1. Favourite knob or fader or switch on a piece of gear and why?
This was my favourite switch on any gear that I used. Turn on the JUICE!
2. Do you have an ‘almost’ perfect bit of kit? What would you change?
I wish some synths, like this Oberheim, had a sustain/hold so that both my hands could be free to use the filters to play patterns.
3. What setup do you bring on holiday or tour or commute etc.?
I just got The Orchid; I think it’s this generation’s Omnichord. So good.
4. What software do you wish was hardware and vice versa?
I’d love to see Arturia make a software version of TONTO! This whole album series, I’ve been saying in interviews how Arturia has really enabled folks to have access to a version of some pricey and rare synths (see: ARP 2600s!) so it’s been nice to see what’s possible on much of the album with those VSTs before going and using the real deals at National Music Centre and VintageSynthesizerMuseum.
5. Is there anything you regret selling… or regret buying?
Nothing I’ve regretting buying, I passed on getting a Wurlitzer 10yrs ago cause I didn’t think I needed as much as I use it now, now that I found one (more than twice as expensive!) 10yrs later.
6. What gear has inspired you to produce the most music?
Ableton. I started using Fruity Loops in Jr. High, then switched to Cubase in High School cause it was the only program which could run on my dad’s old laptop. Then I got my first Macbook toward the end of college and got an Mbox and Pro Tools. I made my first EP on the 32 track version of PT LE and most of my first LP on it before final mix downs in professional studios. I got Ableton partway through making the next record and never looked back, as the workflow was so great for me and I think things had just gotten to the point where things weren’t crashing all the time like they used to (2013). It’s lightyears beyond what it could do back then too with all the VST softsynths and complicated FXs you can be running while the CPU is still only hanging around 60% without issue.
I think as far as synths go, I’ve always loved the Model D or Minimoog.
7. If you had to start over, what would you get first?
I started with the Korg Triton LE which was nice to have an all around workstation. Kinda nice to have that one even though the synth programming was difficult in the sub menus of that small screen. I wish I had of gotten a real analogue one earlier but I used the Arp 2600s at school which was great.
8. What’s the most annoying piece of gear you have, that you just can’t live without?
The computer.
9. Most surprising tip or trick or technique that you’ve discovered about a bit of kit?
I like making synths out of vocal samples like on my track “Release”. Nice way to have a sound you’re sure no one has made before.
Artist or Band name?
Rich Aucoin
Genre?
Electronic/Indie Pop/Indie Rock/House/Techno/OST/Synthwave/Jungle
Selfie?
Where are you from?
Halifax, Nova Scotia
How did you get into music?
Orf/recorder, then school band for trumpet/percussion, bass in rock bands, school jazz/symhpony/percussion ensemble bands, home recording and recording in university for my music electives, then bar bands, then playing my own music.
What still drives you to make music?
Who knows what drives us??!!!
How do you most often start a new track?
Chords mostly.
How do you know when a track is finished?
When I don’t feel like I need to adjust the mix when playing for someone.
Show us your current studio
When not just working in the box and/or with my one Sub37 or Trition, I like to visit the Vintage Synth Museum in LA to get real deal sounds.
Best creative advice that you’ve ever heard?
Make art that makes you happy and/or affects you first before it can do that for others.
Promote your latest thing… Go ahead, throw us a link
Synthetic SE4 coming Oct 30. you can get it and the other 3 seasons (and with a box for them all) from my bandcamp.
https://richaucoinwabb.bandcamp.com/merch
