e-effect's computer based music production is centered around integration of the hardware and software components presented below. This is presented here not only to give you insight into what he uses to produce his brand of electronic music, but also as a home studio example to inspire the other bedroom recording entrepreneurs out there in how to setup their producing endevors. Scroll down and get independent.
CONTROL / MIXER / VIRTUAL STUDIO:
:: SYNAPSE AUDIO'S ORION PRO VIRTUAL STUDIO SOFTWARE::
The virtual studio software that powers every one of my productions. This is a multitrack production environment that handles tracking by both external synthesizers and internal VST or DX software synthesizers. It's internal bundle of effects are all that is needed for producing in a home studio, but it, of course, allows VST and DX plugin effects that make it a truly professional way to track, mix and master your songs.
AUDIO INTERFACE / SOUND CARD:
:: EDIROL UA-4FX EXTERNAL USB AUDIO INTERFACE ::
There are dozens of ways to configure a home studio, but if you're looking to do it the e-effect way as a solo artist who turns hand-me-down PCs into a music workstations, then look no further than the Edirol UA4fx. If you're just getting into the producing business then it comes with everything you need to start recording keyboards, vox/mic instruments and electric guitars (direct and digital!) right out of the box. When you get right down to it all this little beauty is is an external sound card. It just plugs into your USB port and sits on your desk rather than plugging into a PCI slot and being located in your computer's case. Once the drivers are installed and it's plugged into your USB, you just plug your keyboard, mic or guitar into the appropriate input on the device, open your recording software, and start playing! It transmits both MIDI and stereo audio information to your recording software while simultaneously transmitting the signal to external speakers or headphones that you have hooked up for monitoring. If you don't already have the recording software, though, don't worry! It comes with Sonar (LE addidtion I think) which should have you up and recording in no time. And it has you recording in style as well with ZERO latency and up to 24-bit/96 kHz resolution even though it can bounce down to 16-bit/44 kHz and 48 kHz as well. It even has a small built in fx unit as well to add disto, verb, compression, delay, tube compression etc. You can put the fx on any instrument or mic plugged into the box. Go to the roland or edirol site and read the manual for the details. The only drawbacks are that you cannot record guitar and mic and the same time because they use the same input control and you cannot turn off the output to external monitors while using headphones. You can play guitar/mic with keyboards, though, as I have tested this functionality, and for the $150 price tag at zzounds I think you'll agree that this is a rockin' monster in a box. Oh yeah, did I mention that it can do 7.1 surround sound, too? Great for doing music composition for movies, eh?
SYNTHESIZERS:
:: ROLAND XP-30 64-VOICE EXPANDALBE SYNTHESIZER ::
Go to any music forum and you will find a debate as to whether hardware synths are better than software synths. In my experience, the one that is best depends on the situation, and when it comes to the XP-30 there are a bunch of situations where it is the flagship of a track. It has a 4-patch system in which four waveforms are actually layered together to create an individual sound. Combined with the thick, rich waveforms that are on board, this structure gives me the ability to produce the phat synth, pad, and synth bass sounds that you hear in my trax. The SoundDiver Editor/Librarian (see below) that comes bundled with it still works with my Windows XP Pro system, and makes getting to all of these amazing programming features a snap. It also has a host of built in sounds. Besides the amazing synths, fx and basslines the percussion sounds are notable since I frequently import them into my software samplers to bend and produce the unique mid range percussion loops of my songs. Lastly, when you need authentic sounding acoustic instruments, it hits the spot as well. In my studio, this hardware synth is the heart and soul in virtually every track I produce.
:: TECHNO EXPANSION BOARD for the XP-30 ::
I think the name kind of says it all here. Click through every patch on this board and it's pure electronic music heaven. I'm sure it's no surprise that I program MANY sounds from the wave forms on this board, but the onboard patches are so so sick.
:: VINTAGE SYNTH EXPANSION BOARD for the XP-30 ::
This is a collection of synths from the past. I often use the sounds straight up when I want to give my songs a distinctive and characteristic sound.
:: SESSION EXPANSION BOARD for the XP-30 ::
The Session board contains sounds and instruments from every musical genre. I really have obtained some mileage out of the synths, pads, and strings on this board. There are a few bassline patches that have made it into my tracks one way or another as well.
