Music Production Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#94: Cuckoo - Live Performance, Synths, Overcoming Challenges Jan 04, 2019

Show notes

Cuckoo is well-known for his playful personality, fun music, and deep music-gear tutorials with the little circular mirror. Music Radar just voted him the best music tech personality in the world. I first came across Cuckoo in 2011 when he started producing some of the best OP-1 tutorials, which showed me creative ways to use the OP-1. Since then, he has consistently stepped up his game, providing ever more useful tutorials, sound packs, and inspiring jams.

After months of discussion, Cuckoo and I finally found a time to talk that fit our 6-hour timezone separation. Cuckoo generously shared some of his tips at staying productive and completing big projects. But he also opened up about the challenges of creation that we all face. It was comforting to know that someone like Cuckoo, with near superhuman output, still struggles to overcome these very human challenges. He offered some of his techniques he uses to persevere. It was a great candid and relaxing conversation that I've been excited to have for some time now. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

Official Site - Connect to all things Cuckoo.

Instagram - Check out Cuckoo's jams and explorations of his musical toys.

YouTube - Plenty of long-form tutorials on the latest gear.

Patreon - Cuckoo's work involves a lot of time, energy, and experience, if you like it, help him out!

Samples and Packs - Lots of unique and Cuckoo-styled sound packs.

BandCamp - Listen to Cuckoo's music.

Music Radar - Music Radar just named Cuckoo the best music tech personality in the world!

Tindra's Light - Cuckoo's animated short film.

Cuckoo Clothing - Get your Cuckoo shirts, hoodies, and tank tops.

VDMX - Live visuals software.

Do Ink - iPad animation software.

Yea Yea Yea - Short cartoon music video I made some years ago.

Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site AfroDJMac.com for music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs.

Brian Funk

AfroDJMac

#93: Margaret Harmer - Producer, Percussionist; Voices From Eris Dec 25, 2018

Show notes

Margaret Harmer is a trained percussionist and electronic music producer. She runs a professional recording and production studio called Shifting Waves. Margaret just finished work on Voices From Eris, a collaborative album featuring female electronic artists from around the world. Voices From Eris brings together women of all different backgrounds, and is made up of all different styles of electronic music.

I first met Margaret through my work with Berklee Online, while facilitating the Ableton Live sampling course. Maraget's music and her dedication to growth and exploration stood out immediately. In this episode of the podcast, Margaret discusses her work, background, and the tremendous effort which went into Voices From Eris.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play

Show Notes:

Official Site - The main place for Margaret's work.

Voices From Eris - Foundraiser site.

Voices From Eris - SoundCloud site.

Voices From Eris - BandCamp site.

The store of Voices From Eris - Margaret writes about the process of producing the album.

YouTube - Margaret's performances and experiments.

Shifting Waves - Margaret's recording studio and label.

The artists featured in the episode:

Meri Nikula / Ode To The Women Who Were Silenced

Sweden

http://www.merinikula.com

https://vimeo.com/merinikula

Jude Casseday aka dejacusse / Song of Sirens

Durham, North Carolina, USA

https://dejacusse.blog

https://soundcloud.com/dejacusse

Rosa Latva / Merenneito

Finland

www.rosalatva.com

rosalatva.bandcamp.com

Peggy Nelson / Sagitta

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

http://velveteenbenjamin.com/

https://soundcloud.com/otolythe

Sissel Berntsen / Black stone gong

Norway

http://sisselberntsen.no

https://soundcloud.com/sissle/wldpool2017

Sofy Yuditskaya / Persephone's song

New York, USA

http://yuditskaya.com

Margaret Harmer / There is a way

Geneva, Switzerland

http://www.shiftingwaves.com

https://www.youtube.com/user/MargaretHarmer

Brian Funk

AfroDJMac

#92: Huston Singletary - Ableton Content Creator; Singularities Dec 18, 2018

Show notes

Huston Singletary is the lead sound designer for preset creation at Ableton. He heads a team of sound designers that create the "sound" of Live. Over the years, Huston has done sound design and preset creation for numerous instruments, including Omnisphere, Novation Peak, Prophet X, and so many more. He documents a lot of his work and experiments on his Instagram page. Today, Ableton has released a free gift created by Huston called Singularities. Singularities is a collection of 40 Instrument Racks Huston built from samples of classic synthesizers.

In this episode, Huston discusses his role at Ableton and the team of talented sound designers he has assembled to create the beautiful palette of sounds featured in Ableton Live. He discusses his brand new free pack, Singularities, which is available on Ableton's site for all versions of Ableton Live 10. Huston generously shares some of his wisdom on designing sounds, programming synths, and working with a well-rounded team of talented sound designers. This one is a real treat for the synth-nerds out there! Enjoy.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play

Show Notes:

Singularities - 40 free Ableton Live Instruments from Ableton, created by Huston.

