Studio Tour 2022 | 80s Vintage Synthesizers and Gear
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- Опубліковано 28 лип 2024
- My 2022 studio tour where I go through what I have in the studio. As I often have change things out and/or get stuff coming and going, not all things are set up in a permanent order.
High quality&24 Hours Build Time: www.pcbway.com/
Some are not even hooked up unless I need it for a particular job.
At the time of shooting I was unaware that I could only use 5 cards in a video so I couldn't link to as many videos as I had hoped.
Support this channel on Patreon:
/ espenkraft
Find my music here:
iTunes Apple music: apple.co/35ZTdfR
Spotify: spoti.fi/38aoWMB
Bandcamp: espenkraft.bandcamp.com/
Google Play: bit.ly/2NrgXD9
Find my patches and sample packs through these links:
thepatchbay.co.uk/product/tal...
sound7.co.uk/products/italo-d...
00:00 Intro
00:23 Juno-106
01:31 JX-8P
02:45 Prophet VS
03:11 Poly-61
04:12 JX-3P
04:58 Misc#1
06:22 TR-808
06:38 Misc#2
06:53 Wall of samplers
12:22 MidiVerb2
12:43 DP88 preamp
13:30 Patchbay
15:01 Misc#3
16:00 Audient ID22
16:15 SSL Six & Series 500
19:42 M-Audio BX5
20:54 Misc#4 & S2400
24:22 Misc#5 & Töörö
25:47 Fostex MD80 Tape
26:12 Misc#6 & MSQ-700
26:45 Wall of synths
29:31 Yamaha TX816
29:54 Yamaha Rev7
30:09 Korg SDD-2000
30:49 More samplers
32:03 Yamaha DMP7
32:45 Korg EX-800
34:14 Jupiter-8
35:06 Analog corner
36:42 Wall of stacked synths
My 2022 studio tour where I go through what I have in the studio. As I often have change things out and/or get stuff coming and going, not all things are set up in a permanent order. Some are not even hooked up unless I need it for a particular job.
At the time of shooting I was unaware that I could only use 5 cards in a video so I couldn't link to as many videos as I had hoped.
Support this channel on Patreon:
www.patreon.com/espenkraft
Find my music here:
iTunes Apple music: apple.co/35ZTdfR
Spotify: spoti.fi/38aoWMB
Bandcamp: espenkraft.bandcamp.com/
Google Play: bit.ly/2NrgXD9
Find my patches and sample packs through these links:
thepatchbay.co.uk/product/tal-sampler-the-digital-collection-vol-1-by-espen-kraft/
sound7.co.uk/products/italo-disco-synth-pop
00:00 Intro
00:23 Juno-106
01:31 JX-8P
02:45 Prophet VS
03:11 Poly-61
04:12 JX-3P
04:58 Misc#1
06:22 TR-808
06:38 Misc#2
06:53 Wall of samplers
12:22 MidiVerb2
12:43 DP88 preamp
13:30 Patchbay
15:01 Misc#3
16:00 Audient ID22
16:15 SSL Six & Series 500
19:42 M-Audio BX5
20:54 Misc#4 & S2400
24:22 Misc#5 & Töörö
25:47 Fostex MD80 Tape
26:12 Misc#6 & MSQ-700
26:45 Wall of synths
29:31 Yamaha TX816
29:54 Yamaha Rev7
30:09 Korg SDD-2000
30:49 More samplers
32:03 Yamaha DMP7
32:45 Korg EX-800
34:14 Jupiter-8
35:06 Analog corner
36:42 Wall of stacked synths
Thanks for the videos! It seems you have used and know a lot about vintage samplers. Have you tried a prophet x? Would love to know what you think of it. Cheers.
“You can get by just fine with simple things” … I giggled.
