Rival Consoles - In The Studio

Ryan Lee West is one of the key artists on London’s Erased Tapes imprint, using analog synths to create icy and inventive IDM under the name Rival Consoles.
A couple weeks ago, we traveled to Ryan’s south London studio to film his Against The Clock session. After filming he have us a full run down of his home studio and all the gear in it: his old and new synths, tape decks, guitar pedals, guitars, piano and more. If you’ve listened to his stunning recent Night Melody release and wondered how he achieves such chilling sounds, well, wonder no more - here’s the man himself to show you his set-up and how he uses it.
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[@crashcadet]

I love that he uses only one synth to get such creative results. So inspiring.

[@thijskoerselman]

It's really inspiring to see one of my favorite artists use such an incredibly humble studio setup. I'd like to see more videos like this to combat GAS.

[@skyreadersociety6183]

totally agree

[@olliewicks5317]

whats gAS/?

[@thijskoerselman]

@@olliewicks5317 Gear Acquisition Syndrome

[@kekoajk05]

Piano sounds amazing

[@nutritionontape]

I'm so pleased you shared this.
Having one good synth and one good pedal chain is a very productive way to work.
I reset my studio more in line with this principle and am having a great time with it

[@ChuckWasHere]

No boundaries. That's what I love about what he's doing here.

[@Echoes1967]

please more, this guy is a genius :)

[@closeyoureyesmusic]

Interesting studio setup, so minimalistic and powerful. And awesome music, no need to mention

[@GrantBrenner]

Nice to see someone else who appreciates the DD-3 as much as me.

[@lsamoa]

This was the best one in the "in the studio" series

[@ZeonGenesis]

He's sooo good at music, it's insane

[@daniel3819able]

Icant stop listening, in to the heart, great producer

[@mvricks90]

just discovered your music, and really happy to find this video seeing more of your process

[@raytheonorion]

I learned so much from this guy's 2 FCTMG vidseos. More of this!

[@YouzTube99]

@FACTmagazine, I like that you chose the adjective 'icy' to describe analog synths when pretty much everyone else goes on about how 'warm' they are.

[@EveRbLssD]

So simple but yet so effective. Chose your instrument and master it ie he has a moog and chooses not to use it...incredible.

[@shlamhabor]

what a great guy! inspiring

[@SerpentineLightSource]

Inspiring Ryan, thanks a lot! Just got the Particle and love it!

[@zxx371]

this video is one of my biggest inspirations. I look up to rival consoles and hope to create sounds like him one day; he has such a distinct and unique voice and has an incredible palette of sounds.

[@zxx371]

I always revisit this video from time to time whenever I am lacking in creativity

[@Natzure]

I already love him.

[@drthorpe8602]

this is superb. great job rival consoles and fact!!

[@JonathanSummersMuir]

That Midi Murf and Red Panda Particle sound amazing together.. or at least I assume he was playing with them both on...

[@bhyllw]

Helios @0:41, such a wonderful track :)

[@michael_harren]

YES! Thank you for this!

[@chchanyoung]

amazing

[@freddynetwerk]

Love it

[@martti7363]

rival consoles

[@HousePlant_Ambient]

This is so fucking cool. Love it.

[@sebastiane.91]

MASTER!!

[@emotionwave]

My kinda approach this, I like how he's drawn a couple of presets on his delay pedal lol

[@agamemnonc]

no acoustic treatment?! does mixing take place in this studio or elsewhere?

[@Tom-kn3mg]

Great bloke

[@leehodge7907]

love these videos! keep doing them please!

[@txemanovelo]

Genius!

[@Sirdoman]

Inspiring video, thanks for the tips and nice MI Quad VCA dawg.

[@virtueisdead]

I've always wished I could have a modular synth to make music like Rival Consoles. He's my idol, yo.

[@guillll]

You should try VCV Rack!

[@infinaneek]

Nice rig rundown and piano skills. x

[@infinaneek]

lovely bg music too. good verk

[@MsLolapita]

🖤

[@dimabiser]

love this guy)

[@christoroppolo8742]

Wonderful! Oh and amazing! Simplicity and intuitive design! Peace Christo 👽👽🕺🕺🎶🎶👍🏻✌🏻✌🏻👏🏻👏🏻🛸🛸🙏🙏🐕🐕🔦

[@itwasalladreamtome]

a genius.

