Davide Coretti – Dave Bundy

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

Doepfer Wasp filter

It’s definitely the Frequency knob of the Doepfer Wasp Filter, when the Resonance is 100%. I have two of them, because that filter has a unique character and timbre which i love!
They say it’s noisy and dusty dude, but that’s the way we like it.
All you need to do is to put the Resonance at 100% and tweak the frequency a little bit and you’ll find all the sweet spots you didn’t know you needed. LOVE IT.

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

XOR Electronics NerdSeq for sure.
It has tons of functions and possibilities, but triplets and 3 based tempos aren’t well implemented, so you’ll need to find lots of work-arounds to achieve it.
I must say that if you use the module the standard way – only with its built-in I/O – you’ll have a easier time with it, but if you push it, as I do, using tons of expanders and connections… then it can be very complex.

XOR Nerdseq

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

Through the years I tried to achieve the “standalone-repeatability” in modular synth world and I think i made it using the Nerdseq combined with the ES-9 and the MPC One.
I have a pre-patched system where every single module is patched to the NerdSeq and its CV Expanders, so I can reach and modulate most important knobs with the sequencer per step. The MPC is connected to the class compliant modular audio interface ES-9 from Expert Sleepers, which provide me an audio track per module (channel strip, eq, noise gates, compressor, fx, etc per single module).

MPC One and Eurorack

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

In my opinion there’re already so many possibilities both hardware and software that I can’t really tell which one I wish it was real/vst.. but for sure I’m still looking for a sequencer as the one in the Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators or the Erica Synth Perkons HD-01, that can control external gear so easy as they do… maybe with integrated fx per step too?

Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator PO32

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

7 years ago, when I moved from my hometown (Taranto) to the city where I live now (Camerano) before buying a house with my wife – I needed to sell a bunch of gear and instruments that I still miss.
One of those is the 5U portable system from Synthesizers.com which I really loved and I would have loved to integrate with my current studio gear, to see what it could do with the latest sequencers and newer midi-cv connections.

Synthesizers.com 5U modular

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

If we talk about software I would say Propellerheads Reason 3.0 because it was my first love with a DAW and I still find some lost projects in it, like some ancient hard-disk that I try to recreate with new sounds and gear and it still is inspiring to me.

On the hardware side I would say the Make Noise Shared System with the CV Bus case for sure.
I didn’t have all the exact modules from the original shared system – because I didn’t get it as a whole piece, but module by module – but it was definitely the most inspiring gear that made me jam a lot and record some videos and tracks.
My only problem was the one-shot approach: once you switch it off you’ll never be able to recreate it perfectly (which IS also motivating/inspiring somehow)

Make Noise Shared System

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

Following my heart I’d say the Moog Voyager that was one of the synth I loved the most… but now a days it would probably be a Moog Matriarch, because of its character, paraphony, possibilities, easy layout, semi-modular structure and so on.

Moog Voyager

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

It’s the NerdSeq again. It was the game changer of my gear, but I had to choose an approach that fit its needs and it was – and is – not so simple.
I still use some of note sheets as summary of knob connections and reminder of hexadecimal values to reach certain sounds.
It’s probably the most annoying piece of gear to get prepared, but once it’s done.. just wow!
To avoid losing the flow – in fact – I use to get the track ready in Logic with VSTs and plugins and then translate it in NerdSeq language.

Nerding out with the Nerdseq

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

It is the Erbe-Verb secret drums!
Try sequencing the size knob of the Erbe-Verb module and you’ll understand what I’m talking about.
Advice: set big differences between steps to hear it better. Check it out in this video here:
Dave Bundy – Floating (MakeNoise Shared System)


Artist or Band name?

Davide Coretti aka Dave Bundy.

Genre?

Industrial, OST, electro with constant melodic component.

Selfie?

Davide Coretti aka. Dave Bundy

Where are you from?

Italy.

How did you get into music?

My journey began in 2001 as a drummer, then in 2006 I discovered Nine Inch Nails and it all started… software, pedal effects, hardware, synths, modular synths, outboards, and so on.

What still drives you to make music?

Making music – to me – is a need and that’s the reason why most of the things I do are still on my hard-disk years later.
I used to share more in the past, but I don’t know when or why I stopped doing it.
Probably when internet got flooded by people talking too much, instead of playing something.

How do you most often start a new track?

The real question is “How often do you FINISH a track?”
As I said I do it for a need, so I start a new track anytime I need to put it out… recording an audio note on my phone, while working or driving, recording a jam or just sitting in the studio with an opened project.
All that’s not finished is still new.
It’s easy to start something fresh, but finishing it and moving on is the real point.

How do you know when a track is finished?

In my opinion a track is finished once it’s released or published.
But even in that case there’ll be remixes and alternative versions!
For this reason I keep all the unfinished tracks and projects in my hard-drives as a sort of Harry Potter’s Pensieve, where I can find old memories and feelings through years.. believe it or not but i remember every single project and the feelings that moved me, to start it in the exact moment I recorded it.
Yeah I know, it sounds a little bit weird and I probably am, but let me say that it is so good to open an old project and add something fresh to it, as a constant evolving train of thoughts through the years.

Show us your current studio

Studio 1
Studio 2
Studio 3
Studio 4

Best creative advice that you’ve ever heard?

I think I heard it from Deadmau5 Masterclass.
He said to store every single pattern, project, sound or idea – apparently useless or without context – in a personal library, because there’ll always be a moment where you think that you’re stuck and that library would save you from using other people ideas, keeping your authenticity.

