The Ideal Rig for gigging

[Jabbe]

I'm using a Motif ES7 and a PC laptop with NIB4 and LoungeLizard running in Brainspawn Forte at the moment. I also just got a Roland AX7, which I love! So much fun running around the stage.

 

But the problem is that I need another keyboard. Motif is great with it's Master mode for changing patches in itself and the Laptop, but it's still a bit too complicated. I'd like a board that I'd be able to use as a controller for the laptop, so that Motif would not be connected to the laptop at all. AX7 would probably be connected to the laptop as well. Is there any good 76-key keyboard whit semi-weighted keys and good masterkeyboard controllers? A couple of sliders/knobs with good preset changin buttons would be enough, and it'd have to be cheap. Oh, and lightweight, too. Any suggestions?

 

Then I'd have 2 boards on the x-stand and the AX7 on the floor, ready to be grabbed and to go play in the front of the stage with my foot on the monitor..

[Krakit]

With the project that I'm currently involved with I use everything you see on the Ultimate Support System "A" frame (Including the "A" frame itself) and the rack comes too.

 

http://members.aol.com/bid628/setup.jpg ...with the following exceptions:

 

Depending on the venue, I will also bring one or more amps and the RD-100 catty cornered with the USS stand.

 

The rack will soon be supplimented with an MKS-70 and the Roland JX-8P that you see in the background will be sold off.

 

Here's the problem with taking this stuff on the road. Set up and break down aren't a problem, usually takes me about 20 minutes each way. However, I never seem to get around to setting this stuff back up at home. So, it just stays in gig bags until rehearsal.

 

Carl

[Krakit]

You can see the AN200 better at this angle:

 

http://members.aol.com/bid628/setup3.jpg

 

Carl

[opp]

For most band gigs I'm packing my Motif ES8 and Korg CX3 and my vintage Key on Key 2 tier X stand.

[David R]

My QS8 is my main (and most of the time) only board. I like the idea of two keyboards, though. The second board has always varied depending on what I could get my hands on. I played in a hip-hop/R&B band this summer, and the leader had a Juno-106 that I borrowed. A friend of mine lent me his Nord Electro, and I used that beside my QS8. The drummer in my band has lent me his M-Audio Evolution controlling Reason on occasion.

 

I do like Eric's idea of an S90/Electro duo, but maybe with a controller running some soft synths as well. Depending on whether or not I needed acoustic piano, I'd even just take the Electro/controller.

 

David

[burningbusch]

Here's my current rig, though it changes frequently.

 

Yamaha S90

Roland V-Synth

Yamaha VL1m (in rack)

Apple Powerbook G4

Emagic 2/6m audio interface

Midiman MIDIsport 2x2 Midi interface.

 

The laptop, 2/6m and MIDIsport are velcroed onto the S90. All cabling between these devices is duct taped to the S90. All this is to make set up less of a hassle and problematic.

 

On the laptop I use Logic Pro 7 as the host:

 

Ac Piano: Ivory Steinway D

Rhodes: EVP88 or my own samples or S90

Clav: EVD6

Pads: Atmosphere or S90

Strings: Atmosphere

Synth leads: MinimoogV or V-Synth

B3: B4 or EVB3

Various other instruments I just use sampled versions with numerous instances EXS24II.

 

The hardware synths, like the V-Synth and VL1m, are in the mix because they offer sounds and colors I can't currently get with software. I can't see adding another ROMpler as they aren't going to provide anything I can't do better in software. I refuse to carry more than two keyboards.

 

http://www.midnitewalk.com/images/Busch.jpg

 

Busch.

[yannis D]

Hu guys

So far I was totally Clavia - a Nord Lead 2 and the Electro 61. Then the laptop came on, so since last year I mostly gig with Electro and the laptop (with it's 2 octaves card/controller M Audio) on top - light as a feather and good sounding. Electro is fantastic for all it's vintage sounds and the laptop (with Mini Moog, Lounge Lizard, B4 and many many soft synths) is good for synths and samples. Add to this, a small accordion, a melodica, a small mixer and a delay pedal, wich are quite light.

When the live has some good money to it, I also carry the Nord Lead for it's tweakability (it it correct?) and nice sounds. When I do plane dates (not very often though), I usually carry along the Nord Lead's PSMCA card and the laptop and the guys hire for me a Nord Lead 2 and a midi controller.

