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Imagine it's the first night of a an international tour. You're hired as tech to help with playback and drums, and suddenly the MD and keys player gets sick. You've got to step up and run playback and play keys.
COULD YOU DO IT?
That's exactly what my student David Dombrowski had to do. You'll hear how it went, and why he had the confidence he could make it happen.
David is a touring drummer, playback tech, and all around great guy.
He was one of the first people to go through my coaching cohorts, and I could not think of a better person to share as a success story.
You'll hear why David pivoted from only being a drummer, to learning playback as well, and exactly HOW he made it happen.
Want access to the same content David has? Become an All-Access student today! 👇
https://fromstudiotostage.com/subscribeWant to get in touch with David? Reach out on Instagram 👇
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Get Access to my weekly group coaching calls 👇
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In this episode of "Behind the Space Bar," Will shares tips and tricks for successfully upgrading the operating system (OS) on a computer used for live performances. He emphasizes the importance of waiting for bugs to be fixed and being intentional about the timing of the upgrade.
Key Takeaways:
-Wait for bugs to be fixed and choose the right timing for the OS upgrade.
-Back up files and the entire computer system before upgrading.
-Audit apps, plugins, and helper apps to determine what needs to be reinstalled.
-Start from scratch with a clean install for a fresh and efficient system.
-Conduct a burn-in test on a backup computer to ensure everything is working properly.
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In this episode of "Behind the Spacebar," Will discusses the essential skills needed to become a successful playback engineer. He emphasizes the importance of service, the ability to say "yes" instead of "no," effective file management, quick edits, working quickly, handling multiple tasks, and staying calm under pressure.
Key Takeaways:
Playback engineering is all about service and making the artist or band feel comfortable.Saying "yes" instead of "no" is crucial for success as a playback engineer.Effective file management is essential for quick access to files and backups.The ability to make quick edits and work quickly is important in a live performance setting.Playback engineers must be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.Staying calm under pressure is crucial for troubleshooting and maintaining professionalism. ★ Support this podcast ★ -
Building a Playback rig? Don't make this mistake that I see all too often in new Playback Techs.
The Playback and Playback Tech community is a wonderful community.
I love the trend of sharing rig builds and learning what others are doing.
Seeing the gear others rely on, and what they use to craft their sound is inspiring.
But...
I'm noticing an alarming trend with these
Beautiful, Instagram worthy rigs...
I share my thoughts in todays episode of Behind the Space Bar.
#uglyrigsarebeautiful
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If you're just starting out with Ableton or using tracks, you're not a burden-we're glad you're here!
Every month, I hold a call just for From Studio to Stage students.
[Want access? Join me here:
https://fromstudiotostage.com/subscribe ]This past month, I noticed an alarming trend.
There were multiple people asking questions, and apologizing for how "basic" they were.
They were apologizing for "being in the way" because they're just starting out.
I quickly let them know:
-you don't need to apologize and
-you're not in our way.You're welcome here...
and we're glad YOU'RE here.Don't miss the gift of beginning.
We've all been there before.
We're all beginners at something.
Glad you're here!
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I’m no swifty… but T-Swift got it right… I’m the problem.. it’s me.
Do you believe that the next piece of gear will unlock your potential? We'll debunk the myth of external factors and shed light on the internal drive that genuinely propels us forward. 🚀
Understanding the difference between internal vs. external motivators.Personal experiences from years of coaching students on stage performance with Ableton Live.Three invaluable tips to help you make real progress in your musical journey.Whether you're a seasoned musician, a playback tech, or someone new to using Ableton Live on stage, this episode promises insights that can reshape your perspective and accelerate your growth. 🌟
If you're new here, welcome to "Behind the Space Bar"! And to our returning listeners, thank you for your continued support and kind words. Let's keep the conversation going! 🎹
Make sure to subscribe, like, and share if you found this content valuable. Let's make music together!
#BehindTheSpaceBar #MusicianGrowth #AbletonLive
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00:00 - Introduction to the episode and the topic of internal struggles
02:01 - Example of a playback tech's preferences hindering progress
05:28 - Stop letting preferences get in the way of progress
06:25 - Three tips to stop preferences from hindering progress
07:04 - Free Tracks template offer
08:15 - First tip: Audit current systems
09:37 - Second tip: Test assumptions
11:40 - Third tip: Try new things
14:12 - Importance of trying new things and testing assumptions
19:31 - Conclusion and call to action
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Are you trying to convince your band to use tracks? Here’s a difference approach you can take.
