My Forever Studio

Latest Episodes:

Ep 39: Soulwax's synth-stealing kleptobot Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

Synth-obsessed Belgian brothers David and Stephen Dewaele, aka Soulwax, join us for our final episode of Season 3. As well as making music as Soulwax, their 2manydjs mashups and mixes have become legendary and last year their remix of Marie Davidson’s 'Work It' was nominated for a Grammy. How will these collector-level super-hoarders of vintage synths fare with only six gear picks?
Find out in this episode which fantasy synth they forgot they owned and how they plan to subvert our rules with robots – and crime.

Season 3 is sponsored by EVO by Audient: https://evo.audio/
STUFF WE TALK ABOUT (SPOILERS!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulwax

https://www.musictech.net/features/interviews/soulwax-studio-ems-synthi-100/

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/buy-mac/mac-pro/rack#

http://www.wunderaudio.com/consoles/

https://soniccircus.com/product/neve-bbc-console/

https://www.sunsetsound.com/

https://rakstudios.co.uk/

https://www.strongroom.com/

https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=27258

http://www.vintagesynth.com/roland/sys700.php

http://www.vintagesynth.com/sci/stk.php

https://burlaudio.com/products/b80-mothership

http://www.vintagesynth.com/sci/drumtrx.php

https://global.honda/innovation/robotics.html

Ep 38: Sasha wants his old equipment back Aug 02, 2021

Show notes

This time, we’re joined by trailblazing DJ and producer Sasha. The prolific creator has made music spanning electronic genres from acid house to atmospheric trance and more. He’s produced with James Zabiela, John Digweed and BT, remixed Madonna and scored video games such as Gran Turismo. He’s also a massive production nut and one of the first innovators to take Ableton Live into the DJ booth.

In this episode, he flips the script and builds his fantasy forever studio from gear he’s lost over his career. Learn which pieces of studio outboard take his fancy, which leftfield vintage synth makes his list and how he learns how to use new equipment in the studio.

STUFF WE TALK ABOUT (SPOILERS AHEAD!)

https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/japan/park-hyatt-tokyo/tyoph/dining

https://www.thomann.de/gb/thon_studio_side_rack_xl_10u_black.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Weatherall

https://www.musictech.net/reviews/dj/pioneer-djm-v10-mixer/

https://www.vintagedigital.com.au/ams-dmx-15-80s-stereo-digital-delay/

http://piecesof8music.com/roster/steve-dub/

https://voidacoustics.com/club/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_JD-800

http://www.vintagesynth.com/waldorf/wald_wave.php#:~:text=Wavetable%20synthesis%20has%20been%20widely,This%20is%20a%20digital%20synth.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spooky_(DJs)

https://uisoftware.com/metasynth/

https://www.eventideaudio.com/products/rackmount/harmonizer/h9000

https://www.eventideaudio.com/community/forum/rackmount/h9000-app

https://www.eventideaudio.com/products/stompboxes/multi-effect-processor/h9-max

Ep 37: Matthew Herbert's coveted vintage sampler Jul 26, 2021

Show notes

We're privileged to have the incredible artist, producer and composer Matthew Herbert on the show this time. Matthew’s talents have seen him work as a DJ, film composer, electronic musician, creative director of the world-famous BBC Radiophonic Workshop and get knee-deep in some amazing studio gear along the way.

In this episode, find out why he doesn't do hybrid mixing, how he ends up enlisting hundreds of collaborators for some of his records, and what it is about his favourite vintage sampler that's never been bettered.

The new Herbert album Musca is due for release 22nd October. The new single Fantasy is out now.