When I was younger and more enthousiast I was even carryin' my Hammond L100/Leslie and the Suitcase Rhodes to some gigs. As time goes by, though, I prefer to protect my back and keep the real thing for studio work.

Regards

yannis

[RABid]

The most basic setup I feel comfortable with is two ROMplers. It might be nice to have a dedicated organ or VA sitting on top of a ROMpler with weighted keys, but the improvement in sound is only marginal during small stage performances. With a combination of Fantom, Motif and/or Triton you still get a nice variety of sounds. And if one goes down you can easily get through the job using only the other ROMpler.

 

My most basic setup right now if a Fantom 76 topped with a Motif ES6.

[Andre Lower]

Sticking to Bartolomeo's interest in general comments in the first place, I feel compelled to point out that most players dream is to carry one single keyboard that solves all of one's sonic needs. The catches would be:

 

1) Some people are not happy with limiting their physical palette to either synth action or piano action (or even anything in between for that matter) on their keybed. That alone is one of the reasons people tend to lug around two or more boards;

 

2)I frequently find myself wanting more "keybed space" to map different parts/splits/layers to. Thus my dreamed Omnipotent synth would necessarily have to feature 76 keys or more, which tends to make it heavier and more cumbersome;

 

3) Last, but IMHO the most important, said "dream-synth" would have to really nail all the different sounds people crave for.

 

It sometimes strike me as odd that many of our favorite boards are actually no more than ROMplers (i.e. Nord Electro, the best digital pianos, etc.), which means that at least theoretically it should be possible to make all these sounds available in a single board.

 

The point is that the Industry's shots on these kind of "combinations", like the MOSS board on Korg workstations (intended as an option to a full-fledged VA) usually fall short of their target of actually making other, specialized boards redundant.

 

I can already feel everybody barking that such dream board would be too expensive, would kill the profit presently made by the manufacturers, etc. However I suspect I am not the only one that at least once looked at his 2 or 3 boards and wandered "Gee, given the money each of these boards costed me, I would not mind paying the same money for having them fused in one single, practical unit".

 

It seems the Kurzweil KX series was the closest the Industry ever got to said Omnipotent synth. Perhaps in the future the soft synths will finally take us there. But that's another thread ...

 

My $0,02.

[MikeT156]

Well Hartman, my Brazilian friend, I don't know that even if a manufacturer would actually make an all in one KB, if it would be widely accepted by enough people to sell enough units to justify the costs, cause it would have to be expensive to do EVERYTHING. I remember reading something by a Yamaha rep (Not Mike Martin) and he said that sure we can make it, but they have to address niche markets because there's so many segments. So many people want so many different things in different price ranges to fill different needs. Some of us use boards for different types of gigs than in the studio. 88 note KB workstations in the studio, maybe an Electro or a digital piano and a synth, or a Hammond XK-3 OR a CX-3, on and on. Personally I like having a lot of different choices by a number of manufacturers. I have instruments that will stay in my music room, and have been putting together a portable rig. I have 8 KB's now, and still want MORE. It never ends. Softsynths? Not for me.

 

So how's it going with the VOICELIVE?

 

Hope you have a good holiday season and time off to PLAY.

 

Have a Merry and a Happy.

 

Mike T.

[5thElement]

Roland V-Combo with Ultimate Keys exp card - and no sore back!

[Basketcase]

Originally posted by Hartmann:

It seems the Kurzweil KX series was the closest the Industry ever got to said Omnipotent synth. Perhaps in the future the soft synths will finally take us there. But that's another thread ...

 

My $0,02.

Don't know that it should be in a different thread. The K2600 is still one of the BEST live performance keyboards. Even if it were just used as a controller, nothing else comes close. If you are willing to spend the time (and money) the sounds are as good or better than the latest products from other companies.

[burningbusch]

Originally posted by bartolomeo:

I am debating whether I need a piano/synth board (which would probably mean an RD700 in my case) in addition to my Electro, or whether I can get away with just a sound module (JV-1010, XV-2020, Proteus 2000). Mainly, I'd like to pick up some strings and pads.

For me, I wouldn't want to play without a good weighted keyboard (preferably Yamaha, Kawai or Roland). Semi-weighted are OK for a secondary synth and B3 emulations, but playing that all night, for me at least, would not be fun. I feel I have much more control with a weighted keyboard and you can dig into them.

