KevBowerHell wrote:I didn't realise the whole PA had gone off at the same time, every time. This sounds exactly like a power outage on a generator's circuitbreaker. But as I already explained - if WT were using Ableton to run all the lighting and other systems as well (which is quite normal these days) - it sounds like at this point in the song, a shedload of stuff was all being sent from Ableton to the lighting rig and other onstage systems - which were then for a splitsecond asking the genny to instantly deliver more current than it was capable of. Bang - circuitbreaker trips. It's certainly happened to us - so who knows?
Thanks for the insight into Ableton. The stage lights were still on each time the track stopped dead @ the same point so the generators were still providing power. Festival power rigs are always overspecified; it should be impossible for a performers app server to blow main circuit breakers no matter what. This should only happen if there is a serious fault eg a short cct on a power feed or damage caused by lightning strikes etc. It is highly unlikely that the problems earlier in the tour also blew cct breakers in totally different set ups as suggested.
A band such as Opeth ditched backing tape type apps that control the performers on stage; they have used a live keyboard player on stage in order to free the main band members up to perform, improvise - whatever, make mistakes even - that is what makes live performance of the same music different (enjoyable, interesting) each time.
Call me a flat earther if you like but live music should be performed by artists, realtime. In my view controlling apps can create a 'zombe' like (forgive the pun !) presentation.
Even old fashioned backing tapes were controversial but came about when solo artists could not afford live backing or a venue was too small to accomodate them.
Ableton could, if overused, give rise to a sterile bland performance as it would control the timeline even rhythm (as could backing tapes if more than an ambient soundscape). In addition, it is unclear when such apps are now being used as to what exactly we are listening to 'live' : all, less or nothing ? This is highlighted by the kind of failure experienced with WT.
Bands claim that they make little from album sales now & that festivals are where the real money is.
I am not ashamed to admit that I saw Moby headline Glasto (initially reluctantly) but he was brilliant on manic electronic keyboards etc, yet he splashed out on live orchestral musicians to back him; he controlled them ! I would have preferred WT to have engaged a number of players instead of having just 1 cellist & playing us a recording from whatever source/medium. I am begining to think that 'live' symphonic metal is doomed to oblivion if this carries on...
Considering all this, I do not wish to turn up to hear a 'live' headline act when I am not sure if I am actually listening to the off stage server streaming in part or in total !