Studio Work
I’ve been locked in the studio for a while preparing to record some new tracks for the upcoming Tycho album. I reconfigured my whole setup and it’s finally all coming together. I’ve finally added a true analog mixing console and it’s really changed the workflow, been saving a lot of time. Above is a partial shot of the studio in it’s current form, still a ways to go with the acoustics, but I’ve been making do.
On a side note, I temporarily moved back to Windows XP32 since they don’t make the software I use to record (Sonar) for Mac. I installed Photoshop and it’s been running so bad, crashing all the time. Meanwhile, on the Mac side, solid as a rock. I really wish I could just work inside of OS X full time, but Logic and Pro Tools just can’t hang with Sonar in my book. Oh well, here’s hoping for a solid Windows 9.
29 Comments Leave A Comment
Matthias says:
June 24, 2008 at 9:29 pmI want your guitar.
highly says:
June 24, 2008 at 11:36 pmVery nice vintage synths you have there. We want more studio photos!
Gustaf says:
June 25, 2008 at 12:21 amDang, Scott… I think you might need a few more devices… Your studio is looking kind of sparse. With that much gear… HOW do you decide which to play? I think I’d go friggin’ crazy. Seriously… LOVE the studio shots.
Sonar, eh? I cut my teeth on the earliest versions of Cakewalk (back in the “Twelve Tone Systems” days)… but my PC-sequencing days are loooong gone. Have you looked into Digital Performer? I migrated to DP quite some time ago after many many years in Studio Vision (RIP)…
Scott says:
June 25, 2008 at 12:51 amgustaf-
it’s not so hard, each synth sort of has it’s niche and fills a certain need so it usually becomes pretty obvious when a particular sound/vibe is needed.
Sonar is great, I haven’t tried DP, might have to look into that as I have a MOTU 828mk2. only issue would be that some of my VSTs are PC only.
Luis says:
June 25, 2008 at 5:17 amScott, why dont you use Parallels on OS X to use Sonar and still mantain OS X stability?
Beamer says:
June 25, 2008 at 7:58 amLookin’ sharp!
Brad Ruggles says:
June 25, 2008 at 8:01 amDude, that’s a crazy setup!
I can’t wait for the new album to drop. Good luck on the recording!
Glenn says:
June 25, 2008 at 8:34 amYou could maybe try Cubase. Haven’t used it myself, but I know quite a few folks that love it.
joshua says:
June 25, 2008 at 9:14 am“solid Windows 9”?!! I love the way you joke Scott!
Ditto what Luis said.
toby_s says:
June 25, 2008 at 10:26 amI like you micstand mounting :)
Justin S. Meyers says:
June 25, 2008 at 11:43 amIs that a rackmount Line 6 unit you got there? (red rackmount unit in the right side of photo). Line 6 has amazing anologue modeling, especially for delay and reverb.
Fábio Martins says:
June 25, 2008 at 12:23 pmHow about running a virtual machine inside Mac OSX?
Rae Davis says:
June 25, 2008 at 12:46 pmWHOA!
Scott i knew you had some nice analog gear but mannnn you got some NICE analog gear.
I used to use Sonar myself but then switched to Pro Tools, and it’s funny cause i think Sonar doesn’t have anything on Pro Tools. Ha!
In the end it’s not what you have or what you use, it’s how you use what you’ve got and the mind behind the creation process. Booya!
Justin S. Meyers says:
June 25, 2008 at 12:48 pm*analog
gwdesign says:
June 25, 2008 at 1:17 pmHey Scott,
A bit off topic, but do you have any plans for Terrabyte 3 at the LA Arboretum this year?
Darren says:
June 25, 2008 at 2:24 pmMy Windows Xp32 system never, ever crashes. I run dozens of tracks and plugs and have for years. Am I in an alternate universe or something?