 

Busch.

[Jon Doe]

Originally posted by 5thElement:

Roland V-Combo with Ultimate Keys exp card - and no sore back!

This is how I do it too. I have the "world sounds" exp card in addition to "ultimate keys".

 

I have a friend who does the whole shebang with just a Korg Karma. It is one impressive keyboard. I was surprised at the quality of the B3 patches on it with the leslie sim.

[coyote]

Nope, I don't buy it.

Originally posted by Hartmann:

Sticking to Bartolomeo's interest in general comments in the first place, I feel compelled to point out that most players dream is to carry one single keyboard that solves all of one's sonic needs.

I absolutely LOVE having the Hammond console to "play Hammond" on. The smears, the Leslie, the drawbars, even the Emerson/Lord tricks for bombastic sound effects.... I have no desire to do those on another board, nor do I desire to use that Hammond to play piano. It would be my dream to have as many boards as I desired to do the stuff I wanna do - the compromise is one of space and manpower and that limits me to 4 boards. If I could have a Clav AND a Rhodes AND a piano AND a Minimoog AND the Hammond AND a Mellotron AND a.... that would be my dream.

 

An ultimate dream of having a single, compact "do it all" board is like fantasizing a mobile home as your ultimate residence.

[Sven Golly]

Originally posted by coyote:

An ultimate dream of having a single, compact "do it all" board is like fantasizing a mobile home as your ultimate residence.

Hehehehe... hear, hear.

 

Of course, one man's mobile home is another man's castle.

 

My ultimate dream is a 7' Yamaha C7, 1962 Hammond B3 with 2 Leslie 147's, a Roland A-90 and Roland A-70 MIDI controller keyboard with 42-space rack case with all my favourite ROMpler/sampler/synth modules, and finally an Alesis Andromeda and a Moog Voyager.

 

Oh, and the part that makes it ultimate - a crew of 4 to move/set up/tear down that rig, along with a lifetime worth of gigs that had stages large enough to support it!

 

Ahem. Okay, back to the day job I go.

 

SG

[MikeT156]

Well you guys, the thread is about what we actually USE, not what we dream about using. Everyone is in a different situation, but we have to be practical too. I don't see me ever using less than 3 KB's for a live gig. One main KB/workstation to play, one to use as a sequencer/sample playback, and one for lead and other sounds that I don't use or can play on my workstation. The Motif ES as well as most other boards have a slight delay when switching from one patch to another, as well as a little clunk sound. Hmm....not very conducive for a live show especially if you're solo player and doing an acoustic song or acoustic set. I like having a little variety too, not to mention something else to finish the show with if something BREAKS DOWN.

 

Mike T.

[Jazz+]

Hey Busch,

 

How did you happen to choose the Ivory Steinway D?

Is it you current favorite?

 

J+

[bloodyMary]

Well, the only thing I've learned from guitar players is - be portable!

 

That's why my gigging rig consists of:

 

Yamaha S-03 (cheap, 5.7 kg)

quiklok stand.

power supply, FC5,FC7, back-up power supply

soft 61key bag with two big pockets

 

that's something like 7-8 kg all together and I can carry it in one hand.

With this rig I dont need more than two minutes to set it up, never get problems with something not working, and I am not worried when leaving the bag somewhere - cuz the whole rig costed me like $700-800. And it does not require the separate keyboard rig car..sometimes I bring my amp which happens to be Peavey KB-100 (nice baby, and - I got it for free!)

 

I cant even imagine myself hauling 88key hammer action controllers, 12kg modules, motif 7...

 

This rig has got only one bad side - the sound.

but since I mainly play hard rock and metal and I successed in getting decent distorted organ, lead synths, DX pianos patches - I dont need a better sound. Well, I do, and I will update my gig as soon as I'll find a motif engine in 5kg less-than-one-meter-long package..

[tarkus]

My rig was good - what I want now:

 

1 Triton extreme 76 and 1 little va board. Throw in a set of midi- bass pedals.

[burningbusch]

Originally posted by Jazz+:

Hey Busch,

 

How did you happen to choose the Ivory Steinway D?

Is it you current favorite?

 

J+

Ivory has some significant advantages over all other sampled pianos.

