2009
(Which is largely based upon support emails from customers, given that I don't actually use Logic in any professional endeavor, other than my current experimentation with MainStage.)
The problem is thus: I don't get the graceful layout switching in Live that I get in MainStage, as I have to make a shitload of ridiculous dummy clips for preset and send level changes. It isn't designed to act as a mixer for a DAW, never mind in a live setting, and really is a long way from my first choice for such a context.
I could easily set something up in Cubase 4 or 5, and use the Arrange track and the automation lanes to make the necessary changes, but then I have that fucking Syncrosoft dongle hanging off the side of my computer, which is a recipe for disaster no matter how you look at it.
The other products I have licenses for that would theoretically work in this context are DP6, energyXT, Rax, Bidule, and Pd. I am not familiar enough with DP6 to pull it off with that DAW, and that's a fact. energyXT doesn't have the sophisticated MIDI implementation, being more designed with slinging loops around, Rax is a complete disaster area, and Bidule, well, it's Bidule. Pd is more trouble than it's worth in this area as well.
So. I'm not saying I've decided for certain because it'll be a bit of a mess both financially and mentally at this late stage, but I am pondering going 100% hardware. This is a complete pain for several reasons. They are, in no particular order:
1. The TX802's output is very low, as is common with that breed. It needs a compressor and a fair slice of EQ to get it to hang out with the analog stuff. Easy in a DAW. A pain in the rack.
2. I need a vocoder for three of the songs. Again, easy in a DAW (I just strapped EVOC on the MKS80 inputs, sent the mic to the sidechain, bussed the MKS to the secondary outputs, problem solved) but a pain in real life, as I don't actually own a hardware vocoder that is worth a shit.
3. Piano sounds become a problem. As I mentioned in the last post, the P85 I'm using as a controller has shit internal sounds, and no outputs, so I have to take output from the headphone jack. Doublepluslame.
So, if I decide to go 100% hardware I need a rackmount 3U (or less) mixer that doesn't suck, has aux sends and a stereo return, and isn't expensive, a rackmount reverb that can at least hang with Eos and isn't expensive, a stereo compressor/gate scenario for the TX802, and I need to replace the P85 with something along the lines of a PC88. Too bad the K250 is so janky mechanically, as it'd be perfectly t3h awesome.
Sigh. Ain't nothin' easy in this world.
posted November 10, 2009 by ehdyn
Reverb: DigiTech TSR-24s. It's basically a modular effects unit, so you could run reverb into reverb into reverb if you so desired. I haven't bought Eos yet, so i can't say if it hangs with it or not. It's also MIDI controllable as well.
posted November 10, 2009 by Computer Controlled
Regarding reverb, The SPX900 is the obvious choice, and that's what I'll use if I go that route.
-CR
posted November 10, 2009 by Chris Randall
Yay, K250 on stage! Go for it, man! Stevie Wonder carted one around, and he was blind. What excuse do you have? None.
OK, I've had a few dribnks.
posted November 10, 2009 by synthetic
What I do enjoy using Rax3 for is as an AU/VST host and recorder. I do a lot of quick feedback routing noisy mess near catastrophe total awesome audio freakout things in it. Or just mess about with a synthesizer hooked up to my MacBook. I can just hit buttons and twist knobs and add fx until I go blue in the face while Rax makes a nice aiff or WaveEditor format file of the whole hot mess. I load the file in WaveEditor later and pull out all sorts of randomness and loops to add to the sample folder.
-WGP
posted November 11, 2009 by wgparham
posted November 11, 2009 by Computer Controlled
1.) compressor/eq: joe meek 6q, old or new. either would work. i also used a Bellari RP503 (cheap, but delicious) which is a tube preamp, compressor, eq. a plus in its column is that you can change out the tubes to suit what you want.
in the solid state arena, a presonus all-in-won wouldnt be a bad idea for the 802. (i second your quiet ass output comment)
oh crap you said stereo. both the above are monogamous. are you sure the 802 is stereo?
2.) vocoder: search for the MAM one or the Electrix one. the MAM one is supposedly good (beastie boys?) but i cannot claim to its fame. I'm not sure if you've seen/felt/heard an Electrix piece of gear, but they are built of t3h shit-house-cum-brick. in this instance, you have said synth patched in and a "vocoder mic" you use live.
3.) piano sound which is not NOT shite: try a roland srx? sounds great. at $1k, theres the fantom xr which is a rom/rampler and the srx piano expansion is kick anus. also available in half rack (and cheaper) as the roland jv-1010 link [www.roland.com] should suit you in
bonus round:
rack mixer: speck x-sum. 32 channels. 1 ru. no aux sends nor eq. however, 32 channels and you can dual-buss things, or eq the mix wholesale on the way out.
piano keybed (said this before) try the older studiologic 88 keys. they are fatar and awesome.
also kurzweil controllers are cheap and slutty.
rack'verb: lexicon lxp-1 (somewhat studio qual), alesis q20 (i know, i know... i know. but cheap and really good sounding. and besides, screw your audience, they should hear you in the studio!!!)... or i could turn you on to a bevy of rackmount spring reverbs. all of which ive tried.
posted November 11, 2009 by soundsubs
posted November 11, 2009 by devilscartel
posted November 11, 2009 by paap
@devilscartel: Cantable is Windows-only software, and fairly hinky besides. It is in no way appropriate for this. I don't need any MIDI routing, as my MIDI routing is fairly simple. Everything runs on channel 1. (Less to fuck up that way.)
@soundsubs: Uh, yeah.
@Computer Controlled: No, I haven't tried those Mod-FX pedals. Nor will I. Ever.
@WGP: Rax 3 is a ground-up rewrite. I don't believe it shares any code at all with Rax 2 (which is an utter train wreck.) That said, I trust Rax (any version) about as far as I can throw it, and since it doesn't exist on this temporal plane, I can't throw it very far.
@synthetic: Seriously, friends don't let friends post drunk.
-CR
posted November 11, 2009 by Chris Randall