STUFF WE TALK ABOUT (SPOILERS AHEAD)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Mills

https://burlaudio.com/products/b80-mothership

Brother PDC100 http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/brother-pdc100-pro-disk-composer/937

Alesis MMT-8 http://www.vintagesynth.com/misc/mmt8.php

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Pulsinger

https://www.npr.org/artists/15289724/pierre-boulez

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Oldfield

https://www.musictech.net/reviews/chandler-redd-microphone-review/

https://reverb.com/item/14197856-1964-lomo-19a13-tube-condenser-microphone-vintage-set

http://dwfearn.com/wp/

https://www.rupertneve.com/products/high-voltage-discrete-mixer/

http://www.vintagesynth.com/akai/s612.php

https://www.akaipro.com/mpk261

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micachu

https://vintageking.com/chandler-mini-rack-mixer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Fantastic_Woman

The Beast Must Die: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9062784/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_(TV_series)

Ep 36: King Britt’s vintage sampler fantasy Jul 19, 2021

Show notes

This time, we're privileged to host legendary DJ, producer and music educator, King Britt. He's well known for being a musical innovator, for co-founding the groundbreaking label Ovum Records with Josh Wink, and collaborating with De La Soul, Madlib, Moor Mother and many others.

In this episode, discover why he prefers vintage samplers over modern, which audio manufacturer he trusts above all others for mixing drums, and learn which specific piece of hardware he must have on all his mixes.

Things we talk about (SPOILERS AHEAD)

Casio SK-1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casio_SK-1
Lisa Belladonna: https://www.instagram.com/lisabelladonna/?hl=en
Hamamatsu, Japan: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hamamatsu,+Shizuoka,+Japan/@35.2541875,137.076284,9z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x601b162de5079791:0x67a49b39e2edf623!8m2!3d34.7102752!4d137.7274159
Passport Mastertracks Pro 4 Review: http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/passport-mastertracks-pro-4/401
Miller Puckette: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller_Puckette
TR-06: https://www.roland.com/global/products/tr-06/
Minimoog Model D: https://www.moogmusic.com/products/minimoog-model-d
Korg Mono/Poly: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korg_Mono/Poly
Moog Sonic Six: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moog_Sonic_Six
Focal Alpha 80: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Alpha80--focal-alpha-80-8-inch-powered-studio-monitor
Focal SM9: https://www.focal.com/uk/monitoring-speakers/sm9/sm9
E-mu SP-1200: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-mu_SP-1200
Isla Instruments S2400: https://www.musictech.net/reviews/hardware-instruments/the-big-review-isla-instruments-s2400/
Bell Tones synth works, Philadelphia: http://www.belltonesynthworks.com/
E-mu Drumulator: http://www.vintagesynth.com/emu/drumulator.php
Bruce Forat: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Forat / http://www.forat.com/
E-mu SP-1200 35th Anniversary edition: http://www.rossum-electro.com/products/sp-1200-renovation/
Alesis 3630 compressor: https://www.alesis.com/products/view/3630-compressor
API 1608-II desk: https://www.apiaudio.com/product.php?id=147&p=1
SSL G-Series Bus Compressor: https://www.solidstatelogic.com/products/g-series-stereo-compressor
Universal Audio SSL Bus Compressor: https://www.uaudio.com/uad-plugins/compressors-limiters/ssl-4000-g-series-bus-compressor-collection.html
Ableton The Glue compressor:
Sun Ra - Space Is The Place: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Is_the_Place_(soundtrack)

Ep 35: Nick Batt chooses one polysynth for eternity Jul 12, 2021

Show notes

This time, we’re joined by musician, producer, internet personality and Sonicstate head honcho Nick Batt.

Nick had his first brush with fame in 1990 when, as one half of electronic duo DNA, he remixed Tom’s Diner by Suzanne Vega. Since then, he’s remixed Kylie Minogue, worked with Goldfrapp and even won an Ivor Novello award. With his music technology site Sonicstate, he’s become a YouTube celebrity and even a meme.

In this episode, find out which hardware polysynth he’d take into eternity, what the 'tambourine test' is, and how he would continue operating Sonicstate within the six-item constraints of the Forever Studio.