Instagram - Huston has been posting great jams and performances on IG.

Bandcamp - Listen to Huston's music on Bandcamp.

Art + Music + Technology - Listen to Huston on Darwin Grosse's excellent podcast.

Brian Funk

AfroDJMac

#91: Claire Marie Lim: Electronic Digital Instruments and the Future of Music Education Dec 14, 2018

Show notes

Claire Marie Lim is a music technologist, interdisciplinary artist, and live performance designer. A recent graduate of Berklee College of Music, Claire is a multi-instrumentalist who produces music as dolltr!ck. Claire has played an important role in planning and developing Berklee's new Electronic Digital Instrument program, which welcomes modern technologies such as drum pads, MIDI controllers, and laptops as instruments of study. Claire's work is paving the way for the future of music education.

In this episode, Claire discusses her work at Berklee and in the school's revolutionary Electronic Digital Instrument program. We examine where traditional musical instruments and performances meet modern technologies and genres. Many interesting questions are raised in how new music technologies and tools can find a home in the structure of traditional educational programs, as well as how these technologies challenge the fundamental structure of the programs.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play

Show Notes:

Official Site - The main hub for Claire's professional work.

dolltrick - Claire's work as the artist dolltr!ck

Own Devices - Pieces for motion and electronics

Eventuate - Claire's EDI friend who performs and makes music with his modular rig, Monome grid + arc, and electric guitar

BeatMask - instrument that converts beatboxing to drum samples in real-time

Shawn Wasabi clip that is often shared by Berklee faculty

Toss of a Dice - choreography by Jiri Kylian

Jesper Nordin - Creator of Gestrument on the Music Production Podcast

Jacob Haq - iOS YouTuber on the Music Production Podcast

Let's Get Physical - Music Production Podcast about the importance of movement while making music.

Thank you for listening. Please consider giving the Music Production Podcast a review on your favorite podcast provider. And don't forget to visit my site AfroDJMac.comfor music production tutorials, videos, and sound packs.

Brian Funk

AfroDJMac

#90: Evan Chandler aka Slynk Dec 10, 2018

Show notes

Evan Chandler produces music as Slynk. He's known for his unique blend of funk and EDM, and has an amazing collection of YouTube tutorials that dive deep into music production. Evan's work has a unique character and originality that has brought him much success as an artist.

Evan and I had a pretty wide ranging conversation. I was excited to learn how he makes his music move with so much groove; he shared some great tips. We spoke about his work and touring, as well as how teaching can often be the best way to learn. I found Evan's overall attitude and approach to work really inspiring. There's a lot of great info in this episode. Enjoy!

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play

Show Notes:

Slynk's Official Site - the hub of all things Slynk.

YouTube - Slynk has a ton of useful and deep music production tutorials.

SoundCloud - Listen to Slynk's music. Put it on at a party. Watch everyone have fun.

Chop That Wood by Milez Benjamin - Great example of that drunken loose swing.

Brian Funk

AfroDJMac

#89: Dan Giffin - Live Producers Online Dec 06, 2018

Show notes

Dan Giffin is a musician, producer, and engineer, who runs the site Live Producers Online, which is a social membership site for learning Ableton Live. Dan's podcast, Ableton Live Music Producers Podcast, centers around learning Ableton Live, and features many exciting guests who share their own personal stories and experience. Philia is the name of Dan's musical project, and he just released a new album, Miracles Happen All The Time Vol. 1.

I've been a fan of Dan's podcast for a while now, and after meeting at Ableton Loop, we finally connected and had the chance to talk. Dan talks about how he arrived where he is today, recording, producing, and engineering at The Lodge Recording Studios. He discusses his music and his teaching of Ableton Live. Dan shared lots of interesting stories we can all learn from.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play

Show Notes:

Live Producers Online - a social learning web site for Ableton Live, run by Dan.

Ableton Live Music Producer Podcast - Dan's podcast. Catch me on the Audio Effects Tips and Tricks Episode.

Philia - Dan's musical project.

Miracles Happen Vol. 1 - Dan's new album.

DanGiffin.com - Dan's official web site.

The Artisan's Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus

Brian Funk

AfroDJMac

#88: Vince Cimo, Creator of DataLooper, with Vir McCoy Dec 02, 2018

Show notes

ince Cimo is the creator of DataLooper, a hardware guitar-pedal-style controller, that makes live looping with Ableton Live quick and easy. We were joined by Vir McCoy, who was jamming with Vince to discover ways he could incorporate DataLooper into his workflow. DataLooper was created to simplify live looping, and Vince is actively seeking suggestions from his user base to make DataLooper the ultimate device for live looping.

