"This is how you get your brain out of the technical side": Chromeo's live rig – exclusive tour
Summary
TLDRIn this insightful walkthrough, Chromeo's P Thug reveals the technical setup behind their live performances, highlighting the use of two Mac minis running Ableton with a redundancy system for seamless audio control. He explains the integration of Ableton's Able Set for managing song sections and lyrics, the autotune setup for live key changes, and the use of MIDI for synchronizing various instruments and effects. The video also showcases the iPad-based control system for monitoring and adjusting show elements, emphasizing the automation and efficiency of their live music production.
Takeaways
- 🎛️ The stage setup is controlled by a redundancy system with two Mac minis running Ableton, ensuring a seamless transition if one computer fails.
- 🔄 The use of USB over Ethernet extends the connection across the stage, allowing for comprehensive control of audio and other elements.
- 🎵 Ableton's Play audio 12 is integral to the setup, with features like dual computer inputs for redundancy and automatic failover.
- 📚 Able Set, a playlist system, has become a standard in managing live performances, offering synchronization and section creation for songs.
- 🎤 The script highlights the use of Able Set for managing lyrics and sections during live performances, providing a visual guide for vocalists.
- 🔄 MIDI is used extensively for controlling various aspects of the performance, including autotune, lighting, and effects on instruments.
- 🎹 The autotune system is automated, with presets for different keys, allowing for dynamic key changes without manual intervention.
- 🎚️ A custom OSC page was created for additional control and monitoring of the autotune system during performances.
- 💻 iPads are used on stage to access and control Able Set, providing a convenient way to manage the show and troubleshoot issues.
- 🔌 The network setup includes a device to convert MIDI over Ethernet, allowing for expanded control across the stage.
- 🎥 Mention of a Resolume computer for visuals and a Line 6 system for guitar and bass, all controlled via MIDI from the Ableton session.
Q & A
What is the main purpose of the two Mac minis in the setup described by P Thug from Chromeo?
-The two Mac minis are used for redundancy in controlling everything on stage, including audio playback. They run the same Ableton session simultaneously, and if one computer stops working, the system automatically switches to the other without any interruption.
What is the role of the USB extenders in the stage setup?
-The USB extenders are used to extend USB signals over Ethernet, allowing the stage setup to control various devices and instruments throughout the stage, such as guitars and other equipment.
How does the Ableton Live's 'Playlist' system enhance the performance setup?
-The 'Playlist' system in Ableton Live allows for the creation of sections and vocals directly from the Ableton session. This feature enables the performers to follow along with the lyrics and sections of the songs, ensuring a seamless performance.
What is the significance of having the same Ableton session running on both computers?
-Running the same Ableton session on both computers ensures that if one computer fails, the other can take over immediately without any loss in performance continuity, providing a fail-safe mechanism.
How does the autotune system work with the Ableton setup?
-The autotune system is connected to the Ableton setup via a MIDI trigger that tells it to switch to different presets for each song. This allows for automatic key changes during the performance without manual intervention.
What is the function of the UA MIDI Control program mentioned in the script?
-The UA MIDI Control program enables the user to send MIDI messages from the computer or network to any UA parameter. It is used to control various aspects of the performance, such as autotune presets and lighting cues.
How does the stage setup ensure that all technical aspects are checked before a show?
-The stage setup includes a test loop run for sound checks, where all lines and equipment are verified to be working properly. This includes checking that the autotune is changing keys and that MIDI is sent to control lights and other stage effects.
What is the role of the MIDI network setup in the stage performance?
-The MIDI network setup allows for the control of various instruments and effects from the Ableton session. It enables the automation of patch changes, effect controls, and other performance aspects, reducing the need for manual operation during the show.
How does the iPad with Ableton and the custom OSC page enhance the performer's control during a show?
-The iPad with Ableton and the custom OSC page provides an extra layer of control, allowing the performer to monitor and adjust autotune keys, mute tracks, follow lyrics, and switch between digital and modular sounds in real-time during the performance.
What is the significance of using the Nord Modular and Nord G2/G2x keyboards in the setup?
-The Nord Modular and Nord G2/G2x keyboards offer flexibility in sound creation and are used to recreate the sounds from the album without having to bring all the synthesizers on tour. They also allow for MIDI control of patch changes and integration with the modular system.
