Using Cubase Live To Trigger Patch Changes? Options

[Todd Simpson]

Those crazy guys in MESHUGGAH are using AXE EFFECTS ULTRA units for their live sound ( no shock there, the Ultra seems to have taken over for tube amps in many of the bands I listen to such as Periphery, Meshuggah, etc.) but what I have not seen before is that they are USING CUBASE TO TRIGGER ALL THEIR PATCH CHANGES!!!


That I"ve not seen before from any band I listen to that I'm aware of. Trusting every change to Cubase running on a laptop is putting pretty serious faith in the software and platform ( a little Macbook Pro) on which the software runs. They run four Axe Effects Units (two each, one live one backup) in to a Macbook and bingo. No stomping on buttons, everything just happens.

It's a very clever idea, and removes any chance of missing a switch/patch etc. But if you guys were playing a BIG show like they do, would you trust it to Cubase? Or any software?



Todd



From today's Meshuggah Rig Rundown: Frederik, Marten, and Dick all use Fractal Audio Axe-FX Ultras with patches programmed for different parts of the show that are triggered automatically by Cubase so the guitarists don't have to make any onstage patch changes.

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This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Feb 23 2013, 01:06 AM

[Rammikin]

But if you guys were playing a BIG show like they do, would you trust it to Cubase? Or any software?

You'd be surprised. Pretty much all big acts now (Aerosmith, U2, Madonna, Motley Crue, etc.) use a DAW on stage, not only to sequence patch changes in effects processors and amp modelers, but also for click tracks, pyro, lighting, etc. There's a company called PlaybackControl that builds rigs for this. The rig is based on a Macbook and while Cubase is popular, I believe Digital Performer is probably the most popular DAW for this. The rig has an ingenious failover system with a second Macbook that instantly takes over if the first one fails.

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[Todd Simpson]

Seems to be the wave of the future hitting us as we go The big modeling products like AXE FX are essentially purpose built computers running a custom flash rom operating system. So the distance between modeling pedals and such, and a laptop running software is pretty close already. I think we are going to see this continue and expand as we go along. Keyboard players for example have been using rack mounted PCS running synth plugins for years. I don't think we are that far off from a rack mounted PC/Mac with an audio interface embedded running Daw/modeling plugins replacing preamps/modelers. Of course, it's going to be early adopters for a while.

Todd

You'd be surprised. Pretty much all big acts now (Aerosmith, U2, Madonna, Motley Crue, etc.) use a DAW on stage, not only to sequence patch changes in effects processors and amp modelers, but also for click tracks, pyro, lighting, etc. There's a company called PlaybackControl that builds rigs for this. The rig is based on a Macbook and while Cubase is popular, I believe Digital Performer is probably the most popular DAW for this. The rig has an ingenious failover system with a second Macbook that instantly takes over if the first one fails.

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