Recently, we got
talking to one of our audio consultants, Alex Judd, alias Soul Intent. When he’s
not coming up with technology solutions, he’s a drum 'n’ bass DJ/producer, so we
picked his brain about Cubase and Reason, the music production software.
Alex, how did you get into the music business?
I first starting DJing when I
was 15, playing at friends' parties and local bars. When I came to study at
Nottingham Trent Uni, I began to get club gigs and got regular spots at local
nights in Nottingham and the Midlands.
You’ve done some pretty amazing stuff – what’s your
proudest achievement?
Getting played on Radio 1 for
the first time was pretty exciting. It’s a world-renowned station and it was
just after I’d got my first track, Jus Vibe, signed to Blindside Recordings.
More recently I did a DJ gig
abroad - in Lithuania.
This was huge for me; it’s something I’ve wanted to do for ages.
What kind of hardware do you use?
My kit list is growing bit by
bit. I’m pretty much all digital, apart from a Samson S-COM compressor, which I
use on my beats to give them a bit more punch and weight.
I use an M-Audio NRV10
FW/Analogue mixer, which is very handy for recording the odd vocal and for
running my DJ setup through. It has a Ctrl Room Out too, which I use instead of
an additional volume controller. The mixer is also a Firewire audio interface
which I can use it as an analogue mixer if I need to.
I have a Samson Q7 handheld
condenser mic for recording interviews and my podcasts, and an Audio Technica
3035 Condenser for adding vocals to tracks.
So, how did you get started with Cubase and Reason?
I’d been playing around with
Reason for a couple of years, but never really knew how to get the most out of
it. When a friend sat me down and gave me some tips, I was amazed at how much
you could do so quickly. I’m always looking for ways to get more out of my
music, so I bought Cubase to use alongside Reason and I’ve not looked back
since.
The way I’m working at the
moment seems to be quite common amongst dance music producers. I’m using Cubase
as my host with Reason rewired in - effectively using it as a plug-in.
Why Cubase and Reason as opposed to anything else?
I love Reason because it’s so
easy to use; if I have an idea for a track, I can get it down while the
inspiration’s still fresh. It’s now up to Version 4 and they’ve worked hard on
including the tools you need to end up with a high-quality end product.
Cubase’s sound engine is
great and the plug-ins come in very handy, whether it’s the Side-Chain
Compressor or one of the free virtual synths. I’m really looking forward to
getting Version 5.
Are there any downsides to them?
With these sorts of things, I
think the only real downside is your own lack of knowledge; it’s definitely worth
reading the manuals.
Why is it useful for young people with an interest in
music production to know how to use software like Cubase and Reason?
The sooner students start
using these programmes, the more accomplished they’ll be by the time they’ve
finished in education and are out in the creative world looking for work.
The great thing about both of
them is that they can be used by both professionals and amateurs to produce
some amazing sounds. Stick this in a classroom and watch some seriously happy
kids start making music!
What does the future hold for Soul Intent?
My plans are to release more
records and get my first album out in the next year or so. Hopefully I’ll do
some more gigs abroad and make enough money to buy a big car with a swimming pool
in the back!
With your claim to Lithuanian fame, we thought we’d
test your knowledge - which renowned musician is immortalised in statue form in
Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital city?
Well, I know it’s not me – that
will take them a few more years. Elvis?
Actually, it’s rock legend, Frank Zappa.
[Alex pauses for a minute]
Who?
Alex’s Favourite Kit
Samson S-COM compressor - to give beats a bit more punch and weight
M-Audio NRV10 FW/Analogue mixer – handy for recording the odd vocal
Samson Q7 handheld condenser mic – for recording interviews and my podcasts
Audio Technica 3035 condenser – for adding vocals to tracks
A pair of Mackie HR824 MK2s
Sennheiser HD280 headphones
Technics 1200 turntables
Pioneer CDJ800 MK2s
Vestax PMC-280 mixer
If you’d like some more
information about Cubase and Reason (but probably not Frank Zappa) from Alex
and the rest of the Jigsaw experts, call us on 03332 409 333 or email learning@jigsaw24.com