Michael Dean’s tools at Intergalactic Prairie Studios:
FOR MORE ON MY PROCESS, GET MY BOOK, $30 Music School
SOFTWARE
DAW:
Reaper 64-bit (8th record on. LOVE it!) on Windows 10. (Record 8 on)
VSTis (many are 32-bit, because my Cubase was 32-bit, even though my computer is 64-bit. Now that I’m on 64-bit Reaper, I still run many of these 32-bit VSTs, when a 64-bit version is not available):
I add new ones to the bottom of this list as I discover them and record with them:
ShinyDirt
LuckyWorm
Simple Microtonal Synth
Simple Microtonal Sampler
Microtonal Polyphonic Shiny Dirt
Microtonal Poly Worms
SuperTron
BabyTron
Alphatron
MiniMogueVA
Synth1
Czar
Arminator
TS-808
Trominegt
Retromine
Marvin
Blooo
Scroo
Stigma
Mps
Deputy
Nabla
ENSIDESA
mda JX10
MedBell
p8
Scorpius
Vurtbox
Ganymed
Brzoza
Super Spook Keys
Cymbiant
Swierk
LUCID
tetra
DVS Guitar
Rangor
Raptor
wavesynth
Kontakt
Reaktor (esp. Travelizer)
Drum Pro 32
Addictive Drums
MT Power Drum Kit 2
DVS Microtron
RedTron MKV
TapeWorm
RealStrat
Tyrell N6
TAL NoiseMaker
TAL BassLine
TAL-Elek7ro
TAL-U-NO-LX
TAL-Elek7ro
Syntronik
MODO BASS
FB3300
AnaMark
Sforzando
Marimbaphonic
Taurus
Crio
Altair
Arptron
Arpy
ATA4Fre
Daedalus
DreamSequencer
Eclipsis
Entropy
Feldspar
Abakos
Cedr
Serenity
Deep Step-606
AZR3 Organ
EP-MK1 (microtonal Rhodes piano)
Radium
NK 1001
Crystal
Cobalt
Kern
Marazmator
Diodow
GSinth2
DJX10
MikaMicro64
Scrooo
Voc
Podolski
SuperWave
FreeAlpha
Lokomotiv
Mono Chord
Defiant
Sinnah
^ This is an incomplete list. It’s too much work to keep updated. And sometimes I use a VST for one part of one song and never again, though I enjoyed using it. Going forth into Album 22, I’m not going to update my “I use these VSTs” list much anymore.
MASTERING
-SoundForge (all albums, use to do small volume shifts before or after mastering, trim tails, etc. )
-Lurssen Mastering Console (6th album on, mostly use to quickly master rough versions to send Phil, but occasional use for a final master.). This is mainly what I use for final masters now.
-Elephant (first 3 albums)
-LANDR (4th album through 14th album.)
-Izotope Ozone (7th album on, occasional use for a final master if LMC isn’t right for the song.)
—Reaper, use for recording, but also for sequencing final albums as one file, equalizing volume between tracks, and putting cross-fades between tracks.
NO LONGER USING, DON’T WORK ON REAPER 64-BIT, or have other issues with ’em:
DAW: Cubase 5.1 (vintage! 32-bit!) (First 7 Records)
Alter-Ego
Goth Thang
HALionOne
Prologue
Mystic
Stringz
Embracer
Monologue
LoopMash
Spector
AlphaTron
Xen-Arts VSTs:
One-SF2
IVOR2
XenFont2
Xen-FMTS 2 (these 4 crash 64-bit DAWs, and also don’t retain tuning when you close the DAW.)
NO LONGER USING FOR OTHER REASONS;
Harmony Box (has a click, like the samples are corrupted, or attack is a negative value.)
HARDWARE
Controllers:
AKAI LPK25 keyboard. Made the whole 15th record with this. Using going forward. Love it. Very small and portable, 52 dollars.
AKM320 micro keyboard. Used on first record, gave away to Phil. He didn’t use it, and gave it back to me for the 8th record on. I actually like it. Using it most of the time on everything 8th record on. Doesn’t take up much desk space. And only 35 bucks!
M-Audio Keystation 61 II (4th & 5th records, 11th record on)
ChromaCast keyboard stand (with the Nektar IMPACT LX25, I put a board and a towel on the stand, and put the controller on that, which leaves room for a cat to sit!). Use with Keystation 61, (4th & 5th records, 11th record on).
Korg nanoPAD2 (1st through 10th record)
Nektar IMPACT LX25+ MIDI Controller (6th and 7th record)
Sonnus G2MV3 Universal Guitar to MIDI Converter (first two records only)
M-Audio Keystation 49 II (first 3 records)
MICROPHONES:
Sennheiser E835 (9th and 10th record for MWD)
Audio-Technica AT2005USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone (with foam windscreen). for MWD and PW, first 4 albums, then 11th album on. Phil for all albums.
MXL 770 Cardioid Condenser Microphone (with pop filter). For MWD 5th album.
(Both mics with this Boom stand.)
MICROPHONE CHANNEL STRIP
SM Pro Audio TB202
Mic preamp, compressor, limiter, EQ. It’s stereo but I use it mono, both channels chained in series; one channel into the other with a little compression on each.
I started using this about halfway through recording the 7th album, got rid of it after the 8th record.
ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER (Mostly for microphone for singing and talking)
Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen)
MWD used this for the first 7 albums. MWD and Phil both used this for the 8th album on:
THEREMIN
SYNTHROTEK Optical Theremin DIY Kit
Gave away after the 7th record.
GUITAR
Fender Squire (don’t use it much, mainly use to trigger midi.). Removed the frets, used on one song, then sold it.
HARDWARE SYNTH
Arturia MicroBrute Analog Synthesizer (Only on first 3 albums, and only on part of them. Then went full soft synth and gave this away as a gift.)
MIXING SPEAKERS
JBL 305PMKII 5″ 2-Way Powered Studio Monitors (8th album on)
Under those, I use; Studio Monitor Isolation Pads for 5” Inch Monitors
HEADPHONES
For mixing: Sony MDR-7506. Used these since 2006, still use in all BipTunia.
For listening to music I make (and listening to all music): Skullcandy Hesh 3
Gear me baby, all night long!
Thanks, this list is very helpful. I’m trying to put a set-up together and I know how knowledgeable you are about high quality sound for not much money.
You can get into this and do it right for almost zero money.
What’s your budget, your computer, and your level of understanding of computer recording?
Have you used a DAW? MIDI?
You play guitar, right? what else do you play?
Post here so it’s a teaching hospital experience and I’l answer.
Also, grab my book “$30 Music School”, Second Edition (Kindle)….There’s a link on the top left of this site. It’s got some basics about all this, and it’s inexpensive.