Awaken keyboardist – Joe Luca
This video features Joe Luca, a keyboardist for the Yes tribute band Awaken. The discussion centers on how Joe successfully transitioned from using Brainspawn Forte to Gig Performer for his live rig to manage complex keyboard sounds without the need for excessive physical hardware (2:53).
Key takeaways:
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Transitioning to Gig Performer: Joe explains how he overcame the “Forte mindset” of using channel strips and embraced Gig Performer’s visual, rack-based workflow (5:11).
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Rig Setup and Efficiency: Joe details his efficient setup, which includes an M-Audio Hammer 88 and a Novation Launchkey 61, allowing him to handle intense sonic palettes for songs like Heart of the Sunrise (19:12) and Owner of a Lonely Heart (36:51).
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The Rig Manager: David, a co-founder of Gig Performer, joins to explain the Rig Manager, a tool developed to solve the problem of managing multiple, identical controllers or switching to different backline gear while on tour (50:24).
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Snapshots and Song Parts: The pair clarifies the difference between rackspace variations and song parts, explaining how Snapshots allow Joe to make adjustments during rehearsal without altering his base rackspaces (56:41).
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Plugins and Compatibility: Joe shares his experience using JBridge to keep essential 32-bit plugins running in his 64-bit Gig Performer environment (59:13).