I tell my team, experience and workflow.
I use 2 global stacks for the vocals. Each one is routed to two separate output channels in VST Live, one for each singer. On the output channels I use the insert effects, usually EQ and compression. These channels go separately to the X18 console. There I add Reverb, delay, and EQ tweaks, according to the characteristics of the space where the show is being held. The singers are monitored by in-ears from the X18, but receive the clean signal on duplicate channels, without going through VST Live. This avoids any latency perception problems, and allows me to adjust them according to the needs of each singer, since those signals are not sent to the PA (the processed signals from VST Live go to the PA).
The bass and guitar stacks are also routed to separate output channels in the VST Live Mixer. There is one channel for the distorted guitars, another for the clean ones, and another for the bass. From there, they go to separate channels on the x18. Again, the processes are applied to the VST Live output channels, where I put EQ and compression, and finally, some correction can be added to the individual channels on the X18. I use Stacks for song parts, a project can have up to 300 Stacks, but around 5 are playing at the same time (2 Vocals, guitars and bass).
The click also goes to a dedicated output channel, but I use a click converted to audio, it’s more practical for me, I can edit it, make silences, announcements, etc.
The backing tracks go to a stereo output on VST Live and from there to the x18.
The drummer uses a Roland TD30, directly to the x18 (at some point we will automate the bank changes, via midi, from VST Live.
From the x18, the monitoring is done for each of the members (We use 5 inears mixes, and eventually a sixth floor monitor mix.).
For now the lights and visuals are triggered live, from the stage, we have a member who is dedicated to that, he uses lightkey and modul8/resolume, from another Mac, maybe at some point we will try with VST Live.
The equipment used for live is a Macbook Pro M1 Pro, 32 Gb Ram. Bheringer XR18 console
Thank you so much for all your detailed feedbacks !
I am considering Mac mini as well as a Mini PC on Windows 11. As I am very new to Mac, at about 1000€, would you prefer a Mac Mini with M2 PRO and 16Gb RAM or a M4 (not PRO) with 24Gb of RAM, both with a SSD ouf 512GB ?
Unlike the M4, the M2 Pro has a form factor that could fit into a 2U Half rack such as this one : Flyht Pro Stage Rack 9,5" 2U Double Door – Thomann Ireland (like the setup in the video on the first post)
Hi @Shiroryu ! I would prefer MAC if decision is not yet made. I dont want to start a flame, but - in my experience - OSX handles these things better…
I did not make a decision yet but a Mac mini M4 seems to be a good choice if I can manage to fit it into a half-rack with my MOTU ultralight MK5.
I plan to power the MOTU from a 15V/1A (15W) adapter connected to a Power Delivery Thunderbolt 4 USB port of the MAC mini. It should be OK I guess because PD can go up to 100W max. When the Mac is working hard, I guess the thunderbolt port could still easily deliver the 15W required by the MOTU.
Do you think a 512 GB SSD will be enough to store the Mac OS, VST Live and all the guitar plugins ?
And regarding RAM, I guess 24 Gb would be OK ?
OSX takes about 40-50GB,
VST Live + FX.plugins… not too much…
And the spece for WAV and VIDEO files (If you want to use).
VSTInstruments… thaaat you have to check their lib sizes…
RAM also depends on… but I think 16GB RAM is currently enough… so for sure 24GB will be even better. But again… you need to look all your plugins alltogether…
About MOTU, the USB-C connector is USB2 compliant… so I’m not sure if it is bus powered, or not. You need to check this deeper
I finally bought the MAC mini M4 base model with 16Gb RAM and 256Gb SSD. I have 14 days to test it before returning it if it is not powerfull enough.
Then let’s go! 
After installing VST Live and a few plugins, I still have 200Gb left on the 256Gb SSD. And the CPU goes much lower than on my PC 
I still have to add more songs to test the CPU load, but as of now, things are going well !
M4 ARM is overkill
We found and fixed the problem for the next version, give it a try.
Here is the setup :
- MAC mini M4 with 16Gb of RAM and 256 Gb of SSD
- MOTU Ultralight Mk5
- Shure GLXD16+ wireless
- IPad with Astropad software to control the MAC via Peer to Peer WIFI (no router needed)
- A USB power delivery adapter
- Some MyVolts adapters to get power from USB for the MOTU and the GLXD16+
The whole setup is inside a 1/2 rack from Thomann and fits into my backpack.
Great! Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome.
One small issue is that I have to run VST Live in full screen mode on the IPad otherwise, the “Play” button disapears due to the screen being too small. I am using Astropad software to use the Ipad as a remote tactile display for the Mac mini.
Hmmm, basically recent iPads are sold with min of FHD displays, where you shouldn’t have such problem. Maybe some setting to provide FHD resolution?
The default resolution on IPad via Astropad is 1180x820. It seems that, at this resolution, VST Live cannot draw the Play button unless in full screen mode.
And even in fullscreen mode, the right side of VST Live is cut quite a bit : e.g. there is no scroll bar nor scroll button on the right side, which can be annoying on the Tracks and Mixer views.