Like I said in last video, work with an effects company and build a dedicated unit to replace the laptop, an effects 'pedal' that can be programmed at home and used live, with the option to tweak . Slap the Ola emblem on it, make millions, give us all free Solar basses :P
YOU, I like you :D Just basicaly a mini PC loaded with a proprietary DAW simple enough for 'noobs' but enough features to be usefull for pro's , and obviously load any VST's you have, I have a feeling it would sell
Even if Ola didn't do that, I hope someone has that idea because it sounds amazing. If Ola ever did that though we know it would be damn near perfect lol
Considering that the MOD 2, which is basically just a bunch of open source plugins and a plugin host running on an embedded linux computer in a special purpose housing, sells for something like 600 €, you're probably more right than you know.
I've been using such a setup like this with my band for quite a few years now. We let the whole band go through the windows 10 laptop using a Focusrite interface and Ableton Live and it really works like a charm. We also used midi footswitches for band practice and jamming.
It is true that you may run into some fragility issues with a laptop rig live. It’s also true that your tubes, batteries and cables can go bad, too. So if the argument for a completely analog rig is that it’s reliable, I’d like to take issue with that here and now.
I´m using this system combining vst plugins and a tube amp since 2 years (before to watch it in the Ola videos i was the only who was using it at least that i knew it, although I thought that probably more people would have the same idea), and specifically i use a Ignite amp head and overdrive, cubase 5, focusrite interface, into a normal laptop with windows 10, plugged in the fx return of a bugera combo amp.... The result: sounds nice, i have all chanel changes, boost, delay and effects, etc completely automated and till nowadays 0 problems in live shows
What focusrite interface do you use? Thinking about maybe getting a clarette but not sure the usb C (or thunderbolt 1 as they are the same more or less) will be fast enough latency wise.
@@peterrovaniemi138 I use focusrite saffire 6, in the buffer length i have choosen 2 ms (with plugins is more), but latency isn´t a problem if you have a fast and good computer (mine is a HP i5)
It can also be really useful in band situations. A lot of modern metal bands use backing tracks for synth and other programmed sounds. Why not use the automation for the guitar at the same time? It's worth considering! I don't really think reliability should be a big problem. Personally, I'm done carting amps around. So happy for my Helix and maybe this is the next step. Thanks again Ola 👍
There's another advantage to using in-ears when playing through computer plugins... it lowers the real-world latency. If you have, say 10ms round-trip latency in your processing, you have to another 5-15 ms latency depending on where your cab or monitor is. By using in-ears, that analog latency (distance) is removed.
I used this method few months back on stage during my office event. Where I played some melodic death with my laptop and USB powered audio interface. Works perfect for me and it's very portable n mobile.
wow. slowly im understanding what is this plugins thing. from a peds user like 15 years ago, now that im getting back to my beloved hobby. plugins got my attention. thanks for this post.
Yeah I had a native instruments guitar rig live IO interface doing that - size of a cigarette packet and ran Amplitube at something daft like 32 sample buffer. One thing I noticed is smaller less complicated USB interfaces with solid drivers are best for live performance latency. Firewire at the time was better but less reliable on non-apple laptops due to a lot of non-TI chipsets.
Yes, I've been using a laptop with bias fx to a cab 4*12 for more than a year and never had a problem and super happy with it. Best choice I ever did in gear
Imagine if logic, cubase, ableton etc made a computer (or DAW console). It would be like a pc but locked to only be used for music production. Lieterally nothing else. I think that would be genuinely amazing. Have it built like a interface which would be robust, and gig-able
Definitely think this will be the future for a lot of live applications. Apple’s Mainstage has implemented this concept for a long time but I like the idea of using the DAW for everything: backing tracks if needed and all of your automation. You’re essentially setting up your entire performance 🤘🏻
Laptops have been the central piece of gear of karoake DJ's for years. Spills, drunks, daily gigs and they make it work. I think the reliability issue, while valid, isn't as big as one would think.
Good point, though some may point out a metal show isn't quite the same dynamic as a solo DJ on stage. A good metric might be to know the number of laptops DJs go through in a year or per number of shows.
