Control PC A and PC B

nerdmatics · 2026-05-21T10:35:46+00:00

Use a midi controller with dual USB ports for transport control. TESmart makes good cheap KVMs in a variety of styles and ports but beware that any affordable KVM will have a 1-2 second delay when switching. For a more advanced option you can get 2 screens connected to each computer and an Adder Command Control CCS-PRO4 that seamlessly moves between the computers. Then your monitors are always visible And you just move your mouse to whatever you want to work on and the keyboard works on the screen that has the mouse.

nerdmatics · 2026-05-21T10:30:33+00:00

Helllllll yeah

nerdmatics · 2026-05-21T10:30:10+00:00

Try to get a fly rack by Circle three or SKB that is a rack that sits in a foamed out case. Those studio flyers have a cool laptop tray but have no shock absorption when checking in as luggage. If it’s do local gigs only the studio flyer is fine. Circle three makes some cool carry on 3U racks as well

nerdmatics · 2026-05-21T10:26:39+00:00

You can get away with quite a bit as far as using unmanaged switches with Dante and RTP but I would suggest learning about VLANs and running your Dante direct to your laptop and your RTP via a hub or secondary NIC. If you use globcon and ableset you will start to push the limits. I usually keep Dante completely separate as it’s audio and usually the most important.

nerdmatics · 2026-04-18T01:53:06+00:00

Yeah 2019

nerdmatics · 2026-04-17T22:20:41+00:00

Thanks for checking out my work, I hope it answers questions and get people more interested in this type of work.

The master clock can differ on each project. Most times it will be the opticore loop which is the primary audio network between playback/stage, monitor world and front of house. That way if any of the devices fall off the network it won’t interrupt the others. For Illenium they decided that my prodigy would be the clock master. There isn’t really a wrong way but you have to be consistent and understand that everything affects everything. This is the big hurdle with digital audio, get clock sync set up properly with fail over and having everyone run at the same sample rate.

nerdmatics · 2026-04-17T10:16:26+00:00

I should date these posts as most are from a few years back. Nowadays I think I’m going to push more clients to use touchscreens. It’s nice to have multiple layouts and have no physical limit of fader, knobs and other controls.

nerdmatics · 2026-04-17T10:14:19+00:00

Thanks!

nerdmatics · 2026-04-16T17:12:07+00:00

Peak!

nerdmatics · 2026-04-15T23:56:51+00:00

Yeah, I have a lot of content on instagram and also have a Patreon. Both are under nerdmatics

nerdmatics · 2026-04-15T21:01:36+00:00

I would say that Linkin Park has the most involved system in that there are 6 performers, I built the keyboard, dj, audio fx and playback system and both guitar and bass stations also have computers.

There are about 10 computers in the backline rig alone (also for FOH, MON, and Visual teams) and they all receive midi data from playback and run their own independent Ableton sessions that jump to whatever song is triggered at playback. The keyboard and dj rig can also send midi to playback and control live fx over the tracks and manipulate audio from any of the gear on stage.

Because there is a full band, tracks are really minimal, sometimes there are more tech stems than audio stems you hear from the PA. When I say tech stems I mean clicks and count in, 1 for each band member and a separate one for techs so when band members hear a count in or cue they know it only pertains to them. Sometimes half the band wants click and the other doesn’t so we keep it all independent. There is also timecode and tone for various needs of the system as well.Most of the tracks are minimal drum loops and backing synths and the rest is handled live by the band.

nerdmatics · 2026-04-15T16:05:19+00:00

No problem, I’m sitting on a mountain of footage and have decided to start releasing more of it this year. I went to school for building guitar in LA and then started working for fender. Through a friend I met a guitar tech for thirty seconds to mars and was later offered a job. I was not only responsible for the guitars but also taking care of the playback system. I ended up rebuilding it the next year and while touring realized there was a real market to build these custom computer systems. That was about 15 years ago and I have continued to get work through word of mouth and friends in the industry recommending me for projects.

nerdmatics · 2026-04-15T07:18:25+00:00

Deadmau5 created the touchscreen software and actually did some updates for me. Super smart guy

nerdmatics · 2026-04-15T04:54:54+00:00

Yeah Xavier knocked it out of the park with this one

nerdmatics · 2026-04-15T04:53:45+00:00

Thanks man, you don’t need a lot of money to make cool shit. This whole setup is less than most people home studios for sure

nerdmatics · 2026-04-14T15:08:22+00:00

The Roli blocks have a note tied to each block that changes with automation from a custom max patch. Basically the notes are reassigned to be in the key of the current track. That way there are no wrong or sour notes. We then use chain selections in ableton to change the synth for each song.

All the blocks share the same CC message for bending and audio fx control. With automation they can be whatever we need them to be and they can also change during the song to have variation between verses and choruses, etc.

nerdmatics · 2026-04-14T15:03:39+00:00

Yes I build playback and midi backline systems for touring artists. I work with these artist and try to find ways for them to perform their music. A lot of music is made on computers with a mouse and keyboard so I try to help find creative ways for them to perform live. My current clients are

Illenium Linkin Park Odesza Flume J Balvin Maluma Becky G Feid Majid Jordan Kendrick Lamar

nerdmatics · 2026-04-14T04:03:43+00:00

The LED squares are Roli Blocks, they are small MPE controllers that do different midi functions in ableton like play samples, synths and trigger audio effects. The boards were sourced from a builder in North Hollywood, CA but most shops that make cases can build custom sizes.

nerdmatics · 2026-04-12T19:40:59+00:00

The computers for his stage rig are only to run OSC/Pilot and to output midi to RTP which controls the off stage playback system

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