Deadmau5 is a different kind of live performer, in his own words he’s ‘trying to redefine what is though of about the traditional DJ’. It’s not a new idea but Deadmau5 seems to hold the opinion that most DJ’s have become stale in their live performance techniques. With technology always growing and getting more advanced, how can a performer that doesn’t play a traditional instrument, turn their computer and equipment into an instrument itself? And what aspects define Deadmau5 from other DJ’s that turn his live shows into the kind that sell out venues.
What equipment does he use?
It’s easy to go on stage and just press play on a laptop, as a performer that doesn’t play an instrument live it’s important to get across the fact that you’re actually doing something, Deadmau5 get’s around this problem by simply giving himself a lot to do while onstage. Primarily the audio is controlled by Ableton Live and performed using a variety of different controller devices. For the main mixing of instrument levels and certain effects Deadmau5 use’s the Allen & Heath Xone 4D
This controller device can be mapped with Ableton to control the volume levels of the pre-recorded loops, he appears to also use it as a device for triggering certain effects and/or the parameters of that effect. This can be an effective way of controlling the master tracks of a song more dynamically rather than having predetermined volume and effect /parameter levels. However his main controller for effects is the Jazzmutant lemur.
This is a very versatile device as it can be completely customized to fit any kind of trigger you want depending what kind of functionality you want out of it. Deadmau5 uses it as the primary way of controlling his effects. What’s great about this device is its ability to take a simple effect parameter and turn it into a visual instrument; this makes it far more intuitive to play.
The interesting thing about these controller devices is how it changes the way we think of a live performer, and especially DJs that often have a niche audiences and not drawing in the crowds of a stadium gig. They also create the ability to improvise live, changing and altering to fit the mood of a crowd. This makes the audience feel like the artist is performing something unique for them. I think soon more and more artists will embrace this new technology and idea of a traditionalist band will fade.
When playing live an artist such as deadmau5 will experience difficulties in emulating the sounds heard on a record. An important aspect of house/dance is the side chaining certain synths or basses to the kick drum. This problem is addressed in ableton, as the compressor has a side-chaining option. It’s important when playing live to keep in mind the effects of it not being mastered like in the studio.
How does it go from the studio to a live performance?
Deadmau5’s goes about setting up his ableton sounds like such; First of all the real song will be recorded. Deadmau5 will record a riff using analog synths and will do all his quantization manually. The sounds produced will be recorded into ableton as an instrument using no MIDI. This makes it easier to export all the sounds into ableton for use in a live performance. One of the key elements of any House performance is the lack of any break in the sound. Using ableton deadmau5 is able to take any sound recorded sound from a song and seamlessly use it over any kind of ‘4 to the floor’ drum beat. Essentially this makes it very easy to mix from one track to another.
What makes Deadmau5’s live show unique?
Deadmau5 has recently become renown for his live show. During the performance he wears a full size mouse head. I think this kind of alter ego is important to his performance. This makes deadmaus5 less of a real person and more of a character. This kind of theatrics enhances the mood, and is a well-tested way of getting the crowd going with people such as Daft Punk and Slipknot employing the same technique. Another way of he heavily enhances his show is through an extravagant light show. The lights are all automated to work in time with the songs. This creates an epic atmosphere, which in turn enhances the feel of the overall performance.
People such as Deadmau5 are changing the way we think about live electronica. With so much possible that was impossible even 15 years ago, live electronic performance is constantly changing. Now performers have the ability to incorporate any variety of sounds - live to enhance or even change the way they play music. All this can be easily accomplished with programs such as ableton, even with more traditional bands who just want a few synths now and then. Again I think the key element here is the performance, when seeing someone you want to feel they are performing and with such intuitive technology it’s never been easier.
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