Messing up during my live set... and how I fix it

[@SURCOlive]

Awesome as always. Love the improv perspectives. One other thing I always bring with me... 1/4 to RCA adapters (incase there is a DJ mixer instead of a desk). I also saw a cool interview with Prince once. The interviewer said "you never mess up when you are soloing on guitar". He laughed and said "I mess up all the time, but if you repeat the mess up three more times people think it was on purpose". This idea changed my improv live mentality and eliminated a lot of fear of mistakes. Keep up the awesome improv stuff! Hope to catch you soon.

[@RickyTinez]

hell yea! I love that quote. Thanks for sharing it Surco! That's another thing I forgot to mention was the RCA cables. I did have them and they basically live in my "go bag" haha

[@SURCOlive]

@@RickyTinez Same! I have 1/4 to RCA and RCA to 1/4 little adapters just in case. :)

[@StuartMawdsley]

Feels weird to get here when there's only a couple hundred views and few comments. I know you'll know, but for anyone else.. When things go wrong during a live set you just gotta play it off smooth. Most of the time it's all internal because unless the music fully zeros-out then nobody is any the wiser that something went wrong and it always lasts so much longer in your head. Recovery is about not internalising the mistake for too long and bouncing back the best way possible in a fast enough time. Once a few more bars hit the crowd after the hiccup, it's smooth sailing. I would say the best thing anyone can do before playing live is to roleplay the mistakes at home, power cuts, skips, tempo changes... etc. Mess up at home on purpose so you can fly through the issue when you play live. I would love to attend a live show to see you play. Sounds like a real jam. Take it easy! Peace

[@CatFish107]

That's a neat idea: practicing recovering from mistakes. I like it.

[@pdlkmusic]

Got my first hardware show coming up in a couple weeks and I'm gonna do this during my practice tonight. Really good suggestion.

[@iansharkeymr]

Same as playing an instrument live. Make an error once, it’s a mistake. Make that same error three more times in a row, it’s music.

[@CatFish107]

@iansharkeymr that's the hitch though. Often, I can't figure out what exactly went wrong, to be able to reproduce the error reliably.

[@bleak_thot]

this is spot on. it's all about rolling with what happens, acting like it's normal, and keep it moving. i perform 2-5 times a month (in a hardcore band and solo electronic sets + dj gigs) and there's always something that's not 'perfect', but most of the time nobody notices except me. learning to let it go and just keep doing your thing is the key.

[@DawlessHouseMusic]

After my first live set, I stopped making music for months. It broke me. Made me rethink my whole rig.

[@summarity]

What didn't work as you expected?

[@melroser]

@@summarity His Humility.

[@opapamellow3941]

@@melroser Your comment is in poor taste, everyone has a different creative process and some folks have different ideas of what it means to play live. Would love to see a video of you playing live or music in general.

[@Jala_haru]

I had a live show with Koala sampler....and I quit twice before doing it and then did it and quit for a while after. Actually, I haven't done anything live since. It's very emotionally taxing.

[@danpreston564]

After my first electronic live set I thought I could rule the world. I got offered multiple gigs straight after it. Loved it.

[@yourcitysleeps]

I love that you went in-depth on your live set troubles man. You truly want to share knowledge and help others learn. So genuine. Mad Respect 👑

[@elementlab41]

You're the absolute best, Ricky. Made my day, just really wish I was there to hear the set!

[@averageenthusiast7616]

On the 4/8 bar loop thing, a good tip is to make sure that the end of every sequence, add some triggers that play differently depending on which repeat it is, and then subconsciously you can recognize where you’re at in the track

[@danpreston564]

I just use a spare midi track with 16 triggers on that last bar. Gives great visual feedback.

[@jimrolypoly9015]

Yeah I was thinking same, something subtle that indicates the start or end of the loop to listen out for.

[@RickyTinez]

I'll just record my voice going "ONE!" and have that every 8 bars hahaha! -- Jokes aside, usually when my set is more planned I have tracks that have a crash, drum break, etc. but this was on the fly to adding it was often forgotten

[@jimrolypoly9015]

@@RickyTinez ha!

