Behind the Space Bar

Are you trying to convince your band to use tracks? Here’s a difference approach you can take. I get it. You’ve seen the light. You want your band to use tracks. It’s going to improve your sound, make it easier to perform on stage, but you can’t get the rest of your band on board. I’ve been there. I’ve coached students that are there (or have been there). We can address every objection your bandma...

Sure — anybody can learn how to use Ableton as a software program. But the ones who master using Ableton on stage don’t think of it like that. What’s the difference between knowing how to use Ableton and using it on stage to put on a killer performance? It’s pretty simple, really. It’s your mindset in how you approach it. If you only view Ableton as just software, you limit it to being utilitarian...

Martin Roberts has had a successful career bringing artists’ records to life on stage (including Shawn Mendes, M83, and others). He’s a playback engineer, music director, system designer, and just an all-around pro. Watch the interview to hear Martin’s thoughts on live performance, playback, gear & music tech, and what it was like working with Shawn Mendes. ★ Support this podcast ★

The bands that use backing tracks the best are the ones that do it without anyone noticing. But how do they do it? Context is everything. EDM, cover bands, acoustic bands — all different types of bands use tracks. But they don’t all put the same stuff in the tracks because, well, it would be ludicrous for an 808 drop to happen in an acoustic set (or would it be awesome, actually?). Watch for some...

Brian (Not Brain) Funk teaches a class at Berklee Online Online, hosts the The Music Production Podcast, and creates sample packs for Ableton Live (and is also an Ableton Live Certified Trainer). How in the world does he do it all? I got to sit down with Brian to discuss his crazy schedule and how he stays productive and creative with so many things to juggle. This conversation was pure gold, and...

There’s a lot that goes into a redundant playback rig, and it can feel pretty complex to figure out. So, the natural question is…is it really worth all that time and money? I break it all down for you in this video so you can know whether or not you really should invest in one or if you can get by without it. ★ Support this podcast ★

I’ve helped thousands of people get more out of Ableton. But you shouldn’t trust me. Apparently the best way to trigger anyone who uses Ableton is to show them another way to do things. I’ve spent years creating hundreds of videos and tutorials about using Ableton on stage, and most people have found them helpful (over 4,000 people have now downloaded my free tracks template: http://fromstudiotost...

If you’re stepping on stage to do anything, embarrassing mistakes are part of the job. I share some of mine and some of my favorites that you all shared with me. If you’ve ever experienced a major on-stage fail, you know what it’s like to want to just crawl into a hole…forever. But you gotta laugh at yourself and just take it on the chin. Especially because you’re not alone! Everyone has been ther...

Jeff is the creator of one of my favorite MIDI controllers ever made: the Oakboard Mini. In this interview, Jeff talks about how he came up with the idea for the Oakboard Mini, and how that eventually grew into a fully-fledged music software and hardware company. I love Jeff’s story because he never set out to start a company. He just started solving his own problems by learning to code. He built...

Sometimes what seems like the simplest solution is actually the worst. If you’re using your computer to run in-ears, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. I’m as much an advocate for using computers on stage as anyone, but this is one thing that you shouldn’t use your computer for. I’ve got 8 reasons why and what you should do instead. P.S. What do you use to run in-ears? ★ Support this pod...

Here’s how to use tracks on stage, without cheating and feeling like a fraud. We’ve all seen those videos of a pop artist’s performance going sideways with tracks and all of the sudden the whole world knows they’re lip-syncing. And yeah, I’m not a fan of that. But that’s not what the way most artists use tracks. Some of the best musicians in the world are using tracks on stage. And they’re doing i...

I’ve been an Ableton Certified Trainer for 13 years. These are the 8 most common questions I get. I take a few minutes to answer each question, but I also share where you can get loads of free resources to dive deeper into each topic. My suggestions on the best gear for live performance 👇 https://fromstudiotostage.com/gear Session View vs. Arrangement View 👇 https://youtu.be/l_4lIV3Ehqc https://...

