Tips on how to bring electronic music live on stage

Musicians and producers who create their music on the computer and all those who record their tracks track by track as overdubs, can sell their tracks for advertising, background in video and more, for example, on this Seven Skies Music platform. Musicians and composers can sell their tracks online here. So many of you will at some point ask the question: I have recorded successful songs, but how do I perform my work live the stage? You will find 5 suggestions in this article.

Playing electronic music live. Maybe still possible on a keyboard, but what if it’s a more complicated arrangement? Hire five keyboard players? And who then has to play the continuous shaker? – So just playback?

Here are all the suggestions on how you can play your electronic or pre-produced music live:

1. Play with your sound

If you’re into purely electronic music, become a DJ. You can play your tracks with turntables or your laptop: depending on the music style and taste. Pay attention to your audience so that you always react to the current mood and always have the right song ready.

Make your performance more varied, for example, by changing envelopes or the equalizer live.

Effects that you add during the show can also breathe life into your sound live. Another bonus: Your songs differ a little from the studio versions that the audience knows from CD or from the Internet.

2. Arrange live

Your concert will only be really “live” when you have control over the sequence of your songs. There are different programs, usually Ableton Live or Traktor, with which you can break down existing pieces into loops a slightly cheaper alternative to Ableton Live: the DAW Bitwig Studio is currently available in version 1.1.

You can offer your audience a unique experience. This evening doesn’t sound like the last gig, nor does it sound like the CD. ”Of course, this is something different not only for the audience, but also for the performers, to always look at the piece from new perspectives.”

But whether the audience really notices what is happening in the computer is questionable as long as they are only using the keyboard and mouse. 

3. Take control

Nowadays you can control sounds using movement, various sensors, etc. There were experiments with data gloves to control music relatively early on. It is also emphasizes the possibility of controlling sounds with game controls, for example with ‘Kinect’ or ‘Wii’. However, he thinks this is an unsafe matter live.

But of course there is also an abundance of controllers that are specially offered for making music. Some were specially developed for software, others can be used universally. In principle, all parameters can be controlled via a controller: volume, effects, equalizer, oscillators, tempo, etc. With (velocity sensitive) pads, for example, rhythms can be played or loops started. Even very cheap devices, of course with manageable functions, are suitable for making music.

4. MIDI instruments

Your concert will get even more live feeling – what a surprise – if you play live! The typical “instrument” for electronic sounds is the (MIDI) keyboard, but why not try something different? There are MIDI guitars, e-drums, MIDI wind transducers and even MIDI vibraphones. The best electronic drum kits can really improve your sound. 

5. Acoustic instruments

Especially if it is not (exclusively) about electronic music or if pre-produced pieces are to be performed live: You can also play on (electro) acoustic instruments. If you can play a traditional instrument, play it too! If you can’t: Then learn one thing – or at least play Kazoo, anyone can do it.

Programmed loops do what you don’t play yourself: For example, you can play rhythm, bass and harmonies via Ableton Live while you play a melody on the trombone. Several instruments would of course also be conceivable.