Are you using Logic Pro or Mainstage in performances? I've used Mainstage for sampling, MIDI keyboards and it's absolutely wonderful.

this, or do the same with logic + realtime effects and the loop function. i've done that for a while and it works fine. logic is extremely easy to sync your midi devices to, pretty much just hit the learn key (mine is command+L, don't remember what default is), choose a parameter, click it, and turn the knob or press the button you want to assign it to. done. i have 8 knobs  right now, i usually have them set to hipass, lopass, master volume, x/y on a software kaoss-pad kinda thing, hishelf, loshelf, and "freeze." seems to cover most of my basic live fx needs.

also, alcohol! whatever you do, don't get Pepe Lopez, worst tequila ever. im a fan of the green rather than the booze.

Yes this definitely seems the way to go for me. Just have to see about syncing up all my controlls with logic. Sigh...

I am unfamiliar with logic for live performance.
But what I used to do before I used Ableton Live for everything, is render all parts and tracks of each song into loops, and then use Ableton to sequence it live, so you can basically do realtime remixes.

Now a days with all these button controllers, its a really easy and fun way to go. Add realtime effects (filter/flange/degrader/delay/distortion etc) and it's as live as you can get without playing a melody.

Yeah, my controller has all sorts of pots and faders on it.
Thanks for the help guys

+1

Follow Andrew's advice. You could even consider adding some extra instrumentation to your track on top of what's already there. Otherwise, effects are the easiest option and that's what I use when playing my Ableton stuff live.

Yeah I always thought I could spend money buying all this fancy equipment and not bothering to learn how to use it and just pretending

I didn't say anyone did.
I said I didn't know what I could do other than that which is why I'm asking what everyone else does.

Oh just mime it and pretend you're doing stuff

Clear one of your tracks and play the part live with your midi controller. Otherwise, if it's got knobs n shiz, link it to some effects to do live. Kids go crazy for slow cutoff fade-ins.

no, everyone. ever.

Not everyone just hits play.

if everything is on logic, get yrself a little midi board and play some stuff live! either to accompany what you have pre-recorded or you can drop some stuff out of your tracks and play that. having an instrument will make everything much more active and show that you're doing something.

and don't listen to an0va. beer isn't REALLY a necessity. i mean, it could be whiskey, vodka, malt beverages, whatever. but beer is a popular choice.

If you have some kind of way to trigger it, then that's where you should try.