How does the performer ensure that the autotune system is functioning correctly before a show?
-The performer runs a line check loop before each show to verify that the autotune is changing keys properly. This test ensures that the autotune system is ready for the performance and can be monitored from the iPad for any necessary adjustments.
Outlines
🎸 Overview of the Stage Setup and Redundancy System
p Thug from Chromeo explains the stage setup, highlighting the use of a redundancy system with two Mac minis to control everything. The system uses Ableton for playback, ensuring seamless transitions between computers if one fails. This setup has revolutionized their performances, enabling flawless automation of audio and lyrics display on stage.
🎤 Vocal Processing and Automation
The setup includes an Apollo twin interface connected via USB-C to handle autotune for vocals. The mic runs through monitors to ensure real-time tuning, with preset changes triggered by MIDI. This system allows for key changes during performances without manual intervention, simplifying the process and minimizing potential issues.
🎹 MIDI Control and Network Integration
MIDI controls are extensively used to automate effects and patch changes for instruments. The network setup involves a switch and MIDI-over-ethernet to distribute signals across the stage. This ensures seamless control of various instruments, including the Nord modular and electro keyboards, enhancing performance efficiency.
📱 Custom OSC Page for Live Control
A custom OSC page built for the iPad provides real-time monitoring and control of autotune keys and other parameters. This system allows for manual overrides and key changes, ensuring smooth operation during shows. The iPad interface integrates with Ableton and other tools, providing a comprehensive control system for live performances.
🎛️ Automating Guitar and Vocal Effects
Guitar and vocal effects are automated using MIDI, allowing for precise control during performances. The system handles distortion, patch changes, and other effects, minimizing the need for manual adjustments. This automation ensures consistency and reliability, enabling the band to focus on their performance.
🎚️ Integrating Modular Synths and MIDI Control
The setup includes Nord G2 and G2X synthesizers for modular synthesis, controlled via MIDI. The system allows for seamless integration of digital and analog sounds, with patch changes automated through the MIDI network. This flexibility enables the recreation of album sounds live without carrying extensive gear.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Redundancy System
💡USB over Ethernet
💡Ableton Live
💡Auto-Tune
💡MIDI
💡Talk Box
💡Modular Synthesizer
💡MIDI Network
💡OSC
💡iPad
💡Patch Changes
Highlights
P Thug from Chromeo and Future Music provide an in-depth look at the technical setup for live performances.
Stage activities are managed by a redundancy system with two Mac minis for fail-safe operation.
Use of USB over Ethernet to extend connections throughout the stage for audio and other equipment.
Ableton Live with Play 12 is central to the audio management, featuring dual computer inputs for seamless redundancy.
Ableton's Able Set is highlighted for its role in creating song sections and synchronizing with live performances.
iPads are used on stage to follow lyrics and sections in real-time, enhancing live performance fluidity.
Integration of Auto-Tune with MIDI for automatic key changes during live performances.
Use of UA Apollo Twin for processing vocals with Auto-Tune, offloading processing from the main computer.
MIDI triggers are utilized to switch between song keys and presets automatically.
A custom MIDI network setup allows for control over various stage elements, including lights and visuals.
Resolume is mentioned for visual displays, integrated into the network for synchronized multimedia performances.
Line Six and MIDI patch changes are used for guitar and bass effects, streamlining the tech setup for musicians.
A custom-built switch manages power and network distribution to various stage components.
MIDI over Ethernet technology is used for extended control and flexibility in stage setups.
The Nord Modular is highlighted for its role in sound generation, controlled via MIDI for dynamic live adjustments.
A custom OSC page was developed for real-time monitoring and control of Auto-Tune and other stage elements.
The talk box is explained as a physical instrument for sound shaping without digital processing.
Automation of guitar effects like distortion is demonstrated, controlled via Ableton and MIDI.
Nord G2 and G2x keyboards are praised for their flexibility in recreating album sounds for live performances.
The modular system is integrated with the Nord G2x, allowing for both digital and modular sounds to be played simultaneously.
