prepared for electrical situations at my next gigs ^_^
I started producing music in January, and now that I understand some things, I'm going to try to expand and do live stuff in the future. Your videos are super helpful just to think through the process.
I love these videos where you are kinda thinking out loud about your options. You mention finding a case that fits a board to velcro your stuff down for traveling. I'd love to see a vid of you thinking out loud about your thoughts how how to schlep gear.
Dope! I always bring extra cables when I perform live and a DI box. I’ve seen too many horror stories with live performances. The tip about the device you use to plug in your equipment is A-1 👍🏿.
At 5:13 I realized I love this channel. It was so great to see that gear realization moment in the middle of something happen to someone else🤣 great videos, the execution is 🔥
Thanks for pointing me here after watching the DAWless live setup vid ;) In this video, I found it particularly interesting how there are many possibilities to have a live setup, various combinations and also a variable amount of gear. I think this is an important point - there *are* reasons to have lots of gear, every piece has its advantages, but there are also good reasons not to take everything you own to every gig.
Also... bring cables. Yes. So agreed. What could be worse than struggling for hours before or even during a show because you did not bring a $10 cable.
Love this! Would you think about doing a video on tips for making dawless house music, finding samples, etc? I appreciate your channel so much, man.
Not a bad idea! Thanks for watching
So happy you’re making videos consistently, I love your videos there always abt stuff I need to know and I appreciate!!!
Awesome Joe! I'm glad you find them helpful! if you have any other things you'd like to see let me know I'd love to make more videos
You're a legend mate. Can't wait to see your channel continue to grow. I'll be that hipster, proud I was there from the start.
I’ll hold you to it! Haha. Thanks so much for the support
great Vid E! love your straight up communication style, it's always just super real. bless u man. Good luck at your show and thanks for the links.
Thanks Paul! I really appreciate the support and the kind comment!
Thanks for all the tips man! I’m working on my first live set now. I’m pretty nervous but having tips from a pro is definitely helpful!
great video .. been playing live gear since late 80s .. n i think you nailed it all .. choices are on each performer .. *but as you said be able to cover the things you need n not depend on others /venues or other artist .. spare midi .. audio . power n usb cables are a must ..*
peace ya'll
Hi, could you be using just the Octatrack for samples and drums? That way you ‘ditch’ one more piece of gear(Digitakt)..
Great video dude. I am about to start playing live and am nervous for sure.... but have been DJing professional for almost 20 years so do know most about being self sufficient - and professional.
Bought the notebooks, I know youre not using these in the video, but to others wondering, theyre awesome. High build quality and prime shipping.
The moleskins I tagged are the ones I use for everything else I love them! Glad I could help out
All of this 100%. When playing somewhere I've never been to, I always assume it's going to a bad guitar amp in the corner and that's it. Being self sufficient is a must, and a good look if you want to get booked again.
exactly, the less of a hassle you are the more likely they'll book you again haha.
I want to cover all possibilities
feel like I"m going to be so ready when I start gigging because of tips like Ricky's but also yours in the comments :)
You’ve really inspired me in my music adventure. Thanks Ricky.
Have fun Zjenji! I'm excited for you
think this is the 3rd time I rewatching this and every time I learn more. The idea of taking as little / small rig as possible keeps hitting me in the face because it's just so, so much more fun when things are simple. The more time I spend with all my gear, the more I value smaller and smaller setups with a tight focus and super-tactile (i.e. not a bunch of 2 & 3 HP modules lol)
but yea this vid's been a big influence on my thinking
most important moments are covered, well done. And yes - please make live recording, any live jams or any performances/collabs will spice up your channel even more right from the start of the year. Crowd will support your videos, straight from 360p =)
Stereo sounds are pretty irrelevant in a large venue, most are running in mono anyway. Most setups are daisy chained in mono.
For live processing ive used the Behringer X-Air mixers with built in FX and control it with the Ipad app, works really well. You can also use midi to control the mixer.
The Notebook is Perfect !
Awesome video! Would also be cool to know how you pack all of this. Cheers
1 backpack and a tote bag! haha. I also pretty much have @decksaver covers or other covers for all of my gear.
Enrique Martinez Music cool! Keep on with your videos! 👌🏽
Thank You for interesting and very usefull video
thx for sharing your setup. couldn't you also technically use the digitakt as the main hub/sequencer/sampler in your setup and bypassing the octa completely?
Great tips! Thanks for sharing you're experience
As soon as you said "what's something I know really well that I can just jam on?" every single person watching this video was like he's gonna say circuit isn't he xD
amazing video
when you preform live do you use eq to avoid muddy set and bad frequency clashing each other ??? and if yes are you using only the eq in Octatrack?