 

1. Sample interpolation. This does away with the need for a large number of velocity split points. The sampler engine interpolates (creates new waveforms in between sample A and sample B). Because of the limits of the laptop memory and CPU, I run the four velocity split version of the Steinway and I can't hear much of a difference between it and the eight velocity.

 

2. Continuously variable wide stereo to mono. No phasing issues.

 

3. Extended dynamic range. You have control over the dynamic range with a control on the screen. There is also a velocity mapping section where you can easily tailor the velocity mapping curve to your playing style.

 

4. Quality of the samples. As good or better than anything out there.

 

5. Sustain resonance that works and sounds good. Pedal down samples sound great but aren't triggered properly with most samplers. The is one of the few artifical resonances that sounds good to me.

 

6. Timbre knob provides meaningful control over tone. This is not just a low pass filter. You can create a very expressive, but mellow piano for example.

 

7. All the extras. Release samples, soft samples, key noise, reverb. I tend to turn these off when playing live as I don't have the resounces on the laptop to spare.

 

Bad side is that it does take up CPU/disk processing when you turn all the stuff on. For live playing this is not an issue for me. I still can't record in Protools, Logic or Garageband when I have release samples on. This is with a Dual 800Mhz Quicksilver.

 

The Steinway sample is my favorite, followed by the Yamaha and then the Bose.

 

So far it has been working very well for me.

 

Busch.

[Krakit]

My gigging rig is pretty much evolved into what I find as perfection.

 

From the photos provided on the first page of this thread, you can see that the top of my stand is a Yamaha AN200. The next tier down holds my MiniKorg MK1. Since there will never be a more compact way to recreat this little synth, I'm only too happy to drag this with me to shows. Sharing this tier is my Evolution MK-125 controller.

 

The next tier down supports my Evolution MK-149.

 

The bottom tier is usually holding my Roland ep7-II. Usually because either I have brought my Roland RD-100 and have it set up on its own stand or the venue is so small that I left the RD-100 at home. There are some rare times when I'll put the RD-100 there and leave the ep7-II at home.

 

All of my boards are routed by the MOTU Express XT MIDI patcher. Which sits in my rack. The rack contains my Alesis QSR, a ZOOM RFX 2000 and the aforementioned MOTU MIDI router. Currently I have my Roland JX-8P sitting offstage conected to the MOTU as well. This will change as I WILL finally be purchasig a Roland MKS-70 to add to my rack. This means that I will be able to put all of my handcrafted Roland sounds into the portable unit and can sell the JX-8P.

 

Why don't I just swap the Evolution MK149 with the JX-8P? I hate the keyboard action on the JX and I hate the "paddle" used for pitch and mod control.

 

Once I install the MKS-70, I will have reached near perfection. There are still a few more modules that I'd like to get for my live setup.

 

The Ultimate Support System "A" frame that I use is exactly the way I want it. I try to avoid buying all in one keyboards anymore. I stick to controller/module combos at this point. I see no downside to that.

 

Carl

[jay da cop]

I also play in a Christian rock band, and here is my setup -

Alesis QS7.1 with a couple cards

Korg 01W/pro

K2000 (maxed out w/ boards, hard drive, PRam)

MAudio TMK88 (plays Wavestation SR below)

Ensoniq SQ80 (w/PV PC1600) as a controller for QSR

Alesis QSR with a couple cards

Korg Wavestation SR (my newest investment. and I love it).

Alesis D4 (x2) for sequenced stuff/electronic pads

Drumkat2.0

4x Dauz electronic pads (single zone)

Yamaha RGX120 electric guitar

Digitech RP200

 

When I play out, I take the Kurz, the TMK88, the Ensoniq and the rack. The rest stays in church for obvious reasons.

 

Now all I need is a weighted controller/synth. Still haven't decided between ES8 and S90.

 

Jay

[Pursuitboy]

I have two different rigs for the two different bands I play in.

In the "wedding band" (gfomusic.com) I use a TX802,Triton rack,and D-50 midied to a Kurzweil K2VXS

In the classic rock band "Renditions'" I use a Motif rack, D-550 midied to a Kurzweil PC2. I have an XK-3 on the top with a MS-145

[David Loving]

I am back to the Kurzweil pc1x and the xk-3 on a stantastic stand, through a kbr-m. This Christmas eve blues gig, I tried the xk-3 top with the sp76 on the bottom rack using two manuals, with a stereo hook up to a kbr-m and a pro3t on a crate k160 - stereo on piano and organ. Well, it's just too much trouble. The sound was great and all, but it's a law of diminishing returns thing for me. So I am back to simple. Besides I can use the pc1x's wurlitzer sounds.

