canada Archives - Martin Yam Møller

Ainsworth – Worth It

1. Favourite knob or fader or switch on a piece of gear and why?

This big central knob on the Hydrasynth has such a wonderful click as it turns. I find it very satisfying.

2. Do you have an ‘almost’ perfect bit of kit? What would you change?

SP-404 MKII is awesome in almost every way. I wish the pads were better for finger drumming.

3. What setup do you bring on holiday or tour or commute etc.?

OP-1 and the Tascam DR-05

4. What software do you wish was hardware and vice versa?

Software… RC-20 in pedal format would be sick. Hardware… Give me a good virtual version of a classic Casio like the VL-1 or SK-1 along with all the noise and flutter.

5. Is there anything you regret selling… or regret buying?

I had a nice acoustic bass guitar that really hurt to play, but sounded awesome. I couldn’t take the pain, so I sold it but I wish I had just kept it for special occasions.

6. What gear has inspired you to produce the most music?

The Yamaha Reface CP is a beautiful instrument. It finds it’s way on almost every major project of mine.

7. If you had to start over, what would you get first?

A piano. I feel it’s the best instrument to write with.

8. What’s the most annoying piece of gear you have, that you just can’t live without?

Computers

9. Most surprising tip or trick or technique that you’ve discovered about a bit of kit?

I think choosing cheap instruments and oddball methods will always push you beyond your normal creative limit. Good gear can sometimes guide you towards a very specific and familiar sound. Playing on a busted guitar or used crusty mono synth can send you somewhere you’ve never been. I like to visit those places as often as I can.

Artist or Band name?

Ainsworth

Genre?

Electronic, Alternative

Selfie?

Where are you from?

Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

How did you get into music?

Started playing in a rock band in middle school. Haven’t stopped playing or writing music ever since.

What still drives you to make music?

It’s such a fundamental part of who I am, I can’t picture a life where making music wouldn’t be part of my everyday routine.

How do you most often start a new track?

Usually with a melody I can hear in my head. I take that idea and push it through one of my synths, piano or guitar.

How do you know when a track is finished?

I’m usually following the rule that when you’ve added too many elements to a song, it’s time to start trimming things away. Once I’ve done that process, I put the song away for a day or two. I give a listen with fresh ears and 90% of the time I submit it quickly before I can start to second guess the decision. That other 10% of the time I get completely lost in overworking things until I can’t stand the song and it gets tossed in the bin.

Show us your current studio

Best creative advice that you’ve ever heard?

Don’t be afraid to fail.

Promote your latest thing… Go ahead, throw us a link

Just come say ‘Hi’ on my Instagram or YouTube. I’ll be there posting jams and having fun

https://www.instagram.com/ainsworththemusician

https://youtube.com/@ainsworththemusician

Rich Aucoin – Series Synthetic

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.