My two cents on bullshit live acts with In depth video footage of my techniques
cosm
Cosm
Started Topics :
30
Posts :
63
Posted : Jan 8, 2007 14:01
Hey,
So recently I've noticed quite a bit of debate about what is truly a "live" act using a laptop. I have found the whole debate really interesting and thought I would chuck in my two cents.
I taught myself "live" music pretty much from scratch over here in New Zealand. I wasn't exposed to any other live acts apart from Pitch Black who basically set my mind to what actually is "live". Then quite recently I have been getting more and more international gigs, and I am finding a lot of acts which I consider to be complete and utter bullshit.
I really respect all producers, especially those who have the guts to showcase their music in front of crowds of people... but calling themselves live when they don't do a damn thing is plain out false advertising. Even having a knob on a cuttoff, or eqing layers is great!, but I have seen some dudes not even touch one piece of gear while on stage, and still reaping the financial and promotional benefits of the “live” tag.
Once again, I've got no problem with people who just play their arrangement of original music.. I've done many sets where there has been a lot of preprogrammed/arranged music (and I still do sometimes)...that’s very cool and I would still pay top dollar to go and check out fresh tunes from awesome producers... but I seriously think we need to sort out another term so they don't get confused with people who actually sit up late at night for weeks on end practicing and perfecting an actual live set.
Anyway, I thought I would take this opportunity to show off a little of my technique for when I perform live, as well as use it as a promotional tool to give out to festivals and parties. My goal here is to inform the general punter population about what actually playing live using a laptop involves, so they can start making judgments for themselfs and eventually put pressure on the promoters, while at the same time sharing some of my techniques with those who are still learning, or want to make themselves more live.
The video is about half an hour long and covers quite a range of methods used for performing live using a laptop, midi controllers and a synthesizer. The intro goes on a little about me and my music, then it gets into the depths of how I perform live, and finishes with a short montage of clips I have gathered from various gigs I have done in the past.
Here is a direct link to the entire video, or if you prefer I have chopped it up into sections which you can watch individually below.
Part 1 – An introduction, a little about me and my music style.
Part 2 – a basic introduction to my live set canvas and how I go about layering loops and samples to create music on the fly
Part 3 – The first of three “tricks” which I use when performing
Part 4 – The second “trick”
Part 5 – The third trick, followed by a short montage of clips and my conclusion to the video.
As always, I encourage you to pass this information on if you are into it or think you know of anyone who might be interested in watching. I always have and continue to give all my music away for free, so the whole word of mouth is how I promote myself and get gigs.
If this is new to you and your interested in checking out my music, there are some completely free live sets on my website as well as photos/news/upcoming gigs etc.
Thaaaaaaaaaaaaankyou and I look forward to hearing your opinions on this
xrust
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
63
Posts :
1742
Posted : Jan 8, 2007 14:55
this video ROXXXXXXXXXX big time.thanx man,great source of inspiration Signature:
Alex
Started Topics :
7
Posts :
95
Posted : Jan 8, 2007 17:52
Nice one Cosm
Mute
IsraTrance Full Member
Access Gremlin
Started Topics :
51
Posts :
1046
Posted : Jan 8, 2007 18:48
nice video there COSM , really enjoyed watching it thnks for sharing your ideas and views on music
b00m
Colin OOOD
OOOD/Voice of Cod
Started Topics :
95
Posts :
5380
Posted : Jan 8, 2007 19:13
Agreed... when the term 'live' changes - as it has done - to mean "absolutely as un-live as it's possible to get, even DJs put in more work on stage" then it needs to be reclaimed.
Those are fantastic videos Tom, I learned a lot! One thing that would be useful would be a description of exactly which on-screen controls you mapped each physical control to, particularly with regards to the live improv section. Also, do you use any processing on the master outputs to give more of a 'mastered' sound? And how do you change between tracks - do you have periods of silence while you're loading in the Live set for the next track or do you have some other way of covering the gaps? Do you use scenes to bring in different sections?
rich
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
103
Posts :
2184
Posted : Jan 8, 2007 21:04
Brillian Tom. This has definately changed my perspective on live acts and how much creative freedom an artist can have in a live setting.
This clearly shows that using these tools, an artist could really get into deep connections with the dancers and moments of total harmony.
errorhead
Started Topics :
1
Posts :
300
Posted : Jan 8, 2007 21:34
Thumbs up Cosm
Greenglass
Started Topics :
8
Posts :
168
Posted : Jan 8, 2007 22:48
Great Work Tom!!! excellent music and clear explanations!enjoyed it a lot!!
pH_
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
154
Posted : Jan 9, 2007 05:52
watching now... excellent videos so far, ive heard good things about using live for live (hah!) and this video reinforces that for me... think i may have to pick up live and port some tracks to it and play around..
thank you for the video
lokus
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
12
Posts :
684
Posted : Jan 9, 2007 09:05
great way to promote yourself cosm
i enjoyed the video and what you did and said
very much.
respect - last possible solution
- trick music
- ambivalent records
myspace.com/lokuz
ps: y trance?
Raoul V
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
26
Posts :
583
Posted : Jan 9, 2007 11:56
Thanks COSM!!
That was great!! really got into the video, (and ur music!!)
guess the promo angle worked!!
seriously though, was very informative, and well made...
Also a great insight into live, been getting my live set together (trying rather), and your video certainly filled in alot of blanks
thank you,
much love
raoul
hardflipped
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
21
Posts :
137
Posted : Jan 9, 2007 12:02
tom u rockkk man
that was awesome.....nice promo and also goes to show what a nice guy u are!
u've answered like soo many questions i've had
good work bro
really looking forward to messing with ableton somemore now
thanks soo much
Sound Surgeon
Crater / Mish-kah
Started Topics :
250
Posts :
2244
Posted : Jan 9, 2007 12:54
Cant wait to see this one
thanks for sharing Tom
Trance Forum » » Forum Trance - My two cents on bullshit live acts with In depth video footage of my techniques
