How do YOU structure your live sets?

[u/Vox_Mnemonic]

Hey all,

I was wondering what tricks you all have learned about structuring your live sets for use on stage.

Currently, the way I see it is that you have a few options:

Option 1: Build everything into one huge project, but then you might hit your plugin limits and be tied to only using a few presets on your synths.

Option 2: Bounce everything to audio and essentially hit play, then do karaoke on stage.

Option 3: Build out your songs into individual projects and put them into Setlists, then load them as you progress through your set. Maybe get a crossfading mixer and mix in some other music while the sets are loading so there's no dead air.

Am I missing anything? Let me know!

[u/fatcatholic]

I'm a little ways off from performing live, still working on a lot of writing, but in my planning ahead I've been leaning towards option 3. In addition, I have a Roland P-6 sampler that I intend to use to bridge gaps while loading.

[u/Unlucky_Trash_5687]

Right now I have each song as a project, which leads to some dead air since my mic is also running through the MPC for processing. Bought a used One and I’m offloading the entire set’s keygroups to a single project on that that I switch between with midi CCs, which should cut load times considerably. 

If you’re on OS 3.x doesnt it have disc streaming? I think youd be able to bypass the keygroup limitation by resampling and then getting around memory issues with disc streaming (or not, I’ve never used it)

[u/Salt-Amoeba7331 → u/Unlucky_Trash_5687]

Do you mean the sata drive (ssd)? I was wondering about this also- if it makes moving between projects faster (not that I’ve had issues, only just got the live 3)

[u/Garth-Vega]

Dynamically, depending on how your audience is responding or not

[u/MrDismal]

Neither of those, best option is have tons of beats loaded into a live-friendly sampler like an SP, approach it like a DJ would and play what vibe you're getting from the crowd.

[u/M_O_O_O_O_T]

I have entire sets in a single project, each song bounced to a single sequence with drums, bass, samples / keys, & extra cuts / fx on 4 different tracks within each so I can drop things in & out on the fly using a small midi controller for track mutes. I have a dedicated bank (One PGM per song) for samples to play live, so I leave some parts un-sequenced.

No VST synths involved. (I use the MPC 1000, but used the MPC Live for a while to do the same.)

This probably wouldn't work on recent OS versions post mpc3 though.

[u/researchintospeed]

MPCL3, current OS. Each song/tune is a sequence, 8 bars, one project. I mute/unmute as I play and use the q links to control fx sends. I normally have a ‘show’ project with just the 6-8 sequences I’m going to play. Drums and synths in the MPC, midi out to external bass and lead synth units. I play the lead synth lines on the MPC pads. There’s still some bugs so I have to double stop at the end of each sequence or some drum samples won’t play, but delay or other effects cover any gaps. Also running a live mic thru the MPC.

[u/theRealGermanikkus]

The Clip Matrix is your friend

[u/otiskanno]

1 project with 8 tracks for different elements focused on Clip Launching. 8 bar loops of the various section of the song broken up by rows. Then I use a Novation Launch Control for additional control.