[@krazywabbit]

Guessing no one walked out. Sounds like a success. Keep jammin.

[@RickyTinez]

who knows! I had my eyes on the gear and the people jamming near the stage not the exit ;)

[@Studio_4to1]

Master at work. And perfect content as always. This channel is just good for your soul

[@MrMarcLaflamme]

Been watching you here for 6 years and you're the last person I thought would have confidence issues when playing live!

[@lafemmedevastation]

I love how an hour-and-a-half after your set you can be so upbeat about the mistakes that happened and cognizant of the fact that folks prolly didn't notice. *THAT* is a skill unto itself friend✨

[@RickyTinez]

Live and learn right? like some hobby store wall art. haha!

[@danm9561]

Thanks for sharing this Ricky. I feel videos like this are great for helping tear down the mental barrier between “I could never do that”, and “wow he’s a real person like me, mistakes and all”. It hits hard

[@cursortoxyz]

I also encountered all of these problems before playing live improv. It's tough playing live and there is a lot to keep track of. Thanks for sharing your experiences, it makes me feel a lot less stupid and your honesty is one of the main reasons why I follow your channel.

[@danpreston564]

Hey Ricky, I suffered with that problem of where the 8th bar was too. What I did was, on the Digitakt, I used a spare midi track, which was track 16, and on the last bar (set with conditional trigs) I added 16 triggers. So I knew, just at a glance, that it was the last bar because track 16 was flashing at me. Worked like a charm.

[@madtho]

That’s clever 👍

[@creatingspacesproducer]

The second time i did a liveset only half of my gear worked. Learned a valuable lesson, don't be pushed into starting too soon even though management is nervous because their planning got screwed... Take your time to properly test and have a backup plan for when your gear totally breaks down. Luckily the crowd was already drunk and they didn't notice anything :D

[@titouanbechu9623]

Thx for the knowledge ! 🙏

[@JonManness]

Thanks for sharing your live experience! I'm using Circuit Tracks with my setup and am creating projects as starting points while my DSI Tempest holds the groove. I'm still designing sounds on Tracks, but it's such a powerful yet compact setup that it's hard to imagine not using it.

[@RetemVictor]

Doing Live PA (performance acts) are like that; I'd say the main thing is to roll with it most folks in the audience don' care and won't notice small train wrecks. I completely lost midi sync once during a set and the only people ragging on it were me and my nerd friends; the other performers that night just laughed. As far as a question sheet; I used use board tape on my device to make notes of what presets to use for a set, some guys use notebooks, some guys use a piece of paper on their table or case lid. I like it on the machine that way I don't get distracted with a previously explored path in a new environment. Keep it up good luck and have fun! Live PAs are a dying art.

[@Kablehead]

Damn! No soundcheck and no monitors are terrible conditions for a live show. But that's how you learn the most. Respect for making the best out of it! Under these circumstances i might have secretly walked away. :)

[@TederMusic]

Thanks for sharing! Some great notes here and a lot of recognizable doh moments 😂

[@dillonpreechmusic]

Loved the video. Have ran into the synth issues during a past set

[@raukuscorpas5413]

i dont quite understand, but do understand your commitment to your channel and fans,top bloke,endex.

[@sapiotone]

"I used the same synth sound all night" [Aril Brikha enters chat] 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Really appreciate your transparency and sharing your lessons learned! ❤

[@hosedog99]

I appreciate these real life tips. I played drums and bass in rock bands. I recommend creating a set list for every show with the pattern number, key, tempo and any notes you might want to remind you about cues “starts with bass drum and hi hat”. I also started saving my patterns with the key of the track. Super helpful when jamming with other musicians.

[@hazmatforhumanity7318]

I did the pedal board set up as well. I used the circuit tracks as the brain but had all my synths selected ahead of time and all my parts and drum bits already written out as songs and just improvised with all of those parts. I also had channel 3 and 4 triggering Volca Keys and FM and a separate tr6s. This enabled the tracks to handle backing drums like higher pitched glitches hi-hats and whatnot, while still having a dedicated drum machine for the main beats. I used a Zoom CDR and a Behringer Reverb Pedal for effects. It worked out really well.

