Running my live rig through a laptop

[TheDastardlySir]

I've been doing some solo work with ableton and maschine and wanted a more streamlined way to play bass live with the electronics.

What I had in mind was running:

Bass -> pedalboard -> interface -> laptop then running the bass channel in the daw to an output from the interface to run into the amp.

The idea is that I can live loop the bass with the same click track as the electronic loops or even run an effects chain in the software for effects that aren't great in pedals (bitcrush, hpf, beat repeat, stutter)

Questions: 1) am I just begging for latency? 2) is there a better way to do this? 3) recommendations on an interface?

 

[JehuJava]

1. Latency shouldn't be an issue provided you set Live up correctly, have plenty of RAM, and your CPU is powerful enough.

2. This a great way to do this IMO. You get a LOT of effect, looping, synth, etc options in one package. The trade off is it's not quite as easy as bending over and twisting a knob on a pedal. It takes a bit more preparation and forethought. Not to mention all the great free plugins. AND if you want to get super crazy there is Max for Live where you can create your own VSTs. For the goodies and flexibility you get with this set up, you rig actually is smaller than if you had all the same goodies and features but in analog boxes. The trade off is worth it IMO.

3. Any current interface will work fine. On older ones you'd have to get FireWire, but I think all the new ones are either FW or USB 2.0. Just plan for your input, output, and midi needs.

I go:

Bass > old Presonus FireBox > MacBook with Live > same FireBox > amp.

I use a Liquid-Foot foot pedal to do all the turnings on and off via midi through the FireBox. Assignable expression pedals plug right into the pedal.

Give this a watch:

 

[JehuJava]

Btw...I incorporate Maschine and a midi keyboard into my setup too.