Very Well said, my man! For those who can only criticize jamming thru a DAW, Plugins, Cab & IR Cabs. You don't know what your missing. I personly was like this back in the early '90s when it came to the solid state, modular, emulator amplifiers. i.e. amplifier without valves. However, fast forward to 2010 to present and I own 5 valve amp 2 modeling combo amp. I have changed how I feel about them. Technology has not only made modular amplifiers a contender it has brought many tonal variations into my arsenal. Even more, the same thing can be said when you run your signal chain thru your computer into a DAW, vst plugins, Effects & Impulse Response Cabinets. They bring tons of sound and tonal options to the table with some mean tones. Every person asked, "can you tell what one of my amps I playing in this track" there answer 95% of the time is yes! The answer is alway's one of my tube amps or any random valve-amp. If they don't know me well. The other 5% just answer honestly with, " I don't know"!
Hey Ola Swedun, the Eng. Makes perfect sense. I think you should do more of these tech tips and methods videos. You know a huge amount about all of this.
Even John Petrucci with dt are runing protools session live. I've seen that even jp's sounds are switched via midi commands in protools. Good Job Ola! Big fan!
I went to a similar route like you, I just finished a show with just my guitar, an iPad, an interface, and a bluetooth MIDI pedalboard. Sound is great, no latency issue, my rig got a whole lot smaller and a whole lot more efficient, and I like this new iPad setup. I think this is the future, I'm not sacrificing anything in terms of tone and reliability so far, so yeah, just like you I will continue using this digital solution.
I know NiN uses LiveStage and they run all sorts of stuff through there (decapitator, echo boy, to name a couple) It's handy for a live show where you don't need a pedal board anymore. Just have your drummer have a midi controller send the midi out (even if you don't even use midi) controlled by bass drum / snare / whatever and everything just works. You can go from acoustic, to high gain to lead to whatever parts of the song need whatever. It's like having your tech backstage do this, except done via logic / mainstage. It's been part of my rundown for a few years now. Now it's bring a half stack, head and run the audio via interface > mixing boards and your in ears and boom. All you get to do is play and no touching anything as it all just works. Takes a while to get this set up, but once you do it's really good.
Also gonna go ahead and guess it's a fake story since for one what venue has free wifi, and who would be dumb enough to have their laptop connected to the internet with updates enabled when they need to use it live.
If I'm remembering correctly, WU can be set up for a particular time frame and can be canceled a few times before it forces you to update. Meaning if you neglected (put off) the update for several times in a row windows will stop what ever you are doing and give you no choice, especially if you are not paying attention to the screen and it shuts down 60 seconds after the notice pops up. This has happened to me mid game where the game minimizes for "no reason" and in the middle of writing a document. I set it to only do updates on shutdown because I don't leave my pc running 24/7 like a savage. Could be I'm just terrible at computers too, so uhh ye....
You can set windows to only search for updates when you tell it to. I was part of the Windows insiders program and have been using win 10 since before it's official release and have never once gotten an update notification or auto update. It really seems to me like people that complain about these "forced updates" and random shutdowns just in all honesty don't know much about computers and left everything at default settings.
Merci Ola ! This is the way to go for clinics and also for recording and make a living of it. Now, I can start my personnal studio recording at peoples home !
I know you are just trying to stay humble, but you have a large dedicated fanbase who show up to support you in what ever you do, please don't call them small... while I am sure you are just being self deprecating, in this case you are not shitting you, but us I was proud of how much we support you cause you are an awesome artist, and deserve it.
That seems a pretty smooth and solid rig. Also the guys from Periphery use a similar setup where they have Logic changing all their AxeFx patches. It seems a very convenient setup for clinics and you are left with just making sure the venue has electricity.
I know its an older video but you just earned my sub! Thanks man you are going down same path I am. I appreciate that you are sharing some of the methods you have experimented with. This is the future I know it.
I also tried playing through amp sims (Boss GT-100, EZ Mix, and BIAS AMP 2 + FX) in recent years. They are cheaper and can be used more easily in a home setup. Everything sounded pretty fine: distorted power chords, overdrive lead sounds, clean or crunch sounds with lots of effects on it (especially with the BIAS FX). However, I never was satisfied with the sound of palm mutes when playing through virtual amps and effects - I now have a Revv Generator 100p with an Engl box and I can tell you - it's a great feeling when the sound waves of a palm-muted riff hit your balls while you shred in front of your gear. So when practicing with my band mates, I use "real" gear, but amp sims are just so convenient when practicing at home (or while traveling).
