So we've got this track we're writing that has a bunch of synths in it. I'm using a droney synth and a couple of arpeggiated synths. The song isn't finished yet, so they are subject to change. But I'm thinking about how I'm gonna play this live, and what the quickest and easiest setup is going to be.
I have an Ableton Push2 controller and Ableton Live 10 suite. But I'm also wondering if maybe there are some hardware synths that could do this that would be much more plug-n-play than a laptop+soundcard+Push2 controller.
Here is a clip:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7csyhuj0sos4wjg/Machinations_SynthWithClicks.mp3?dl=1I'm using a combination of Absynth, Massive, and Monark. All from Native Instruments.
Ideally I'd play the synths live, but maybe I should just trigger audio clips? What do other people do in this situation??
Comments
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
I am hearing 3 parts- a drone, a low arp and a high melodic part.
If you want to do it from one synth then you will need a synth that is 3 part multitimbral.
I would look at something like a Nord Lead 4 for this.
4 parts multitimbral, with arpeggiator, 20 voice polyphony and the usual effects.
You could theoretically do this with a lot of different products though.
Here are some of them:
Novation - Supernova (8 part; scalable up to 48 voices depending on model)
Korg - Radias (4 part; up to 24 voices)
Access Music - Virus/VirusTI/Snow (16 part/4part Snow; dynamic depends on complexity and model)
Waldorf - Q (16 part; up to 32 voices)
Waldorf - Blofeld(16 part; dynamic up to 25 voices)
Elektron - Monomachine (6 part; 6 voices)
Elektron - Octatrack (8 part; 8 voices) (you'd have to sample the parts)
Elektron - Analog 4 (4 part; 4 voices)
Futuresonus - Parva(dynamic up to 8 part; 8 voices)
Synthstrom - Deluge (dynamic unlimited parts/tracks, from internal sequencer only; dynamic - typical 48 voices)
Arturia - Origin (4 parts; up to 32 voices)
Nord - Lead/A1 (4 parts; up to 26 voices depending on model)
Nord - Modular (4 parts; dynamic up to 32 voices)
Quasimidi - Polymorph (4 parts; up to 16 voices)
Modal 002 - (12 part, 12 voices)
You'd need to check all of the synths to see how you can do keyboard splits on them too.
A lot of synths will allow 1 split (2 parts).
If you need a 3rd part you might have to use a controller keyboard for the 3rd part- you just assign that part to its own midi channel (say channel 3) and then assign the controller keyboard to send on that channel too.
There are loads of romplers that could do it too (Korg, Yamaha, Roland).
The used Roland XP50 in the classifieds would do it.
Another way to do it is just sample the lines and trigger them from any hardware sampler.
Or... Eurorack (joking/not joking).
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Wiggle about behind your keyboard rig while the song is happening. The audience probably will not notice any difference.
Good enough for Pink Floyd, Rush, ZZ Top and countless others. (Also proven to work in the Classical music realm.)
There are a lot of ways of doing this- it comes down to what you want to spend and how much work you want to do to get it sounding right.
Well, in an orchestra a lot of members are sitting around for about half the performance, but I tend to agree- I would always try to as much as possible.
A couple of questions, as this will determine the hardware choices as well:
Are you looking to improvise any of this?
As in will there be any difference from one performance to the other as to what happens from the keys?
Does your band improvise to any great degree- or are you playing as per the 'songs as recorded'?
What happens when the band slams in- are the electronics continuing in the background?
Will you be buying a cape?
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
When the band 'slams in' the synths will not be present.
The main bulk of the song is not improvised. There might be the occasional note or drum fill that is. But the structure is fixed.
There may be differences in performances as a result, but very minor ones.
I'm more interested in having a range of cool sounds that I can play, rather than having something 'fixed' that I play perfectly. It's more about having a sense of atmosphere, and I don't mind if it's improvised to some extent.
Ableton with Push is probably the simplest way to approach it, as you are doing- but it isn't really performing it, as you've highlighted.
Nor would be triggering samples and playing all 3 parts is probably more than a one person job, unless you can lay out the ARP part as a 'one finger press'.
Elektron boxes/Eurorack would be the most expressive and take you further away from the recorded idea (so the most improvised)- this would be the most fun- also the most likely to end up with a happy accident and/or train wreck (sometimes this happens concurrently).
A Nord Lead/Virus could play all the parts, you could rely on a hardware sequencer for the tricky bits (or Ableton), or for the simple bits, to give you a chance to concentrate on playing the tricky bits.
Disappointed about the cape.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
Software isn't a problem. I've got shit tons of stuff. I just kinda fancy something hardware-y so I can have a more intuitive songwritery vibe going on with it.
And lower latency.
And less fiddling about generally with computers.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Get some extra patch cables while you are at it.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
We've also got a modular there that no-one is using right now. I might take the S2 into the studio and see how they can play together.
I also need to get a keyboard to connect up to it.