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

Not my latest, but one of my favorite one for sure (as Dave Bundy)
Dave Bundy – Amorphous
This is the latest one from my historic band, which I am the drummer and co-author of some songs. In this track I played drums and recorded most of the synth you hear using the Moog Slim Phatty.
It’s Today Or Never


Cntr Rndm – Christian Paga

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

I really like the TYPE knob on my NTS-1, because it lets you browse through all the FX programs and oscillators you have installed… and this is what makes the NTS-1 such a valuable synth/FX unit: you can customize the living daylight out of it!

Korg NTS-1

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

Ok, I really love the PO-128 Mega Man and it’s (almost) perfect in every way BUT it would be even more amazing if it had a backup function like the PO-33, the PO-32 or the PO-133! It’s so annoying when you have to delete a song or a pattern you were rather satisfied, with just because you want to make a new one.

PO-128 Mega Man

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

I have this thing called “the Krako” which is just a portmanteau word consisting of the German words “Krach” (noise) and “Koffer” (case). So it’s this super old hairdressing case I got off Ebay for a couple of bucks (way cheaper than an actual flight case) and it literally does what it says on the tin: it’s a case for little noise-makers, preferably pieces of gear that run on batteries or that don’t need batteries at all (like my crappy Kalimba). Usually, there are a bunch of pocket operators in there as well as my NTS-1, my Korg Volca Modular, my Korg Monotron Delay, and both my Koma Elektronik Field Kit and my Field Kit FX.

NTS-1, Korg Volca Modular, Korg Monotron Delay, Koma Elektronik Field Kit and Field Kit FX

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

What a great question! Erm, I would love to see a hardware version of Airwindows’ Galactic which is one of my favorite plugins at the moment. It’s this super amazing “I will turn anything into an ambient atmosphere” monster of a plugin – and the best thing is, it’s freeware! I can’t think of a vice-versa-example so here’s another piece of
software I wish was hardware: Valhalla’s Supermassive! I mean, seriously, isn’t Supermassive just the best Reverb-Delay plugin out there? But hey, basically all Valhalla plugins are amazing – what a great company!

Airwindows’ Galactic

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

Puh, nah, not really! I know this is super boring, but I tend to research a lot before I buy stuff – so I keep my bad-buy-level to a minimum.
However, I have kind of a difficult relationship with my Korg Volca Modular. It’s weird because on paper, we should be BFFs but in reality, meh…

Korg Volca Modular

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

That’s an easy one…pocket operators! I just love pocket operators – they have completely changed the way I approach producing music. Thanks to pocket operators, I can make music EVERYWHERE!

Pocket Operator Office

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

Three words: Ableton Live Suite!

Ableton Live shining brightly

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

Well, I’ll go with the PO-133, as it’s so much fun, that it’s annoyingly hard to put it aside!

PO-133

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

My buddy Pete Prodoehl (@raster on IG) taught me this super awesome Korg Monotron Delay latching trick, hack, whatever you want to call it. So, if you want to create a hands-free drone sound with this tiny dirtbag of a synth, all you have to do is put a nut on the ribbon keyboard and wrap a rubber band around it. This way, the Monotron plays a constant tone and you can tweak the sound with both hands.

Korg Monotron Delay

Artist or Band name?

Controlled Randomness aka CNTR RNDM aka CR aka Uncle CR.

Genre?

Erm…

Selfie?

Kind of…

Christian Paga aka. Cntr Rndm

Where are you from?

Essen, Germany.

How did you get into music?

When I was 14, me and my mates wanted to start a rap group. We had the lyrical skills (nah, we didn’t), we had the looks (nah, we didn’t), we were cool AF (hell no) – the only thing that was missing were beats! So I got a copy of Magix Music Maker and I made the most amazing beats ever created (no, I certainly didn’t).

I decided to become a professional musician after I won a couple of really big remix contests – including Daft Punk’s Technologic remix contest (back in 2005 I think) which was also the door opener to getting a major record deal in the mid-noughties. This was really exciting and all, I really enjoyed this for a while but after some time I realized that there were too many people around me that wanted to have a piece of the pie; who wanted to tell me what music to make, what gigs to play and what clothes to wear (seriously!!!). I didn’t make the music I wanted to make and ultimately I didn’t care about all of this and all of a sudden, making music wasn’t fun anymore! I had lost both the spirit and myself along the way.

After some time, I decided to quit making music for a while because I wasn’t feeling it anymore. Well, before I knew it, “a while” became 10 years and I only got back into making music when the first lockdown happened…and well, here I am, making music I really want to make; nowadays, after all these years, making music is fun again; and that’s why I strongly believe that music is all about experimenting, having fun, and community!

What still drives you to make music?

If I only knew 😂 but I guess I really love experimenting!

How do you most often start a new track?

It depends, really – if the song includes drums, I’ll probably start with the drums. If it’s an ambient piece, however, I’ll probably have a little piano jam, record it to tape, load it into Ableton and stretch the hell out of it 😁

How do you know when a track is finished?

Tracks are never finished – you just stop working on them 😂

Show us your current studio

I don’t have a studio anymore… just a “Krako” and a laptop 😎

“Krako”

Best creative advice that you’ve ever heard?

Do what you love!

Ok, then I’ll shamelessly plug my Partygate PO-33 kit on YouTube… it’s this little jam at the intersection of music and journalism, as it reveals the true (like so true) story behind Boris Johnson’s Partygate scandal 😂