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." Logan's maxed-out MacBook Pro currently runs the entire show — tracks, vocal tuning, keys, guitar patch changes — and he wants to know whether a powerful computer makes division of labor unnecessary. It doesn't, because the question was never if that computer crashes. So we walk the diagrams: what actually stops working when one machine does everything and goes down, where to start when the budget is real, which splits cost nothing, and the one question that decides what deserves a backup at all. Last week's episode: The in-ears video I got wrong — and the one I should have made Listener-exclusive: a 14-day free trial of a full paid Pliris account — fromstudiotostage.com/pliris/friend. It isn't linked or advertised anywhere on the site; it's for people who listen. Chapters 0:00 Where we left off last week 1:34 "I run everything on one computer" 2:44 So what happens when it goes down? 3:17 Division of labor, in one diagram 4:10 Redundancy — and what it buys you 5:17 "I feel sort of doomed and stuck" 5:52 Logan's email 7:03 How do you apply this without endless budget? 11:39 "Just play your damn instruments, kids" 12:35 What if you lose autotune? 14:22 Be honest about what your show needs 16:35 What you can split for free 17:26 Split as far as budget allows 18:37 Step one — division of labor 20:46 Step two — redundancy for playback 21:49 It used to be expensive. It isn't now. 24:10 Step three — redundancy for what's crucial 27:24 "What must stay on for the show to go on" 28:25 Zero budget? Start anyway 30:16 Free trial + the annual commitment 31:07 Only you are in charge of your destiny ★ Support this podcast ★

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 failures were a photographer stepping on a power cable, and the guy whose bassist and drummer felt latency he couldn't — and I say what I should have said the first time. It comes down to two things. It isn't can you, it's should you. And what happens when that computer crashes — which isn't a matter of if. Next week: how we practically apply redundancy and division of labor when we don't have unlimited budget, aren't traveling, and aren't playing arenas with giant teams. The video this episode is about: What's Wrong With Using Ableton to Run In-Ear Monitors? Listener-exclusive: a 14-day free trial of a full paid Pliris account — fromstudiotostage.com/pliris/friend. It isn't linked or advertised anywhere on the site; it's for people who listen. Chapters 0:00 The video I got wrong 0:53 Why I made it — and why it was off-subject 1:44 The eight reasons, and what they missed 3:15 "I run IEMs through my interface without problems" 4:02 Ten years, one Logic session, European festivals 5:19 It's not can you — it's should you 6:40 The line I should have opened with 7:35 What a stepped-on power cable actually costs you 10:08 When your drummer feels latency and you don't 11:05 What it really takes, part one: 32 inputs 14:20 Ten outputs — and the problem front-of-house can't fix 16:35 The split snake 18:22 Scaling it to a full band 20:10 Why would you manage all of this? 21:32 Where this video ended up: the bootcamps 23:20 It comes down to two things 23:46 A listener-only offer 26:01 Jonny's comment — and what's next week ★ Support this podcast ★

Nate Day and Mat Landry of Toronto's Eights Creative on falling into playback, what music direction actually is, and staying un-jaded when nobody thanks the tech.

After 327 days away, here's what I've been up to and why I haven't been posting on social media or YouTube!

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 Freehttps://fromstudiotostage.com/templateSend us a question on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/fromstudiotostageig/Links & Resources Mentioned in this Videohttps://pages.fromstudiotostage.com/backline ★ Support this podcast ★

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/enTake your first step towards becoming a world-class Playback Engineer, download our free Playback Template!Download for Freehttps://fromstudiotostage.com/templateSend us a question on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/fromstudiotostageig/Links & Resources Mentioned in this Videohttps://pages.fromstudiotostage.com/backline ★ Support this podcast ★

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 Freehttps://fromstudiotostage.com/templateSend us a question on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/fromstudiotostageig/Links & Resources Mentioned in this Videohttps://pages.fromstudiotostage.com/backline ★ Support this podcast ★

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 Freehttps://fromstudiotostage.com/templateSend us a question on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/fromstudiotostageig/Links & Resources Mentioned in this Videohttps://pages.fromstudiotostage.com/backlinePlayAUDIO1UiConnectivity AUDIO4c ★ Support this podcast ★

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 Freehttps://fromstudiotostage.com/templateSend us a question on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/fromstudiotostageig/Links & Resources Mentioned in this Videohttps://pages.fromstudiotostage.com/backlinePlayAUDIO1U ★ Support this podcast ★

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 Freehttps://fromstudiotostage.com/templateSend us a question on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/fromstudiotostageig/Links & Resources Mentioned in this Videohttps://pages.fromstudiotostage.com/backline ★ Support this podcast ★