[@bo-bodad8253]

Excellent suggestions! Alway good to have experience you don't have to suffer through yourself.

[@tommayo3212]

Thank you for sharing. I only hope when I get my live set down that these issues are as small as they were for you! Ps - I play in bands also using my MPC and some synths, I bought an Anker Solix battery that can be used as my direct power by itself for 5 hours, or as a power conditioner if it’s plugged into house power. It’s saved me more than once. NOT a sexy buy, but when Elektron and Polyend gear cost what it does… nice to make feel safe!😅

[@jaguarvssnake]

I love that shirt, Enrique!

[@jimlampshady]

Nice 1 Ricky. Can I add one thing? If you don't have the chance to sound check, during the 1st track you perform, physically and literally walk out into the middle of the dancefloor and see how it sounds. Every PA sounds different and every room sounds different, and it's very likely there will be some part of the frequency spectrum that is either too loud or too quiet, and that you can fix in a moment. That's assuming your master out is going through some kind of desk with a 3 band EQ on it, which I would absolutely recommend mostly for this reason.

[@thomasweiler5319]

been hoping you'd put up an update once the show was done!!!

[@pyronb]

4:00 It's true that it would be very useful to have the ability to set arbitrary colors to synth presets via Curcuit Track's software (Components). It could even use existing preset categorization (bass, chords, etc) to give a default color.

[@delibedriful]

love you!

[@JUANS3F]

You are a treasure always!!! Peace One

[@DrakNinja17]

can we get an id on that jacket tho? HAHA amazing insights as usual. thank you!

[@syntheticjuice9279]

all good things on live performance!

[@kevgl27]

I'm not a live musician but i do DJ. I can guarantee you that no one noticed the 4 bar mistake. That sort of thing will only be recognised by people who are in the know. Sounds like it went really well. It's refreshing to see someone break down their set like this.

[@MARTY_OUTPUT]

I check your vids for years and years, time for a comment, you are awesome.. just saying. learned alot from you. Thank you!😘

[@daccrowell4776]

You could always try keeping a beat/bar count in your head. Relying on "automated" processes is OK, but if the automating device gets the wrong instructions mid-set, you've got a problem. Also, rehearse as much as possible with the rig you intend to use live. Don't rely on the machinery being "helpful"...in fact, presume from beat #1 that SOMEthing is going to go horribly wrong. If you do this when you rehearse, you minimize the possibility that you'll get caught off guard by any number of things. And that way, you'll be ready to INCORPORATE the mistake(s) into the music. There's a rather famous card in Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt's "Oblique Strategies" set that reads "Honor thy mistake as a hidden intention." It's a good thing to keep in mind onstage. Or you can set up a live rig in which you KNOW there's going to be potential technical issues, but since you're aware of that, you're technically ready to incorporate and utilize those issues. Consider it as something of a set of "potential redirections"...then be ready to think fast when they pop up. We fret way too much over things in music needing to be "perfect". We ourselves aren't perfect, so it seems to make sense to let the music we make reflect that imperfection. One other commenter mentioned the "repeat the mistake" trick, which can work...but a BETTER (albeit more difficult) approach would be to see where the "mistake" actually leads by building on it. So...ok, you now have a seven-bar loop. Start doing some math... A seven bar loop in an eight bar pattern means that after 56 bars, the cycle repeats. So... let's toss in another "not 8 bar" pattern. Then maybe something that can give you three beats against four. Let the chaos simmer...then on a HUGE drop, snap everything back into 4/4, 8 bars HARD. And in that way, you wind up with a wild, perplexing middle that sounds increasingly nuts UNTIL you snap it back, thereby looking EPIC AF. You could even use an "unpredictable" source during the mayhem; police scanners are GREAT for this, so loading up some of 5-0's noise into the fray just makes it even more bonkers! Lastly, never FEAR unpredictability. It can be useful in creating amazing one-time-only results. Try using something which you normally should NOT use, such as running your stereo out into some strange FSU-type processor, then play the PROCESSOR as the rest of the rig chugs on along. Or use unpredictable instruments, such as a theremin, some circuit-bent horror minikeyboard, and the like. You won't be able to do the same thing twice with it...but that's actually the whole point! And you can find devices that'll fit in the coffin; in fact, you can use the space in the case as a compositional definer: if it doesn't fit, you can do without it.

