Orbital | How I Play Live

We go behind the scenes with Orbital to find out how their live show works.
Timeline
0:00 Intro
0:23 First time playing live
0:43 Music inspirations
1:22 Tracks on Ableton
2:23 Liine Lemur App
3:19 Novation Launch Control XL
4:38 Roland Jupiter-6 synth
5:08 Arturia MatrixBrute
6:33 Sequential Prophet-6 Module
7:03 Virus TI
7:39 Novation Bass Station II
8:25 Novation Peak
9:05 Outro
Made up of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll, Orbital played Inner City Electronic Festival in March, just prior to the UK's COVID-19 lockdown. We caught up with the seminal UK rave duo to talk through how they play live.
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[@DJMag]

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[@kiickinballistics]

This could be movie length and I'd be glued to the screen every second.

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

There are a few studio interviews on YT with them giving their secrets away. They are so generous. I wish the Chems would do a video.

[@stuartleighton]

Orbital are utterly fantastic. When Paul talks about having two tracks on the go, a great example of this is the Eventim gig in 2018 at Hammersmith Apollo where Vision OnE moves into Belfast... an utterly fantastic moment and to this day never fails to make the hair on my balls stand upon end.

[@jdmjesus6103]

I remember seeing Orbitals 'last ever gig' at Glastonbury 2004. One of the greatest experiences of my life. I'm so glad it wasn't the last.

[@ianedmonds9191]

I was there for that too. It was amazing. We didn't believe it at the time but it was a fantastic performance complete with actual sequencing mistakes. I think it was on the Doctor Who theme it all went a bit pearshaped and they started it again. Some drums came in double speed or something. Luv and Peace.

[@gerardduggan9109]

Yeah I was there. It was fantastic.

[@boostgeorge]

Me too. Seen them 7 times since !

[@b.robertson9042]

I like how generous they are about letting you see their gear and how it works. Not a lot of electronic musicians do that.

[@RaquelFoster]

This made me a little emotional! I was in a bad place for several years, and my happy place was just to hide and listen to Lush/Impact/Remind/Walk Now and maybe half of Aphex Twin SAW. I'm so happy these guys are still together and playing.

[@syrus3k]

yup, especially after they called in a day .. a (few!) years back. Their best for me is the album 'insides' which is totally unique.

[@SailfishSoundSystem]

This one always helps me when I feel down: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKCZZmOpna-Dp9E

[@Flipacadabra]

Orbital has been my most useful form of therapy for years.

[@techbrit3186]

My word that is pretty much my story as well with exactly the same sequence of tunes, stay strong it's a lovely world really 😀

[@dave09453]

I've seen tons of live music and these guys are the real deal. Amazing live energy.

[@torgmeister]

I remember seeing them live in Oslo, Norway back in I think '95. Life changing moment. I love how they still make everyone smile with " Halcyon - shot through the heart - Heaven Is A Place On Earth - and who knows whatever is in their brilliant minds that day"

[@hatzville]

94, I was there as well. Here is the flyer i.imgur.com/j3CkNB9.jpg

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

I’ve always loved their ‘keep it live’ mentality. They are the real deal not some phoney insta DJ pretending to know what they’re doing. These guys have endless talent and the skills to realise it.

[@thomas.moerman]

These blokes... still the real deal since the dawn of ages.

[@nickfbatombrew1436]

What a fantastic insight in to how orbital work and it’s true their gear is certainly getting smaller over the years 👍☢️

[@noosasoundsystem8398]

‘Squiggle-ability’ - yes love it!!!

[@FKU7777]

Was at Eclipse Coventry in 1990, these guys did a very small slot with minimal gear. Then just started dancing with us in the crowd. Mad times and ledges.

[@faridvargas8881]

My man just loves that 303, can’t stop talking about her.

[@chillwalker]

The Title/Thumbnail combo Reminds me of the shortest musician joke e v e r: "Kraftwerk: LIVE!"

[@jonnyhead]

Great guys, love watching their set ups and working together

[@DJMag]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Iamthegtard]

All I get from this, as I often suspected. Paul does all the work, Phil waves his hands around ... love them both

[@fantasyproduct1042]

I think Phils brain may be a little more mashed 😉

[@paulwesterman]

He can rock that 303 cutoff though :D

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

Paul keeping Phil on light duties. I always get the feeling Paul cringes the second Phil opens his mouth.