It wasn't until I stumbled on your channel that I had any appreciation for the synth modules. Every synth artist I've ever seen or met always shows off their collection of keyboards, but virtually nobody showcases the modules (basically you, and maybe Anders Jensen occasionally). For a tinkerer like me, on both limited space and budget, these modules seem like a winning combination. Thank you! 👍️
My heart always started pumping when I saw a new module back in the day, it still does. I find the 80s modules magical, much more so than the keyboard versions. Not all synths came as modules so I have to have some of them. ;-) Cheers
It's impressive how you have grown your studio in that tiny attic! Cozy and functional. ^_^
Just like me, cozy and functional. :P
Just stand in the space and you can rotate yourself and touch everything you need to push without moving :)
I honestly don't know what I'd do without my 6-tier Jasper stand. They cost a small fortune here in Canada because they don't have a North American distributor. I honestly don't know why another manufacturer haven't made something different.
As for the JX-8P, I can honestly say that I could easily get rid of about ten of the synths in that room of yours and be happy with the JX-8P for all around sounds. Yes, the envelopes aren't super snappy and fast (but they're fast enough), but you can get great basses, leads, FX and the aforementioned pads out of it. It's truly underrated.
Lastly, the Kawai K1M is garbage in my opinion. I absolutely hated it. I got mine for free and traded it for a 32 channel Spirit LX7 desk need in a bit of repair that I now use as a summing mixer.
Cool to see the Opcode Studio 128x still being used. I worked on the design of it when I was at Opcode.
It's rock solid. Used it for years.
Very cool, did you do the hardware or software side? I have one as well thanks to Espen that I love, just wish I could get the drivers to work on modern OS. I saw years ago some guy reversed engineered the drivers and used python, but he never released the source code.
@@RonnieAugeri worked on the hardware, although just on the front panel layout and labeling, as well as the design of the packaging, manual, and marketing around it. I was technically hired as QA, but ended up working in design and marketing on several projects around that time. I designed the drum editor in SVP4.0 as well.
@Espen Kraft…my very first keyboard was a Korg Poly61, at 15 years old I’d saved up for a year to buy it, and a year later my second ever synth purchase was a Juno106, around 1985.
My biggest regrets now were letting them go in the early 90’s.
Sir Winston Churchill said it best…”Youth is wasted on the young”!
I have some regrets myself. ;-)
I love that you’re just like a big kid in a candy store. Best to you. You truly are the 80’s
Cheers!
The Soundtrack patch from the JX-8P indeed is such a wonderful warm pad and gives me instant Alphaville mood. 🙂
Love to see the Commodore 64G as part of this synth collection. Long live Commodore and Ensoniq!
He needs a MIDI-device (MIDI input/output) to the cartridge port of the C64 ;)
I love that Technics design, especially cassette decks, and this one even has HX-Pro! Beautiful.
My favorite synth channel!!!!! You're practical and thoughtful. Keep up the great content, my friend.
Cheers!
Poly 61 !! Agree with you
Love it
Pure 80s Design
Pure 80s Sound
And you are a
Pure 80s sampler Nerd
👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Excellent equipment ! Italo Disco will live forever !
Nice creative space. Also, I was surprised by your remarks about how you mix stuff. Made me even more aware of how experience is way more important than having an expensive monitor system. Thank you for the tour!
Cheers!
The art of cramming a lot of gear into a realistic space.
Great tour Espen and lovely to see all the JC Jackcap dust plugs in the instruments, you’ve got the colours arranged very neatly. 👍
I have a bit of OCD about these things and symmetry is necessary. ;-)
Excellent video Espen. Love everything you got going on there. I got that same Commodore rgb monitor except I used for Atari 1200XL since 1983 and it still works.
Cheers!
Hey Espen - Blimey! You got some gear! 😁 I love studio tours and this is great - lots of interesting gear and much inspiration 👍
Cheers!
You have a really wonderful studio, many thanks for sharing it with us.
Cheers!
Always nice to see your studio tour. Very interesting. Thanks!
Cheers!
Excellent, every time my other half complains that my office looks like a music store, I'll tell her to watch your "Studio Tour" :D
Wow! I'm gobsmacked. And you know how to use all this stuff as well.
thank you Espen for the studio tour. 🙏
Cheers!
Pure 80s love. Love your music, love your dream-studio. Cheers from Italy !