It was exciting to speak with Vince and Vir. We spoke about the creation of DataLooper, the potential for finding inspiration in Eastern music scales, and so much more. They both shared their background as musicians who are curious to find new sounds and new ways to express their creativity.

Vince also created two Ableton Live Projects, featuring an assortment of AfroDJMac Ableton Live instruments, to demonstrate how easy it is to live loop with DataLooper. Download the sessions for free in the show notes below.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play

Show Notes:

DataLooper - Vince's creation to make live looping a breeze.

YouTube - Vince's work as a musician and the developer of DataLooper.

Mannequins by Day - Vince's band.

House of Hamsa -Vir McCoy's band.

Vir McCoy YouTube - Check out Vir's performances.

Bass Station 2.5 Update - Novation Bass Station's new firmware features microtuning features.

DataLooper in Action - Free Ableton Live Pack #177 - Download Vince's Ableton Live Sessions using an assortment of AfroDJMac Ableton Live Instruments and DataLooper.

Brian Funk

AfroDJMac

#87: Neil "Nail" Alexander - Improvisation, Live Performance Nov 29, 2018

Show notes

Neil "Nail" Alexander is a multi-genre, multi-instrumentalist from the Hudson Valley in New York. Neil's work spans just about every genre from jazz and classical to modern EDM and ambient. He is an avid live performer who incorporates both acoustic and electronic elements into his performances, and combines jazz sensibilities to electronic composition. Neil runs the Hudson Valley Ableton Live user group.

I spoke with Neil about his wide range of work and how he manages to wear multiple musical hats. Neil had some important wisdom on live performance and improvisation. It was great to finally sit down and talk with Neil after years of online interactions and finally meeting face to face at Ableton Loop.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play

Show Notes:

Neil's Official Site

Neil's music on SoundCloud

Neil's official releases

YouTube - Keep up with Neil's work and performances.

Nail Jung - Soft Invaders - Live Performance on WPRB

Wendy Carlos Switched on Bach

The X Ensemble - Neil's Contemporary Chamber Music Ensemble

Mr. Gone - Psychedelic Electric Jazz

Thunderhead Organ Trio - Hi Octane Jet Fuel Groove

Cloudburst

Decora - Hip Hop artist Neil works with.

Piktor's Metamorphosis

Brian Funk

AfroDJMac

#86: Lessons From Ableton Loop Nov 23, 2018

Show notes

I went to Ableton Loop in Los Angeles and it was an incredibly valuable experience. There were excellent panels, discussions, meet ups, and performances. But aside from the scheduled events, some of the best moments were the moments between events. I had the chance to meet and talk to so many interesting people. I finally got to meet 3-D, real life versions of tons of people I've followed and interacted with through the computer screen. The spirit of the event was welcoming and inspiring.

Besides loads of inspiration, I took home some important lessons. In this episode, I share some of those with you. They are lessons from the panels and workshops, as well as wisdom I picked up during the many conversations I had with other attendees. I've already began to apply some of the concepts to my own work and life, and I hope they can help you too!

Show Notes:

Ableton Loop - Official website

Making Music - Dennis DeSantis's extremely helpful book.

Slynk's Loop Experience

Ethan Hein's Loop Experience

Ethan Hein on the Music Production Podcast

Synthtopia's Loop Experience

Sonic Bloom's Loop Experience

Madeleine Bloom on the Music Production Podcast

Underbelly on the Music Production Podcast

Isaac Cotec on the Music Production Podcast

Josh Spoon on the Music Production Podcast

Laura Escude on the Music Production Podcast

Brian Funk

AfroDJMac

#85: Finding Your Sound - A Short Talk at Loop Nov 11, 2018

Show notes

Ableton's Loop is a summit for music makers. It's an incredible get together for people in the music production community to meet and share ideas. The schedule of events is amazing, and there are opportunities to talk, face to face, with so many brilliant people.

I was hanging around the Maker Zone, when Angelica from Ableton asked if I'd like to do a short presentation. Since I have a thing or two to say about making sounds, I gladly accepted.

This episode is the audio of that talk. I recorded it on my Roland R-07 field recorder, and did my best to clean it up for this show. It was quite an honor to give this talk in front of so many people I admire, including Francis Preve, Slynk, Elisabeth and James from Synthtopia, Josh Spoon, and many more. My hope is that the talk fills you with a sense of empowerment to go and find your own sounds to create your own sound.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Play

Show Notes:

Ableton Loop - A summit for music makers.

100 Year Old Piano Free Ableton Live Pack

Instruments from a Snapple Can Free Ableton Live Pack

Synthtopia - Thanks for providing the picture :)

Brian Funk

AfroDJMac