[@Iamthegtard]

@@Kung_Fu_Jesus little brother energy 😆

[@rachelar]

@@paulwesterman 😂

[@robertleem5643]

Love orbital, the track at the end brings back so many memories

[@edinatl2008]

Was obsessed for a while when I was younger and this is the first time I’ve seen what they look like, awesome.

[@haro82]

Really cool to see some artists still actually do it live! Just saw these guys a few weeks ago in NYC. Was wondering how they did it.

[@Redefine01]

Thanks to Orbital for letting us SEE behind the scenes!

[@futurebleeps]

Utterly amazing music. HUGE love to Orbital

[@AlexanderGibbonsAudio]

Worked on a festival with these guys a few years back, they were so chill. Same keyboard tech too, he was lovely. Glad to see them still at it!

[@Arperture]

I like that they go on stage with their gear and not CDJs. Very few Electronic bands do this anymore, with some notable exceptions like Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Octave One, Aphex Twin and a few others I can think of. DJ sets have become the norm. Obviously there are some advantages to that, like not having to haul gear around, but to me, DJ sets, especially off of CDJs or Serato reek of laziness. Orbital sequences their songs but go hands on to tweak and mold their sound live like it is a living breathing thing. Beatmatching and EQing will never come close.

[@dontageevamonquaise7423]

theres a place for CDJs but not driving the whole thing

[@ScantlessBeatz]

I love it when people break down their set up and they use it. I have done 2 dj gigs this year with my new set up and performing at the same the time triggering sounds and effects in real time during my performance is a beautiful thing.

[@macaronafterparty]

Please more "How I play live" styled videos!

[@erictripper]

Great respect for these guys, they did brilliant music and it still continues.

[@dunkelselbst]

Very impressive. I can hardly imagine the amount of preparation this needs.

[@mmxximusic]

What an incredible view into their live gig gear - really interesting! I saw them in the early 90s in Toronto once and it blew my mind. At the time I had no idea how much went into the production side. Really remarkable.

[@aidancampbell78]

They have changed a lot of the synths for the latest tour. They were fantastic at the Troxy.

[@pletch]

Love these types of videos. Keep them coming!

[@StephanieSante]

Amazing and so talented.

[@souldefunk]

Living legends!

[@miguelmondragon877]

Hello ,, wating for the best music👍👍👍👍

[@ryansleftboot]

Top one! Nice one! Get sorted!

[@brucemillar]

Great stuff, thanks!

[@blackwatch_TV]

Orbital live at The Coliseum, Columbus Circle NYC 1995 changed my life forever

[@OMA_Music_Official]

Love how gangsta they are bringing a proper studio on stage. That's the way…Full respect 🙏🕉️ PS: And of course the virus is in the middle 👽

[@elipsis1]

MMT-8 owner here! Used that for eons making music🤘🏼

[@i-never-look-at-replies-lol]

I've owned half a dozen throughout the decades and am itching to own one again!

[@DMS198526]

Awesome video

[@matthewadunlap]

Still rockin Lemur in 2020. I hope it doesn't become complete abandonware (already very close to that).

[@calvinchong2772]

First time to hear their song HALCYON+ON+ON in 1995 MORTAL KOMBAT SOUNDTRACK, and started to listening their music album more crazy than thought on myself

[@andresplemons]

Great video

[@AncientDirtbag]

Absolute legends.

[@thekaniack]

Hokey SMOKES that's brilliant.

[@eyesintheskies]

They’re currently touring their first lp. Really hoping they tour insides next as a young rocker it was the first electronic album I’d heard that blew me away. Alongside prodigy, left field & chemical brothers. Next was Aphex! Didn’t really get anything without distorted guitars b4 that .

[@impoppy4059]

💯🔥Waiting😊

[@starstationearth]

I think we can see that Paul is the brains of the operation! Love Orbital.

[@ravecrab]

I had a producer mate who pointed out that Paul seems to do all the hard work when they play live and Phil just twiddles knobs, which kinda ruined the mystique of Orbital for me. Ever since then whenever I've read or watched interviews, Phil seems to have very little musical input and notably has never made a record without a co-producer.