[Dave Horne]

I thinned out my job set up this year and do regret it at all. I have a 12 rack case with wheels that holds all the sound support stuff (amp, mixer, compressor, reverb). I use two Bose 802s on stands and a P250 keyboard. If the job is a real small room, I might not use the speaker stands and simply place the 802s on an empty flight case stacked on top of the 12 rack case.

 

I'm tired of moving equipment and as I've gotten older (with the associated back problems), I've opted for a smaller set up. (The P250 is not all that heavy, but I would love to see a version without built in speakers. Does Yamaha listen to us or do they tell us what we want?)

[Jabbe]

Has anyone got a Roland A37? As I said before (altough nobody replied), I think my rig is nearly perfect but I just need to add another controller, mainly to controller the laptop. Is there any other cheap (around 500) 76-key controllers that can handle rhodes, hammond and synth playing (I'm quite ok with light action, no need for hammer-action)?

 

Also, laptop users: where do you keep your laptop? I see Busch has it on his keyboard, but since I don't have enough space on top of my Motif ES7, I was thinking about a rack of some kind. I have the laptop (quite small), M-audio FW1814 interface, a firewire-hd and maybe a small mixer, and I'd need to get some kind of a rack for these. Any suggestions?

[EricG]

I was digging in the old post´s and found this. I have question for burningbusch: burningbusch

I see you have a setup close to what I would like. A have some questions about the way you use your softsynths live. At the moment my old 12" G3 800mHz iBook is not up to the task so I will buy myself a new powerbook. Not sure if I go for the 15" or 12" inch yet... (And I will not wait for the G5 Powerbooks, OK thbey will be here some day, and I will not wait forever, and I guess they will be big in physics and weight, and probably expensive... but sure I will be somewhat dissapointed if they introduce it 1 month after i bought my G4 PB... well I should get back on track.

You use my favorite softsynths live (I just use them in my studio) Ivory, MinimoogV, Atmosphere and Logic7 synths,... So over to my questions:

- Do you run Ivory from the internal HD of your laptop?

- How do you switch betwen the different softsynths, select different patches with Logic as your host in a live situation?

 

Well some of my thoughts:

-To bad the softsynths/ effects in Logic is AU synths, then I (we) use RAX as a host for live playing.

-I see you have the VL1m, I have the VL1 keyboard, sometimes I wish I had the rack so I could take it with me live. (I am also a two keyboards live is enough kind of guy.I) The VL is an Amazing synth!! 10 years after, still nothing can do that!!!

 

If burningbusch and others could make a reply to this I would be happy.

[ELP71]

Originally posted by Basketcase:

Originally posted by Hartmann:

It seems the Kurzweil KX series was the closest the Industry ever got to said Omnipotent synth. Perhaps in the future the soft synths will finally take us there. But that's another thread ...

 

My $0,02.

Don't know that it should be in a different thread. The K2600 is still one of the BEST live performance keyboards. Even if it were just used as a controller, nothing else comes close. If you are willing to spend the time (and money) the sounds are as good or better than the latest products from other companies.

Totally agree, guys. I love all the new Yamaha, Roland stuff...but the K2-whatever were/are unparalleled when it comes to live application...especially the UI and inuitive nature of the overall setup/layout.

 

BTW - great thread.

[Bill H.]

I'm playing one night here, another night there with a band, another night in another bar...I have to get by with no more than two boards.

 

I currently use a SL-880 MIDI'ed to a Fantom expanded with Ultimate Keys and World.

 

I have to have an 88 key hammer action board for pianos. Someone asked in here recently "How much do you use the keys beyond 76" so I started paying attention, and I do all the time! I really don't know how any of you guys could consider not using a full 88.

 

A stock Fantom isn't hot shit, but expanded it becomes really decent. The B3/Leslie combos in Ultimate Keys are unparalleled in a Rompler in my opinion. I mainly use World for it's pedal steels...I play a lot of country and country/rock in situations with no pedal player...and they're right on.

 

I could probably up my sound quality with a dedicated piano and B3 clone, bur what I've got sounds definitely good enough for bars...I get compliments on my sound all the time.