You’ve heard this before, wish I had an unlimited budget. But alas, reality. Let me describe what I’m doing here, then ask advice. Thank you.
Laptop - Windows 11, 12 Gen i7 12700H 64gb mainly for audio and midi
Rackmount - Windows 11, AMD Ryzen 7 7700, 64gb - mainly for video
The rackmount computer has 4 camera inputs, with a total of 8 graphic outputs, 3 dedicated to large screen TVs, and one, maybe two to projectors - running Resolume for video. Oh and one for the computer of course.
The computers are linked via gb network switch.
I have multiple MIDI inputs, keys, MIDI pads, Luminite Graviton M2 switch, and other stuff. There will always be a live guitar, live vocals, 1 mic and keys of some kind. At the moment my main guitar processing is Helix Native.
I have too much software and too many plugins. Gig Performer, Reaper, Fl Studio, Ableton lite, Native Instruments - Waves, UA, Plugin Alliance, EZ drummer 3, and more.
The plan is to play regular songs, but interactively - meaning the tunes will be cut into parts, so if its going well I can extend a solo, or make up words and invent a new verse….Then to live jam to loops, adding to and creating new loops, switching from guitar to keys to drum pads, to sound manipulation and fx. Also to do original material. All the while triggering video on the video rig, using MIDI to control video fx, lighting, and projectors. Helix Native, synths, arpeggiators, vocal fx, drums, bass some of it prerecorded, some trigger live off of an iPad, and man, if and when something goes wrong, there’ll be trouble.
I have the video rig also loaded with audio stuff, as a secondary audio computer with its own interface. At the point now where I’ll be starting to load test the computers to see just how much I can run on these two - but I am convinced I’ll need another computer.
Because of this fantastic forum, and being stuck in bed sick for the last few days I deep dived into offloading VST processing, looking at tools like Audiogridder, VEPro. From previous audio work I own 6 licenses of Dante virtual sound card.
So. Questions. Too many ways forward. Gig Performer WILL be the heart of the system. I need to figure out a fall back for when something goes wrong and the show must go on. I also have to figure out just what kind of load the machines can handle at the moment. I need to figure out how to glue all this together. Things I’m considering seriously are to move to a dedicated offboard guitar processor like Quad Cortex mini. I know I want to automate as much as possible using MIDI. Still not sure how much the video rig will be able to contribute to audio. And deciding on a third computer. At the very least, a back up laptop that can be deployed quickly in an emergency.
Lighting will be controlled via Resolume. I have two TVs to use at the moment to get the concept going. My main audio interface is a Mixpre 10T - I love it, but that may change. I’ve been looking at moving to a mixer like the Behringer X32 rack and a dante card….I know this mixer well.
There are some amazing people on this forum. I spent the last three days reading posts. Many of you have amazing rigs. If you have any ideas, suggestions, critics or advice, everything appreciated.
If I may describe what inspired this…..I rode a motorcycle all around north and south America for 2.5 years, filming and writing and recording an albums worth of material. Found myself in the Atacama desert in Chili, WAY back off the main roads. Camped for the night behind series of mountains. Just as sunset began, I climbed one of these mountains with a few cameras, my guitar (a Yamaha Silent). Sitting on the edge of the mountain, with the camera recording the sunset, the wind was strong enough that it vibrated the strings of the guitar. My hands played like they were being guided and a piece of music was written. This experience was almost beyond description. The beauty was So intense, It left me feeling like I have a responsibility to share it. Recorded the tune when I got into the tent, and refined it later.
Thanks for reading.