[@JoeJohnston-taskboy]

Your comments about the Circuit Tracks is why I ditched it. The roland JD08 is multitimbral and has at least a four digit display. Runs on batteries and is small. Cheers.

[@scottlerocin]

I once did a festival in the Czech Republic and when I started the whole thing sounded totally broken and I couldn't understand what was going on. Turns out that after the soundcheck I'd taken the Octatracks Compact Card out and put it in my pocket until my slot (for safe keeping). After trying to expalin to the DJ that I needed him to play another record whilst I fixed the issue and realising that he didn't speak English I literally stopped the set pulled out the compact card blew on it, rammed it back in again and switch on the OT. Everything worked after that and the set went down well. So pocket fluff had caused the set to break. But moments like that we think are massive dramas to us but the crowd are usually fairly forgiving... usually :D

[@saintg4355]

Sounds like you had a great time. Thanks for giving such a spontaneous and honest reflection of the stage experience. may I ask: how many tracks/scenes/projects have you prepared for a 30min set? do you go through 20+ or really milk only a couple distinct parts?

[@Capeluxo]

Minute 3:40 Easy! Swap the Circuits for your Digitakt or Syntakt. They're about the same footprint and way better for that porpose and others. Also the time devisions you mentioned earlier also gets solved with the swap.

[@oopsgoth]

yep, the not finding synths i liked in circuit tracks part is a major reason i couldn't keep it. lots of performance potential if you can put in the time to design patches in Components and remember where you placed them in your librarian. but you really have to love it to get the most out of it. Plus you have to memorize your macros. but still a great groovebox. so much it can do

[@ccmp23]

SP404mk2 has this down with the One Shot gate mode… lets you run a 1 bar loop but have 8, 16 (or any length) bar loops playing in full over the 1 bar loop… you’ll always know where the 1 is. 🎉

[@thelevicole]

I think this little setup is great. Have you thought about using the cue and a looper on an octatrack so you can audition new sounds before the audience hears them?

[@olafsigursons]

Well, the MC-707 has a running indicator for every tracks. Just like in Ableton Live. So, you can see where every clips is at. Super useful. And it has a synth, amongst other thing.

[@radiice]

just happend to me tonight too. near the end of the set my digitone decided to lost the clock from the digitakt and after I was able to fix it, when I changed patterns sometimes the digitone would stop or lose the clock again.

[@BaluSeri]

You can set Silence Sample on pattern change. Works in a lot of scenarios, not if you want the tail end of the sample on a pattern change tho

[@UONeal]

A small trick I picked up from another DJ was anytime you mess up... Do it 2 more times and make it seem intentional... Sounds dumb but it can save you some times... Mistakes happen and playing live isn't easy but we all learn from our mistakes... Just get back out there and keep playing

[@minoclue]

It might be “cheap”, but I use the same key for a live set so everything goes with everything. Lets me combine more stuff together without thinking. Also, for a synth w/o screen like nymphes I use 5 patches. I can remember 5 patches, but not more. For me simpler is better.

[@ericupton1080]

With the circuit tracks you can dump/save the current state in Novations Components so you can reload it after and then create a setup/layout with just patches you know will work for the style of set for the show. Save up multiple different layouts depending on what you’re going for in different shows. I use a Circuit MonoStation and thats the only way I can manage it live. Even if the layout only has four patches that you’ll use during the set. That’s the only way I’ve had confidence using it live.