Transcripts
hey this is p Thug from Chromeo we are
here with future music giving you a
rundown of the nerdiness happening on
stage
[Music]
everything that's happening on stage is
controlled here
by um a redundancy
system um we got two Mac minis inside of
here if you want to get
close you want to get close and check
this
out so there's two Mac minis or play
audio 12 in here
and a bunch of um USB extenders in the
back here so it's USB over ethernet that
I
extend all the way I'll show you right
now all the way through the stage
through guitar
stuff so everything run runs on Ableton
same session on both
computers um
the the playlist system is able set
which is incredible um I think it
started maybe like 2 3 years ago maybe a
little longer but it started really
getting solid a couple years ago
um we used to we used to do it another
way with like uh the radial switcher but
since this system came out with like the
uh play audio 12 that
has two uh computer inss so it have
computer computer B if one stops playing
or something happens it automatically
goes to the next one and if you're
running the say session same session at
the same time it's Flawless it's
absolutely incredible and then able set
kind of communicates with the play audio
12 also um it's becoming uh the standard
I would say so here's the way that we
use it um what you're listening to right
now is the test Loop run for sound
checks and before every show has we're
changing over making sure all the lines
work so we' got
um beats left and right music left and
right bvs left and
right and click and slate as the woman
uh is uh
saying but also what's amazing about
able set is that from your Ableton
session you can create
sections and vocals so for
example I'll take you to a song Here
Chromo test track left let's say we go
to lost on the way home cuz that one has
lyrics click so what you
do is you click on the song song
[Music]
starts you have all the sections here
that correspond
to uh Clips on Ableton if you just name
your track you can have a a a mini track
and you name the SE the clips as your
sections it's going to read
that exactly where you have them you can
also have a vocals track where you name
the
clips the the lyrics and then you can
just
follow the lyrics of the song and I'll
show you how we have access to that on
stage through our
iPads so as you can
see every time a clip comes in it'll
scroll so the lyrics sorts follows along
with you
um at the same
time I have keys going to the autotune
for automatic key
changes so basically I'm sending a midi
note from my key to an a uh IAC
driver and this is a system where I have
both computers on the same mouse and
keyboard so I just switch from computer
one to computer two uh I run the
autotune separately on computer B so it
doesn't take too much uh too much weight
off of computer a and then I switched to
computer B so now I'm controlling this
computer as I can as you can see
here this is the UA uh interface so I've
got an Apollo twin uh right
here that's connected
USBC into computer B
here this guy is running autotune in
unison so we're not taking you know
there's no law C load off of that
computer it's all from the Apollo
itself so you see here we've got the mic
runs going from monitors back just to
get the autot tune from here can you uh
roban
Dave so we've got a wireless run of the
mic that's sitting at
monitors uh
say say check check check so as you can
see it's coming inside here and coming
back out it's basically an insert for
the vocal track
and it's tuning right now um and then
every time I change songs I've got a a a
midi trigger that tells it to go to
another preset and every preset is
basically a different key some songs we
switch keys
right in the middle of the song so it's
really useful it's self-contained nobody
has to attend to it during the show
um unless there's a problem then we have
to figure it out but nobody has to sit
there and change Keys manually or
anything of that sort
um and this is all going
through this little program called UA UA
midi control which is able to take
uh a mini message from your computer or
from the network and send it to
any
UA uh
um parameter that you want so you assign
like here I have assigned Dave
box it it recognizes the insert number
two that I
have over here which is my autotune
which is open here and then it has all
the presets with all the different
keys and once I
move songs around I'll show you the the
I'll go back
to the main Loop uh the test line Loop
that we use during that test line loop I
verify that all the keys switch
properly so if I go to line Loop here
I'm going to start that
and you can
see all the keys circling
through from this midi
here every before every show we check
this make sure the autotune is changing
keys this is also
sending and midi to the lights to the
front so we've got a line Loop
sending one midi note to the grandma in
front all of these songs have midiq for
lights if you can see here click and
this whole track is all midi lights for
every
song and to test that everything is
working before a show super important we
just have a signal going to multiple
different things all over the network
which I will show you in a second we
even have a resum uh sometimes we have
visuals uh for shows so I have a resol
computer not on this tour but usually I
would have a resolume computer also on
the network sitting
anywhere where it's close to the input
