Live looping setting
Why did I start Live Looping? I usually enjoy playing saxophone with my Jazz friends but sometimes it is not so easy to meet together. We have too much stuff to do each other on weekend :) I therefore started the one-man band using BOSS RC-505 loop station.
Currently, DAW (Logic etc.) has enough effectors in its system and I also use Logic for recording my sound itself. However, my video and audio tracks were recorded in one take without any post-remixing by DAW. The real-time mix of the live performance with no possibility of further post session remixing can let me focus on my play itself and also save time:) It feels light as a feather to be a player!
Overview of my setting The sounds of instruments (Key, Sax, EWI4000s, Kaossilator Pro+) go into a Mixer with Reverb and Delay (tc.electoric) and then enter into the loop station BOSS RC-505 for live looping. The looper can separately record 5 different loops and also add many types of effect to the tracks. Finally, the sounds are mixed together and go into the KORG Kaoss Pad (KP3+) which can add impressive effect to the whole sound. A DAW (Logic) records it and creates an mp3 file which is used for YouTube video.
BOSS RC-505 Live Loopstation The RC-505 features five stereo phrase tracks that can play simultaneously. That can operate easily and intuitively. It seems a standard item for beatboxer. Independent record/overdub/play and stop buttons for each track let me capture and control loop performances with my fingertips, and dedicated volume faders allow me to mix loop levels on the fly. With the RC-505’s large selection of built-in effects, it’s easy to enhance my sounds as I perform. Input FX allow me to process the sound during loop recording, while Track FX provide further processing options for phrase playback. Unfortunately, the FX cannot separately process each track. I therefore also use a lack type Reverb and Delay (t.c. electronic) using mixer send/return.
This item is my core part of Live Looping. Please check it out my live looping performance on YouTube. If you become interested in live looping, let's start your live looping!
KORG Kaossilator Pro+ (Green) The Kaossilator Pro+ from Korg is a performance interface that features an XY touch pad and four loop record buttons that can be set up for loop recording of four measures each. The controller allows the user to play musical melodies and phrases by simply stroking, tapping, or rubbing the touchpad. Horizontal motions on the touchpad control the pitch, while vertical motions control the tone, including filter cutoff, feedback, or modulation depth.
Key and Scale features ensure that notes being played will match the song being performed. The Key setting specifies the root along with a choice of thirty-five scales. A total of 250 sound programs cover a wide range od styles including hip-hop,chiptune, house debstep new disco, electro, raggaeton, and drum'n' bass. The LED light-up add "kaoss" atmosphere to my live performance!
KORG Kaoss Pad KP3+ (Red) The KP3+ is a real-time effects unit/sampler and features a touchpad that allows a user to easily control multiple effects and parameters by simply stroking, tapping, or rubbing the touch pad with their finger. The unit contains 150 effects ideal for remixing, DJ and live music applications, and in-studio use, and includes filters, spatial-type effects such as delay and reverb, a grain shifter that freezes tiny pieces of sound and repeats them, and a vocoder.
In my live looping (Halloween Witch Flies on a Lonely Night) at the end of this web page, I played Kaossilator Pro+ by using XY pad like a distorted guitar is performed. A percussion sound (snare hit) was also added by the Kaossilator as a looped rhythm. The KP3+ provided a Filter effect (telephone filter) to change the atmosphere of the tune (more "mysterious") and also a thunder (opening of the tune) using a sampling function. Please check the sounds by clicking the thumbnail at the end of this web page!
microKORG XL+ Lush analog modeled synthesizer sounds that are characteristic of the microKORG have been freshly added to the microKORG +. In addition, for band use, the microKORG XL+ comes equipped with the piano sound from Korg's classic stage piano, the SGproX (famous for its ability to stand out in your band's mix), as well as its hard-edged grand-type electric piano. This compact package also includes sounds from the M1 and the VOX organ, vintage tape-type string and flute machines, as well as other gorgeous sounds from keyboard history.
AKAI Professional EWI4000s is my second EWI. I used EWI3020/3020m which has an analog sound module. The sound is very good but the sound module itself is very big and heavy. It was hard to bring it to a club adding to other instruments. The most unique feature of EWI4000s is that it has a built-in sound module, which allows performers to plug a wireless MIDI or audio setup into the base of the unit and move freely while they play. The EWI4000s has a combination of touch sensors and physical keys for control.