I’ve been asked to play in a friends band, providing what I would call sound effects. Not really playing traditional instruments more pressing buttons, triggering noises, and samples that sort of thing.
I’m using ableton, push 2 and a midi keyboard, I’ve got the set all setup, figured out switching between sounds etc, the main thing I’m struggling to figure out is how to control my levels.
Different things sit in different parts of the mix, and we’re not having loads of practice, and the issue I had in the first rehearsal is how loud I was from sound to sound, track to track. I spent most of my time playing with levels, rather than practicing. I need to have some control over my levels, but I’m nervous about annoying the sound person at the gigs, headroom, turning myself up too loud or clipping at my or their end and all that
So I wondered if anyone had any tips about how to control it all. Do I get everything all at a level sort of mid range, whack limiters on individual and main channels, start quiet in the sound check so I have somewhere to go. To confuse things more I have instruments in racks (like this https://youtu.be/29Eu07pK9zg?si=oHYGH1V7J_DusW2u) but different instruments in a rack need different levels. Do I figure it out in the rehearsal and trust it for the gig?
Any hints tips or experiences welcome. Thanks!
Gain staging beforehand is your friend. Having an external mixer that you (and at least some of the other band members) can connect to and then send out to the house mixer will give you more control.
Every time I think maybe I should get rid of my Mackie 1402VLZ4, I have to keep that in mind. Very useful for “sound reinforcement” in a live setting.
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Thanks. Yeah I’m trying to get all the levels set up so I’m right in the mix at rehearsals, we just don’t have many. Everyone else is a seasoned performer, I am definitely not!
The gigs we’ll be playing are pretty low-key, pubs, small local festivals that sort of thing. I don’t know anything about the technicals of live…and we won’t have a sound person who knows the songs - just whoever is at the gig. I have a small midi mixer to control the levels my end.
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As an easy solution I’d put a limiter in the master track in ableton and do a rough mixing of the sounds before hand.
That way at least you’ll have maximun loudness controlled and you can adjust from there.
Imo having something too quiet is always better than too loud in a live context.
I’m excited for you. Just think how much real life experience you’re going to gain. You’ve got this!
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I would put a compressor followed by a limiter at the end of your signal chain. This is literally what a compressor is for - to even out your audio levels. And then the limiter to catch any errant peaks that might slip through, depending on your attack / release settings. Good luck!
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Another thing to have a think about is EQ - if you’ve put the sounds together on their own you have access to all frequencies, but in a band situation your sound effects will often be hitting frequencies occupied by other instruments, which is why you’re having to adjust levels all the time to be heard. Putting your sounds through a bandpass EQ at the end of your effects chain may help to focus your sound and avoid the need to ride levels as much.
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That’s a great tip - I’m recreating sounds from songs in an album, so for the most part trying to replicate them… but the album is reverb heavy so I’ve been thinking drop that mostly and roll off the bass. But I didn’t think to eq the whole master…
Yeah I hear that. I’m quite happy to not be heard - preferable to be “that guy who is way too loud”!
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