Live Midi performance as an Individual or Group

[CarlJ]

Have there been many people that have done live shows or accompanied live theater groups with different electronic instruments? This might be an option for smaller theater “orchestras” too. I guess I would love to discuss some of the different ideas and challenges that people have had with live performances. They should be able to make some GREAT live sounds but have flexibility (Canned back-up tracks are not an option)
Comments on equipment you have used might be interesting

[regebro]

Well, everytime I've played live it's been with electronic instruments. I'm not aware on any specific challanges. In fact, since you don't have to mic the electronic instruments I even think it' easier.

[CarlJ]

Thanks…
I agree that the mic angle is an advantage, I was meaning is there “groups” that perform with several keyboards and maybe a drum machine and a wind controllers that perform as an “orchestra” when you start “splitting” keyboards and doing cords instead of single notes you could achieve a “big” sound pretty quickly.
I guess some of the questions I have are like:
How do you hook all of the controllers to a samplers or sound modules that would give a consistent high-end sound? Maybe even from some fairly inexpensive keyboards would work ok then.
When you do go to an amplifier and to speakers do you mix the sounds and go out one stereo / or 4 channel sound system or is it better to amplify each sound separately and adjust the mix with the volumes to the hall? (This is how the “Virtual Pit” seems to work with some very high-end speakers place like orchestra sections)

[regebro]

You hook the controlelrs to the sound modules by the best means availiable. Thats usually MIDI.

It's far better to use a mixer than to have separate amps for each module, unless you are doing something very special and weird. What type of PA system to use varies depending on the venue, mainly by size, and that you are using mainly electronic sounds doesn't really affect this, except possibly that you'll need more channels on the mixer than a more traditional setting where often the guitarists and the bassist can use their own amplification in small venues.

[CarlJ]

I am thinking that I am not making my comments / questions clear here and I am sorry… I guess I have some ideas about what sort of midi sounds I would have access to but. I have been very dissatisfied with the sounds from my controller (Even though the seemed very nice when I got it and my budget says that the controllers are OK (Where I could even invite potential musicians to bring their own keyboards not caring how the sounded if they had a midi connection.) I am considering creating a Giga sample box where if I understand what I can do with it is have up to 128 Channels of midi each playing up to 32 multi tameral voice per channel… That would mean that I could have up to 8 Midi ports playing this one sampler plus there may be some sounds that the controllers or other sound modules that we have may be of interest too. And controlling all of these keyboards and sound modules from a centralize place may be interesting / necessity too.
So if I understand what all that means (and I think I am starting to) I would also need a group or a sound card capable of playing at least 16 different analog outputs. I found some Echo Darla 24 cards for a very good price and if I can get them all to live and play well with each other I might have that solved. But it creates some new ones because now I have 16 ports of line output and need to amplify them for a show. And now you are way outside of my computer geek world. So the next part of the production would then be what do I do with all of these sounds?

[regebro]

I wouldn't use a PC to play live in the first place, but thats me...

If you have 16 line outs and want them amplificated you get a mixer, and amplifier and some speakers. What to get depends on the size of the venue and the type of music. To be honest, I don't think you need to care about that yet. First you need songs (unless you are doing improv music, in which case you need good musicians) and then you need to arrange these songs. When you are happy with the songs and the arrangements, then it's time to go live. Many places who'd let you play live already have a PA system, so you need not worry about that. If you need to rent your own PA system, talk to the company you rent from.

[CarlJ]

Most of my desire for live synthesizer group performance has to do with amateur / school musical theater... The theater that we would be doing these shows in does have a sound system and (I think it is 12 in 4 out mixer board) a 4 channel sound system but the wireless microphones for the people on stage take up most of that and the sound technician is usually working with the actors mics trying to get them balanced and on at the right time and sort of felt that the music needed to be separate. The space is very limited and many times if we take have to rely on parents and family volunteers for the music
Are you suggesting to not use a software based sound sampler? (Maybe, you talking about the Mac vs. "Real computer" debate… I wouldn’t want to get into that in here that is close to religion and politics!) So the songs are already composed and the arranging them should be rather straightforward from the shows "orchestra scores" I am looking at the Giga sampler and so far like what I see/hear and would think that the sounds would be both high quality and consistent regardless of the quality of the collection of keyboards that that we may be able to find.
Anyway, I never had thought of the renting of the PA angle that just might be the way to go for a lot of reasons. Thanks