Couldn’t find a thread around this question in a quick search. Curious to discuss how people approach their setup when performing live vs in the studio.
I could easily understand an argument for both sides: using the same setup live and in the studio, to build muscle memory, vs simplifying things live vs using more stuff and more intricate approaches when in the controlled environment of the studio.
Curious if there’s some things to learn from how people here have approached this.
Personally I recently had my first live gig (techno). Purposefully I stuck with the exact same setup for a couple of months that I’d use live. Which proved great for getting to know my way around my setup. (Syntakt for drums, and a Hapax sequencing approx four voices in a 6U Modular, Mackie 1202, reverb, delay, Boum)
But in the future I could also imagine trying to improvise with an even smaller / leaner setup live (for example my Tr8s, and a Torso or Oxi sequencer sequencing SH01A and a small 1 row modular); and have a bigger setup at home in the studio, to enjoy more flavours, more intricate sound design, etc etc.
Curious how you’ve approached it and enjoy it currently.
My studio set up is always minimal and I try not to mix different formats (eurorack with elektron for example). It’s project based for what I’m working on at each period of time.
My live set up depends on which project I’m presenting every time. And because I’m working with a minimal set up in the studio it’s easy to take with me. But I’ll never try to recreate the exact tracks I’ve recorded. It’s much more fun to think creatively and fool around with the recordings, live remixing, resampling or fx processing.
My setup is exactly the same for both scenarios (ST, OT, MM2), mainly to simplify things and build muscle memory like you pointed out. The fewer devices I use, the more music I write Though sometimes I record my tracks in Ableton to create extra stems (which I then import back to the OT). This gives me the freedom to still go deep in the world of sound design using plugins and max4live devices, which is a part I enjoy a lot as well. Super satisfied overall and not planning to make changes anytime soon
I always aim for a lightweight and portable live setup too. Venues usually don’t like it if you need 2 square meters of space If they didnt mind, I would bring a truck I guess. So for me it’s two boxes for live.
There is np reason to have only two boxes in the Studio tho. If you enjoy having more options, go for it.
Also you xan change up your live setup more often, maybe sometimes bring another synth, using the same sequencer etc.
Band context. My live rig was a single workstation synth, on a baby spider stand, a few tagged cables, along with a sustain pedal, duct tape and my own isolated power strip. I also paid for an extra insurance for this purpose.
Having a lean and compact live setup is generally a good idea and even better if it can be adapted to the venue:
space
setup time for all parties involved
less components that will cause issues of any sort
keeping track of all of your gear, in particular cables and ancillary components
pack-away time
It can take more time to prepare everything beforehand on a smaller setup but it will get you to know your gear better:
keyboard zones vs multiple keyboards
dynamic triggering of sounds and samples vs constant preset jockeying
setlist-oriented organisation of presets vs fixed slots
volume and EQ adjustment across presets vs a mixer
One thing I have most trouble with, is the idea of ditching a dedicated mixer with fx sends. Is such a fun part of techno, a couple of good fx pedals. But just using two or three machines, routed into each other instead of through a mixer would save a lot of space.
We were that kind of act though, that took loads of space lol. I had two tilting up 19” rack/mixer cases full of gear; my friend had three lol. 3-4 meter of gear! I realise it’s not very sustainable that kind of setup
I used to take way too much gear to gigs. I think it comes from my background in Metal, that pride in trying to do something technical and “impressive” not just giving people good live music lol. A couple fumbles made me change my approach. No one outside of other musicians really care how hard or technical your set is.
Now it’s usually just my A4 and Digitakt with something controlling backing tracks (Laptop / Fantom 06 / 404). That way I get my cake and eat it too: I’ll have more complex arrangements already outlined with a backing track, but purposefully bounced without certain aspects that I can fill in with the A4 or DT so I’m always “playing” something. It also allows me to have more freedom with tracks that are JUST the A4 and DT for more generative / jammy.
whatever is involved in hardware, in the studio…all is ending up in the computer…anyways…there happens all finshing.
on stage i need it clean and as simple as possible…so i can read the room and stay in the moment…
my performance backbone is always the ot…it get’s fed with whatever i need upfront in prep via the studio computer…and there are never more than two more hw devices added to the ot…
so my live rig is always flexible but based on ot, where i stick to certain , never changing most basic rules in settings, routings and routines…
so i’m always free to let go, try on the fly, with the confidence of never running into the risk of getting lost along the way…
I tend to keep things to distinct different mindsets, the studio for me is a place where things are composed, tracked and mastered, etc. The live environment needs to be a bit more fluid and variable but also an example of my best stuff.
I focus on immediate creative ability in the studio, and I have a lot of gear ready to go in case I get a brainstorm so I can try different FX chains and possibilities. I work in a set tempo and key and create a lot of complimentary clips in a project, then track them into songs. Lots of analog gear, a pedalboard and a patchbay.
Live is a different animal, so I prep a lot of things in the studio and move them to my live rig - clips are turned into loops and “mastered” so no loop goes over -17dB RMS to allow for enough headroom to play many at once (I’ve found -17dB might be too much on the conservative side and might change that, we’ll see). I want the live performance to be able to change at a moment’s notice, lowering tempo or getting into a groove that I want to extend and experiment with while playing. The 1010 Blackbox is great for my own stereo loops as clips paired with the Polyend Play for drums and clocking, with an external effect or synthesizer all going through a “catch peaks” compressor at the end to FOH. Everything fits into a backpack, one electrical outlet needed for my power strip and the XLR from the compressor goes to the stage box.
…just a few stems from the final arrangements…separated just in all low end, all top end…
to balance overall levels against each other, since each venue needs a little different ratio when it comes to punch and lowest octave room response…one or two lead elements to go nuts with it, one or two thru machines for external devices as free radicals to have some fun on top of it all…
some scene fx actions for fader crazyness and always the heat on the cue outs…
Though sometimes I record my tracks in Ableton to create extra stems (which I then import back to the OT). This gives me the freedom to still go deep in the world of sound design using plugins and max4live devices, which is a part I enjoy a lot as well. Super satisfied overall and not planning to make changes anytime soon 
If they didnt mind, I would bring a truck I guess. So for me it’s two boxes for live.