The Great Shift

November 25th, 2012 No Comments

I have, as most of you know, been busy building and equipping what now is my recording studio. First I thought that I’d just have a few ‘real’ synthesizers to complement the ones on my computer.

But as it turned out (yes, my ideas have a tendency to take a life and will of their own) I’m going all out with an complete analog studio, able to record through an analog console onto an equally analog eight-track half-inch reel-to-reel.

Well of course in the end it will all be digital, as all my main distribution channels are digital; iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and my own web store  I also still have the option of doing pure digital recordings, should I want. But I feel that where my music are now, the analog sound is perfect for me. And when you hear the new material I hope you will agree.

And yes, I have got quite a few questions on what gear I am using – so here goes:

——START NERD SEGMENT——

  • DSI Prophet 80
  • Alesis Ion
  • Nord Lead 2
  • Roland JP-8000
  • Manikin Schrittmacher
  • Studio Electronics ATC-1
  • Vermona DRM1 MkIII
  • Novation Drumstation
  • Sherman Filterbank II
  • Roland JV-1080
  • EMU Proteus 2000

All mixed on a Behringer Eurodesk MX 3282A console plus a rack with hardware compressors and effects, recorded to a Tascam 38-8 half-inch reel-to-reel, sent via a Presonus 1818vsl audio interface (here it goes digital) to my computer.

——-END NERD SEGMENT——-

This marks several major shifts for how I make music and what music I make. First it’s a shift back, to when I started recording and there were no digital equipment around, no MIDI and no computers. But it’s also a shift forward as I am using some really new tech to make this all work. And finally, it’s a huge shift in the way I approach both the composing and the production aspect of music making.

It’s all different, exiting and a bit scary. I hope that you soon will be able to be a part of this.

Until then, as always
Peace::Interzone

Read More »

Words and Sounds – A new collaboration

June 30th, 2012 No Comments

About a year ago I stumbled across a poem that really caught my eye. It was named Insert the knife an inch below the ear and twist and it stopped me dead in the tracks. You can find it here - and I suggest you go and read it now.

The author behind it, and many more just as good, is a woman by the name of Penny Goring. She has blog of her own and for those of you that like the written word you should really check it out. It is found here.

And if you – like me – are really into Penny’s world of wonderful words, go and buy her book - Zoom Zoom – on Lulu Marketplace.

So it was a moment of great joy when she accepted to read and record two of her poems for me to put soundscapes and music to them! At first I was afraid I had bitten of more than I could swallow, but after I listened to the poems thoroughly I started to get two very different ideas. And yes, I actually sat in the dark with headphones on.

I am not gonna go anywhere near of interpreting or describing the meaning of the poems. I’ll let you figure that one out for yourselves. But the first one – called Ancient Victorians – begged only for a very soft and ambient soundscape flowing and floating in the background, enhancing the voice and words.

The second piece with the naked name of I Fear asked for a different approach. I felt it necessary to give it dynamics, tension and dramatization. So we ended up with a more classic track more themed track that fits well to Penny’s voice.

Now the best news is that all this is available to you as free downloads! Yes, just hop over to Interzone Download and see for yourself. Or why not listen right now? Both tracks are on the player below. Enjoy.

 

Peace::Interzone

Read More »

Studio Inkwell – part five: Done!

June 19th, 2012 No Comments

Hi again.

Well, the next step after moving in was to decide what should go where. Not really easy, but after a few not-so-good attempts  I finally decided on how all the keyboards and synths should be placed, where the carpets should go, the computer and both computer screens, mixing desk, audio interface, outboard effects, speakers… That list became a really long one. Really long.

So finally I had everything where I wanted – now it was just a matter of connecting them all. So I soon found myself crawling around among line cables, USB and MIDI cables, CAT5 and speaker cables. And power chords. …yet again a long list.

Now I had some MIDI keyboards plugged into the computer, some hardware synths into a big analog mixer…into an audio interface…into the computer. And…ok, I’ll stop here and draw a schematic for you hard-core nerds out there.

Anyway – time to flip the switch (actually, a lot of switches) and see if this all worked as I planned – and IT DID!

So ladies and Gentlemen, let me present to you in all its big little glory: Studio Inkwell

Studio Inkwell

There are of course minor stuff to be fixed. More lamps. A better chair. Posters on the walls.  Room for a fx rack. But, music has already been produced in the studio. Two tracks “Ancient Victorians” and “I Fear” was made in collaboration with the wonderful English poet Penny Goring. More on that in my next post here. Until then, as always:

Peace::Interzone

Read More »
« Older Entries
Subscribe to RSS Feed