I get it. You’ve seen the light. You want your band to use tracks. It’s going to improve your sound, make it easier to perform on stage, but you can’t get the rest of your band on board.
I’ve been there. I’ve coached students that are there (or have been there). We can address every objection your bandmates may have…but sometimes you’ve got to take a different approach.
In today’s episode of Behind the Space Bar I share what that approach is, and when it’s the right time to take it!
Want to run tracks like a pro? Download my free tracks template 👇
https://fromstudiotostage.com/template
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Sure — anybody can learn how to use Ableton as a software program. But the ones who master using Ableton on stage don’t think of it like that.
What’s the difference between knowing how to use Ableton and using it on stage to put on a killer performance? It’s pretty simple, really. It’s your mindset in how you approach it.
If you only view Ableton as just software, you limit it to being utilitarian. It’s just there to do a job. But I’m going to teach you a different way to approach it — one you’re likely already very familiar with — that will help you level up on stage.
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Martin Roberts has had a successful career bringing artists’ records to life on stage (including Shawn Mendes, M83, and others). He’s a playback engineer, music director, system designer, and just an all-around pro.
Watch the interview to hear Martin’s thoughts on live performance, playback, gear & music tech, and what it was like working with Shawn Mendes.
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The bands that use backing tracks the best are the ones that do it without anyone noticing. But how do they do it?
Context is everything. EDM, cover bands, acoustic bands — all different types of bands use tracks. But they don’t all put the same stuff in the tracks because, well, it would be ludicrous for an 808 drop to happen in an acoustic set (or would it be awesome, actually?).
Watch for some tips to think through your context and examples of potential types of sounds to put in your tracks.
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Brian (Not Brain) Funk teaches a class at Berklee Online Online, hosts the The Music Production Podcast, and creates sample packs for Ableton Live (and is also an Ableton Live Certified Trainer). How in the world does he do it all?
I got to sit down with Brian to discuss his crazy schedule and how he stays productive and creative with so many things to juggle.
This conversation was pure gold, and I learned a ton from chatting with Brian. Not just about Ableton Live, but about creativity, productivity, and life in general.
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There’s a lot that goes into a redundant playback rig, and it can feel pretty complex to figure out. So, the natural question is…is it really worth all that time and money?
I break it all down for you in this video so you can know whether or not you really should invest in one or if you can get by without it.
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I’ve helped thousands of people get more out of Ableton. But you shouldn’t trust me.
Apparently the best way to trigger anyone who uses Ableton is to show them another way to do things. I’ve spent years creating hundreds of videos and tutorials about using Ableton on stage, and most people have found them helpful (over 4,000 people have now downloaded my free tracks template: http://fromstudiotostage.com/template).
But a lot of people are pretty resistant to it. Some ask thoughtful questions or bring up fair points but some still refuse to try something new. Here’s my response.
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If you’re stepping on stage to do anything, embarrassing mistakes are part of the job. I share some of mine and some of my favorites that you all shared with me.
If you’ve ever experienced a major on-stage fail, you know what it’s like to want to just crawl into a hole…forever. But you gotta laugh at yourself and just take it on the chin. Especially because you’re not alone! Everyone has been there.
Check out some of these stories of major on-stage fails to give yourself a little encouragement and help you have a short memory for that kinda stuff.
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Jeff is the creator of one of my favorite MIDI controllers ever made: the Oakboard Mini.
In this interview, Jeff talks about how he came up with the idea for the Oakboard Mini, and how that eventually grew into a fully-fledged music software and hardware company. I love Jeff’s story because he never set out to start a company. He just started solving his own problems by learning to code. He built a small MIDI controller to do exactly what he needed it to do. Turns out he wasn’t the only one experiencing those problems, and Oaktone was born!
Jeff is an incredibly talented and endlessly curious person. In addition to owning and running Oaktone, Jeff is an Ableton Certified Trainer, a worship leader, songwriter, and producer.
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Sometimes what seems like the simplest solution is actually the worst.
If you’re using your computer to run in-ears, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. I’m as much an advocate for using computers on stage as anyone, but this is one thing that you shouldn’t use your computer for.
I’ve got 8 reasons why and what you should do instead.
P.S. What do you use to run in-ears?
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Here’s how to use tracks on stage, without cheating and feeling like a fraud.
We’ve all seen those videos of a pop artist’s performance going sideways with tracks and all of the sudden the whole world knows they’re lip-syncing.