I find that wiring up gear is the most time consuming part with the highest potential of error and possibility to break things. The best thing is to have everything already wired up in a road case (like DJ coffin). This is a great option for those, who do not switch gear a lot. Unfortunately, those cases are pricey and it's hard to find the right size, if you do not want or can build a custom one. I've seen acts with cases like this, and I hope that I can go this route, eventually. The gear I would like to stick in the case would be: MiniNova, Avalon, Electribe Sampler, a small Mixer and a Distortion Pedal.
just as a tiny example, I spent 2 full days prepping to film a video with a friend for my channel... got 99% of the setup perfect, we ended up with two hours of great-looking footage and a super great interview, correct synth & drum machine levels recorded... but our lavalier mics didn't pick up any of our conversation, lol.
it was working 5 minutes before camera started rolling, but a setting must have gotten changed. probably my fault, but there's SO much going on and the A/V equipment is constantly manic-depressive
I mean seriously, why does audio-video equipment hate existence so much
does anyone know??
MIDI pitch quantizer, sidechain compressor and some "odd" timing options for the LFO's on the Octa please Elektron :)
I like the clean, simple setup. Thanks for the links as well!
Hey Ricky, I’ve just started writing on an Mpc 2500. I also have a digitakt , siren and effects I’d prefer to use live. What’s your process for moving tracks off the 4000 to your live rig? For example how do you move drum programs samples and sequences to the Digitakt?
Say I'm wondering. I see that you have both the Octatrack and the Digitakt. Now I have some Elektron gear (OT and A4), and know how to sync program changes. But I'm wondering if there is any more integration between those two devices other than just sending program changes and possibly midi signals to trigger notes? If so then it would be great to see a video of how you combine those two devices in a live show.
Can't believe I've only just subscribed, great video as always, really needed this right now!
I'm glad I could help out Gary! I really appreciate you subscribing, thank you for the support.
Really appreciate your tips. Thanks a lot. In the current state i prepare a set myself and your vid helps a lot. :-)
So the big question is for me, do I have to use TR or TRS cables to connect between devices outputs to mixer?
Thanks for your videos..love them.
Thanks, this is gold from start to end.
Awesome run down! Cheers!
man I love these tips. Especially the notes for keys, I gotta try that.
I nearly spit my drink out when the "two hours later" bit came on. :D
Also: Be flashy, fondle away. Next hat idea?
Duuuude, sick Pilot G2
Very helpful and inspiring - thanks for making this!
Thank you so much really helpful . 👍👍👍😀
Haha, I do almost the exact same thing down to the ikea lamp and field notes, except now the MPC-1000 (jjos) is the mixer instead of the octa. I think someone mentioned having a stopwatch already, but another good tip is to use the headphone out of your octa/mpc/mixer and send it to an external recorder (dr-40, etc). Great video! 🍻
that's actually a really good tip. I always bring headphones thinking I'm going to play with them on and they just annoy me and I end up taking them off. I might as well put that Jack to use. Jjos lets you use the 1000 as a mixer? That sounds interesting... Hhmmmm *heads to eBay*
Hello, How do you cope with Mpc 1k as a mixer since it has only two mono inputs ? What do you usually connect to them ?
@@MGoolas You definitely have to subscribe to the "less is more" school of thought. I usually just bring 2 Roland Boutiques because they're easy to throw in a backpack. You can run them direct or through the MPC's built-in FX.
@@graintable I see. I mostly use my 404sx as an fx box for two outs of the mpc and launching long stereo samples that would chew mpc1k's memory fast. I need to invest in a mono synth soon. Let's not forget to praise lord JJ for his blessing.
@@MGoolas Seriously! Still dishing out JJOS updates in 2019 for a piece of gear that's long since out of production. Electron... not so much.
my setup
Drums : Elektron model: cycles (fm groovebox with a easy workflow).
Synth Novation mininova or a microfreak
samples : korg mininova
Mixer: micfuns DJ 5 channel mixer
how about adding a couple of DI boxes to make sure the FOH receives a good stereo signal from your mix? Or are the outputs of the octatrack balanced already?
I'm not sure about the output of the octatrack. I think the MK2 is balanced but not the mark one. That's a good observation most places I've played just run me quarter to RCA into a DJ mixer lol
Very good tips, thanks for sharing bro!
Love your content, what camera do you use? Thanks for what u do
Also, many FOH people love it when you bring your own DI boxes. I've made friends that way.
Wow, this is so useful to me. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic (y)
Talk about perfect timing I was just working on this!!
Awesome! Maybe you can make a video about it and share it as well! Let me know how it goes.
Scale modes and sequencing is deluge all the way for me. I think the digitone keys has scales mode in it. I think digitone keys, digitakt, and deluge is a powerhouse.
Edit: my addition to your advice on what to bring is make damned sure you can plug in to both 1/4" jacks AND xlr male. Never assume they have the plug types you do. You can toss two trs to xlrm adapters in your bag and save on cable weight. Just test them to make sure they dont hum. The cheap ones hum.