:: ORCHESTRAL EXPANSION BOARD for the XP-30 ::
WOW, is all I can say. The epic strings and huge orchestral percussion sounds bound my next generation projects for our up an coming RPG at TOOBIX such as nuevo. The sounds on this board will definitely set the tone of this game and many games to come.
:: HOUSE EXPANSION BOARD for the XP-30 ::
Intelligent, inspiring sounds with amazing house loops. Also, the rhythm sets on this board are loaded with useful sounds for electronic productions.
:: OrionPro's WASP Synhtesizer ::
When I need a great synthesizer and I don't want to have to wade through a hundred menus to program it, this is the synth I turn to. It's a 3-oscillator synth with saw, square, sine and chaos waveforms. It has a standard cut-off filter envelope as wells as two LFO's for modulation of virtually every parameter. The real beauty of the synth, though, comes from the FM, PW, and distortion effects that are onboard. With this extra power, it's obvious why I use this synthesizer to create more than half of the sound effects that you hear in the Toobix games and so many of the build up sounds in my dance tracks.
:: OrionPro's XR-909 ::
By the time I started my musical career, the hayday of the Roland TR-909 had basically passed me by. Thank goodness for Synapse Audio! Their rendition of this class drum synthesizer has populated EVERY one of my tracks that has a beat. The sounds used in it are remarkably close to the original and there is enough parameter control to program the timbres to where you need them to be on a per track basis. Add a little EQ and compression to the synth, and you can produce some hellacious dance and electronic percussion.
:: OrionPro's Tomcat Drum Synthesizer ::
If the XR-909 kick drum isn't cutting it or I need an original percussion sound, I turn to programming the Tomcat. It's a 2-oscillator drum synthesizer with sine, saw, square and chaos wave forms. Each oscillator has separate amplitude envelopes that connect to a common cut-off filter and attack envelope with bass drum and tom emulation. This makes programming the unique knocks, hits, and fuzz so easy that you hear in songs like Break the Dance and Beyond. Add some metallic sounds and bleeps like in sonophobia and you've got a very versatile drum synthesizer.
:: OrionPro's Bazzline XT Syntesizer ::
Just like I missed the hardware boat with the Roland TR-909 so did I miss the Roland TB-303. In their usual form, though, Synapse Audio has emulated it's hardware grandfather to perfection. Add a little disto and you get the phat acid sounds of all of sonophobia, Synthergy, and my other tracks.
:: OrionPro's Drum Sampler ::
I know it's wierd listing a sampler under the synthesizer section, but hear me out. One of my absolute favorite techniques is taking common sounds (or uncommon sounds for that matter) and detuning them to create a completely new sound. I especially enjoy detuning percussion sounds. It always seems to make a cool effect or cool new percussion sound like the ones I use at the end of Inside Out. Combine this power with a fantastic attack envelope, velocity controls, and sample length controls, and you get one mean sampler that can be used to synthesize new sounds. Gorgeous.
:: Synapse Audio's Scorpion Synthesizer ::
When I bought this synth several years ago, I was trying to add a layer of complexity to my sound. This little beast fit the bill perfectly. Don't let the fact that it only has a 2-oscillator construct fool you. The effects and processors on this thing will blow your mind. I'll refer you to the designer's link above for all the specs, but if you're an electronic musician, and you need phat synth and bass sounds, sound effects, or pads then this snapper is for you.
:: Superwave Synthesizers ::
Of all the many great suggestions I received from the other indie producers at generoproject.com downloading the Superwave P8 and buying the Superwave TrancePro and Superwave Pro synthesizers was one of the best things I did for my dance music. The unbelievable leads and pads generated by these synths will truly take your dance music to the next level. If you're a synth junkie, then there is enough progammability to these synths to keep you busy designing sounds for hours.
:: rgc audio's Triangle II ::
If you're part of the old school electronic music following, then you know rgc audio's synthesizers. I use this little gem to create so many of the bass sounds you hear in my tracks. I never will do without this one!
:: Dr. Sync's SynC Modular ::
You're probably picking up on the fact that I'm a fan of aged gear lol. That's okay! Beides the amazing technology behind this synth, this little beauty holds tons of nostalgic value as my first experience with designing my own synthesizers. There are more "advanced" programs out there now like Synth Edit and Reaktor (Dr. Sync was recruited for the latter project, after which development of SynC Modular was discontinued.), but the Wake synthesizer I created with this program is still able to produce totally professional sounds, like the pulsating bass sound in sonophobia. Love my SynC Modular.