Cheers!
Very impressive, fascinating and inspiring set up. Thanks for sharing !!
Cheers!
Italo disco is my life. I write my own songs in this style. And it doesn't matter what my peers say,
Thank you for this startling tour sir !
Now I know what an 80s studio should mostly encompass. :)
Cheers!
Found the tour really interesting… thought I was the only one who kept old keyboard magazines around glad I’m not alone!
This has to be the coolest attic ever!
Cheers!
Firestarter and Sorcerer at the background. Very very nice! Some of my favourites too!
Recently did a video about those albums so haven't had the time to take them down. ;-)
you have like the perfect studio for house, techno, acid, rave etc.. too!
Never going back there. Never.
Thanks for the amazing and inspiring tour, Espen! :)
Cheers!
Great performance 👍👍👍 Have a wonderful day and new week 😉 Greetings Adam 😎
Very cool video, and PC the "wrong" way does make sense, same on the floor here.
For patching my effects units, I use the "Thru" setting on my behringer patchbay with the "waterfall" technique so that they only use 2 slots in stereo: output on top, input on bottom. Unless you've got a different use-case, I'd recommend it to save a bit of space on your patchbay.
Nice walkthrough. It's given me a few ideas on how to set up my studio.
Cheers!
Most impressive Espen. I knew you have a lot of gear but didn't know it is that large, wow! Lot's of stuff that I had over the years, but unfortuanetely sold. Your tour brings back good memories, well the JX-8P, first synth I ever had (bought in 1985) is still in my collection. I also had the DX7II which was together with the JX-8P my dream team on stage. Then the DX-7 died and I switchd to the SY-99 which is a monster, not only in weight but also one of the most versatile, good looking and great sounding digital synths I know. Keep up the great work mate, It's such a fun to watch your videos.
Thanks man!
Roland Alpha Juno is such an underrated synth.
It's a sleeper hit. I've got one. Pure juno.
No it isn't, even though it can make a handful of ok sounds, the ui, the eg and the filter's resonance are a big let down...only its lightness and form factor are special, but if think I'd take a korg poly-800 over it...the only true sleepers that are still left are scarce sadly (and no I won't say their names).
@@rebours Korg poly 800 isn't polyphonic it's paraphonic. No comparison IMO. As far as the self resonating filter, that isn't a deal breaker for me. The Yamaha CS80 doesn't even have a self resonating filter.
@@Jacob-ur3lh the alpha's resonance is very peaky and barely usable for anything but spooky/moody stuff, in my experience the synth makes some of its nicest sounds when the filter's resonance is at its lowest setting...Having a single vcf for all voices makes the poly-800 paraphonic but the amplitude of each voice is independently controlled/articulated, its filter actually sounds nice and generous.
I only have a D-50 and JX8P and Dx7S , in my 80 section, but your videos makes me want more old stuff!!
Those are a great foundation!
Thanks Espen. Your truely an inspiration.
Cheers!
Amazing studio. Im still using old hardware sequencers. I like keeping it old school. Great content.
Cheers!
Ok... you hate headphones. . .. ... .... thanks for the tour bro. Loved it. Ther are more than a few items you posess, that i have owned in the past. That makes me proud. Never sold 16+ w/ scsi or midiverb III. Remnants of a beautiful but bygone age. Cheers espen for being you. Im not.
Cheers!
I love the Panscan. The light looks like KITT from the Knight Rider series.
Epic setup!
13:34 my entire life, summarized by Espen Kraft 😄
Great setup! I own the Kawai Q-80 sequencer as it was my original sequencer from the 80s. I’ve never heard of the EX version of it so I will investigate the differences.
Cheers!
Great tour. 👏👏👏
Cheers!
Thank you Espen for sharing your studio. My one is under siege just now. Family (my wife) pressure to reduce keyboard numbers. Guitars too!
Be a man about it. Never compromise.
Can't wait to hear the album! Tape deck ready :)
Cheers!
lovely studio and gear man. i love my patchbay, too. but inputs and outputs on the same row 😱😄
Cheers!