A lot of it comes down to what you are monitoring on but there is something great (both tone and feel) about the simplicity of just a really nice valve amp.
You could also use something like Bias Fx or Amplitube and connect a midi controller like the MeloAudio MIDI Commander, that way you could change between completely different presets in the same way you switch a pedal on/off, and also link it to a especific pedal, in a specific preset you can choose which pedal you want to be able to turn on/off, even configure a wah or volume pedal with a expression midi pedal
the demo songs sound amazing! Also, I’ve watched several clinics and they also have this kind of setup, which I observed is very handy and easy for them to go with the program. So maybe we are already in the age where plugins are embraced in live situations :)
I've never really played live with a full band. I've been wanting to for years and I've been thinking of doing a similar setup with my own DI. I can only commend you for show casing this video and really showcasing exactly what you can do with new gear and how portable it actually is. So awesome dude. 10/10
You got me pumped with this! I’ve been searching on this subject for 2 days and then I stumble upon your video. Thanks Ola for the info, never thought of automation for brining in and out the sims. Genius! A bit tedious at first but sounds like it gets the job done. Gonna try this with the Mesa Amplitube sims. 👍👍👍🎸🎸🎸
BRILLIANT!!! I've been proposing this type of system for some time now and I"m thrilled to see you using something like this. I'll be money you end up using for Live Band shows in the future.
Hey Ola! Even I use my laptop during my jams and performances but the only problem I had was to change presets live. The only solution I could figure out to go to clean patch was to lower the tone and the volume knob on my guitars but that didn't work out so well. But thanks to you I know what I have to do to change my presets! Thank You!
Hi Ola! I believe that this approach is the future. I actually did a similar setup for a performance back in 1997. Of course it didn´t sound anywhere nearly as good back then, and I had to combine it with some rack hardware to pull it off. Had my clunky big ass computer cabinet and huge CRT-monitor on stage, and performed with just my guitar. I did another similar setup of this for my Bacherlor´s degree about 10 years ago, this time with a iMac, Logic, some automation and a Boss GT-8. Keep up the good work :) Cheers from Norway
As a young lad, I always thought to myself as I entered Guitar Center" all these huge amps and keyboards at expensive prices". All while the people I knew had sound banks on flashdrives.
I've done a 80 people capacity club show with two 100W tube heads and four 4x12" cabs and a separate JC120 just for cleans, and a 50 000 stadium (+1,5 million viewers on TV) with an iPad and Focusrite iTrack Dock . Also did shows where Logic (on a MacBook Pro) did all backing tracks and all my guitar stuff with plugins and ALSO all pedal work. Like whammys and wahwahs too. (talk about playing on cue :D) So whatever works, works.
Exactly when I'm digging this stuff. Could you do another video explaining more about how getting familliar with this software? Thank you for being such dedicated to what you do, you really are a source of inspiration for me. Cheers from France Ola !
I used a laptop for gigs.....until one of my "friends" dropped a 4x12 on it, was a sad day and I raged.... then I cried. He said he'd replace it, then found out it was a $4000 laptop. Never did see him again, must have been all the burning in hell was holding him up. Laptops can be a great setup and I used them all the time, would still use them if I was back into doing gigs. It's great when the event already has a setup P.A and all you gotta do is plug in an RCA and off you go, A wall of stacks and a mixer is hard to beat but damn plugins are getting sooooo close!
If you don't need UAD amps, I use reaxis through a Yamaha THR10 as the interface. The Yamaha converters are super fast, there is no perceptible latency using reaxis, or Brainworx, or amplitude, and it's a great stereo speaker
Really thinking about ditching my axe fx for this route. Trying the nameless plug in trial and I'm in love. Unbelievable tone which handles really low tuning like a charm. So much clarity and brutality at the same time!
Awesome Ola , you’re embracing new technology and learning how to make it your bitch !! I see this eventually making its way to the live gigs probably with you leading the way !!
