how to playing live performances
Hi all.
I have created several patches with different sounds (synths, samplers, glitches, etc.) and I want to play them live at an ambient party.
Can you please give me some advice on how best to organize these patches properly for the performance - do they all play in one patch or is it not necessary? Does it make sense to use some ready-made mixers from maxmsp or is it just enough to have live.gain for the volume? What is the best way to organize everything so that the computer processor does not load?
What are the nuances in general and what should you pay attention to? What must be done and what must not be done?
I don't know what an "ambient party" is, but if you don't just open up the computer and do something random, depending on your mood and alcohol level, then you undoubtedly have some kind of plan for what you want to demonstrate.
Play through the set you have in mind at home, in different variations. You will soon find out which patches you combine in a single patch and which are independent of each other or even have to be. Too many components in one huge patch can mean a lot of work for switching and controlling procedures. Too many individual patches may take away from your sonic expression, at least if they are not through-composed pieces or have a very specific behaviour.
When practising, you will also find out whether you need physical controllers or do everything with the mouse or let parts run freely at all. With a couple of different sounds played in parallel you surely want a kind of Mixer and, depending on the location, maybe an Equalizer/Compressor too. I myself prefer hardware for this kind of thing but you can use Max also. Don't work with too much of reverb, the location may add more reverb and resonances as you like. A sound check on site is a good idea.
Most artists have musical and/or sonic ideas, rehearse them at home, learn and practise certain sequences, transitions and controls, make notes as necessary, maybe a timeline, and then go on stage or into the studio with the plan and a few more ideas in mind.
So the question "how can I play live" cannot be answered in general. It depends a lot on what you play and how. And whether everything is prepared or played spontaneously or something in between.
What must be done and what must not be done?
🧐 I have always found it quite prudent to follow "The Pirate's Code"(as delineated by 'John Gow') in all matters where 'musts' and 'must-nots' are concerned:
That every man shall obey his commander in all respects, as if the ship was his own, and as if he received monthly wages.
That no man shall give, or dispose of, the ship's provisions; but every one shall have an equal share.
That no man shall open, or declare to any person or persons, who they are, or what designs they are upon; and any persons so offending shall be punished with immediate death.
That no man shall go on shore till the ship is off the ground, and in readiness to put to sea.
That every man shall keep his watch night and day; and at the hour of eight in the evening every one shall retire from gaming and drinking, in order to attend his respective station.
Every person who shall offend against any of these articles shall be punished with death, or in such other manner as the ship's company shall think proper.
😜
(also, try to have fun: if you're new, it's ok to mix patches together(and have pauses in between), eventually, you might try to create a system that loads things into poly~ in a dynamic way, among other things, to have one main patch that serves like a routing-brain or hub(it's a bit too advanced to describe here, and everyone has their own system they're proud of that comes with years of practice)... but especially if it's an 'ambient party'(i don't know what that is either, but if it's anything like an 'ambient room' it should remain an experience that comes with ease for you: going with the ambience of your own nature), you should keep your style relaxed and do whatever comes naturally to you: no need for any competitive ego or ownership over your setup right now, see it as a growing experience that no one here can give you - from this, you'll discover your own voice and style. best of luck)
👽
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GZKkQlOrzo
https://cycling74.com/articles/ends-ambient-sunday-live-streams
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GZKkQlOrzo
Nice. It plays an F# — probably a basic tone of our life in this world :-)
Regarding our topic here: Unlike this stream of background music, for a live performace I would operate a few parameters and use several audio paths and a submixer before the stereo output. This way you can playfully follow and influence the mood in the auditorium. Sophisticated control is not necessary here, it's all a question of feeling.