[@jakobk5558]

A. M. A. Z. I. N. G.

[@skywalkr90]

raw

[@PauldeAragon]

Cool

[@timmbrockmann959]

2:35 like his label mate Nils ;)

[@balbo1168]

name of the last track? it starts 2:45min (beautiful), thanks for your music

[@nobodyneverknows]

its just Prophet 8

[@WorksopGimp]

08

[@thomastoccafondimusic]

Textures 🤌🤌🤌

[@simeonperlin8542]

How does he achieve that wavy piano rhythm right at beginning before he discusses pedals? Kind of stuttery triplet rhythm

[@CrescimoneMatt]

Anybody know what song he was playing for a few seconds on the piano? It's killing me. I'm pretty sure it's a very famous piece, but I can't remember what it is. I might be completely wrong too lol.
Edit: I think I remember it from a movie maybe. is it American Beauty?Or a tv show? Idk. But I love that chord progression

[@rivalconsoles_music]

i made it up, it was just a bunch of chords...

[@haydenmoonmusic]

It kinda sounds like modern soul by James blake

[@marlonjarek9071]

i might be wrong but think david august uses a similar chord progression quiet often. at least thats what it reminded me of.

[@martinwhile1607]

2:00 Sounds distinctly (albeit non-intentionally) like Gerry Rafferty's sax solo from Baker Street.

[@Michael_Smith-Red_No.5]

IDM, please keep making it.

[@amphitheatre]

where can i get one of those micro spring reverbs?

[@burmashavetom]

Also was going to ask this. Looks almost like a kit you can order and assemble yourself.

[@uzinakash]

Belton does these. You have to buy the tank separated from the springs. Go check their website

[@95t95t95t]

He uses the A-199 SpringReverb modular from Doepfer

[@amphitheatre]

Corentin Bossard
seems belton only does them in bulk? the site ask you to inquire for a quote which usually means high $

[@amphitheatre]

i just emailed them hopefully no one calls my cell and starts speaking Hangul lol

[@djeanql]

Anyone know what the synth at 3:02 is called?

[@vortal4000]

Microkorg

[@JoshRichmanDesign]

Nice! What brand/model is that spring reverb?

[@florianjanyszek4719]

It's the Doepfer a-199

[@autecheee]

Why don’t we spotlight all the sift synths, DAWs and plugins used besides the hardware??

[@ryanwest9039]

because in this case 95% of the synth sounds in every song are the prophet 8. from Odyssey to now.

[@23bit76]

The electronic Lionel Messi

[@hallocine]

Shut up

[@OuroborosWorm]

What is the track at the start of the video? Is it Rival Consoles?

[@rivalconsoles_music]

yes, Johannesburg - from: Night Melody EP

[@TheGreenwood03]

anyone know the track name at the end of the video ?

[@adamvolkinshtein1184]

Yes. Look into Rival Consoles' private Soundcloud. This should be one of the earlier sketches and tracks not published by Erased Tapes

[@liquidcast]

What microphone is he using?

[@alxdlg_1991]

Looks like a Rode nt2... Seems to be a wise choice if he uses the piano as a stetching tool

[@willemojnr]

What's a spring reverb? XD

[@rafalilnicki]

Monitors?

[@alxdlg_1991]

Mackie hr824

[@Vladiiizz]

oh how much cost its (without piano)

[@adamvolkinshtein1184]

A good 5 to 10 grand or more

[@luke123halley]

TIL spring reverbs have actual springs in them 😛

[@TheGreenwood03]

not all of them, just a specific type:)

[@cobiwilliams]

TheGreenwood03 well, if a "spring reverb" doesn't have a spring in it, it's an emulation of a spring reverb, not actually a spring reverb. they do have the same kinda sound tho

[@johngorgis]

but u cant punch an emulation ang get that crash fx

[@FK-ve2cf]

No DD3 this is a DD7 ! :)

[@barskiniov2373]

no it is not a dd7

[@patriciorivas2536]

And the drums?????

[@ambitsmusic]

You can never have enough reverb and delay

[@roblaw7537]

Don't put everything through a spring reverb kids!....

[@SoDrumatic]

too late. I'm on my way to E.R. right now

[@tcetvel8648]

his voice sounds like Damon Albarn

[@mvricks90]

or Eric Prydz, similar mannerisms