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suggest a live performance synth
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psylevation
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 31, 2007 00:53
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Hi all,
I'm very happy making tracks with just software I don't feel the need to include any hardware instruments in my sound creation. Though I know I'll move to live eventually here.
When I start doing Live performances, I plan on playing alot of parts live on a synth during the performance. I was curious as to what you all think is a good synth for performing live on, I mean a "players" synth, and why.
Thanx
~airyck~
  ~Airyck~
~Unoccupied Mind ~
Psyowa! |
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shamantrixx
Started Topics :
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Posted : Jul 31, 2007 02:58
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I guess it depends on how you plan to play... play the keyboard by actually playing leads, pad, strings etc. or playing arps (or midi sequences from laptop) and tweaking the knobs on the synth.
The weight, response and material of keys is of great importance if you want to be able to play live. In that case you need to try the keyboard before even thinking of buying it. Many nice looking and sounding synths will be shit with no response to play on.
If it's the knob tweaking option than you need a smaller keyboard synth with more knobs. Again, you have to try tweaking with your own hands because many synths have 2 much controls on a small space and that makes it hard to quickly jump from one knob to another.
In both cases consider buying a good MIDI controller (keyboard or knob/fader) and use it to play soft synths from laptop. That will enable you to preform during live and will save you some money as well as worrying about synth during transport. If you want a source of sound than you need to test few synths and find out the one that has most pleasing sound to you.
Bottom line is... try before buy. Live performance usually benefits more from useful tools than from hi tech devices that require browsing trough 7 screens just to turn on a filter and a magnifying lens to find a knob that you want to turn.
"It occurred to me by intuition, and music was the driving force behind that intuition. My discovery was the result of musical perception"
Albert Einstein, speaking about his theory of relativity |
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RenderingRebel
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Jul 31, 2007 05:26
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Andromeda? a bit expensive... but it is very versatile!
Not very portable...
Maybe a nord rack and a midi keyboard, pretty portable
I brought mine to brasil aswell 
Or something cheap and really portable is the novation x-station. Sound is quite okay plus it has a build in usb sound interface and functions as a midi controller aswell.
SQL: http://www.myspace.com/sqlmusic
Coming up: Releases
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psylevation
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 31, 2007 09:28
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Thanx for the tips Shamantrix
I do plan on playing and performing the actual synth parts live, not sequences but actually play the parts with my hands, as well as tweaking the sound while playing.
This is why I asked about a good "performance" synth. I do have the option of performing off a laptop with a soft synth, as I already have a few controllers. This would require 2 laptops then because I want to limit the main system to just audio parts for reliability.
Does a keyboard version of a Nord Lead make a good live keyboard, I don't have anyway to demo one within about 6 hours of me...I worry a bit because of the lack of fx, though I've never owned one. I'm still going to be cautious and take my time with this decision, I just want to get some ideas.
Anybody else?
~Airyck~
~Unoccupied Mind ~
Psyowa! |
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RenderingRebel
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Jul 31, 2007 09:42
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Depends on your style aswell.. The nord sound is really dry
For instance the sound of the virus is more spacey because of the fx. Nord has a more direct sound, fits well in electro etc.
SQL: http://www.myspace.com/sqlmusic
Coming up: Releases
Planned: make tracks |
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the daleks
The Daleks
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Posted : Jul 31, 2007 10:30
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psylevation
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Jul 31, 2007 10:33
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hmm, The nord would be much more affordable compared to a Virus...Though I make more morning style so I'm sure I'll be playing alot more lead melodies and strings/pads etc. I may end up doing a rack/midi keyboard because of price.
what do you do with your Nord when playing live RenderingRebel? Do you play leads and the like with it?
~Airyck~
~Unoccupied Mind ~
Psyowa! |
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ThiagoNAKA
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Posted : Jul 31, 2007 22:08
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I´m almost sure u will need an extra fx slot for the Nord.
Althought twisting the knobs looks nice, I would rather seeing a real keybord player playing the music. And that´s the point: Ive never seen anyone! Maybe Erez from Infected...