Yea JX-8P is my favorite pads synth for sure too. Adding the TC-Electronic "June 106" stereo analog chorus to the JD-XA is mostly getting me there, but Soundtrack, Soft Brass, Choir -- what incredible Eric Persing presets so lucky to have on the 8P. Hope to own one again soon - maybe the Super JX rack is the way to go (except what bullshit they killed the midi implementation from the JX-8P, best midi implementation ever). I didn't have the PG-800, even better I had the iPG-800 running on iPad which meant as soon as u load a new sound on the 8P, the controls spring to updated position.
Thanks, Espen. It's always nice to see your collection. Being basically exactly my age, we share much in taste, but your vintage collection is far superior! Really nice to see. Are you not a Moog fan, or is that just happenstance for your current collection? Another source of inspiration you provide is proving so convincingly that great production can come from simple rooms and setups. So many young guns spend lots of time, energy, and money on large monitors and room treatments and still end up with subpar mixes. Yours are punchy, crisp, clear, full, and pleasant to the ear. The results speak(er) for themselves! Sending 80s SoCal sunshine your way. 🌞
Would like some 80s sun right now! ;-)
No Moogs, but maybe more coincidence than anything. Mostly because I've never taken to mono synths. If I can't do a 6-finger chord on a synth I lose interest. I've sampled the Moogs mostly, throughout the years.
Same here, love and have a tiny bit of similar gears. Born in 1969 too👍
@@EspenKraft One of the (many) reasons I admire JMJ, when he multitracked (to tape) multiple mono synth lines to create chords.
Enjoyed every bit of it ☺️
Cheers!
Hey Espen, great video? I’ve finally set up all of my synths (not nearly as many as you have) in my studio and can play them from my master midi controller.
I was born in the 80’s but didn’t get to grow up using this type of gear.
I’d love to learn how to change parameters and other more advanced techniques that you use in your studio.
If you could put out some videos on or point me to some info on setting up and using a “vintage” type studio, I would be forever grateful.
Anyway, thank you so much for what you do and I will continue to watch you!
Thanks! I have over 300 videos on my channel showing exactly what you want to learn. ;-)
such a rare collection
Haha ! It's a lot of stuff. Incredible.
Wow! What a great tour Espen! Looking forward to hearing about your view on the Kiwi mod to the 3P. The developer has a Kiwi 8P mod out too which is of interest to me. I never heard about the C64G! Gonna have to research that one!
I use the C64G in my Commodore 64 "let's make some music" video. You'll get all the info you need there. The Kiwi mod is more annoying than anything.
Interesting work flow with mic pres and SSL and mixing on small monitors... ...🤔
Great stuff Espen.
Cheers!
Excellent video really enjoyed watching this took me right back some of those synths and samplers. Looking forward to your new tracks on cassette, cassettes are making a comeback, one of the reasons why I'd never get rid of my Tascam 424 mk3 :-)
Thanks!
Sending love my friend from the uk i love the 80s and you are the 80s :)
Cheers!
A very envious Australian here Espen. I have a whole 3 old synths, my first bought in '83. I can dream my friend. Well done as always.
It's not the amount that matters. You can make beautiful music with just a piano. Use your synths wisely. ;-)
So true. Headphones and my synths are the best medicine after an "interesting" shift at work. I work internal security at the busiest major hospitals here. Just "doodling" around with my gear is my way of de-stressing.
great gear!!
The Kraft Museum! Awesome collection, very envious : )
No, it´s not a museum! He uses the stuff for his work. So it´s more like a factory. In German it is called a KraftWerk! :-)
These are tools. This is not a museum. ;-)
Amazing equipment my friend 👍👍
Cheers!
Very cool to see all the synths and the racks! Alot of vintage stuff to campture that 80's feel :D
My setup is far more spartan, But I make 90's futurepop, and for that you need a couple of things: A Roland JP 8000, A Yamaha CS1X(drums and misc), a mixer and a windows XP DAW machine with decent soundcard and a midi interface :D
Yeah... I saw that attack of the petscii robots standing proud on your shelf.
