Music Technology

The development of music technology, has been one of the strongest forces for change in musical style. Just as rock ‘n' roll’s rise is almost unthinkable without the invention of the electric guitar, hip-hop’s reworking of earlier funk beats was heavily reliant on the sampler and house music was built on the foundations provided by landmark drum machines such as the Roland TR808. At Sound Minds music technology service has revolutionised the way we work and the music we’ve produced.

We began in 1996 with a computer based midi system with a keyboard, sampler and sound module. Typically groups of 3-4 met with a facilitator on a weekly basis to create music with the technology and through doing this learnt how the technology worked. In the past five years computers have developed to the extent that a fairly basic setup can record, process and mix audio and in the last two years this has been achievable without recourse to a specially built computer. The advent of the CD burner and recordable disks costing next to nothing has led to a new focus on trying to record our ideas, mix and process them as professionally as possible, the results of which have appeared on our CDs ‘Spirit’ and ‘Love Power and Sound Minds’.

Complementing our established live band workshops, technology sessions provide more of a focus on composing original music, experimenting with sound and a chance to use short phrases of recorded vocals or instrumental playing. These sessions proved particularly attractive to a younger client group interested in contemporary dance music.

The Sound Minds studio now offers accredited training in basic midi sequencing and audio recording. In the last year many people have been able to afford their own home studio set ups, and increasingly make music independently at home or with friends. Technology now allows Sound Minds to operate a mobile studio and ‘hands on’ set up based around a laptop for work away from our main studio. CD and vinyl decks and a small PA gives us the flexibility to make music on the move.

We use a programme called Reason to built instrumentals and beats, and combine it with Cubase when we need to add vocals, guitars or other live instruments. Both programmes now offer plenty of effects, virtual instruments and gizmos to help sculpt your recordings.
Our new 16 track Mackie desk can record a whole band live in the rehearsal room and has transformed the quality that we can achieve. Watch out for new CD releases, sign up for our Recording Audio course or call us about hiring the facility.
WATCH THIS SPACE – changeover to MACS and LOGIC on the way