Hello music people 👋

Today in the spotlight, Synth Centric

Coming from Australia, he rejects the notion that getting more hardware will result in better productions.

He is a trained mix engineer, has worked as a sound designer and producer but steered away from the field.

There is always gold in contradictions and Synth Centric shares it with us 🎶

Read Time: 3 minutes 📰

The Setup

Gear List

Software

• Ableton - Live

• Reason

• Native Instruments - Maschine

• Native Instruments - Komplete 13 Ultimate

• Akai - MPC

• Arturia - Synth Collection

• Arturia - FX Collection

• Izotope - Ozone

Hardware

• Moog - Subsequent 25

• Behringer - Monopoly

• Behringer - Model D

• Behringer - TD3

• Sequential - Take 5

• Dreadbox - Typhon

• Dreadbox - Nymphes

• Dreadbox - Medusa

• Polyend - Tracker

• Polyend - Play

• Korg - MS20 Mini

• Korg - Minilogue

• Akai - MPK Mini

• Akai - MPC One

• Native Instruments - Maschine +

• Roland - SP404 MII

• Teenage Engineering - PO 33

• Teenage Engineering - PO 133

• Teenage Engineering - PO 137

• Teenage Engineering - PO 128

• Teenage Engineering - PO 20

• Arturia - Minilab Mk II

• Novation - Launchkey 25

• Novation - Launchpad

• Nintendo - Gameboy (Modded) w/ LSDJ x 2

• Sony - PS Vita w/ Imaginstruments

• Nintendo - DS with Korg DS 10 & Electroplankton x 2

• Nintnedo - 2DS with Korg DS10, Korg DSN, Korg M01

• Nintendo - Switch w/ Korg Gadget

• Sony - PSP w/ Beaterator

• Supaboy with Mario Paint (composer)

• Atari - Punk Console

• KRK - Classic 5s

• Behringer - Euphoria 1820

• Behringer - Ultragain Digital

• Warm - Audio Bus-Comp

• Zoom - H8

• Strymon - Nightsky

• Electroharmonix - Canyon

• Mooer - Ensemble King

• DF Audio - Patchbay

• Korg - Monotron

• Korg - Monotron Delay

Eurorack

• Mr Blue Oscillator

• Plague Bearer

• Doepfer A-122

• Arturia - Microfreak

• MIDI Fighter Twister

Video Production

• Sony A7IV

• Sony EV10

• Sony ZV1

• Sony 90mm Macro

• Sony 30mm Macro

• Sony 70-350mm

• Sony 16-50mm

• Sigma 24-70mm

• DJI Ronin RSC2

• Rode VideoMicPro

• Rode Go II

• Rode Micro

Who are you and what is your relationship with music?

My name is Dan Schwebel from Sydney, Australia.

I began making music in 2008-2009, originally with an inclination toward hip-hop music. I eventually graduated to electronic music, especially those genres that evoke a retrospective feel. I now produce videos exploring all these genres and music technology under the moniker of Synth Centric.

I am dual qualified in education and audio engineering, and make money by creating multimedia (approximately 50% audio-based, the rest video and design) in an educational context. I occasionally pick up contract work producing music, however, I am currently steering clear of the industry.

I have worked full-time as a sound designer and producer previously and, in all honesty, felt like it sucked the joy out of making music.

What's the one thing in your studio you can't live without?

Over the years, my answer to this question has varied.

In the past it has been my MPC, or my Moog. Right now, it is my Polyend Tracker. Using Trackers to make music is extremely nostalgic. However, the Polyend Tracker brings new life to the concept. And you can even do MPC-style chops on it. Which I love doing. It is an extremely powerful, standalone device, and every time I sit down with it, I find myself feeling both refreshed and inspired.

What's your process?

I am fortunate enough to have a lot of standalone devices and modded video game consoles that allow me to make music. Despite the different workflows that these devices invoke, the general process is the same.

I generally start with chords or a sample. Something that guides the vibe for the song. Then I work on creating melodic content, then I work rhythm, usually drums first then a bassline that works with or supports the feel and groove of the song.

Despite my obsession with synthesizers, and being trained as a traditional mix engineer, sound design and the mix are usually my last focus when making music. I am only really there to find something that makes me, the creator, feel or remember something. That is what sucks me in, and allows me to stay focused and productive. It isn't complex sound designs or precise mixes.

In all honesty, the music that produces an emotive response in me, is usually quite lofi music by today's standards. Take Ella Fitzgerald, whom my third daughter is named after. I find her music so evocative, and the mix is irrelevant. I don't think that I am alone with this perspective either, I think it is partly the cause for genre's like lofi hip-hop, and chillwave. Artists are putting an emphasis on the composition, and purposefully degrading the quality of the mix.

How would you explain your style?

I really don't think I have a sound as a whole, I generally take a project-based approach.

My main project is Thousand Eyez, which takes primarily a Synthwave approach. It is heavily influenced by the sound of the 1980s, the era that my parents grew up in, and the music I listened to as a child.

All in all, my whole catalogue is probably best described as: "lame, loop-based music with a false sense of nostalgia".

Has this journey of building a hardware setup changed the way you think about music or life in general?

Yes, very much so.

But in more of a negative way. Honestly, whenever buying a piece of hardware, you go in thinking that this is it... This is the thing that I needed. My quality will elevate drastically. In reality, the improved, or perceived quality that comes from hardware is rather quite nuanced, and I don't think it is really that obvious when comparing a hardware, particularly analog piece of hardware to its digital counterpart.

So now that I have a lot of stuff, my thinking process is now directed more toward workflow, and new ways of creating. As opposed to, for example, just buying another mono-synth.

What’s your ONE tip on music-production or creativity?

Don't produce for other producers.

That is just your ego driving. I am guilty of it. We all are. But the reality is, they most likely won't be impressed. You will probably do one of two things: a) either hurt their own ego, and dishearten them, which is not a good thing, or b) place yourself in the firing line of unnecessary scrutiny.

It is cliche, sure, but just produce things that you want. Even if it is just the 12 bar blues on a ukulele. When you go into a session with your soul driving, you will always walk away fulfilled, and always remain creative.

A book/movie/article that fueled your creativity?

Book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig.

It is a philosophical text, more than anything. A book about a father's journey with his son, as he unpacks the metaphysics of quality. It changed how I viewed life, and the world. It made me more creative, more focused. I liked it so much I had the symbol from the original printings tattooed on my right arm.

Do you have a question in mind that you think I should have asked? Or anything else you'd like to say?

No, I am just grateful for the opportunity.

How can people find you?

SoundCloud

Instagram

For jams, knob-twists and pad hitting videos go to G.A.S. Instagram

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Gianni @gianni.kampiotis

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