[@starstationearth]

@@ravecrab thanks for the Intel. Hopefully we are both wrong!

[@killedpatrick]

Watch the start in the bus ol Phil has just racked a line and is struggling haha

[@bengalinsky4300]

Phil seems to be quite anxious as a person in general, maybe he just feels more comfortable working with a partner. Let’s not be so quick to judge the dynamic of the relationship.

[@scottkerr1253]

Phil is just trying to look sober

[@NEOREV_MUSIC]

@8:03 Valhalla are amazing FX VSTs. Highly suggest them stuff.

[@Arperture]

Yah. Carbon Based Lifeforms turned me on to Valhalla.

[@yodo7661]

Legends!

[@mickeymiranda_]

pray i get to see them live

[@SailfishSoundSystem]

Halcyon live is such a great tune.

[@darr303]

Phil woke up about 6mins in 🤣

[@devondetroit2529]

Is that the bloke on the right? He look like he hd a stroke

[@BecomingProductions]

I'm sitting in my studio room realizing I have a lot of the same gear as Orbital, and yet I'm not making music a fraction as good.

[@kiickinballistics]

Yep, same here. Orbital set the highest of benchmarks.

[@Jimantronic]

Haha yes. I do love that they have the Bass Station 2 as such a core part of their setup

[@orpheuscreativeco9236]

I've got the Bass Station II 😵‍💫👍

[@kek23k]

Same!

[@oltee8196]

Don’t put yourself down mate

[@golderjames]

Music of genius.

[@BazStrickland]

Respect

[@monkefoahead]

magic is inside those machines

[@DJRexOfficial]

First!!! LOL 😆 Waiting!!

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

Any chance of an interview with the Chemical Brothers doing the same?

[@Arperture]

Or The Prodigy.... er Liam Howlett.

[@dannydr]

I've saw Orbital live in Amsterdam 2018 with this setup. But I was wondering one thing about this setup. In the old days of Orbital live they used a big mixing console. But now they didn't mention one thing about all the inputs and maybe pre mixing channels. Does anyone have any idea how they manage mixing this live set?

[@daibaandtheghostmachine8952]

It's mixed in Ableton

[@Arperture]

I think everything is patched into an interface below the Jupiter, where it's sent to Ableton for mixing with the Novation Launch Control XLs. No need for an analogue board this way.

[@base615]

@@daibaandtheghostmachine8952 I think the question is around IO

[@westerncivilization]

SEVEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE TRACKS no plugins - this is the way

[@Protectaline]

I would sell off members of my family to get my hands on that Ableton live set!

[@Elektragen]

Party 🥳 Time 🤪

[@lsdave]

What track is that in the background around the 5:00 mark? i don't recognize it.

[@MichaelOglesby]

Orbital - There Will Come a Time (We Will Die Remix)

[@sergeyvostrikov8036]

😻

[@jperdue916]

Anybody know what audio interface they are using to connect all the synths audio.

[@djtomoy]

Why don’t they sell their own brand of head torch yet?

[@foodstampz]

all i needed to know is how is it all interfaced into abelton ..haha

[@BigCrashTrackLoop]

Anyone know what software is beign used on the iPads to triggers the sequences in Ableton?

[@BigCrashTrackLoop]

Doh! Rewatched the video and now I've seen it... Liine Lemur App!

[@BigCrashTrackLoop]

And now I've just read the Liine are discontinuing and removing Lemur from the App Store on 01 September 2022 😭

[@paulsanka5575]

What’s the iPad software being used to launch ableton clips.

[@kiickinballistics]

2:22 Liine Lemur

[@snufbox]

@@kiickinballistics Which is about to be removed from the App Store :( RIP Lemur

[@basehead617]

Wow it's incredibly rare to see Phil interviewed on any video.. it's usually just Paul

[@dontageevamonquaise7423]

he didn't really add much just looked bored most of the time ...

[@rachelar]

Yeah, weird

[@soundofmai]

@@dontageevamonquaise7423Don't blame him. Some people just like making music and find interviews boring.

[@turnipbursttalcumpowder7141]

Shut it, happy days

[@harryhill8543]

Sequencing the 303 via ableton? No slides then?

[@marcusfreeweb]

I guess the Midi retrofit will trigger slides on legato (overlapping) notes, like many clones are doing it.

