Behind the Space Bar

Tour starts today, I've got about two hours until rehearsal, and I just shipped six apps. So why did I still tell my wife I don't feel prepared enough? A quick episode from the road: two big updates, the mindset shift that got me out of my head, and the rapid-fire plan for walking into a rehearsal when you're short on time. One-day event, Dec 1 in Franklin, TN (20 seats, $899 through Nov 8): https...

How much should you charge to program a set, build a rig, or run tracks on the road? It's the question I get asked most, and the honest answer is "it depends." This episode is about what it depends on: the three different jobs hiding inside "playback engineer," the flat fee that had me working 14-hour days for a number I'd quoted up front, and the rates I actually charge. Then: how to discount a g...

Do you have to become a Dante engineer to put your tracks on a Dante network? After my PlayAUDIO2D walkthrough, the pushback came from both directions. Some of you said MIDI redundancy was never that hard. Others said that if you can't patch Dante Controller, you shouldn't be running playback. I take on both. Then I cover whether an iPad belongs on a Dante rig, what sample rate I run, and where vo...

I took a folder of raw stems and turned it into a show-ready Ableton Live set — routed, clicked, cued, timecoded, with lyrics — without programming any of it by hand. This episode is the full Pliris workflow, start to finish: upload raw stems, let it analyze key, tempo, and sections, add songs from existing Ableton files, build the setlist, and export a complete Ableton set with samples. Then I pl...

Eight years ago today I left a good job, built a membership platform from scratch in two weeks, and hit publish on a one-minute launch video. This one is a look back — the first digital products and the moment on a roller coaster that rewired how I thought about work. It's also the parts that don't make the highlight reel including wondering if it's still worth all this. Then I get into where the...

Last week I revisited the most controversial video I've ever made and said what I should have said the first time: it isn't can you run everything on one computer — it's should you. This week pays that off. This is the most practical episode we've ever done. Two listeners asked the same question from opposite ends of it. Jonny said the idea left him feeling "sort of doomed, stuck with my setup." L...

Three years ago I made one of the most controversial videos I've ever put out: What's Wrong With Using Ableton to Run In-Ear Monitors? Looking back at the comments, I think I made the wrong video. So this week I read the pushback out loud — the people running everything from one machine, the keyboardist who's done ten years and multiple European tours from one Logic session and whose only two fail...

Nate Day and Mat Landry got hired on the same artist in 2021. Neither was a playback engineer. One of them had to become one — and that accident became Eights Creative, a Toronto company now doing music direction and playback systems for artists around the world. We talk about the path a lot of you are already on: you play an instrument, somebody asks if you can "do playback," and suddenly you're...

After 327 days away, I'm back with a lot to share. In January 2025 I took a full-time road gig as TobyMac's playback engineer. In the same stretch I got rid of my office and the three people who helped me run this business, all left. Meanwhile, AI was changing how everyone learns, I was struggling with what being a creator on social media means, and re-focusing on my mission to make complex things...

This week we're talking Apple products. Specifically, the differences between Apple silicon and intel processors, and which one you should consider for playback. Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template! Download for Free https://fromstudiotostage.com/template Send us a question on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fromstudiotosta...

This week we discuss how to use Ableton with Lightkey. Specifically, using Ableton and MIDI to preprogram your lights for easy recall. https://lightkeyapp.com/en Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template! Download for Free https://fromstudiotostage.com/template Send us a question on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fromstudiotosta...

This week we discuss how to solve issues related to crashing MIDI in our Ableton sessions. Is it cables, adapters, USB hubs? We get into how to diagnose the problem and potential work arounds. Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template! Download for Free https://fromstudiotostage.com/template Send us a question on Instagram https://ww...

On this week's episode, we revisit our favorite topic (redundancy) through the filter of the iConnectivity AUDIO4c, as well as other iConnectivity gear. Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template! Download for Free https://fromstudiotostage.com/template Send us a question on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fromstudiotostageig/ Lin...

This week we discuss redundancy (one of our favorites) and a very closely related topic, division of labor. What are they? Which is more important? Is one more expensive than the other? Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template! Download for Free https://fromstudiotostage.com/template Send us a question on Instagram https://www.insta...

We're back with a 2nd episode with our friend, Tyler Prange. Tyler shares some wisdom about getting gigs, meeting people in the industry, and some advice for people trying to get started in the world of playback. Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template! Download for Free https://fromstudiotostage.com/template Send us a question on...

This week we're joined by Will's long time friend, former student, and coworker, Tyler Prange. Tyler is a professional, world traveling, playback engineer with a wealth of experience and knowledge to share. Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template! Download for Free https://fromstudiotostage.com/template Send us a question on Instag...

Join Will for the another solo episode as he answers some rapid-fire IG questions. Topics include deciding which Mac is right for you (mini vs MacBook Pro), using Resilio Sync, and how to be confident while staying curious. Check below for links mentioned during the episode. YouTube - Part 1 YouTube - Part 2 Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free P...

Will is back with another solo episode from the road.  Will is back with another solo episode from the road. In this rapid fire style episode, Will answers X questions about Dante, redundancy when using Timecode, using the Radial BackTrack, and managing CPU usage with Ableton. YouTube - Part 1 Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Templat...

Will is on the road for a run of three shows and decides to take some time out for some rapid fire IG questions. Topics include redundancy, stem leveling, and more! Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template! Download for Free https://fromstudiotostage.com/template Send us a question on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fromstudioto...

Will hits the brakes on this week's episode to drop some serious motivation. While we don't specifically get into discussing playback, check out these four tips for success that can apply to anything! Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template! Download for Free https://fromstudiotostage.com/template Send us a question on Instagram ht...

This week's episode is short and sweet as we revisit a very popular topic at From Studio to Stage: Timecode! Will answers a question about how to use Timecode with the PlayAUDIO1U and we break down exactly what is Timecode is and how to use it. Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template! Download for Free https://fromstudiotostage.com...

This week, we take a break from answering your questions as Will takes us behind the scenes of a recent show at the world famous Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. Key Takeaways: 1. Have a bias towards change 2. Stay in the moment (Stay engaged) 3. Read the room Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template! Download for Free https://fr...

On this week's episode of Behind the Space Bar, we're talking about buts. No, not the kind that Sir Mix-a-Lot likes. We're discussing reasons why Ableton might be drifting out of sync while using the PlayAUDIO1U and all the "buts" that Will has heard about why these things tend to happen. Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template! Do...

Join us on Behind The Space Bar as we discuss using Dante with Ableton Live and the different ways to achieve redundancy for live performance! Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template! Download for Free https://fromstudiotostage.com/template Send us a question on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fromstudiotostageig/ Links & R...

On this week's episode of Behind the Space Bar, we're answering your questions about redundant light setups and dip our toes into pyro automation. Take your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template! Download for Free https://fromstudiotostage.com/template Send us a question on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/fromstudiotostageig/ Links &am...