MIXING / MASTERING EFFECTS:
:: db-audioware effects ::
It is true that OrionPro has amazing built in effects, and I do use them on every track I produce; however, the db-audioware dynamics processor (compressor), multiband limiter, and mastering limiter see just as much action in my tunes. They have an effortless way of making their calculations being both CPU unintensive and having a perfectly pleasing sonic result. There's no fuss at all. You want a nice compressed kick? You got it. You want to alter the dynamics of you master a bit with multiband limiting? Done. Wonderful effects!
:: digilogue's Blue Line VST/DX effects ::
If you read the Triangle II blurb and totally got it, then I'm sure you know the Blue Line. These effects, while discontinued, continue to provide me with results. I use the filter all the time for my software synths because I can record the changes for the cut-off frequency manually over time rather than having to deal with the cycling of the LFO's. The bundle itself was quite extensive in its day providing everything from a compressor, to a multitap delay, to chorus. The calculations are a little on the rough side, but for a FREE bundle back in the day I'd say these were a complete asset to any home studio.
WAV / SOUND EDITORS:
:: Steinberg's WaveLab Lite ::
Fortune was on my side when I bought my first CD burner and this program came bundled with it! Who knew that I was getting one of the best audio editors in the world! I use this program for the majority of my routine wave processing routines such as trimming silence, normalization, etc. Now it has a partner in crime called Audacity that helps with some of the unsupported functions of the lite version.
:: Audacity ::
As alluded to above, this program really completes my audio editting feature pallette adding spectral analysis, reliable level meters, and a fantastic GUI. This is another FREE program that has been put together by open source programmers around the world. Amazing.
:: Emagic's SoundDiver JV/XP ::
Some JV/XP users say that this is an inferior patch editor/librarian, but I have had nothing but success from it. I think it has a very intuitive interface for working between the library and the XP-30's banks. I also like the patch/performance editor. Just having the XP's internal structure layed out graphically has really helped me understand how sythesizers work. The built in mini-sequencer really makes auditioning new sounds easy...and fun too.
STUDIO MONITORS:
:: KRK ROKIT 8 NEAR FIELD MONITORS ::
This pair of monitors changed the way I hear music. I used to think any speaker would do. Then I played my tunes on the Rokit 8's. I heard sounds coming out of my songs that I didn't even know were there! If you're an indie musician and haven't yet purchased a pair of near field monitors, make absolutely sure it's the next thing on your list. Mixing and mastering will never be the same for ya.
MICROPHONE:
:: AT2020 mic ::
Before this beautiful Audio Technica mic, I was using the little $10 microphone that came with my computer for my vocals! The AT2020, of course, really has taken the vox to the next level with it's sleek design and unbelievable quality. You can check some REVIEWS on it, and then take a listen to my trax and SOUND FX in the Toobix games to hear the effect. I do have to tell you, though, that I haven't stopped using that $10 computer mic. It has a characterstic sound to it that works well with vocoding, making sound fx, and recording rap lyrics that will be processed with distortion later. Just another argument for the Duke's famous saying, "If it sounds good, it is good."
COMPUTER:
:: the MusicMaker PC ::
If you are a frequent visitor to my studio page, you may notice that this section is a little thinner these days. What used to be comprised of 3-4 different computers has now all been wrapped up into one: the MusicMaker PC. With a little help from EndPCNoise.com I have designed a flagship PC for all of my music and video game production at Toobix. Not only is it super fast and supports all of the most current audio and game programming software, but it runs virtually silent. I'm serious, you have to put yourl ear up to the case to tell that it's on! Read my full review at my Toobix Blog entry "Good-bye hand-me-down PC. HELLO MusicMaker!".
MISCELLANEOUS SOFTWARE:
:: AnalogX Software ::
If there is anyone who breaks the boundaries of categorization (or otherwise!), it's the programmer/musician AnalogX. His unique freeware approach to desgining audio programs has helped countless electronic musicians get their hands on software that otherwise would cost an arm and a leg. What's even better is that the traditional "pro's" use it, too! See what I mean about the boundaries? I use his tap tempo daily, and if you've heard a vocoder in my tracks then I programmed it with his software. I use his DC Offset for all of my masters, and his other programs are just plain fun to play with as well. Thank you AnalogX!