for the video wall and that'll read it
off of the
network I also have the line six here
that's my guitar and my
base all of these are also done from the
session with midi uh patch
changes CHR and midi bypass for every
effect and right now you can see it it's
circling through
it's turning the gain
off and then it's add putting the
distortion on on the base side it's
putting the Wawa
on and it's changing Patches at the same
time so you can see all of these all
this is automated for every song so all
I have to do is just play my base um it
gives much less work to the guitar tech
he can focus uh on Dave stuff Dave stuff
is mostly manual he doesn't have any
midi midi stuff going on this is mostly
for me cuz there's a lot going on I'm
switching from bass to guitar to talk
box uh to
synthesizers on top of all
this for the tests we have uh patch
changes going to my side to my modular
and this is also done on the network so
once I have everything set up and my
switch so there's a switch inside of
here on the bottom and all the outputs
that I'll show you go to different parts
of the stage and to the front of
house so basically what I'm
doing is I
find the midi network
setup I have a little box that
transforms the midi from Network has
from Network to MIDI so it's like midi
over ethernet it's a little thing called
dor midi a a product I found online it's
very random there's other boxes to do
that but this one I found was like the
the most solid so right
now what you're going to hear um in the
monitors is my Nord modular triggering
by midi Tri triggering notes by midi
this clavinet sound that you hear
quick and SL that's the Nord modular and
that's the
electro so both of my keyboards right
now are playing let's take you there and
I'll show you exactly what's happening
so right now my
switch inside of
here is sending this midi to the front
of
house for the lights and he's seeing
everything that's happening and timing
the M perfectly for lighting these two
are
going one of them is coming here
which connects to Dave's
iPads chrom
TR and if you come look
here this is sending uh data and power
so this network switch is power over
ethernet also so it's charging the iPad
at the same time as sending data through
this little box
here so I'm sending ethernet and this
little box is getting ethernet to USBC
and it's sending everything that I need
here I can control the whole show from
here choose the
songs uh go into sections of
songs so it's really easy for rehearsal
sound checks figuring out issues uh
quick fixes on light maybe anything we
need
right so let's go back to the line Loop
chromium test
that's Dave
station on my
side that switch that's behind the
playback system comes to my switch here
my switch is a little more involved uh I
built this so inside of here
[Music]
is it's powering everything it's got
another switch that is splitting which
is also power over
ethernet this is taking um the the
network from the playback and
distributing on my
Riser and this is sending midi with this
little box I'm getting ethernet here
it's transforming it to MIDI and sending
it inside of here to control my two node
modulars for all the patch
changes um it also has everything is in
one power so I have the
USB powering this little box up
everything happens inside
chrom and then I've got a wireless
network extension in case the cables go
wrong at some point I can still hop any
iPad any iPhone on the wireless network
and I can still control everything even
receive midi um I can do anything from
this or from the
wires I pref much prefer wires so
hopefully I'll never have to get there
during the show but um so basically this
is going to my station
[Music]
here sending midi to my iPad which has
an extra layer of control um it has this
the
same able set system as Dave's main iPad
but I have something extra that's really
interesting um I built an osc page that
will allow me to first of
all follow all the autotune changes so
you see right now it's circling to
through our um line check Loop and I can
see the keys changing
so I have I constantly have a visual on
autotune Keys during the show I know
every key for each song If I see that
the key is not working properly and
something's wrong I can either bypass it
if you go on the autot tune over there
right now it's going to be bypassed from
this button chomi test TR I can also
change the key from here so if we
[Music]
stop click and
if I stop this line
Loop and I switch the key here you will
see it switch on the actual autotune
over there this is the
bypass this is really really useful uh
cuz I can keep an eye on the whole show
from my iPad with this osc thing that uh
I've built this is not I couldn't find
it anywhere online I just got together
with a pro I I learned
programming um and I got together there
this guy who was a little more advanced
and he helped me like build this this is
also useful for me
[Music]
to so right now you can hear those two
[Music]
guys these two guys are playing right
now
[Music]
these two
[Music]
up they're being triggered by midi but
if I decide to stop this and it's going
to stop playing right now it's not
playing anymore you're not you're not
hearing it but you'll hear in the
recording these two these two SS stop
playing in
completely and this is sending osc
messages to both this whole thing is
it's touch OC basically so it's sending
osc messages to Ableton mute
the midi test
tracks and it's sending OC midi uh midi
