Voltage from Cabin Fever UK takes time out from the studio (and checking out larger sized female bottoms) to answer a quick fire round of questions relating to production. If you’re a budding producer looking for some tips and tricks or just interested as to what goes down in the studio then read on..
PreSonus Studio One, certainly a different choice of DAW – what were the reasons behind opting for this over the likes of Logic and Ableton?
I used to use Cubase when I first started producing music, a friend of mine, Trojan, showed me Studio One and since then I have never looked back. That was 4 years ago! The workflow is very quick and easy and the sound is very raw in a similar respect to that of Cubase. I do find Logic smooth and rounded but it lacks volume on the master output for me.
Do you have any ‘go to’ plugins that you would recommend over anything else? If so, what makes these different to the factory presets?
I like to use the Fabfilter eqs for my cuts and roll offs, the Duende SSL EQ plugs for my boosts and notches. Soundtoy’s EchoBoy can be very useful in creating some weird special effects or the Kjaerhus Classic Delay is cool for that standard smooth delay which I use a fair bit if i’m after something very subtle.
A bassline can make or break a tune, how do you create that trademark Cabin Fever sound? Anything specific you can recommend in terms of VST settings?
I’m not really a VST guy as I tend to use hardware synths such as Virus, Moog, Roland,and Korg when making any basslines. I will always make a solid sound with one of my synths and then its usually the processing that makes it something different or stand out. For example the distortion or compression,splitting the sound into high pass and low pass instances and then doing more work to the high layer to try and create something more catchy to the ear.
One other sticking point when finishing a tune always seems to be loudness and getting a tune to sound ‘big’ – do you have any inside tips for this?
I’m not really a fan of the whole loudness thing, my own tracks are not overly loud. I would rather listen to a track that has a solid mixdown and good dynamics than a track that has been over compressed or limited to sound ‘loud’. Alot of the time newer producers lose weight and volume in things by cutting away too much from the sounds they are using. I would say that a good sample selection is key to a good mixdown and finish.
Producing live is still certainly a thing of moment in other popular electronic genres, do you think this will ever catch on in the world of drum & bass? Would you consider doing a live show?
I think its possible to a degree I suppose, Reprazent was basically that in the 90’s although i’m not sure it would work for many of today’s producers. The music has kind of lost its closeness to jazz and the freestyle way of things, everything is very formulated now so it could get a bit messy. I think someone like Ulterior Motive (Metalheadz) would probably do something pretty sick live, I wouldn’t like to do it with my current music – definitely on some live jazzy tip though!
Music videos – certainly popular in the commercial pop & bass scene but do they have a place in the underground world of drum & bass? Would you consider making one?
It depends on the track, I think some of the videos from the Manchester guys like Dub Phizix are wicked although tracks like Danny Byrd’s ‘Grit’ featuring the bloody Muppets in the video makes me think… what is the point in that? I would make a video and fill it up with big booty women FOR REAL!
Looking back at the rave PA’s of the 90’s with artists plonking on the keys of unplugged Yamaha DX7’s, do you think anyone actually enjoyed these ‘live’ performances?
I think they were definitely enjoyed!! I don’t think there was anything unenjoyable about the 90’s rave scene as it was such a pioneering time
Sticking with the 90’s questions, do you think it’s difficult to recreate that specific vibe using modern technology?
It’s very difficult to recreate that sound, you can get emulations of a few of the synths (Korg for example) and you think to yourself “yeah man that sounds like a korg , i’ve got a korg…” Then you actually buy a Korg and say “wow them emulations are rubbish”
If you had the opportunity to create a jungle track using only an Atari ST and Akai sampler, what do you think would be the outcome? A deep, dark roller or something more bouncy?
I will let you know as ive just bought an Emu e6400 sampler, I might try and build a whole track with it for fun and give it away on Drum&BassArena.
Sampling from original sources was a huge part of the evolution of dance music, what with the abundance of sample packs and plenty of producers favouring the same plug ins do you think in 2014 we should be reverting to the basics again?
Possibly, I mean I can’t knock it as I use sample packs in every tune I make. I’ve openly said I use the BHK packs. It depends what vibe you are going for – if you’re trying for that kind of jazzy, soulful V Records vibe certainly go in on the 2 step, rare groove, soul sound. I think new producers should look to buy themselves an old school synth that has great pads, something like a Roland, it certainly keeps you away from the loops in packs.
Many producers claim to have sampled all types of things to make beats and bass – from metal bin lids to microphone feedback. What’s the most random thing you have sampled?
I actually haven’t done anything like that, interesting though as the possibilities are endless.
You have remixed plenty of classics recently, if you have to choose between these 3 for an official remix which one would it be and why?
Classic breakbeat hardcore from Orca with ‘4AM’
Darkside jungle from Asend & Ultarive with ‘What Kind of World’
Legendary jump up from Shy FX with ‘Funkindemup’
Ha ha! Thats easy! Asend & Ultravibe ‘What Kind of World’ The intro is badboy, I loved Back2Basics!
Starting from scratch, production can be expensive – do you have any money saving tips for people who want to start making music with computers?
Buy a gaming PC and an external hard drive, it will last for years. Also try and grab as many free plugins as you can.
What do you think of the latest Roland Aira products? Is this another nod to days of old or is the analogue/digital crossover a thing of the future?
I’m not sure yet but I am definitely buying a VT-3 this year so i will let you know. It looks like a wicked take on vocoding that’s for sure!
Finally, ‘Float Ya Boat’ was included in Jaydan’s recent podcast and seems to be blowing up all over the place at the moment. When can we expect a release?What was the inspiration behind the track and the title?
I’m not sure on release date at the moment as I still have one more track to finish to complete the E.P but it’s certainly getting a great response whenever I play it. The track title was inspired by somebody on Facebook who was moaning indirectly about my liking of big booty pictures and said “whatever floats ya boat mate” so that track is for them!
