The Ultimate Guide to Worship Keys 2021

Gear mentioned in video:

0:00 Introduction
01:33 Software vs. Hardware Keyboard Rig
04:00 Anatomy of a Worship Keyboard Rig
5:00 The Computer
06:28 Midi Controller Keyboard
07:49 Audio Interface
10:04 Accessories
10:37 Nanokontrol 2
13:08 Keyboard Stand
14:57 Introduction to Mainstage
16:50 The Sunday Keys Template
18:20 Patches and Layers
20:15 Custom Sounds
21:25 Worship Setlist Demo
32:00 Tips for Implementation

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[danielho]

Technology is fine and dandy .. when it works. As a computer tech, keyboard player and sound engineer, I would suggest having a Plan B if/when the computer goes SOL.
I would suggest setting up the keyboard to have a favorites patch section with common sounds: acoustic piano, acoustic piano + strings, e. piano, e piano + strings, e piano + pad, keyboard w/ split bass on left, etc. I'd run the quarter-inch outs of the piano into a Radial Engineering DI box or equivalent DI w/ a Jensen transformer. I'd also make sure that the sound engineer has the proper EQ settings.
Another thing that is rarely mentioned is the need for having a private talkback mic (with switch) on stage so that anyone on the worship team can communicate problems to the sound booth. Likewise, the sound booth needs to have a private talkback mic setup. The booth talkback system needs to run independently of the main console, so a cheap $50 mixer and Roland CM-30 powered speaker would work great.

[climbthatmountain]

Your "family piano" patch, really spoke to my heart. Mother's old furniture piano (an early 80's vintage), sounds so much, like this!

[jaisonstanley]

totally in love with this! Brilliant video guys

[danielho]

Great info. Re: keyboard stand 13:04 -- I absolutely hate X-style adjustable keyboard stands. There's a trampoline effect when playing notes on the lower or higher end of the board. The best ones look more like a table -- four legs make the whole rig much more stable. I also like the "gutted upright piano" idea. Just fantastic.

[allendunning]

Your statements regarding a software keyboard rig using Mainstage being easier for for the worship leader to train "volunteer" keyboard players vs a hardware based keyboard rig would only apply to the simplest level of playing keys - layering piano, pads, synth lead, and maybe a synth bass, which in fact can be as easily done on a hardware keyboard such as that Yamaha you were using as a MIDI controller. It appears that the patches included with Mainstage do not allow you to really reproduce the sounds/patches used on current contemporary worship songs. A more realistic representation of what is actually required of the keyboard player was exemplified by David's preparation to play the four songs with your worship team. He used sounds/patches that he had made from Sunday Keys. He had to learn the song's elements, pick the sounds to be used to reproduce them, and where to use them in the songs. Note he even used a pre-prepared "song specific patch" from Sunday Keys. The keyboard parts on the original songs likely used different software, such as Reason, Native Instruments, Omnisphere, and Keyscape or others. Even then it's more likely than not that the keyboardist "tweaked" the sound's/patch's ADSR or filters. I think the more current practice is to use a combination rig with both hardware and software; examples seen frequently are combinations of Nord, Roland, or Yamaha hardware with Native Instruments, Omnisphere, and Keyscape, software (and yes Sunday Keys) inside of either Mainstage or Ableton. Certainly an all software rig is possible, but there will be other problems of insufficient RAM, audio glitches, and dropouts when you actually try to reproduce all of the keyboard sounds/parts that exist in current worship songs. Nevertheless this was an excellent video in which David demonstrated what is really involved for the keyboard player.

[lebate.j.]

Thank you for your teaching.. May God bless you..

[hansfranz]

Hey! Great Video!
An important fact might be that the MX88 (if it’s the V.2) has a build in Audio Interface. So actually you can even save the money on the quite pricey radial di-Box. I use my ultra light-weight mx49 for several church-services already and I like this easy Setup. My Heavy Nord Stage 3 is now mainly at home 😅. From Time to Time the Build-in Sounds are totally enough. When more sounds are needed i use mainstage for the additional fancy Sound, use an usb c/b cable and I‘m ready to Go.
I really like your approach, the Times of carrying heavy boards from distant parking Lots into uphill churches are finally over! 😄
Keep up the good work! 🙏🏻😊

[justincharles]

This is good set-up. Thanks for sharing. Is there an option of buying Sunday’s Sound Keys Rigs and it patches instead of subscription? Thanks and God bless..

[GARDENHOUSEFILMS]

so excited to have found this!! answers so many questions I have had floating around my brain! thank you!

[timroberts]

the Hillsong / charismatic style complex keyboard setup.. it's interesting it's evolved like this. actually i think the closest parallel if we look at mainstream churches, or church keyboard history, is the pipe organ.. setting up pipe organ pistons (presets), and stop selection is quite an intricate thing with church organists! so having realised this historical / classical music parallel, i think it's really cool what Hillsong and modern keys players are doing with their keyboard / computer rigs. And then there are digital pipe organs, whose sounds many of them have been amazing for 20 years or more now.. their operating systems and USB and I/Os clunky, but slowly catching up and laptop software more advanced / useful.

[IAMCM]

Thank u so much I wonder if u can use a DAW Software Logic rather than Abeleton Fx for worship effects

[SiPastor]

I enjoyed watching. I pray that this software would soon be available for windows. Most Churches in the Philippines uses Windows.

[tanjeckdanielafanui]

Jake you guys are doing an amazing job lighting your videos... I it

[joseisrael]

Wow, these two legends in one same video?
reality will crumble

[jthomas]

What stand are you using for your MacBook? Can you please add that to the amazon list

[kyleg]

Here's an obscure one for you; What's the make/model on that music stand you have holding the Air? Awesome presentation!!

[onzkicg]

Hi kindly add the laptop stand link on description and Radial thing. Thanks!

[timhartnell]

I’m using Gig Performer on a windows laptop. Amazing alternative to main stage or ableton.

[martinlaceyphoto]

Great production on this video. Well done.

[stevecopeland]

Guys you are awesome. My only suggestion is to wear your swag. David you have a perfect Black shirt with SundaySounds on the front. Would really like to see how the Worship set worked out.