[@djkanyon]

Same gripe i have with Electribe 2, them pads don't have names except basic "Saw", "this\that" kick... It never was a big problem until i took it outside for a party... and daaaaamn i was totally like a deer in a headlights, coz there was no time in between to check where's where. Also next time it was daytime and all the lights in Electribe was basically invisible coz they are only good for evening time. Goddamit i was covering the pad with other hand trying to see the lights... Live situation is always a pain but hey what can we do.

[@spencertatum897]

I've made some of the same mistakes live with circuit rhythm. I'm sure no one noticed. 🤜🏾💥🤛🏼

[@TheDJVanEck]

A good reflection of a set! I am also struggling with a good structure and clear tags of sound and patterns.Just a question....did you you had some lucky and interesting ""accidents"?

[@Bigger-Circuitry-Bigger-SOUND]

Ricky if you integrate an analog DJ mixer (model 1 or Allen heath 92/96) and may be a polyphonic portable all around synth ( i would recommend roland MKS50 the techno/house synth) it would make your life easier and avoid some of those issues (i speak from my experience). cheers

[@delugedj]

Huge takeaway from this: laugh at thy self!!! i feel like if you went stress mode after things went funky with the timing it would ruin you. laughing and flowing with it 100% should be in the manual of DJing and/or live performances. would love to hear the set if you recorded it dude? all the love my man!

[@latenightfortunecookie]

Whats the settings of UAFX Max that you used in the end?

[@gffg387]

Tinez Rick!!!

[@eliaswarg6818]

I would have noticed :D

[@entropybentwhistle]

I think most people who are fans of modern electronic music are aware of how temperamental gizmos are and how a mere human can lose their place in the sequences. Just say that one got away from you. Everyone will nod sagely and let you carry on or start a new beat. Since no one seemed to notice, you did the pro move and just carried on through it. Don’t ever feel too bad, though. I saw ZZ Top live on a track that used drum machines when Afterburner came out and Dusty missed a drum cue and they had to dead stop and start the song over after resetting the drum machine. Seeing the pros just laugh it off and get on with it was a refreshing fun lesson in c’est la vie.

[@benmorrow1701]

If the beat gets out of sync, u can just hit stop and start again on beat and it can sound like u meant to do it, like an effect. Jeff mills does that with the 909.

[@Philippe44]

You can press CUE+YES in the sample menu, and PFL the sample without sending it out to the crowd. Have you tried the OT mk1? It's built much stronger, and there's a lot of hardly used ones out there for a lower price than the mk2, win win!

[@streetdoghanoi]

I’d love to hear the set, did you record it?

[@zacchariejacquat9339]

Was practicing my set for 2 month and finally the first night I was playing it, after 5 minutes live my octatrack mkii fadder just died. Had to improvise some trick to still be able to make smooth transition, peoples didn't notice anything ^^. (Their is a magnet glued inside the fadder and it just fall of) Will be more gentle next time :)

[@KurtLorenz]

❤❤❤

[@superjubs]

i have the og circuit in my live setup since i started putting it together and i just avoid the synths completely. i found i couldn't keep track of them and got lost between what was poly/monophonic, macros and filter behaviour it was too much. maybe the addition of a small poly synth (nymphes??) that gets sequenced by the circuit would be easier to keep track of

[@strangeattractor4959]

I need to repair the encoders of my MK II octatrack, anyone of you has done that?

[@jdtorian]

For easy, pleasing, and usable with presets synth sounds live: System-1: super cheap, small, light, verb and delay sound great, hard to get bad sound out of it. No velocity-80% positive for live. Insane arp machine too. Looks cool live. I’ll stop.

[@thomasyon4332]

Exposed problematics that we're all strugling with, I think. In my case, it sends me back to my loopers and cheap synth sequences when I perform while playing keyboards.. Slowly, surely, we learn (I hope). Faith Ricky. It's a good topic angle !!!

