I strongly believe that gear should not be the focus in music. At best it is merely a tool in service of our creativity, and at worst it’s a distraction and an excuse not to be creative. If we gave our favorite musicians old, broken gear, they would still be able to come up with something amazing.
I do not endorse any music gear that I use. There are many different options out there and what I use may not be right for you. With that preface, following is a list of gear currently in use on the show.
Computer #1, Mac Pro
Primary Purpose: Has my “checklist” that I use throughout the show to control everything and where I do all the looping.
Hardware:
• Mac Pro – 3.7 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon E5 (Late 2013 model)
• (2) Acer EB321HQU monitors
• HUANUO Dual Monitor Mount Stand
Software running during show:
• Filemaker Pro – My “checklist” and my way to interact with Filemaker Server
• Ableton Live 9 – Where the music happens!
• Max For Live Scripts – custom looping controls, drum generator, communicates with Computer #2 via MIDI and UDP and with Computer #3 over UDP. Imports requests using sqlite exported by Filemaker.
• Synergy – share mouse and keyboard across all three computers.
• SizeUp – control window positions using applescript
Computer #2, Mac Mini
Primary Purpose: Tooby’s brain and the location of sounds used on the show
Hardware:
• Mac Mini (Late 2012) 2.3 Ghz Intel Core I7 4 Gb 1600 Mhz Ddr3
• Samsung S27D850T monitor
Software running during show:
• Filemaker Server (Tooby’s brain) – coordinates activities on all computers and manages Twitch chat. Serves up Jumbotron messages and Jumbotron supporter leaderboards.
• Custom PHP scripts – connects Filemaker Server to Twitch, Discord, and sending UDP messages to the light show.
• Filemaker Pro – uses Applescript to load sounds and BPM into Logic.
• Logic Pro X – holds all sounds used on show. Used entirely stock sounds from Logic for the first 2 years of the show.
• Komplete 12 Ultimate Collector’s Edition (Thanks to Native Instruments for their charitable support of the show in gifting this software for us to use)
• x1x_MacMiniController – routes incoming MIDI traffic from MIDI keyboard and Ableton Live to appropriate channels in Logic Pro. Also echoes time code from Ableton Live to Computer #3 to use for camera switching and light timing.
Computer #3, Custom Built PC, AKA “Zeus”
Primary Purpose: The show is broadcast from this computer and is home to the light show software.
Hardware:
• Custom Built PC – Intel Core i7-5820K Processor, 16gb RAM, Gigabyte Gtx 960
• ASUS PB328Q – 32″ WQHD 2560×1440 Monitor
Software running during show:
• OBS Broadcasting Software – streams show to Twitch and records local higher quality version.
• Filemaker Pro – hosts my custom chat program, background music playback, events review.
• Adobe Audition – records higher quality version of the music for Youtube/Bandcamp
• Mongoose Webserver – serves up most of the screens that appear on screen show.
• BMDSwitcherMidiMapper – controls Blackmagic ATEM camera switching via MIDI.
• loopMidi – creates a virtual midi port between Max and BMDSwitcherMidiMapper.
• v1v_Apollo – controls custom light show and camera switching (written in Max).
• x1x_Zeus_Request_Credits – controls onscreen credits during song (written in Max).
Broadcasting and Lighting Gear
• 4 Panasonic GH2 cameras
• ATEM Camera Switcher
• Swivl C1 Robot – controls Camera 3’s movements
• (2) Elgato HD60Pro – captures video feed from ATEM and screen capture of Computer #1 (for drum loops and melody generator)
• Misc softboxes and lights
• Epson Powerlite Home Cinema 8350 Projector – for projecting the light show.
Audio Gear
• Arturia Keylab88
• Mackie Onyx 1640 Mixer
• Studio Projects C3 Condenser Mic – for mic-ing acoustic instruments.
• (2) Shure SM57s
• CME Xkey 25key Portable Musical Keyboard – controls custom Max For Live patches
• Behringer MIDI Foot Controller FCB1010 – controls custom Max For Live patches
• (2) Launch Control Xl Ableton Live Controller – mixing music
• Clarett 4pre (Computer #1 audio interface)
• Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 (Computer #2 audio interface)
• Presonus Firepod (Computer #3 audio interface)
• MOTU Express Xt – MIDI routing (Keylab88,FCB1010)