When setting up a new show, I find there are certain tools that are absolutely indispensable for the work I do onsite. For a moderate sum of money, it’s easy to assemble a basic toolkit to bring to the theatre that will cover nearly everything you need. I usually put my tools in a small […]
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How to Build a Redundant MainStage Rig on a Budget
I created an earlier post providing step by step instructions for building a redundant rig for MainStage. While this setup works incredibly well, it’s not necessarily within the budget for all productions nor is it always portable enough to be easily transported. In this post, we’ll take a look at how to create a redundant […]
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How to Build a Redundant Rig for Using MainStage or Ableton Live
I’m often asked how to build a rig with a redundant computer and interface for using MainStage live. While there are a number of ways that this could be done, I’m going to detail how I’ve done this many times in the past successfully and reliably. Building your rig carefully and with attention to detail […]
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Review: Loctek Ergonomic Stands and Mounts
As creative professionals, we’re often sitting at our workstations for many hours on end, sometimes to the detriment of our health. Our posture suffers, we get tight quads and hamstrings, IT band issues, and fatigue. I often solve this by keeping a kettlebell sitting out in the middle of the room and taking a break […]
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KVM Switches for MainStage Keyboard Programming
I’m often asked about the best way to create a redundant computer rig for live theatre. Specifically, for use with MainStage keyboard programming and Ableton Live. A redundant rig with a functioning main and backup scenario would always include two computers, two audio interfaces, a MIDI splitter box such as the MIDI Solutions Thru, an […]
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Do I Really Need A UPS for MainStage Keyboard Programming?
An issue that comes up frequently when I’m setting up MainStage keyboard programming for new theatrical productions is whether or not to use a UPS for the keyboard and backing track rigs. There are several ways of approaching this issue, and after setting up shows both with and without UPS units, I have some insights […]
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Yamaha U1SH Silent Piano Review
Several months ago, I traded in my Steinway grand piano for a Yamaha U1SH Silent Piano. The U1SH has since become an integral part of my workflow.
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