MULTITRACK mode is a great feature, but it is not fully utilised as it has been designed to cater to a certain user group. I perform solo and don’t use multitrack mode as it offers me very little on stage that will impress my audience , what would make me want to use multitrack songs if I had the ability to instantly SOLO tracks and MUTE tracks with a simple one button push without leaving the main player or hiding my lyrics.
Manipulating the audience is something that needs to be simple and easy otherwise it is not worth having , sometimes I just want the drum beat to keep playing so I can improvise , I should be able to hit a SOLO button and away I go then I might go to a chorus using my loop selector as the chorus begins I hit BASS SOLO and introduce the bass player as well, as the guitar solo approaches I should be able to clear all SOLOS with one button push and presto the whole backing is introduced and I’m off to my guitar solo, as I’m singing away I should be able to mute on the run the backing vocals because I have been joined by a live singer that appeared from nowhere , and so on, the combinations are endless but this is not possible now, the multitrack idea has been purely designed for people that pre program their performances, I am not saying that’s bad I am just saying MULTITRACK has got a lot more to offer solo artists if the interface was designed to operate the multitrack buttons live , I would definitely be considering using multitracks in that case.
To me the ability to control the audience is most important having speed and pitch control is great , multitrack mode looses that and yet it gives nothing else worth while when performing because it lacks the SOLO/MUTE buttons.
If these buttons were available in combination with loops it would create a very powerful tool to tantalise the audience.
My other request would be to introduce 4 buttons to trigger effects of choice for each song, so you could trigger on the run a sound / sample , this way you could trigger instantly on top of your backing tracks or in stop mode , basically a great tool to be creative and spontaneous on the run while performing , this then would take ST3 to an absolute powerhouse of audience manipulation.
Having these type of control power would definitely make me want multitrack mode instead of a stereo file.
Perhaps ST3 needs to be split in to two versions one for great audience manipulation and one for bigger band needs .
Once you pre program a lot of stuff you tend to be fixed in your performance, the less you pre program gives you more freedom to surprise the audience and manipulate them, I try not to over program songs with midi commands for everything because this locks you in to a boring routine having easy control of loops and hopefully multitrack SOLO/MUTE buttons gives you freedom.
Anyway that’s my thoughts as I keep using ST3 with a grin on my face every time I get on stage.
Thanks Peter 👍