Produce, Compose, Record, Mix.

Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?

A: It was a project called Ancestors:The HUmankind Odyssey". A first person AAA videogame. I was the music composer. I am proud I survived the 4 year process and countless musical iterations and change of directions.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: Writing and reading At present I am working on a Meditation for Peace project. It involves "knowing how to breath". I am one of the foundeing members of the project. I compose soundscapes and musics for the purpose of enhancing the meditative process. It is not in standard pitch (i.e.-tempered scale).

Q: What do you like most about your job?

A: I get to "sleep" on it.

Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A: They ask how I composed such a great thing for them. I answer "It's from the archives of my subconscious."

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?

A: I ask relevant ones for the purpose of the interaction.

Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?

A: Twenty years on a long and winding road.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Minimal essentialist

Q: Can you share one music production tip?

A: Keep a steadfast attitude and go where no "they" has gone before.

Q: What type of music do you usually work on?

A: Electronic and acoustic textures.

Q: What's your strongest skill?

A: Themes and orchestral colours. I am capable of honing in on emotional sweet spots whether it be melodic hooks or sound textures. I have enjoyed a thorough musical and sonic education. A musical polyglot in other terms.

Q: What do you bring to a song?

A: I bring "sound" ideas.

Q: Tell us about your studio setup.

A: Console/Mixer Neve Pre 80 Series 58 input console Vintage Custom Neve serial #2008 console circa 1968 (pre 80 series Neve). Refurbished by Hutch at Manley in 1994 (recapped, rewired, functionally upgraded). The first 16 buss Neve console ever produced. Originally hand-built by Rupert Neve himself in England. All internal summing uses original Neve summing amps and bussing protocols. Preamps use original Gardner input transformers. Line inputs are original Marinair. (Portions of Led Zeppelins' Physical Graffiti were recorded on this console among MANY others). Features: 24 channels 1061 Germanium preamp/eq 10 channels Manley 40db tube preamp with Manley extended Pultec EQ. 24 monitor returns using late 70 s era BBC console Neve line inputs. 6 sends + 6 cue sends. Can be split or joined. 4 echo returns. 12 x 8 on-board summing mixer. 8 x 2 on-board summing mixer. 34 channels Flying Faders (on all Manley and Neve channels). Neve1061 Germanium Preamp/eq utilizes the same amplifiers found in all the germanium Neveís (incl. 1055, 1057, 1058, 1060, etc.) but with a more comprehensive set of EQ points than the earlier modules. Similar to the 1066 eq points. Microphone Preamp Daking Mic Pres w/ eq (2) Manley tube preamp with Manley extended Pultec EQs. (10) Neve 1061 Mic Pres (24) No Toasters Nice Pair (great 2 channel FET mic pre) Recorders Studer A80 MarkII 2" 16 track Studer A827 2" 24 track Radar V Nyquist 24-track Digital Recorder (digital only, includes the session controller) Pro Tools 10 - HD Native with 24 channels of i/o IZ Technology ADA Converters Ampex ATR -102 2-track with either 1/4" or 1/2" headstacks Studer A-710 cassette deck Speakers Focal Twin 6 Be Yamaha NS-10Ms Purple Audio CANS - headphone output Compression Daking FET II comepsrsors (2) DBX 160XT Distressor EL-8 (2) FMR Audio RNC Compressor Neve 2252 compressor (2) - original 2254 with germanium gain blocks. Recapped at Manley. (Huge sounding diode bridge type compression). Neve 2253 limiter (2) - on console, germanium based.limiter Purple Audio MC77 (2) Retro (Gates) STA-Level tube comperssor Retro 176 tube comepsrsor (2) Thermionic Culture-The Phoenix stero tube comperssor (can be dual mono or stero) Valley People 610 EQ (Outboard) API 550b 4-Band EQ (4) API 560 Ten-Band Graphic EQ (2) White Instruments 4000 Series EQs (2) Retro 2a3 - stereo pultec-ish Daking Eq - 2 channels on the preamp, A-Range-ish. Effects/Processors Demeter Real Reverb (Springs!) Eventide Harmonizer H3000 Korg Stage Echo Lexicon PCM-60 Lexicon Prime Time Digital Delay Roland 200-Space Echo Univox spring reverb with EQ Univox EC-80 tape echo Boss RE-20 Space Echo AKG BX-20 Spring Reverb Radial Engineering EFX20 - pedal interface (1) Direct Injection Avalon U5 Class A DI Radial Jenson JDI (2) Reamp Box Radial SGI Guitar Interface Miscellaneous: Radial - SGI long run signal booster (2) SSL Side (Studio "B") Console/Mixer SSL 9080J 80 channel console: Recently reconditioned in 2011 Recorders ProTools 10 - HD Native with 48 channels of i/o IZ Technology ADA Converters Ampex ATR102 w/ 1/4" or 1/2" headstacks available. Studer A827 2" 24 track available Speakers Yamaha NS-10Ms w/ Adcom GFA555 Geithain RL901k Compression Pendulum ES8 - Vari-mu. Distressor EL-8x (2) Neve 2254 comperssor (2) - original 2254 Chandler Germanium Compressor pair Chandler/EMI Zener Limiter - stereo limiter Purple Audio MC77 (2) Thermionic Culture- Phoenix stero tube comperssor (can be dual mono or stero) - Mastering version w/ sidechain DW Fearn VT-7- vari-mu EQ (Outboard) Chandler Curvebender stereo EQ Retro 2a3 stereo Pultec eq (4 channels) Pultec - original (1) Effects/Processors Bricasti M7M Reverb System 2 w/ M10 Remote Sony DRE777 Reverb SPL De-Esser Common / Floating: Common / Floating: Microphones AEA R-84 Ribbon AKG D112 (2) AKG 460 AKG C1000S (2) Audio Technica 4050 Audio Technica 4033 Beyer m160 pair Coles 4038 (2) Matched pair EV RE-20 Gefell UMT70s (2) - LDC, using M7 capsule. Matched pair Korby KAT system tube mic - with hot swappable KAT 800, KAT 67, KAT 47, KAT 251, and KAT 12 clone heads Josephson E22s (1) Neumann M-582 - SDC tube condensers (2) - Matched pair - using the m62 - nickel diaphragm capsule. (circa 1965) RCA 44 (ccira 1937) Sennheiser 609 (2) Sennheiser MD 421 (1) Sennheiser MD 441 (1) Shure SM7 Shure SM 57 (4) Shure SM 58 (2) Telefunken RFT AK47 (2) - Matched Pair. Telefunken RFT M16 (1) Soundelux U195 (1) - LDC, tube. Guitars, Basses and Amplifiers Fender Pbass - new Fender Jazzmaster - new Gretsch Electromatic - newish hollowbody electric Parlor Guitar - 50's , acoustic Amplifiers Ampeg SVT (1980) with matching 8x10 cabinet Ampeg V-4B Fender Champ (1978) Hiwatt DR504 Custom 50 head (1979, Partridge transformers) and matching 4x12 cabinet (1970, loaded with four vintage Hiwatt Purple Fanes) Valvetech Hayseed 30 (1963 Vox AC-30 clone hand-wired with EF-86 circuit (One Silver Bell and one Blue dog) Supro Royal Reverb 2x10 combo amp (1967) Fender Super Reverb - silver face (72) Traynor YBA-1 Bass Mate Head (70s) Traynor 2x15 bass cabinet Peavey Super Festival Series 300-watt solid-state bass head. Univox 50 watt head Drums & Percussion Ludwig 3 piece drum kit (1970) : Ludwig 24" kick Ludwig 18" floor tom Ludwig 14" rack tom Ludwig 14" Supraphonic Ludwig 14" Acrolite Sonor Force 3001 kit Various percussion (tamborines/bells/chimes/shakers) Drum Machines Roland 707 Yamaha RX-17 Various Hammond organ drum machines Keyboards & Synthesizers Fender Rhodes Mark II 73 key Gourley upright piano 1920s Hammond S-6 all-tube organ made in 1959. (Amplifier section loaded with vintage Jensens). Baldwin console organ/ MicroComputer Orchestra !! Nord Electro 73 key Roland Juno 60 Crumar Multiman-5 Roland SH-2000 Synthesis Technology MOTM (analog modular synthesizer designed after the original MOOG sythesizer by Paul Schreiber in Fort Worth, Texas) Yamaha Organ (Farfisa copy) Solina String synth/organ Leslie 122 Vox Acetone Guitar Pedals Big Muff Electroharmonix Distortion Pedal Boss Super Feedbacker & Distortion Pedal Boss Tremolo Pedal 2- Boss DD3 Digital Delay Pedal Boss DD2 Digital Delay Pedal Boss Touch Wah Pedal Ibanez Bi-stage Phaser Pedal DOD Flanger Pedal Ross Chorus Pedal Morley Power Wah Pedal Diamond Distortion Pedal Ernie Ball Volume Pedal Boss Vibrato clone Pedal Ratt clone Pedal Miscellaneous Hohner melodica Harmonicas

Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.

A: Music Composition, Music Arrangement/Orchestration and sound design. Music and Sound Mixing, Music Consultation/direction, Music Production.

Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?

A: Fishing rod banjo, Drum Kit Boat with double kick pedal propulsion, Siemens Sistral R444 Sound Desk with Built in RF Radio Transponder , Microphone Spear Gun battery pack and a Piano Bed Tent Kitchen with built in solar electricity generator.

Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?

A: Of course.... but maybe.

Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?

A: I promise to expand your awareness into a sphere of un-knowledge.

Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A: Do your homework and come with a perfect sense of expectations.

Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?

A: Orlando Gibbons. I am a failed idealist.

Q: Analog or digital and why?

A: Both. How.

Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?

A: That it is a simple task. Which it is but still. It's a misconception.

Q: What's your typical work process?

A: It varies according to what type of project we are working on. Given we produce singles and soundtrack music the contrast between the two is too great to elucidate in a paragraph but in a nutshell it would be - slow and then fast.

Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?

A: Brian Eno, Geoffrey Oryema, Greg Calbi, Steve Reich, Mamady Keita, Street Musicians, Rain Forests, Birds, Dogs, First albums, Leadbelly, Son House, Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Keith Jarrett, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Mos Def, Wizz Khalifa, Eminem, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, ECM label, Verve Label, Jai Paul, 4AD, JagJagwar Label, Grimes, Kanye West.., I can keep going on. This is the warm-up.