And yeah, I’m not a fan of that. But that’s not what the way most artists use tracks. Some of the best musicians in the world are using tracks on stage. And they’re doing it in a way that maintains the authenticity of musicianship and skilled performance.
In this video, you’ll learn 7 tips for how to start using tracks, without feeling like you’re “faking it” or feeling like a fraud.
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I’ve been an Ableton Certified Trainer for 13 years. These are the 8 most common questions I get.
I take a few minutes to answer each question, but I also share where you can get loads of free resources to dive deeper into each topic.
My suggestions on the best gear for live performance 👇
https://fromstudiotostage.com/gear
Session View vs. Arrangement View 👇
https://youtu.be/l_4lIV3Ehqc
https://youtu.be/sukloetXkJE
Should you become an Ableton Live Certified Trainer 👇
https://youtu.be/vCQY7mkgp1E
How to use a stop track and MIDI Controller at the same time 👇
https://youtu.be/CvIWHIfAYn4
Difference between Ableton Versions: 👇
https://youtu.be/CljzUUluyFY
Best Version of Ableton Live for Running Tracks 👇
https://youtu.be/ZW-_2MmMGM4
Where can I buy Ableton Live? 👇
https://youtu.be/VNdinDInRig
How to Solve Ableton Live's 1025 Measure Problem when Syncing Live Sets 👇
https://youtu.be/meDcxZwcHfg
🤬 Ableton Keeps Crashing! 7 Steps To Guarantee You Fix the Problem 👇
https://youtu.be/tJ2Udgl4nCk
What’s the best app for your worship band? [FREE QUIZ] 👇
https://multitracks.app/
Prime vs. Playback vs. Ableton Live 👇
https://youtu.be/I8rEM1w2syQ
Playback or Ableton Live? 👇
https://youtu.be/xNYxr4efE-s
Prime or Ableton Live?👇
https://youtu.be/HVpK0lTo7vw
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Mike is a pro drum tech and playback tech — building and setting up rigs for some of the biggest metal artists to…Avril Lavigne and Smashing Pumpkins? Yep.
Plus, he’s a From Studio to Stage student.
Mike was kind enough to hop on a call with me and share his story about becoming a playback tech and what really helped him get to the point he’s at now working with these pro artists and bands.
He also shares some great stories from the road and even some nice little tid bits of advice for aspiring drum and playback techs.
Artists mentioned in the episode Mike has worked with...
MinistryAvril LavigneSevendustSmashing PumpkinsTestamentWant to join the same community Mike is a part of?
https://fs2s.link/mike-subscribe
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I’ve made this dead simple. These are the only 5 pieces of gear you need to start running tracks with your band.
When it comes to buying gear to run tracks, you’ve got more options than you know what to do with. And if you’re just starting out, it’s hard to know what’s actually necessary versus what can wait til later.
Well, I’m making it easy. These 5 pieces of gear give you everything you need to start running tracks.
Plus, learn about the Ableton template that 4,000+ musicians and touring artists are using to build sets in minutes and make things easy on stage.The 2023 Gear Guide 👇
http://fromstudiotostage.com/gear
The Free Tracks Template & Email Course 👇
http://fromstudiotostage.com/template
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0:00 How to Start Using Tracks with Your Band
0:15 Behind the Space Bar Intro
0:31 Use Ableton Live on Stage for Tracks and 2 Free Resources That Will Help
1:14 5 Pieces of Gear You Need to Use Multitracks
2:16 Resource 1: Ableton Live Standard
3:00 Resource 2: Computer
4:28 Resource 3: Audio Output
5:21 Resource 4: MIDI Controller
6:29 The Four Resources You Need So Far
7:38 Resource 5: Monitoring Solution
10:01 Summary of the Five Resources You Need
11:07 Subscribe on YouTube and Leave a Rating or Review on Spotify or Apple Podcast
11:35 Implement the 3-Part Framework for Using Tracks to Efficiently Run Tracks on Stage
12:46 3-Part Framework (1): Template for Live Performance
13:07 3-Part Framework (2): Format Every Song the Same Way
13:22 3-Part Framework (3): Build Your Set Using Formatted Songs
13:32 Use My Free Templates to Learn How to Format Songs
14:48 Summary: Apply the 5 Things You Need, and the 3-Part Framework
15:37 Wrap Up: Leave a Rating or Review, Share and Subscribe for More!
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