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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 89
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 89 |
Hi Guys,
Is it possible/feasible to do a live performance with only a mic, speaker and a laptop?
The speaker is fed from the phono/mic port of the laptop for the BIB backtrack. At the moment I plug the dynamic mic directly into the speaker, It is a Bheringer Eurolive B112 dynamic speaker. The setup works ok-ish, but as you can imagine, mixing capabilities are constrained. I recently got hold of a mic2usb cable, at far too high a price, but it seems you don't get to hear the mic output unless you switch on the listen setting in window's sound settings, and then it sounds like you are singing in a hall in the Titanic...in it's present location. I guess t has to do with latency and other stuff I know nothing about. I am wishing there is software that can take care of all of that without the learning curve. Any advise?
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,849
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Veteran
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,849 |
The "hall in the Titanic" sound is latency. Latency is something that will have to be addressed with any software DAW solution you choose. If what you're currently using is mostly ok except for the constraints of the mixing capabilities and wanting to avoid time consuming learning curves, latency, cost and other obstacles you may encounter, opt for a small hardware mixer like the Mackie Max5 5-channel compact mixer.
It will have all of the connection options for the equipment you currently use and additional connections to add equipment you may need in the future. There will be no latency or learning curve because operating the mixer is very similar to how you are 'mixing' now off the back of the Behringer Eurolive B112.
New, it's presently only $70. There are likely used analog mixers available in your area for less money than that. Behringer, Mackie, Yamaha all have compact mixers in similar price range and there are many other brands as well.
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2,766
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Veteran
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2,766 |
For a decent software mixer, check out Voicemeeter (yes, that's spelled correctly). You can also use just about any DAW too, by enabling input monitoring.
I would say that Charlie's suggestion is the best option - you'll get much better mileage using a small hardware mixer than any software mixer, plus the hardware one will be easier to use.
I work here
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 89
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 89 |
Thank you friends. I suspected it was latency.I will persevere with Voicemeeter. Unfortunately our currency has taken such a pounding (no pun intended) that anything is terribly expensive.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,808
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,808 |
For a live performance I recommend not using the laptop for mixing/processing.
Instead, Get a small, inexpensive hardware mixer and a pair of powered speakers. Plug in the mic and your instrument if you have one, input the music from the laptop or whatever music player you choose. Use WAV files if possible, premixed, and missing the parts you are going to play. This will be the easiest way to perform and you won't have any latency. I also recommend carrying a backup source for the music files, even if it's only a phone or a MP3 player.
You want your live performances to always be as simple and fool proof as possible. Trust me, I played a lot of live gigs in my time and keeping it simple always worked the best.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 621
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 621 |
Another vote for hardware.
Byron Dickens BIAB. CbB. Mixbus 32C 8 HP Envy. Intel core i7. 16GB RAM W10. Focusrite Scarlett 18i 20. Various instruments played with varying degrees of proficiency. https://soundcloud.com/athanorsoundlabs
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 878
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 878 |
For a live performance I recommend not using the laptop for mixing/processing.
Instead, Get a small, inexpensive hardware mixer and a pair of powered speakers. Plug in the mic and your instrument if you have one, input the music from the laptop or whatever music player you choose. Use WAV files if possible, premixed, and missing the parts you are going to play. This will be the easiest way to perform and you won't have any latency. I also recommend carrying a backup source for the music files, even if it's only a phone or a MP3 player.
You want your live performances to always be as simple and fool proof as possible. Trust me, I played a lot of live gigs in my time and keeping it simple always worked the best. +1 iOS/ android devices fit the bill perfectly. Plenty of apps out there for many different approaches.
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