live performance with laptop

[wrongtown]

figured this would be the place to ask this.

I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas on the optimal config for an older laptop (PC running win2000) for use in live performance. I'm an accoustic performer, but I'd like to add in a few of the midi elements I'm using in the studio to live performance.

Is there anyone out there doing the same and might have some advice?

And the hardest question to ask: is this frowned upon by my fellow musicians as being very close to lip synching or what some might call cheating?

I'd love to hire people to play the few gigs a year that I play, but obviosuly my wallet isn't even big enought to buy a decent laptop.

thanks for any replies!

 

[Promythia]

Depending on how old it is, it might be worth it to get a more up to date laptop, or maybe look into the MUSE Receptor. I'm not 100% sure if it can handle sequencing apps, but it sounds pretty damn cool.

And the hardest question to ask: is this frowned upon by my fellow musicians as being very close to lip synching or what some might call cheating?

I'm sure by a lot of traditionalists it would be, I know I frowned upon it at one point. Then, as the music I started writting progressed it got to the point where it's virtually impossible to do it "acoustically" in regards to man power, money, and resources. Now, I'm all about the computing. If someone bitches about it, they are probably just some pretentious prick that hasn't got the balls to play an instrument or write music. One of my favorites bands (it's actually this guy and his girlfriend), Tinklepotty, she plays cello and does backing vocals and he plays drums and vocals. The guitar and bass are played by him, but from CD live. I thought it was cool as hell, but it seemed like not that many other people were enjoying it. Oh well.

Good luck!

 

[Bulls Hit]

For live performance, reliability & stability are the primary goals.

Best way to ensure that is to create a 'live' hardware profile with all unnecessary software & services disabled, eg lan, wireless, infra red, AV, spware etc.

 

[dgatwood]

The things you can do with a computer could be really handy. In particular, I could see having a nearly infinite number of parametric EQ filters and phase inverters doing wonders for feedback.

 

[wrongtown]

I'm a step ahead on the "live" hardware profile. Anybody have suggestions for changing virtual memory and things of that nature to make sure windows wont sabatoge my performance?

I'm going to go ahead and try it out next week at an open mic in the area. if anyone thinks its "cheesy" or whatever I'll just pull out my best f-u attitude and tell 'em where to go.

thanks for the replies

 

[brzilian]

figured this would be the place to ask this.

I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas on the optimal config for an older laptop (PC running win2000) for use in live performance. I'm an accoustic performer, but I'd like to add in a few of the midi elements I'm using in the studio to live performance.

Is there anyone out there doing the same and might have some advice?

And the hardest question to ask: is this frowned upon by my fellow musicians as being very close to lip synching or what some might call cheating?

I'd love to hire people to play the few gigs a year that I play, but obviosuly my wallet isn't even big enought to buy a decent laptop.

thanks for any replies!

Most, if not all current audio apps require XP. XP does a better job in reducing latency and can address more than 16 audio streams (2000 cannot).

 

[Mixxit12]

Actually I play live in a group where much of the parts are either audio or MIDI from a laptop. I agree about XP and stability and realibility. My interface failed on me last weekend and the show was almost FUBAR. Luckily we got by on CDs for the pre-recorded stuff.

As far as the "cheating" aspect goes, I trigger 90% of our music via MIDI from a Roland SPD drum module. I also "play" the SPD drum kits as well. Our lead singer and back up singer sing over these tracks. I'm basically a one man band (except for the keyboard player we sometimes use). That said, some "traditional" musicians sort of give me the evil eye when they see our show. Some how they think it's less "musical" (I disagree). HOWEVER, most people, musician and non-musician alike, seem to like the "non-traditional" set-up. They think the laptop and the funny looking box I hit with drum sticks gives us a more modern appeal. I say screw the people that think you're cheating. You're job is to entertain. It's up to you what tools you use to complete the task. If the crowd is diggin' it, to heck with what a few clowns might say.