messages to uh the UA click
appun the autot tune yeah through the UA
yeah so basically this is the brain and
I just
split I split my iPad screen to also see
able
set so this way I can I can
control the show I can see
my lyrics this is my part on that song
lost on the way home I can see my lyrics
I can see the key we're in I can
decide if I mute M tracks or
not and then if I get lost on a song I
can also see the sections it tells you
exactly how many bars are left what the
tempo is uh it's this great uh this is
my talk
box for those who don't know how this
works it's basically any
synthesizer you send a sound into the
talk box which is basically like a mini
amp it sends the signal through the
[Music]
tube oh oh
yeah and I
shape the sounds with my
mouth I'm not speaking into it I'm not
nothing is coming out of my mouth I'm
just shaping
literally Chromeo Chromo yeah baby baby
that's that's it's very like it's a
crude instrument it's very physical
there's no like crazy technology
involved you're basically pushing the
sound of a tiny uh uh speaker into your
mouth and then shaping it and and
pumping it back
out
um so I'll put you a a section where the
guitar comes
in so as you can see every time I start
a
song the key changes right
away so I know everything this is the
same he has the words with you and needy
girl see how it switches automatically
and then when Dave wants to speak in
between songs it's
automatically done or I can also
manually turn it off so right now the
autotune is
bypassed and back
on the whole thing needs to be automated
this is you know how you get your brain
out of the technical side once this is
going and you have many ways to
troubleshoot from where I'm from where
I'm sitting like during the show I can
literally troubleshoot and change the
key just like that um I'll show
you this is the part
where my guitar automatically turns the
distortion on
reverse during this
solo so when I start the
song My Guitar is
muted nothing's
happening I'll skip to the section where
the guitar solo is now it's still
muted but when I
need just automatically
[Music]
and now it's going to stop automatically
so all this is done by midi all from the
playback from the um from the ablon
session and this whole network is all
wired in sending midi to their here here
when we have a resum and a resom setup
and led wall it's going also to wherever
the computer is once you have a network
going you can do anything literally with
a little bit of like osc knowledge and a
good app like
ablet connected to
Ableton super
easy all of these are
discontinued Nords G2 and Nord G2
X's um it's just the most flexible uh
for us to recreate to not bring with us
all our syns from the road which would
be you know a pain in the ass every day
um this was the easy way to
recreate all of the sounds that we have
on the album because it's like a modular
kind of it's a digital modular system um
we have this G2 Chrome this one we have
one that's Chrome but I had to send it
send it back up to Mexico and this one
doesn't really you can't really see it
because of these panels so I decided to
keep the red one here but usually all
four of these are Chrome so we got one
G2 here one G2x here uh Dave's notes are
pretty uh
he's not really a keyboard player so all
of his notes are uh every song has the
notes that he needs to to reach in the
key of the song um and on my
side I've got a chrome Electro on the
bottom and a chrome G2x on top um all my
patch changes happen with the system
that I showed you it's all sending
through midi through this little box I'm
getting m in here and M in here so I
don't like to worry about patch changes
too much cuz sometimes songs are
triggered quickly and like we're moving
fast I don't there's like 45 different
patches in there I don't have time to
manage that so I just have to rely on
patch changes like a lot of people
do um and the interesting thing about
this is that when we extend
to the actual big modular that you've
probably seen us
um the sn.com module that we've been
using uh in the in
America the reason why I keep these
around the G2x is is that you have four
midi channels inside of here that you
can select on four
slots and there's an input in the back
so you can process any external signal
inside of this engine uh which I use for
the modular system
so the output the audio outputs of the
modular that we have come in here in the
input and everything comes out of this
in terms of audio not only that but I
can also
control the
midi and still have my digital sounds
from the G2x during the show and if I
want to use the modular sounds I just
switch patches here this automatically
tells
the G2x that midi channel one is now in
use from this slot it sends to the midi
in of the modular and I can play the
modular the whole Beast can be played
with this keyboard with this keyed so I
don't need like a dedicated keyed for
the modular I can just use this and
basically the analog sn.com modular
becomes a patch a different patch on my
on my
G2x which is the big reason why I keep
those around it's so flexible I've I
haven't seen any other keyboard that
does this in such like fluid manner up
to date so I really really like those I
I I try to get my hands on on on these
as soon as I see one like I have a
backup it's just it's really useful
um and yeah that's for the S pretty
pretty simple yeah
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