[@pirateradioFPV]

Weird, I thought everyone does everything in the pre-hear. I can't remember my presets or samples either, so I just use headphones and make the patterns and pre-hear stuff in the mixers pre-hear channel like I did beat matching when I was just playing records. I do come from audio engineering background, so it's kind of obvious to me that you have to have a way to monitor your stuff. E: Also compress your main output. Even if the compressor does nothing but brickwall limits the peaks; the establishment appreciates it, your audience appreciates it and if you do plunders with the volume, nothing gets destroyed (though nowadays any respectable PA system SHOULD have a brickwall of its own. Not guaranteed at smaller, privately owned places with permanent installations like restaurants ofc, which is why YOU should have it).

[@sleepsire9321]

Ricky im pulling the trigger on some gear. I know the 404 mk2 is the top choice for my needs, but would you recommend the Ko 2? I only make rap beats(boom bap, experimental) and noise so i dont need a lot to get my sets done.

[@osrthejourney]

I’ve had both and the KO2 went back. It feels wildly cheaper and can’t compare to the m2 on features. You’re not missing much.

[@inspector-tech]

Get yourself a Push 3 mate 👍🏾

[@CalebCromb]

Any video of your set?

[@abominablemusic]

no sound check and no monitors - nightmare! Yea, bring headphones!

[@guythesavage2908]

Get I get some advice. I have been producing for years and I want to get a similar setup but I am unsure if I should get the Octatrack or the digitakt? Could either Ricky or someone from the community chime in and provide some feedback?

[@billpayer3745]

From the clips of the show as well, I thought it looked much better, as you were not hiding behind a laptop. I use a laptop when I DJ, but I really need to get away from that. It just looks like I'm checking my emails. From old photos I was just looking at from some DJ gigs back in the early 2000s, it looked so much better, when I used to just use Technics decks and CDJs.

[@gin-sonic]

Regarding the presets on the Circuit Tracks... can you delete Presets so they maybe show as grey or empty? So it gives you some guidance or "grid" with your favorite sounds? Or maybe look at the MicroMonsta 2 :)

[@jetski123]

Should have used the KO 2!

[@johncitizen8828]

Is that camp wallpaper, or just a hanging sheet?

[@jaydedofficial6574]

Why don’t use the Syntakt instead of the Tracks? Awesome Synth sounds and drums and less space. 😊

[@roseutterback5755]

How come u don’t like the analog 4 over the Avalon????

[@TheTokyoAmducias]

I love your honesty and frankness. No hype, just a genuine love of music. You’re looking mighty thin these days though, I hope you’re healthy. ❤

[@joeysaturday3420]

IF all you are doing is playing pre-made Tracks at 4/8 bar loops, with that is not a Live PA. Unless you are Scan 7 or similar it's all mostly "Press Play Live Acts"

[@maxwarfield6699]

Seems to me like you could potentially work, for NASA.

[@iancain6647]

🐆🐆🐆

[@ICA_Ghost]

this video reminds my of those girls in 6th grade who all said they completely fucked up the test and than got a b or something

[@WarzoneVictoryWins]

Did you fall asleep with all that 4 on the floor?

[@djannias]

Artists are always hypercritical of their performances. You forget that most of the people there are honestly just dancing and jamming and drinking and trying to get laid. While some small percentage of people might be super audiophiles or producers etc, the large majority of people have no idea wtf is going on and they're just trying to get laid or whatever.

[@davidlucero855]

I would humbly suggest doing some dry runs in a safe space :)

[@mauriziomauricone]

XXXL

[@noisevector]

At least mistakes make it real. I'd rather hear some mistakes than a perfectly premixed set where the "dj" is faking it.

[@_B.C_]

Why not practice your sets on a live stream?

[@DJSoSadRN]

Drop the work shirt please.

[@rukubites]

Useful video, thank you. Please don't be a 'finger pointing' youtuber. I understand you need to grab attention and so put a lot of time into the thumbnails. Consider that finger pointing is psychologically exploitative (works too well) and triggers some people. I'll hide this video now and hope you reconsider. Peace.

[@chetplease]

the finger police. if you're that fragile I would avoid the internet altogether.