Rachael Wood from the Cirque du Soleil Band Pit

Rachael Wood Band leading and playing guitar for Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna: Uneven Bar Act.
Ableton Live is used to trigger between different sections of the music, with live and pre recorded calls (known as ‘Robo Rach’). Many portions of this act are ‘looped’ and the next section of music is cued as an acrobat performs a certain trick. The band will then follow the call as I trigger the next section (usually with only 2 beats notice). Lighting and Stage management also follow many of these calls throughout the act.
Using Pre recorded calls also has the benefit of being able to leave the band pit (as seen in the last 30 seconds of this clip)
Ableton Live is also triggering the G2 Gig Rig System to save tap dancing across several pedalboards.
Recorded in Argentina 2018.
www.rachaelwoodguitarist.com

[@aidanlam5336]

I love hearing all the calls that go into putting an act like this on to such a flawless extent! I'm in awe of how accurate and in sync the artists and musicians always are!

[@luistrejo2987]

I am VERY jealous of this, amazing work!!!

[@leo.battagin]

Really incredible to see what happens behind the scenes. Watched you twice at Amaluna São Paulo, and it was such an unforgettable experience! 👏👏

[@rachaelwood2484]

Thanks Leonardo - glad you enjoyed the show from the audience...as well as this behind the scenes video!

[@2girlzr1]

I'm a fan of Racheal Wood and her Purple Coat!!! Get some Racheal!! Atlanta loves you!!

[@TrueHorsemanshipNL]

Great you made this vid! Would love to see this show in europe!! Really cool how you use ableton in this whole setting, I've been touring around in theatre and worked also a lot with ableton, love that program!

[@Melkor0410]

I love how this soundtrack is quite rock

[@joshgledhillaudio]

This is truly eye opening Rachael, Thank you for taking the time to upload a video of the behind the scenes of Cirque and your use of Ableton!

[@darioshame]

Absolutely amazing! You never forget your first 🤍

[@rachaelwood2484]

Thanks Dario :)

[@stevenponte6655]

Wow so good to see how it works behind the scenes. I auditioned for Cirque around 2009 in LA as a keyboardist/multi (personally with Andre, I forget his last name a bassist). Didn't get the gig but it was an awesome experience. At the time i was in final year music school and found those transitions at 2 beats notice pretty tough to negotiate! Awesome work!!!

[@rachaelwood2484]

Thanks Steven - yes, it can be really weird to call with a couple of beats notice.. the band are really on it :)

[@anasieth]

Me encanta la música de Cirque du Soleil. Ha influido en mi propia música un montón ♥

[@gezwalton1700]

So good! Great to see how in control you are. Top stuff!

[@rachaelwood2484]

Thanks Gez! x

[@zacharykhoo4665]

This is Great, currently playing in a Cirque Ensemble at Berklee. We play pieces from all the productions and I took inspiration from current and previous musicians. Thank you for positing your reel and for your help!

[@rachaelwood2484]

Amazing! Thanks Zachary, hope you are having a blast at Berklee.

[@hayleycomet8029]

very impressive, respect!

[@pablofernandoalmaguervazqu3933]

Amazing! Beauty! Rock on! Congratulations! What a great job Rachel! :D

[@lau_bowery]

such good memories!!! awesome band and show, loved every minute of it

[@anihorvath]

Awesome 👏

[@paoloconti5193]

Stunning song and you are all incredible! May I know the title of the song? I have been looking for it for years.

[@rachaelwood2484]

Hey thanks for your comment Paulo! I'm afraid there is no existing recording of this track - the original song for the Uneven bar act on the album was different when we recorded it (that one was called 'fly around').

[@Tenifus]

Very cool. Didn’t there used to be a different song for this same act? Why did they change that?

[@rachaelwood2484]

Yes that's right! Sometimes the show has music changes due to an act changing intention or pace... I actually love the newer version as theres lots of fun guitar parts :)

[@aidanlam5336]

Can you please explain how the cuing system works and what all the different screens represent (mainly the top right and bottom left)? Thanks!

[@rachaelwood2484]

Hey Aidan! Thanks for the message. As a quick explanation the top right is the Ableton session view of the show - Each song of the show is split into scenes, some of them on auto cue, and some a manual triggers out of looped sections (which are usually looped to wait for a certain trick). To trigger out of these loops I would tend to use a foot MIDI trigger (bottom left screen) due to playing guitar, but occasionally I'll use a keyboard MIDI as well depending on the trick I'm trying to catch. The calls are sometimes prerecord and sometimes live.. it depends on what I'm playing really. Hope that helps! Cheers, Rachael

[@lunalight529]

@@rachaelwood2484 Awesome 👏

[@jorge.rubiales]

Very nice setup! Were you using real amps or some kind of simulator to keep stage noise under control?

[@rachaelwood2484]

I used real amps (an Orange tiny terror and a fender twin) into palmer cabs - Not my deal but understandable in a Big Top show!

[@therealsharps]

er... 5,6 ?

[@luanvitorss]

What does the button at 1:40 do?

[@rachaelwood2484]

It’s to play the next scene on in Ableton - sometimes I use my feet, sometimes fingers!

[@mckennaburns5688]

song name at 1:35?

[@rachaelwood2484]

I'm afraid there is no existing recording of this track - the original song for the Uneven bar act on the album was different when we recorded it (that one was called 'fly around').

[@Twsuf1]

I should have her position!