NOTES [BEWARE, SPOILERS]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Pigalle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Korgis

https://www.midasconsoles.com/product.html?modelCode=P0C8H

https://vintageking.com/atc-loudspeakers-scm50asl

https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-AW-UE150-Professional-12G-SDI-Optical/dp/B07QHD8GKQ

https://www.arturia.com/products/hardware-synths/polybrute/overview

https://www.vmix.com/

http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/ms50.php

http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/sq10.php

http://www.vintagesynth.com/ensoniq/ens_mirage.php

https://sg.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/pianos/grand_pianos/index.html

Swimfinity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3lnkHVxLlI

Ep 34: Rachel K Collier’s $10k dream mic Jul 05, 2021

Show notes

Our guest this time is Welsh electronic music producer, performer and YouTuber Rachel K Collier. Known for using all the latest tech to create incredible live shows, Rachel is an Ableton Live expert who builds full, studio-grade songs on the fly. But she’s also a fan of limiting gear choices when writing, so will her forever studio be the perfect live rig or something out of the ordinary?

In this episode, find out which $10,000 microphone she'd want above any other, how she makes her impressive live electronic show work, and how she overcame the prejudice of fellow producers when moving from toplining to production work.

We also talk about this stuff [BEWARE, SPOILERS]

https://www.instagram.com/rachelkcollier/

https://psyacoustics.com/

https://www.apple.com/sg/imac-pro/specs/

https://www.uaudio.com/audio-interfaces/apollo-x16.html

https://www.focal.com/en/pro-audio/monitoring-speakers/sm9/monitoring-speakers/sm9

https://www.telefunken-elektroakustik.com/microphones/ela-m-251e

https://teenage.engineering/products/op-1

https://www.patreon.com/rachelkcollier

https://soundcloud.com/rkc-patron-playground

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LA2A--universal-audio-la-2a

https://sxpro.co.uk/universal-audio-teletronix-la-2a/

https://www.sequential.com/product/prophetrev2/

https://www.moogmusic.com/products/moog-one

https://reverb.com/p/moog-one-16-voice-polyphonic-analog-synthesizer/used

Ep 33: Thomas Gold's software skyscrasper studio Jun 28, 2021

Show notes

German progressive and tech-house DJ superstar Thomas Gold joins us on the show. As a DJ, Thomas has performed at the world’s most famous clubs and the biggest festival stages. As a producer, he's had huge hits with remixes for Adele, and Lady Gaga and his signature anthemic sound has earned him support from the most famous DJs and labels in the world.

In this episode, we find out which soft synths are the cornerstone of his sound, which limiter plug-in he rates above all others, and whether we can upsell his monitoring dreams.

LINKS [SPOILERS AHEAD!]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxette

https://www.uaudio.com/audio-interfaces/apollo-x16.html

https://xferrecords.com/products/serum

https://aom-factory.jp/products/invisible-limiter/

https://www.waves.com/plugins/l3-ultramaximizer#introduction-to-the-l3-and-l3-ll-multimaximizers

https://barefootsound.com/products/

https://lexiconpro.com/en/products/pcm-native-reverb-plug-in-bundle

https://www.plugin-alliance.com/en/products/maag_eq4.html

https://refx.com/nexus/

https://www.izotope.com/en/products/ozone.html

Ep 32: Kučka wants to be a biohacker Jun 21, 2021

Show notes

Taking a trip to fantasy forever land this time is Australian producer, singer and songwriter Kučka. Her signature style of experimental pop music is laced with trippy beats, sharp textures and hypnotic, ethereal synths and vocal melodies. With previous collaborations with A$AP Rocky, Flume and Sophie, a string of singles and an EP, Kučka’s debut album is out now!

In this episode, find out about Kučka's prepared piano aspirations, which classic piece of studio gear she'd steal and a trick for preserving the core feel of a song through numerous revisions.

LINKS [SPOILERS AHEAD!]

