Everything is now software based, with some outboard gear of course to play, control & listen to it. There are literally
hundreds of software synths, effects and so on, some free, some very expensive. I feel now though that I have got what I need
to create and produce the sort of music styles that I like to work on. I've reduced the synths and effects to give myself a
core of quality gear that I can study in depth and use to their full potential in time. You never stop learning!
Outboard
Gear:
M-Audio Keystation 88ES full size keyboard - essential with so much software incorporating key-switching, Kenton Control Freak,
Soundcraft Spirit Folio mixing desk, Phonic M1002a mixing desk, Spirit Absolute 2 studio speakers, Denon amp. The Control Freak is
programmable so that I can control and record the knobs and faders of the onboard software synthesisers, effects processors, mixers
etc via midi commands.
A Windows PC powerful enough to run the music software! Having said that, they're never powerful enough
are they?
The soundcard, for want of a better word, cost more than the computer and is a Creamware Sonic Core Pulsar II card. This
really is everything you need because the Scope software includes synthesisers, effects, mixers, modular synthesizers and a whole
range of other features. It's simply superb. It's a full software studio.
Music Software:
For sequencing, recording and mixing
I use Cubase 4. I use Wavelab for manipulating audio files, mixing, mastering etc. I also manipulate audio files with Recycle
and Goldwave. There are quite a lot of other utilities that I use too.
Synthesizers:
From basic synthesizers to massive modular
synths, the Scope system has it all, including many 3rd party ones. I currently use 35 of these from the MiniMoog I always wanted,
the 303 soundalikes, ethereal synths for space pads and so much more to cover just about any type of music genre. I use the
Modular Synths versions 1, 2 & 3 plus Flexor and these are simply brilliant. They're the Tangerine Dream synths I always
wanted.
Of course, the Scope synths are just the start and I use some really great VST synths.
I mainly use the following (although
there are lots, lots more):
Garritan Personal Orchestra - full orchestral samples. So realistic and so powerful.
East West Symphonic
Choirs - a massive package that allows me to make use of full choirs. It includes software that allows you to type in any phrases,
words etc and the choir will sing them to whatever music you write. Sounds easy, but it is a very complicated package and hard
to get them sounding realistic. Listen to my Agnus Dei track, as an example, on the downloads page.
For sampling and samples
I use Kontakt 3: This is a superb sampler and I use this a lot with another choral package - Spectrasonic Symphony of Voices.
For
dance music I use Vanguard and 3 synths from Superwave - Trance-Pro, Performer and Superwave-Pro. Vanguard is the best!
The best
synths around though come from Spectrasonics and I own Atmosphere, Omnisphere, Trilogy, Trilian and Stylus RMX (with lots of expansion
packs).
Atmosphere and now Omnisphere are awesome synths for ethereal pads, ambient and much, much more. Trilogy and
now Trilian are for bass (acoustic, electric & synth) and Stylus RMX is the ultimate "drum machine".
Other synths include
MTron - the mellotron (think Moody Blues, Tangerine Dream etc.) and the standard ones that come with Cubase.
I also own up to having
Vocaloid Lola - a solo singer package where, again, you can type in the words for her to sing. She's not that good but is useful
as a scratchpad for real vocalists who use some of my works.
Naturally I have lots of sample CD's of various styles that I can mangle
up and use in tracks too.
Effects:
Too numerous to mention but lots and lots within Scope (the best) and within the VST environment
too. Effects and production is a weak spot for me, but I'm studying and getting there.
