The point of live PA

[Barely Human]

DJ's are over rated..

Can i just ask, do you dj?? If you do, are you also a turntablist?? If not, then you cant really say anything about playing "Live" because that is the only way to play "Live" using turntables..

[rounser]

DJ's are over rated..

Heh...

I doubt whether, in the entire history of the world, have so many done so little for so much respect and admiration... :lol:

[miss bass]

Live pa would be such an expression for me.

I really want to get into this. I really would like this hands on approach in being creative. It pushes music.

Making music in such an atmosphere, surrounded by equipment waiting to be manipulated...... utter bliss if you ask me

[professor]

I think richieV is just mess'n with us. devil's advocate. gotta be...

[FILTERZ]

Every producer doesn`t do a live PA because it`s damn hard work to programme. Hassle to carry around the equipment, and some just wouldn`t know how to tackle it.
Comparing dance music to a band is ridiculous.
Most "live" bands are following pre programmed patterns. They are called songs. they right them, and practive them, and then play them live. Not really that spontaneous. Maybe they might string out the ending a bit, or the guitarist might change the solo a little bit, but these are a few parts of the whole. A bit like a live PA.
Only freeform live Jazz is truly spontaneous, and sometimes, complete arse.

Of course it`s more live than a DJ set. Do you have any idea what you are on about? or are you just goading?

Each part can be manipulated and changed each time the set is played, therefore each tune can be different each time. As opposed to a record, that is allways the same.

Personally, I don`t wanna play records any more. There are too many DJ`s. A live PA, when well crafted is so much more impressive.
I played at a big part last friday. And loads of people who had never seen a live PA were bundling into the DJ booth throughout my set, cos they had never seen one before. they couldn`t believe it, they didn`t realise electronic music could be played live.

As for forming electronic bands. Well, I can qualify to have a lot to say about this, as my history is the industrial scene, rather than dance music. I have played in a live electronic band before, and to be honest, it`s not any different in terms of output.
For a keyboard player to be able to accurately play a fast synth type bassline, as you would expect in dance music, just isn`t gonna happen. Therefore, Sequencing is necessary.
Same for Drums.

I am actually forming a techno "Band" but the basis will still be a rock solid midi environment, with SOME live elements, ie guitar, percussion and vocals.

As for the how would you feel if you saw a rock band, and their drums were programmed etc.
Well some of the best bands I have ever seen did just this.
Underworld: Amazing Live. they use sequencing.
Depeche Mode: Amazing Live. they use sequencing
Front 242: Amazing Live. they use sequencing
Orbital: Amazing Live. they use sequencing
Prodigy: Amazing Live. they use sequencing
The Young Gods. The most amazing live electronic band I have ever seen. They use sequencing
Ministry, Throbbing Gristle, NIN, Cubanate, Chemical Brothers, PWEI, Sheep On Drugs, Nitzer Ebb, the list goes on and on.

the thousands of people who have seen and danced to this music, didn`t seem to bothered by the use of programmed sequences.

Personally I find it more impressive when music comes from one artist.
because they have to play the roll of drummer, percussionists, lead and rhythm melody, etc. Therefore they are mastering so much more than a Bass player, for example.

here here , talking sense again :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

[DJZeMigL]

Camon' let's not all slag the djs... sure a lot have they're atitude and little work but the same can b seen in any craft!

A good dj can really "play Live" ... now I will agree there ain't that many of those...


Like said b4, and I do agree even a rock band is playing a pre-determined chord sequenced, with little variations here and there... so I doesn't look so much more that a good live PA!


Z

[Sam_Horam]

, I don`t wanna play records any more. There are too many DJ`s.

I agree with a lot of what you said but I don't get this bit really. The fact is there are, indeed, too many djs - but most of them are shit. When you see a really good dj they stand out so far from the bad ones. That was one of the things that got me into mixing in the first place. That feeling of seeing a dj who is in complete control and the contrast between them and the run-of-the mill shit djs who are everywhere. The good ones really do stand out.

In regard to live PAs, the problem I usually have with them is that I tend to get bored of hearing an hour or more of the same producer's music. There's very few that I've heard who have the ability to hold my attention for that length of time.

[Komplex]

In regard to live PAs, the problem I usually have with them is that I tend to get bored of hearing an hour or more of the same producer's music. There's very few that I've heard who have the ability to hold my attention for that length of time.

Yes, this is a problem with the guys who stick to the one style throughout the whole set. I like to think there needs to be a direction and progression of themes.

When its the same thing over and over it does get boring.

