My TED rig
At TED this year I’m using a stripped-down version of my usual live rig. Here’s what it consists of:
-MacBook 2Ghz
-Logic Pro 7
-Nord Lead 3
-Yamaha Motif 8
-Novation XioSynth 25 (audio interface)
Most of the tunes don’t use a sequence, but I’ve created a Logic song anyway so that the relevant softsynth sounds will load up for me. I’m also using Logic’s Environment to do my keyboard mapping and switching, instead of my prorietary ZoneOut application. The Environment is more clunky and slower to set up, but this simplifies things because everything’s in the one program.
For some tunes I have live sounds coming out of the Nord or Yamaha, as opposed to softsynths. It’s refreshing to have zero delay, I guess I’ve adjusted over the years to the inherent delay when playing live synths in Logic.
Everything is mixed through the Novation XioSynth 25 that I’m using as my audio interface. It connects to the Mac via USB. Many people ask me what a good entry-level keyboard is; I would thoroughly recommend the XioSynth, which has excellent built-in sounds, mic and line inputs, and stereo audio outputs, and can be picked up for under $300. This is the one axe I always carry around with me and hooks up nicely with a laptop. They do larger versions of this keyboard as well if you need two-handed functionality at the expense of a little portability.
thomas,i wonder if you ever imagined your rig would ever take on these proportions?i bet it was a lot different to wind power days!can you remember the first piece of kit you acquired and for how much?looks like mid-table for the hammers,while the mighty toffees continue their ascent!cheers,david
Thomas. I am looking for a good keyboard + audio interface. The M-Audio Ozonic looks good primarily because it’s a firewire interface. I’ve been using an old Digi MBox and the latency is just too much. I even notice the latency from the oxygen8 I’m using.
How is the Novation XioSynth 25 with regard to audio latency ? I’m assuming that since you’re using this live that the keyboard side of the hardware has no noticeable (to you) delay. (BTW thanks for the show in Dublin last year. Waited >25 years for that and it was worth it).
Hi, Thomas!!
Nice setup you got there.
It’s funny you mentioned your recommendation for a good entry-level keyboard, because I am considering getting a keyboard synthesizer (hopefully in the not too distant future) to play around on.
I am a college student taking a MIDI Composition course just for fun and I am really getting into it (it seems I do have a techie side after all)! If the XioSynth is good for someone who merely wants to develop a hobby, I will definitely consider it.
Rock on, Sir!!
Have a good flight back to the UK.
Glad that TED was so uplifting. We can use the positive energy in a serious way.
cheers!
Dr. W
.
I know several people that are going motif. Is this your new gig rig?
(reminds me of the kids song ‘Wheels on the big rig)
……”Oh theres one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve thirteen fourteen fifteen sixteen seventeen eighteen wheels on the Big Rig!”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYbasJ5lX_U
cheers
Doug
I guess that Thomas’ new rig reflects the more immediate playabiliy of using hardware instruments as opposed to the Sole Inhabitant rig which really was based around the Mac, Logic 7 and software instruments.
It would be interesting to know why Thomas hasn’t upgraded to Logic 8. Better the devil you know when you are playing live I think!
Cheers,
Andrew