I´m not saying there´re no pro players, but it´s real hard to play so fast melodies.... Even only some stabs.
If u are into playing keybords, I would suggest u few things:
-Look for a synth+keybord, not rack synth + midi controller. Cause for pro players, the "touch" of real keybord is very different than lousy midi controllers one!
-Spending money on a synth for the live???? I´m sure that if your music is good, organizer will arrange any synth u want(or u want to rent the synth itself, wich can be very nice).
-Look for a good source of sounds. If u have a gear that provides u cool sounds for your music, it can also be cool for lives.
LOADING... |
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PoM
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Posted : Jul 31, 2007 22:13
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if you like the sound get a korg prophecy !really good synth and it s small,perfect for live performance and midi controller (but you need 1 night to make 2 patchs hehe ) to me it s a unbeatable live synth (sh101,pro1 can be nice too ) |
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shamantrixx
Started Topics :
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Posted : Jul 31, 2007 22:32
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Quote:
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On 2007-07-31 22:08, SMS wrote:
Cause for pro players, the "touch" of real keybord is very different than lousy midi controllers one!
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not true. there are some excellent midi keyboards with pro weight keys and quite a lot of knob controls.
for example:
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productlist.aspx?ParentId=19
"It occurred to me by intuition, and music was the driving force behind that intuition. My discovery was the result of musical perception"
Albert Einstein, speaking about his theory of relativity |
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RenderingRebel
IsraTrance Junior Member
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Posted : Aug 1, 2007 00:08
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I use the nord for some extra stabby sounds, some fx white noize etc. not to play leads
Its simply impossible to play 3 minute long melodys and modulate at the same time 
With the xstation or absynth i do some more creamy atmos like pads and stuff
SQL: http://www.myspace.com/sqlmusic
Coming up: Releases
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psylevation
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Aug 1, 2007 00:24
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Quote:
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On 2007-07-31 22:13, PoM wrote:
if you like the sound get a korg prophecy !really good synth and it s small,perfect for live performance and midi controller (but you need 1 night to make 2 patchs hehe ) to me it s a unbeatable live synth (sh101,pro1 can be nice too )
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Awesome, I'll look into those too. I appreciate the suggestions.
As far as being able to play 3 minute melodies, there is always a way to do it. It's not impossible, you just have to practice. You figure out what melody you are going to play, then practice playing it in the song for a few weeks every so often.
When you get good at it, you can add little changes and fills on the fly. I used to be in few bands long before any of this, and we would practice a song for 3 weeks before we performed it. It would have crazy super fast guitar and bass parts that were very difficult, but we practiced and got them down. Simple as that, this is still and can be a performing art, just takes practice.
So as far as a synth goes, yes it would be nice to have an all in one solution, but I'm open to ideas and other possibilies, I'm leaning towards a Nord Lead Keyboard with an fx unit, or a Virus Keyboard...but that is very expensive 
~Airyck~
~Unoccupied Mind ~
Psyowa! |
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psylevation
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Aug 1, 2007 00:26
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oh and don't forget, you can modulate with your feet, or with your mouth (breath controller)
~Airyck~
~Unoccupied Mind ~
Psyowa! |
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psylevation
IsraTrance Full Member
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Posted : Aug 1, 2007 00:42
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looks like the virus TI has 2 pedal inputs which would be useful, but i don't see a breath controller...
~Airyck~
~Unoccupied Mind ~
Psyowa! |
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Lord Deo
Started Topics :
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Posted : Aug 3, 2007 17:43
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i'd say midi controller with trigger pads, knobs, keys + laptop runnig ableton live is the ultimate tool for live performances.
trigger loops, tweak the sound, play keys, plus ableton has built in arp and chord whizard, the possibilities are endless... after owning dozens of synths, i've come to realise that nothing beats ableton (as far as performance goes)....
www.venomous2.com
www.myspace.com/venomous2
www.myspace.com/asymmetricnoisesyndrome |
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