This is really helpful for a beginner
Ducktape. Turn 4 piecies into little balls and it will be cool, steady and less vibration for a laptop. it can be used as a riser/grip in case a device is not steady because of a table that is slightly bend . Get a quality one that removes easily without leaving a mess.
that and some tierips that close and open. 🤟🏿
Very useful info here! Thanks Enrique and keep it up!
Thanks for the vid! Loving your beats mixed with the acid! Any chance you'll be releasing a novation circuit synth patch?
Do you have videos of entire live shows you have done? Your demo and tutorials videos are among my very favorite. You have an excellent style. BTW, I hate Novation Circuit, and sold it -- but I love my Avalon! Is the Octatrack really that easy to use in live shows? I'll stick with my SP-404SX and Akai Force.
Topnotch advices !
love the image in your videos ! so prooo
Octatracks arp scale mode works without the arp btw
Man i was thinking about it. and then you made the video. i was wondering like, how to prepare everything for real live stuff. thanks
Glad I could help out Rodolfo!
one question, you use cable unbalanced? the digitakt have balanced audio in and out. is important?
Hey Ricky I would love your input on the alpha base analog drum synthesizer by jomox with the black box by 1010 Music together something crazy as I have both pieces equipment what your experience is far greater than mine basically trying to say would like to see you do something with both if possible thanks again Love you videos...
Great video, so informative. Subscribed! What is not clear to me is: you were preparing for the gig the day before, how did you prepare the contents of your show in just a day? Aren't your productions tight to the instruments you initially picked to write them? How could you switch from one instrument to another in one day? Isn't it time consuming? Are you improvising sequences on the fly during the show? Thanks!
Great tips! Thank you!
very interesting video. Many thanks
I’m thinking of running a similar set up but with MPC Live instead of Octatrack. Taking a DJ/Live performance approach to future beats/house inspired hip hop stuff (think some of Kanye’s catalog, Goldlink, Kaytranada).
Samples/loops/stems from the MPC, Synth and pianos on Nord Stage, Bass on a Roland juno module.
You think it could work out? I’m a keys player, hence the keyboard heavy approach
im not good at writing things down how make music i just go with the flow with the ear then next thing i know im finished working on the track how ever love ur videos i do
my personal tip, is to have kind of a higher up holder for the second line of instruments (NOVATION) in your case. This allows me to get the instruments closer, as the high of the holder deals with AUDIO outs off the 'first line' instruments, 3-4 cm will do. Additionally, the 'second line' is easier to access, as it's higher, so you kill 2 birds with one stone.
great tips btw!
What kind of midi cable did you use at 11:32 in order to send only the clock without the notes?
It's not a special MIDI cable, usually most synths have settings that you can apply to turn off the note data
@@RickyTinez I understand, thanks for your help and for your amazing videos too :)
Hey man, so I was wondering if there's any chance of cuing the stuff I'm playing and listen to it before giving it to the output via speakers in clubs.
Just pre listen to maybe the synth I'm playing and when its nice I can mix it into the system.
Thank you Enrique. Great video, very useful. Quick question: Do you use your eurorack gear or your MPC on your live shows sometimes ? Thanks
both, depends on what i'm feeling. Also the type of show. Is it going to be kids who just want to drink, get wild and dance? or is it people who care about the craft and sound. But i've used both about evenly.
So chill
nice video! your house looks very homely
can an MPC X work as a mixer?
I am quite New to all this and have almost No experience with performing live.
Now the beats I make are mixed the way My partner and I think They should sound, so we don't want to play the instruments separately. Do you have some advice for what gear to use in That situation.? Appreciate it.
Hey Ricky helloo!!! , (first of all, THANKSSKSSS) and now my question: what do you suggest? I have no money for a digi or an octatrack? I have a circuit (and I love it, I could sleep with it :--) I´m wondering now: is it so capital? so important to have an elektron stuff?? do I have to sell my car or something to get that gear?? (I´m dreaming with a digitakt)...
Thank you Ricky!
this guys the best
Keep it up! Loving your content! 🤗😁👊
Thanks so much for the support I really appreciate it
Thanks this was great advice
AAA batteries in the clip-on light are better though because if it runs out of juice halfway through a set, you can just throw new batteries in. I'm too forgetful to remember to plug in the rechargeable one before a show. :D
very true, it's a easy back and forth between those two. Some say they have about 14 hours of battery life which is pretty awesome. I'm sure you get about the same with regular batteries though. Also a regular batteries better for the environment? :X my hippie is showing
@@RickyTinez for sure. I have the same back and forth with bicycle lights. 🤓
LOVE IT! Thanks for sharing, helps with my own personal process! :) also where can a dude like myself get a circuit mousepad? lol
We usually give them out at the novation trade shows. Do you know if any music shows happened near you?
Super interesting video I loved it!