Backwards PC to allow easy access to ports is a simple, yet incredibly sophisticated hack. Thanks for giving us the tour Espen! 🇳🇴 🇺🇸
Edit: I have the DT 990 open back headphones and they are audio gold! And comfortable for long sessions. I probably use headphones more than you, but it's a wise decision to protect your ears.
Cheers!
Great video Espen. The discussion you start around 23:30 around mixing is really interesting. I always struggle trying to get my bass present enough for mono playback. A video on your techniques for that would be fantastic. Edit: Stick it up on your Patreon. I'd happily pay for that sort of info.
I have something like that coming in the hopefully not so long future. Cheers
Great studio! At 33:43 is awesome sound and music!
Cheers!
Snickers & Coffee! You know what is good Espen!
Don't drink coffee, but Snickers are alright. ;-)
It's fun seeing this, especially after Anders released his studio tour. For two people creating relatively similar music, it's fascinating how wildly different your studio setups are. Just goes to show it's not the gear that matters but the person running it 🙂
Compared to modern chart music I guess many people would describe our music as similar, but our approach to composition, arrangement, production and mix are diametrically different, in every way. ;-)
@@EspenKraft I enjoy both. I have a friend who produces music somewhat similar to me and he and I also have very different approaches.
I agree. Headphones are not fun. Also, what a SOLID studio setup 👍
Great studio!
Cheers!
Totally makes sense now why everyone with a eq had a happy face on the bands boosting the lows and highs (and loudness on) in the cars. Because that 80hz roll off 😅
I'm so jealous of your equipment ;)
Thanks , 4 yours videos
Cheers!
@@EspenKraft I buy. In very good conditions CS1x Yamaha. Fridge blue
33:50 WONDERFUL!!!
Espen, thanks for the update. I started to store the synths in my warehouse now, I could not get them in the main room anymore 😂
I'm sorry to hear it. Synths are supposed to be played and used. Often.
@@EspenKraft oh but they are rotating in and out of storage so they are getting played, there are also quite a few that need some work, like battery replacements and ( weighted) keyboard refurbs , but that’s fun too
Good to hear!
powerful studio, I'm inspired, although I don't understand English))
Great video. Would love more detail on those 500 series units and how you use them in your tracks.
Done that in several videos already.
I had a Roland Juno 106, but replaced it with a Technics SX-WSA 1 ...most amazong synth!
ua-cam.com/video/fCPeUHARUII/v-deo.html
!!!!
I was talking with the Pet Shop Boys earlier and I asked them if they had anything for me to pass on to Espen, they only said "Cheers!".
Haha!
Towards the end of the video: "Welcome to the G.A.S. is real corner!"
You seem to fit more in to what looks like a smaller space than I'm using, although I went for a huge desk with two racks either side. I also don't find anything more than three keyboards on a stand to be very good ergonomically. The biggest problem though is how to mix and record when you have about 16 sound sources plugged in, plus I want them in stereo. So I got an X32 rack, fitted the Dante card in the back and use a S16 snake to expand the X32 to 32 inputs. Then on my PC I run Dante virtual soundcard and map the 32 outs from the Dante card in the X32 to 32 inputs on the virtual soundcard. Pretty solid, probably not the most amazing quality but maybe I should actually use it more often, it's very easy to overcomplicate your setup, just wiring it up is 16 x 5 cables, 2 stereo, midi in and out, power so that's 80 cables to connect. I also have probably another 16 or more keyboards, modules sitting about :/
That's a nice setup I'm sure, not the setup I want to run, but we're all different.
20:30 yeah you don't even need acoustic treatment for that room, because it's so full of stuff and it has an irregular shape (the ceiling) so it all together should nicely prevent any possible echo. :)
I experienced something like that in my studio, although my room is a rectangular box. The more stuff I have in there the better the sound. I didn't invest much in acoustic treatment, just some foam on 2 walls.
Anyway, your gear makes me drool... 🤪
Cheers!
Espens had a big influence on my never ending classic 90's synth collection....
