Tourist interview: “My modular is a nightmare; I just end up wasting time and spending money”
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 พ.ค. 2024
- British electronic artist Will Phillips - better known as Tourist - has just released his gorgeous new album Memory Morning, which takes his dreamlike brand of sample-heavy electronica to new creative heights inspired by shoegaze and psychedelic music.
We sat down with Phillips in his London studio to talk about sample sourcing, his creative approach and why he swears by his 'holy trinity' of synths.
Tourist - Memory Morning is out now via Monday Records
www.touristmusic.com/
In this video:
00:00:11 - Tell us about your studio
00:02:11 - Favourite 3 synths
00:04:51 - Favourite synth plugins
00:06:10 - Favourite effect plugins
00:08:13 - Dream gear
00:10:06 - How do you start a track?
00:11:35 - Sourcing samples for Memory Morning
00:15:46 - Hardware vs software samplers
00:18:34 - Using the OP-1
00:19:30 - Creating ambience and atmosphere
00:20:59 - Experimenting with new techniques
00:22:51 - Advice for producers...
That was fun. It's always great listening to people who follow their own path.
This is so inspiring, love the new album
I love hearing a musician emphasize the simplicity of "one button, one function"! It seems like many artists keep modular synths around more for their aesthetic appeal than for actually using them. They make fantastic background props, don't they?
Modular can be one button per function also. Modular just isn’t as efficient during the writing process as synths with presets or soft synths. You have to have your modular workflow nailed to use it during a production session effectively without wasting time. You can also do sound design sessions separately and record to audio creating samples to use in future productions. Really it all comes down to workflow but I don’t think anyone’s spending that amount of money just because it looks cool
The majority of cables in a modular setup are behaving as knobs. It's the artist's task to understand how to twist them. If knob per function is the only qualification, modular generally provides far more options - which is a problem on its own.
what a breath of fresh air in a sea of videos where the artists have walls of modular/synths
This channel is killing it!
I like this guy.
I love this so much! Love the naming of the samples, so cool to dive into the original tracks.
This was really good. Thank you
I started using modular when I replaced my oscillators with samplers, now for me modulars are just fxs and samples and I'm happy enough
honestly. its ironic that the daw can reproduce so many signature analog sounds and with better reproducibility, but where modular shines is in the digital realm where complexity and exploration are key
I got into Buchla 208c and the card expanders. That’s the most modular thing I have. I’m limited to that setup and can write grooves, leads, basslines, etc. I am thinking about getting into VCV rack and sequencing it with an Oxi One
Great interview. Hadn’t heard of Tourist before… fired up some tracks. Good stuff!
Interesting that earlier on in the interview he talks about converting synth/soft synth midi tracks to audio, then deleting the midi from the project. Chopping the audio, reversing, adding effects. Maybe putting it back in a sampler - this is the exact workflow of the OP-1 / OP-1 Field - so it makes sense he gets on well with that. You can have the assistance of a midi part at the start, but then it’s all audio. I’ve really enjoyed that way of working on mine.
Love this artist. Cool spotlight!
Great piece, thanks
Great video! A Moog, A Prophet, A 106. I would say that I really can’t do without my Poly Evolver. The 106 is non-negotiable for me
Tourist - Memory Morning is brilliant, pure vibes.
This all makes a hell lot of sense. Tipping my hat!
Same here for my 106, 350,- euro in 2001. Tourist, amazing music, big fan!
...'knob per funtion...' can't stress enough how important it is for me when music making....hence Roland TR8 is my fav drum machine ever!:)
very cool interview! I love Juno and model D sounds too...I dont own Prophet so can't say, but I like minimalist approach, less is more...
Just been to the Nottingham gig and he's literally just answered most questions I had. Would do anything to hear a breakdown of We Stayed Up All Night
Those three synths are a good choice to cover analogue needs. I would maybe miss an arp 2600 or a KORG ms-20?
Or some drum machine? Or a 303?
brilliant!
The Chemical Brothers' track where it sounds like they have sampled the Beatles is "Setting Sun". It's not really a sample, they just copied the beat from "tomorrow never knows" by the Beatles. but since he was talking about folk psychedelia, it sounded to me like that he meant "where do i beguin" from "dig your own hole"
Can anyone help me here? He talks about using the arpegiattor in Logic and setting it to Random notes. How is this done? Can't figure out a way to do it. Thanks so much for your help in advance!
You can use ‘randomizer’ midi fx with arpeggiator
A Matriarch isn't a knob per function? Though he does have a point with minimalist setup. Would like to know what is in his rack, tho.
I'd consider it knob per function lol. Super dead simple synth to use and patch
I'd guess the patch points on the matriarch would complicate things if you're just going for a truly minimalist setup. Idk
I find it interesting that you have no acoustic treating. You must take regular breaks due to ear fatigue
OB-Xa, Prophet 5, and Jupiter 8.
Solid trio m8
I don't care how hip and trendy it is right now to have super compact devices are with shift functions and touch screens that do a lot with so little. I will ALWAYS be a one knob per function guy. Give me a big bloated giant interface and charge me an arm and a leg for it, and I'll buy it. And don't even get me started on phone companion apps, I have zero of these, and I will continue to never get involved in this aspect of music technology.
Dappled sunlight on a Prophet 🌞🌱🌿🎛🎹👌
Can't believe I've never come across the word dappled before - thank you!