FROM BASSIST TO PLAYBACK ENGINEER

How I Started Building Better Live Shows.

HEY! I’M NICK.

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably experienced the same problem I did: playback was supposed to make my shows better, but far too often, it made them more frustrating.

As a bassist for multiple artists in Nashville, I knew that playback was the key to having a professional-sounding show, yet I was baffled by how hard it was to use Ableton Live.

From technical difficulties to band members who claimed to know their way around the software but ultimately didn't, I was fed up watching playback make artist’s shows less creative and more stressful instead of the other way around.

I remember one rehearsal in particular where I was so fed up with Ableton, I said “let me give this a try.”

At that moment, I dove into learning Ableton Live for playback, determined to use it as a tool to build better live shows.

Since then, I’ve dedicated my career to mastering Ableton Live and integrating it into live performances in a way that enhances, not hinders, the artist’s vision.

Soon enough, I broke into the touring world.

I’ve been fortunate enough to work with internationally acclaimed artists like Andy Grammer, Pierce the Veil, Hunter Hayes, GAYLE, and many more, where I’ve been able to run playback at the highest level.

Some notable shows have been headlining Madison Square Garden, Red Rocks Amphitheater, and the Ryman Auditorium, and my playback work has been featured on TV performances such as A Capitol Fourth, The Today Show, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and many more.

People even started calling me an “Ableton Wizard” because of how fast I could edit and ensure flawless shows.

All this time, I wanted to help others facing the same challenges I did.

Learning Ableton is hard enough, and there’s not many places online that give tour-tested playback training. I understand the frustration of wanting to use Ableton as a tool to craft a perfect performance, but having to jump over technical hurdles to get there.

So I took to Instagram to share my knowledge and experience with fellow musicians, artists, and aspiring playback engineers who wanted to build better shows.

Thanks to all my amazing students, I’ve been able to grow from a few Instagram tutorials into a full-time coaching business.

I offer tour-tested playback training that demystifies Ableton Live and helps students run playback like a pro.

I want all my students to become the cool, confident playback engineer that every band dreams of having on their team. After all, playback engineers are musicians too, whose instrument just happens to be a computer.

Through my courses and coaching, dozens of students have learned to run playback like a pro, helping their artist, band, or church craft the live show of their dreams.

By purchasing a course, students take the first step toward building a better live show; one that is more creative and less stressful.

With my expert guidance, they leap from frustration to confidence, becoming known as the 'Ableton wizards' who make live performances unforgettable.

Artists I’ve Worked With

  • Andy Grammer

  • GAYLE

  • Pierce the Veil

  • Hunter Hayes

  • JVKE

  • Marc Scibilia

  • Brian Kelley

  • Chase Rice

  • Clay Walker

  • Eli Young Band

  • The Band Perry

  • Scotty McCreery

  • Priscilla Block

  • Callista Clark

  • Citipointe Church