For now, I'm far from converting to such setup. I remember a friend bringing the computer with a USB interface running Guitar Rig to a gig. His PC crashed and he couldn't do anything. He ended up borrowing somebody's amp, so there you have it. That said, I use the Fractal Axe-Fx line out straight to FOH but also have a cab on stage to get some air moving. And I control Axe-Fx with MIDI from a MacBook that has a Reaper project running, giving me cues, click, backing tracks etc. We even keep video files in the project synced with the grid for a live video playback. Great stuff. And I can override the MIDI with my MFC-101 anytime I want. For now, that's a perfect setup for me. I still don't trust computers enough.
The guys in Beyond Creation were doing something similar when I saw them in 2016. Strandbergs, no amps or boards, drums on a rack. Teardown took like two minutes.
This is a thing I've been thinking about A LOT. In the terms of: could this thing be used as an entire band's rig? Using a 4in-8out interface to have 2 guitars, bass and vocals going into the interface and routing all of these, plus prerecorded tracks to the PA, metronome and monitor mixes to the players. Definitely need a heavy duty processor to do this, but how much of an awesome thing would it be? it's also very backup-able, meaning that you can upload the project to a cloud and in case your rig craps out/gets stolen/whatever, you have an easy backup solution if you can get your hands on a laptop and an interface (easier than getting a couple of tube amps or kempers)
i'll go for this because i don't have to carry lots of stuff for a small gig, just a very good gigbad with laptop and cables, ready to go...im buying myself an Ipad Pro to use Bias Amp 2 to record stuff (i was blown away with its potential to do so) and i can really take it in my backpack and just sit in my breaks at college and jam around to get all the subjects mess out of my mind
rjmcdade +1 I use Logic Pro X as well, but never quite understood how these changes between plug-ins and effects were to be programmed. It would be much appreciated if you could do a tutorial on this, Ola. Cheers!
@@BenvanGeest you just write automation points and select Main in the automation menu then select the plugin you want to bypass at the written point. Hope that helps.
I think it is great that technology is pushing the boundaries of real amps and effects pedals. Only a matter of time till a laptop plug in will replace a tube amp. Like one of the guys below said if you can make the plugin outside of a Daw and have it switchable via a pedal then they would be great.
So...I started playing guitar in the 90's. The only option to record was tape. Only real amps on stage. These plug ins and things like LINE6 and Kemper have really changed the game. Periphery puts on entire shows with macbooks! Look it up, you beautiful bastard.
Ola this video helped me a lot on my flow! I was thinking to look on how to do this but didn't have the time to search it.. watching your video I started to do this trick one a project & bingo!!!
Very interesting video!!! Completely agree that reliability is THE issue..as for the rest, once all different needed sounds are programmed, all you need to care is focus on guitar playing, which is perfect! Thanx for this cool lesson, Ola, and keep it up🤘
I do similar to Ola, but I use a JTV Variax, an AXE FX II GL+, POD HD500X, Reaper (EZ mix) with midi. Everything automated and on a click track, going from 8 string style, to 6 string, to acoustic, to whatever I want, all without touching a thing. No amps, cabs, or mics. A purest might find it ridiculous, but I think it's pretty cool.
I would say Joyo VIVO or one of these other mini amps & maybe a mini pedalboard (with mini pedals eq, delay, ...) if you need more. Let the organizer provide a 2 or 4x 12".
I a computer live no problem. 2 guitar, bass, and 2 vocals all into the daw. Never run into a problem in practice or onstage. I go over the setup in the joey sturgis tone facebook group.
Hi! I think this method is going to be used more and more often as the time and progress go by. Surely, it might become a part of the digital/modelling amps religion and who knows how are people going to play in the next few decades. Perhaps a rig is going to be minimised to the size of a computer and a USB interface. I on the other hand love the vibe of a roaring, raw, intimidating tube amp, it's heat emmision, the smell and sound. But at home I started to use plugins to record demos and practice - this makes my life with neighbors and wife much easier :D
Dear Ola, this was really helpful, wow, thanks a lot!! Almost every word was what I needed. True!! All the best. I guess, checking this setup in Moscow would be a little different by now... I will try it at home first 🙂