90s? :P
@@EspenKraft 15 keyboards and 20+ rack units
Watched the whole video! Yowzer, what a pad!! What are all of those 1/4 yellow and orange plugs you have? Those must protect the gear from infrequent use/dust.
You look like Speilberg a little in this video. Love your music and passion for the 1980's!
Those are indeed dust protectors, I have a video about these. Cheers!
Always nice to watch your studio tour. You should really be sponsored by all vintage gear sellers because you increase the GAS!😅
Cheers!
As the original owner of a mint condition DSS-1 and DSM, I'll be interested in your upcoming review. I'm considering updating both with USB floppy emulation. Cheers #75,687.
this makes me feel jealous when looking at all those synths and then back at my Roland Gaia SH-01 XD
It's not the amount that matters, it's the music you make with what you have. I have made complete releases with only one piece of gear.
@@EspenKraft I'm not as great at music but i do my best with what i can do ^^" i have made one song using the Arturia Microbrute and multiple using the gaia and while my focus seems to be in ambient synthwave type of stuff i did recently discover how i could just get kind of a mick gordon sound out of the gaia if i run it through a few effects
I have yet to release anything really. Most of what i did is on soundcloud and some of it is on youtube. For the longest time i did not even know what the heck sidechaining was
Tbh i do sometimes wonder how long it'll be till i eventually hear your music in some video games (indie, probably)
🤩 wow
Awesome tour, thanks for taking the time to share your latest setup! Also curious to hear your view on Juno-6/60. Ever plan on adding one?
Why do you ask that when I start the tour explaining just that? ;-)
Ah sorry, must have missed that part, will go back and check it again, thanks.
Espen, your approach to your craft, your respective for your gear and your pursuit of what you believe matters is honestly inspiring. I've been introduced to a lot equipment on your channel but I think more importantly, a lot of ideas.
But...wait, you don't use headphones??? : )
(Great! Now I gotta learn how to do that..!)
Serious inquiry though: you mention you have very little tinnitus, my understanding is you were a touring musician as well right? My recording 'career' is much more of a hobby, but I'm coming to terms with the fact that I did some damage on tour in the 2000s... not terrible, but i definitely notice a difference. I don't think people talk about this enough, I think you might help some people from hurting their ears if you made a video about that...[headphones +/- and ear protection]
Keep Rocking
Sure, I was on stage a lot during the 90s and 2000s too. Before the in-ear period. I was always very serious about the wedges being at a moderate level, monitoring on stage should not be loud and I always positioned myself as far away from the drummers as possible. I never went to concerts myself and I still don't attend live gigs as a listener, I never mix loud and I never listen to music loud. And I don't fire guns.
I used to have an old Alesis Midiverb 1, just something about the crunchy reverbs. Wish I could find one at a good price.
Nice cozy studio you've got there. Which reminds me of ... eh, actually, my own small studio. The choice of synths are surprisingly similar; Which indicates you have nice taste ;-P
The difference is that it must be very warm in your room judging from your exposed arms and knees. Cheers!
It's actually quite cool. I never turn on more than 5-6 pieces of gear at the same time.
great studio espen really enjoy watching the tour
very nice classic synths and samplers!
espen you have also a collection of drum machines, sequencers,programmers?
i espected a great vintage mixer but i notice that you use that audient id22 audio interface.
i want to know that id22 works with a digital mixer connected via a optical cable?1 st time i hear about audient stuff ,imho seems great quality
I show most of what I have in this video, AND the bonus video. I have several videos where I show how I connect the Audient and other stuff digitally.
I finally understand why in the world anyone wooud want 8 DX-7's in one box. Thanks for letting us hear that.
(Off to seecwhat I can accomplpsh wuth one DX, a VZ10m, anna
whooole buncha Dexeds. ;-))
I have a much longer video with that setup. Lots of more sound examples.
It would be interesting to see your house from the outside. Space looks so tight. I am in a small place too. I don't know how you do it in that small space.
It's a big house.
thanks Espen for a little bit David Foster... what do you put after the Jupiter8 is gone... of course DX7 belong to the Yamaha corner