[@AudioPervert1]

how i make coffee everyday ... DJ Drag!

[@88soulfood]

I wonder how much this setup costs?

[@rulliputra6072]

whos idea is that to use that pair of glaslight? i wonder

[@PoboyMusic]

733 tracks 😀

[@apl0musik]

I’m surprised they are still using the lemur considering there are so many better midi controller apps

[@justinchan6594]

AND THE 303

[@sunsetter]

What is the outro track?

[@cenzoredworld]

Belfast, early track on the green album, beautiful piece of music. There are a few great newer remixes out for it as well

[@cenzoredworld]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmbZeJ15pLaAZ9U kzbin.info/www/bejne/qH2UhoubatucpcU

[@margateswede]

Valhalla reverbs +1

[@ericwycoff1399]

733 TRACKS!!!!????!!!???!!!????

[@fitproteus]

0:31 subliminal content

[@devondetroit2529]

0:51 Is matey on the right OK? He looks like he just had his first dose of AZ and having a stroke ?!

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

i should have never sold my Alesis i/o dock with the 3rd gen iPad, LoL

[@isaacanthonydj4124]

LCXL is a brilliant piece of kit!

[@CG-vn8iy]

It's still a bit odd to see older people out doing this stuff...and I am not far behind these guys. But, it's also great to see.

[@fraggsta]

Get used to it I'm afraid. The people who created these genres, and those who enjoyed these tracks in clubs are all getting into their 30s and 40s so yeah.. we're old. I'm wondering at what point 20somethings will start considering stuff like trance to be "old people music". Maybe it's already happened...

[@botany500kojak]

It should not be, as we're into the 5th decade for this kind of music.

[@CG-vn8iy]

@@botany500kojak I get it. It's just a combination of time and the fact that when I was young, there no one who wasn't young doing it.

[@rdubb77]

@@fraggsta What?? These guys and the (real) pioneers are mid fifties.

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

@J C SpeedyJ was and still is an awesome producer. What he does today is amazing and forward thinking. As a 50 something who’s life has been about making electronic music I agree that there is nothing these days that is as progressive, beautiful or political as bands like Orbital. They are the real deal.

[@atommachine]

No Mixing desk per say..

[@2112jonr]

They moved over from analogue desks a few years ago. Phil misses them, but more control I guess.

[@Arperture]

Ableton + Launch Control XL

[@donit.]

the main thing i was wondering on all of those live performances is how people do the mastering. they dont do any, but of course it would sound better if they did and im pretty certain that many people who play synths live do mastering at least to some extend.

[@Arperture]

They likely run the whole live mix through Ableton's mastering plug ins before it goes out to the FOH soundboard.

[@donit.]

@@Arperture yeah but the things i was wondering is 1. when i master my tracks regardless of anything but what sounds the best, i usually choose plugins that introduce quite some latency. maybe thats fine if they just use clips and dont do a solo live or somthing like that, but what if i want to play a solo? and 2. on a live set i probably have like 10 different songs and i obviously arent mastered the same. im wondering what the best way is to change between them. what if one introduces more latency than another for example?

[@veneramusic2153SoundLoveTV]

mice !

[@frankotron]

TL;DR "Squigglability"

[@ageroid]

Please subtitles...

[@paulhorsley8922]

Paul seems like a lovely guy ….shame about the trousers 😂🎹❤️.

[@sickdawg22]

i press play then pretend to move knobs. DJ for life!

[@ZenMountain]

Please let the other person talk too.

[@ratikanto]

most weird setup i ever came across , didnt understand a thing

[@Kung_Fu_Jesus]

That’s because it’s a real setup and not some crappy controller linked to a DAW. These machines are pure inspiration and built for live work.

[@scrunts666]

Step one, turn on machine. Step two, press start. Step three, bob up and down while pretending to twiddle knobs.

[@the_algo_rhythm]

Let's hear your music.

[@scrunts666]

@@the_algo_rhythm I do not make music,

[@the_algo_rhythm]

@@scrunts666 Well, then maybe you shouldn't make an asinine judgement about something you clearly know little to nothing about, and have no useful input on. Go turn on a machine and press play and tell me when you're as successful as Orbital. I'll be waiting.

[@the_algo_rhythm]

@@scrunts666 LOL you're just a bot.