I am currently working on getting some tracks done - my goal is maybe 20-30 minutes of beats/music. So my question is, how to present them live without just hitting play in ableton. Honestly, I would like to leave the laptop out of this. I don't know if it is possible, or if I should just give in, buy an mpd...

I much much rather would go hardware only for live. so my question is, how do you guys perform your stuff live witht your sp303 (maybe sp404)? so many possibilites...
a) record track, chop into parts (verse, chorus, etc,), just hit the buttons to start each part
b) record track and chop into smaller pieces and maybe 2 longer pieces to get some filter twisting going.
c.) just record the song and hit play....
d.)...
e.)..

so how do you do it? what would you recommend?
I am a guitarist/instrumentalist by heart, the dude I am working with is acutally studying jazz piano so we both want to keep it as live as possible (which involves practice, of course).


p.s.: I really like the way edison does his live sets, but I am not a big fan of the monome.

I too, like to play tracks live using the sp 404. I layout all my samples and play them in time. As a result I bought a second 404 so that I can have more material to play. It's an expensive soluton to your problem, but one none the less.

303 doesn't have enough memory for a live show. If you have an ipod you could sequence the set (or mix it with a dj app) while you effect it with the 303. With 404 you can load up all your tunes and the djfxlooper would be nice. Ableton is a pretty good way to go though.

Thanks, D. Dope as usual, ya bastard, haha!

haha! thank u. yeah 2 404's give u some flexibility definitely. u got any footage of ur sets. still bump the tape fam.

Na, no footage. Get at me when you get a chance
[email protected]
My beat cd is coming out on Feb 15th and I want to hook you up with a copy, if you're interested. I'm glad you still bump the tape! That means a lot!!! Get at me.

acourse man u already i know f**ks with it.

Cool. Email me your address and I'll send one as soon as I get them.

just to take it to the next level, you can sequence the set without for example drums and some oneshots (or at least some parts of the set) and them bang them out on an sp..

Here's a situation:
I've performed live a couple of times 1 show - my dub/reggae. Performing dub was ok - i've split all the tunes into 4 channels (beat, bass, skanks/horns and what's left) and assigned delay and reverb sends in ableton. I was using laptop with ableton live, lpd8 pads to mute/solo tracks and knobs for sends and echo controls, and sp-303 for siren/gunshot/airhorn/etc samples with fx. That went pretty well and easy.
The other show was all about beats and glitches. I had all the tunes rendered as one channel and just played them as a laptop dj set with fx on top. The problem is - I don't have skills to bang pads that long and keep tempo and different patterns, so i tend to overuse FX just to do something live, not just hitting play and headnod. The other problem is - some of my beats ar exported from sp-303 or the source project is lost and they cannot be split into channels.
I know I'm gonna come up with something eventually, but just for the interest and ideas - how would you build a solid and organic LIVE set if u had laptop with ableton, akai lpd8 and sp-303, for the gig with a headliner that is kind of a hero to you? =]]]

I'm supposed to do a 20 min or so set for this thing sometime in may so I will be watching this thread. I use a 303, so I can't really load up everything in there. I'm in the process of mixing everything on my computer except for a few one shots and fillers and putting it on my ipod and just play it through the 303. I'm so nervous though, this is going to be my first show doing beats. Rhyming was so much easier lol. You don't have to really think much, just remember the lyrics. With this, you have to plan some strategic battle plan lmbo.

i'm with amable, i do the same... wish i had another 404 so i could leave it on vinyl sim and effect grab my fx on the other. when i do it live, each bank is a song, and every pad has its purpose. then i just memorize how to make it play right. i don't think i could get as much control as i wanted with only 8 pads, but i think it's very cool that the 303 can resample and record ext simultaneously... might be cool for live looping.

loving those vids dibiase, very inspirational. i wanna see more live sp action!!!!

my first shows was like that had beat mix run through the 303 for efx plus had airhorns ,lasers, etc on the 303. you dont wanna overwhelm yourself with too much in the beginning.

also another option i would have a beat mix sometimes in the early days. when some beats wouldnt have drums and play the live from 303 or some beats wouldnt have a bassline then i would play basslines live and vibe out. its all about havin fun up there and havin cohesive set with no deadspace where no music is playin. other than that i wouldnt worry too much. i still get nervous too so that normal.