Grating cheese on a Mac
https://www.imore.com/someone-actually-grated-cheese-mac-pro

Dynaudio Core 59
https://www.dynaudio.com/professional-audio/core/core-59

Sony C-800G
https://pro.sony/ue_US/products/studio-microphones/c-800g

Crank Recording’s SSL
https://www.instagram.com/p/BodeNdfDQXe/

ROLI Seaboard GRAND
https://roli.com/stories/2018-grand-ending

Yamaha Disklavier https://sg.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/pianos/disklavier/index.html

Ableton Live 11
https://www.ableton.com/en/shop/live/

Eventide Harmonizer H910:
https://www.eventideaudio.com/products/plugins/harmonizer/h910-plugin

Harmonizer H3000
https://www.eventideaudio.com/products/rackmount/ultra-harmonizer/h3000-series

Harmonizer H9000
https://www.eventideaudio.com/products/rackmount/harmonizer/h9000

Ep 31: Deadmau5 steals Billy Corgan’s dream synth Jun 14, 2021

Show notes

Dreaming up a six-item studio this time is production superstar and label owner Joel Zimmerman, aka Deadmau5.

Joel’s an unapologetic tech nerd and studio wizard and calls in from his mind-meltingly kit-packed studio. But how will the man who has everything cope with our semi-strict rules?

In this episode, find out which guitar pedal he describes as his “Frank’s hot sauce for distortion”, why dry vocal booths aren’t for him and which synthesizer he’d steal from the Smashing Pumpkins frontman.

LINKS [SPOILERS AHEAD!]

https://burlaudio.com/products/b2-bomber-adc

https://burlaudio.com/products/b80-mothership

https://www.rupertneve.com/products/swiftmix-automation/

http://atcloudspeakers.co.uk/professional/loudspeakers/scm300asl-pro/

https://oscpilot.com/

https://www.analoguesolutions.com/colossus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMS_Synthi_100

https://www.rupertneve.com/products/master-buss-processor/

https://www.rupertneve.com/products/high-voltage-discrete-mixer/

https://www.moogmusic.com/products/minimoog-voyager

https://www.zvex.com/guitar-pedals/machine-guitar-effects-pedal

https://www.matrixsynth.com/2009/09/billy-corgans-ichabod-delivered.html

http://mattsonminimodular.com/

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rScBRKlTdoE/Sq71aRbHdNI/AAAAAAAAeuo/Sh_1RjhIwlg/s1600-h/DSC_5509%282%29.JPG

https://reverb.com/item/28517559-azzam-bells-mpa-019-2019

https://en-de.neumann.com/tlm-49

Ep 30: Kevin McKay takes two DAWs north of the wall Jun 07, 2021

Show notes

Dreaming up a Forever Studio this time is Scottish DJ, producer and label owner, Kevin McKay.

Kevin has been involved in cutting edge club music for over 25 years, discovering and developing artists such as Mylo and Grum. He's also been a relentless force in the Beatport Top 10 in recent years with his own releases.

In this hilarious remote episode, learn how Kevin helped bring Mylo's seminal 2004 record Destroy Rock & Roll to life, how he uses Fiverr when producing, and which affordable, apartment-friendly monitoring system he relies on.

LINKS (SPOILERS AHEAD!)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mylo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tb3RLqY9Xo

https://www.applecross.uk.com/

https://www.dynaudio.com/professional-audio/core/core-59

https://www.pioneerdj.com/en/product/all-in-one-system/xdj-rr/black/specifications/

https://www.amazon.com/Music-Trucker-Classic-Snapback-Baseball/dp/B07YQD4L3B

https://www.dbaudio.com/global/en/

http://www.samsontech.com/samson/products/studio-monitors/resolv/resolvrxa6/

https://www.korg.com/sg/products/synthesizers/kronos2/

https://www.lethalaudio.com/

https://refx.com/nexus/