Scott says:
June 25, 2008 at 2:31 pmDarren-
yeah, I have had the same experience. Music on XP32 is super solid. that’s why I am still over there, that and sonar. the crashing I was talking about is photoshop. for me, photoshop runs great in win xp64 and OSX, but xp32 is bad news. perhaps it’s a memory issue, as far as I can tell xp64 and os x even more so, are better at memory allocation.
gwdesign-
yes, dusty brown and myself will both be playing this year’s terrabyte show in LA.
Justin-
yes, that’s a line 6. I actually don’t use it that much, I got it in a trade situation and planned on using it for live stuff but it still hasn’t really found it’s niche. if I am doing amp stuff I either just record my real amp or use amplitube.
glen-
I tried cubase in the past, never liked the workflow and it’s pretty unstable as audio apps go, even on the mac. I seriously can’t say enough good things about Sonar, I don’t think I could ever leave it to tell you the truth. the new version, 7.0, is really unstable though. I am still on 6.2 which was some magically stable and solid platform, so I’m just sticking with what works, and with what I know.
Shawn Adrian says:
June 25, 2008 at 11:09 pmWow man, your studio makes me drool. Great photography too.
I’m a garageband kind of guy right now, but maybe one day I’ll know how to work all that gear you have. Heh.
Christian says:
June 26, 2008 at 4:11 amThere a good news for all mac users!
Cubase SX4 work on OS X ; )
Yeah!
Justin S. Meyers says:
June 26, 2008 at 7:29 amYeah, Line 6 makes the only legit solid state equipment out there, in my opinion.
Scott, not sure if you ever do use pedals or effects for your guitar, but since your an analog guy… they make anolog tape deck delay/reverb pedals. I am sure you already know about it… I just heard about it from a Rockabilly friend of mine. They sound amazing. I guess you have to get new tape decks for them every so many hours of use. Supposed to be absolutely amazing.
Have any of you guys ever heard of a tape deck delay pedal?
Justin S. Meyers says:
June 26, 2008 at 7:35 amOk, I was thinking of a specific make and model (maestro echoplex tape delay). I know what tape delay is, but this one is supposed to take the cake in terms of analog pedals.
Scott says:
June 26, 2008 at 11:34 amjustin-
if you look in the upper left corner of the picture you’ll see a Roland RE-201 Space echo, which is a tape delay. yeah, you are supposed to replace the tape, but it sounds better if you don’t.
NAVIS says:
June 26, 2008 at 4:14 pmSeriously Scott… just put the damn album out already!
I love Adrift. It’s perfect for late night evenings. Can’t wait to hear what else you’ll create.
Scott says:
June 26, 2008 at 5:02 pmNAVIS-
thanks man, sorry though… it’s not quite that simple. the album is pretty much written, all the material is there, it now just needs to be recorded, arranged, produced, post -produced, mastered, and sent off…. so yeah, got a long road ahead but I am cranking through it. I wanted to take my time with this and to tell the truth I wanted to stall until summer to really get down to the nuts and bolts of this album as it is a summery sound, not something I wanted to be toiling through a dreary San Francisco winter to create.
micstand mounting says:
June 26, 2008 at 5:33 pmi like you too, toby_s :)
Vape says:
June 27, 2008 at 3:29 amHi Scott,
it looks awesome and it’s impressive, great way for your perfect works, Thanks for the pic.
My last favorites are the daydream & adrift. You did magic sound, no any other words. Please, don’t stop and blow ppl minds out. ;)
And finally just one question, if it’s not a secret – what have you used for the great background delayed pad in The Daydream? Is it analog synth?
Thanks,
-Vape.
Stephan says:
July 3, 2008 at 7:32 amhmmm sweet! Nice studio you have! (Just made a post at my mjut.tumblr.com) Thanks for the beautiful music!!!
-Stephan
Huddie aka Groovizm says:
September 25, 2009 at 12:05 amJust wanted to say I really like your work, both music and graphics. As to the Sonar workflow thing, I know how you must feel. I’ve spent years looking for the right tool to fit my workflow. I’ve used Cakewalk, Sonar, Logic, Reason, Logic and Ableton with Reaktor … in that order! I know you will not easily abandon what works for you.