[Evil G]

as a producer, with live pa i think you can take more risks than you can making records. if you produce only with the intention of pressing records, you have to worry about whether or not a long line of sober people (record co, distributor, djs...) are going to be willing to spend money on it after listening to it over and over. but if you have only the dancefloor to worry about, where you have a captive audience listening for the first/only time, you can do almost anything you want.

[dirty_bass]

dirty_bass wrote:
, I don`t wanna play records any more. There are too many DJ`s.


I agree with a lot of what you said but I don't get this bit really. The fact is there are, indeed, too many djs - but most of them are shit. When you see a really good dj they stand out so far from the bad ones. That was one of the things that got me into mixing in the first place. That feeling of seeing a dj who is in complete control and the contrast between them and the run-of-the mill shit djs who are everywhere. The good ones really do stand out.

In regard to live PAs, the problem I usually have with them is that I tend to get bored of hearing an hour or more of the same producer's music. There's very few that I've heard who have the ability to hold my attention for that length of time.

I`ve been playing for years and years, to a lot of people. I consider myself pretty good, I generally never cock up, and the crowd always seems to love it.
However, there is no challenge anymore. Playing records and blending in as just another DJ is not for me anymore.
I have seen sooooo many unbelievably good DJ`s on my years in the free party scene. Many of them are so much more talented than a lot of the Big names in techno. But it`s not the point, everyone wants to be a DJ these days, and I think there are enough already, and I think people have got a little bored with it, and maybe this is one (of many) of the causes of downturns in Dance music numbers.

More live music, I feel, could revitalise the scene.

[FILTERZ]

I came at the whole techno thing a different way , i never wanted to be a dj , i started producing and making tunes 5 years before i bought a pair of decks, allthough i have decks at home there is no way i would consider myself a dj. I dont know what to call myself really (no not cunt) as i only really do live pa`s and dont dj at all , not in public anyway. If there is a dj on and i am in the crowd i am never interested in who is playing , it just doesnt bother me , i dont care (as long as they dont clatter it all over the place a good dj should be seen and not heard) but if its a live pa i am allways interested to see whats up . A friend of mine and i have started to
mix the two together with him cutting beats and mixing the odd bits into my tunes from decks and a mixer and sometimes playing a tune off vinyl while i add some percussion or whatever over that. Its great fun and seems to be working well. i am playing whatever i would play and then he is taking it through his mixer and ****ing around with filters eq and stuff and mixing it with another tune doing cuts and stuff .

[DJZeMigL]

A good Dj is exciting just as a good live!!

Saying u don't wanna b cause there is 2 many does not make much sense 2 me... I Dj because I luv it and I need it like a drug, can b 2 my 4 wall bedroom or in front of 15000 people, I get lost in music ( ) that's the only thing that matters 2 me... Luckily I feel that in the studio and also in front of decks... but I believe In taking loads of risks 2 make it unick and personal!

Z

[FILTERZ]

A good Dj is exciting just as a good live!!

Saying u don't wanna b cause there is 2 many does not make much sense 2 me... I Dj because I luv it and I need it like a drug, can b 2 my 4 wall bedroom or in front of 15000 people, I get lost in music ( ) that's the only thing that matters 2 me... Luckily I feel that in the studio and also in front of decks... but I believe In taking loads of risks 2 make it unick and personal!

Z

yer right of course , as long as its good its all good :lol:
i didnt mean to diss dj`s in my last post , im just jealous coz i cant mix a drink let alone two records together ;) :lol:

[DJZeMigL]

lol no prob... just setting the record straight... I luv mixing on 3 decks (sure I fuc* up a lot) but it makes me feel that I can build and shape trackz!!!





Z

[Akkachar]

shawn rudiman.
this man makes the sh-t on the fly.

RichieV, you must have seen some bad livePAs...

True I've heard some wicked shit from this man

and

someone told me he can do the most interesting and appealing PA for about 5 hours!!!

[professor]

I saw Shawn Rudiman do livePA along with Claude Young at a pre-party for this last DEMF (movement2004). quite an exciting set by both, and I was amazed to see him tap the beats in on the fly and then just jam it in...

[slavestudios]

my sets are 100% live. there is a sequencer, but all it does is clock everything.

i have about 70-80 assorted loops over 6 machines which i have to change & mute & eq manually. its live...

how do u feel about laptops then ?

[professor]

laptops is cool...maybe not as spontaneous as reaching and twisting a knob live? i dunno, never used a laptop live.
I have both. hardware and a G4. I prefer the hardware for jamming and writing a song, and the laptop for actually tracking everything out and applying fx, bouncing a song to audio, etc.