Mike is a pro drum tech and playback tech — building and setting up rigs for some of the biggest metal artists to…Avril Lavigne and Smashing Pumpkins? Yep. Plus, he’s a From Studio to Stage student. Mike was kind enough to hop on a call with me and share his story about becoming a playback tech and what really helped him get to the point he’s at now working with these pro artists and bands. He als...

I’ve made this dead simple. These are the only 5 pieces of gear you need to start running tracks with your band. When it comes to buying gear to run tracks, you’ve got more options than you know what to do with. And if you’re just starting out, it’s hard to know what’s actually necessary versus what can wait til later. Well, I’m making it easy. These 5 pieces of gear give you everything you need t...

I branched out from Ableton and live audio for two whole years to run a video broadcast. What I learned surprised me. I never wanted to be a broadcast video guy, and honestly, I don’t know if I’ll do it again. But for 2 years, that was my job. And it was 100% worth it. It made me a better Ableton trainer and playback tech, and it taught me some basic principles that I apply every day in what I do...

I used to see other people in my industry as a threat. And it turned me into a bit of a jerk. But I eventually flipped the script and became a champion of others rather than just viewing them as the competition. I guess I’m still a jerk, but I’ve made a lot of progress (yep, it really was that bad). So to build on this, I’m focusing on community over competition in 2023. And I’ve distilled my expe...

If I were in charge of a music tech company, these would top my list of things to create. These three pieces of music tech don’t exist yet, or if there’s a version of them that does, there are things I’d change. Or maybe I’m not aware that they do exist! (Drop a comment with a link if they do!) What’s in this episode: 3 ideas for music gear and/or tech Why and how they’d be useful Recommended pric...

Wanna learn Ableton the best and fastest way? Start with these 7 tips that you can do before spending any money. I started using Ableton on stage to run tracks 20+ years ago. I made a lot of mistakes, but also did some things well. Book a 15-minute coaching session with me 👇 https://fs2s.link/15minute Book a 1-hour coaching session with me 👇 https://fs2s.link/oneonone Subscribe to this channel...

What goes into being a musical & exec producer for a live TV special? How do you manage 40+ musicians on stage? And how do you plan and prepare for it all within just a few weeks? Keith Everette Smith is here to break it all down for us. Keith and I have been friends for long enough to make us both feel old, and he recently invited me to run playback for a live TV special that he was producing...

Charge too much — no clients. Charge too little — wasting your time. These are both myths. Watch to find out why and learn how to set your rates for teaching Ableton (including a breakdown of my own rates and the reasoning behind them). If you’ve been using Ableton for a while and think you’re ready to start teaching others what you’ve learned, you need to figure out what you’re going to charge. E...

Ableton crashes suck. Take a deep breath, and let’s get you up and running ASAP. Few things are as frustrating as software not working properly. And I get it — you’re relying on Ableton for a live performance. You’ve gotta get this fixed RIGHT NOW! But you can’t rush through troubleshooting — at least not if you want to do it successfully. So do whatever you need to do to get a level head, and the...

Don’t make the mistake that brings so many solo live looping shows to a screeching halt. Instead, learn this simple concept from traditional on-stage performers. Bands and artists who play on a stage do this without even thinking. But it’s something live looping and solo artists sometimes overlook — because it’s not inherently built into the set up. If you don’t implement it, it can cause your who...

6 side hustle ideas for musicians and how to actually be successful with them. Making extra money from side hustles is completely possible. My entire company started as a side hustle, and I was able to grow it into my main source of income. You can sell your time, your knowledge, or both. In this video, I’m gonna help you get started so you can crush it in 2023. What you’ll learn: 3 ways to sell y...

Learn exactly when and how you should update your software and hardware. The tale is as old as time (well, as old as the internet has been around, I guess). There’s an update available and you jump on it. Next thing you know, things are broken and you’re chugging coffee trying to fix the mess. If you’ve had that happen, maybe you’ve resolved to avoid updates at all costs. But soon, you’re running...

A systematic process to help you quickly troubleshoot when things go wrong in Ableton Live. You can apply this process to anything in Ableton, and honestly anything else you’re troubleshooting. In this episode replay, you’ll learn the four steps to troubleshooting that will help you stay calm, find the problem, and quickly fix it. At the end, I’ll share some thoughts I have today and why I really...