Studio
(This page might be described by some as somewhat 'geeky'!)
MUSIC
Over the years I have built up quite a collection of guitars! They are my passion. They include:
Paul Reed Smith Custom 22 (turqoise)
Paul Reed Smith CE-24 (cherry red)
Paul Reed Smith Singlecut (whale blue)
Gibson Les Paul Custom (black)
Gibson Les Paul Standard (honeyburst)
Gibson ES-346 (tobacco-burst)
Taylor GS-6 (spruce top, maple back & sides)
Taylor 814ce (spruce top, rosewood back & sides)
Sid Poole Custom (violin yellow)
Fender Stratocaster+ (tobacco sunburst)
Fender Stratocaster Roadworn '62 (white)
I also have a TJ James Alto Saxophone, a Stentor Violin, and various small percussion instruments.
For recording I use Steinberg Cubase, which is a great software tool for composing and mixing tunes. Other sounds such as drums, orchestras, synthesizers etc, are created with various studio software packages such as Superior Drummer 2.0, East West Symphonic Orchestras, Omnisphere synth, and lots of others!
I have 3 terrabytes of disk space in my studio computer - audio files are big! Two 23 inch flat screens allow me to see everything I need when creating music. For speakers I have Tannoy Reveals and KEF Cresta Ones which can be switched in and out.
Other studio hardware includes a Boss GT-Pro guitar processor, a TLAudio A3 Ebony valve microphone pre-amp, a Roland XV-3080 rack mounted synth, a Rode NT2A studio microphone, a kit of Roland V-Drum pads which drive the software drums via Cubase. An RME Fireface 800 audio interface is used to get all the recorded sounds into the computer.
Various other music gear dotted around the house include a Marshall JCM900 50w guitar amp head & angled speaker cabinet, a Hughes and Kettner Tube50 guitar combo amp/speaker, an AER Alpha40 acoustic amp, a Kora, a Djembe, a Trumpet, a Bugle, a Hunting Horn, a Didgeridoo ... not all of them are actively in use!
When I play live with my band or in my acoustic duo I use either a Boss GT-10 floor guitar effects processor, or a custom-made pedal board with several Boss compact effect pedals. For backline amplification I use either the Hughes & Kettner or the AER. I rarely use the Marshall half-stack any more - it's heavy! And LOUD!
PHOTOGRAPHY
I have a Canon EOS 40D. My main lenses are:
Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6
Canon 17-40mm f4 L
Canon 24-105mm f4 L
Canon 70-200mm f4 L
Canon 100mm f2.8 macro
I have the Canon Speedlite 580EX II flash gun and a Marumi 14C ring flash for macro work. For a tripod I have a Manfrotto MN055XPROB with an MN322RC2 ball head. I have various filters, close up lenses, and a Lowepro case.
On the computer I have Adobe Photoshop CS4.
When it comes to photography I am trying to improve. I have accumulated several nice Canon 'L' lenses through my company and would love to take time to take more photographs. I really enjoy macro photography, and I think I would like architectural shots too. Maybe one day I will be able to spend more time with my camera!
MUSIC
Over the years I have built up quite a collection of guitars! They are my passion. They include:
Paul Reed Smith Custom 22 (turqoise)
Paul Reed Smith CE-24 (cherry red)
Paul Reed Smith Singlecut (whale blue)
Gibson Les Paul Custom (black)
Gibson Les Paul Standard (honeyburst)
Gibson ES-346 (tobacco-burst)
Taylor GS-6 (spruce top, maple back & sides)
Taylor 814ce (spruce top, rosewood back & sides)
Sid Poole Custom (violin yellow)
Fender Stratocaster+ (tobacco sunburst)
Fender Stratocaster Roadworn '62 (white)
I also have a TJ James Alto Saxophone, a Stentor Violin, and various small percussion instruments.
For recording I use Steinberg Cubase, which is a great software tool for composing and mixing tunes. Other sounds such as drums, orchestras, synthesizers etc, are created with various studio software packages such as Superior Drummer 2.0, East West Symphonic Orchestras, Omnisphere synth, and lots of others!
I have 3 terrabytes of disk space in my studio computer - audio files are big! Two 23 inch flat screens allow me to see everything I need when creating music. For speakers I have Tannoy Reveals and KEF Cresta Ones which can be switched in and out.
Other studio hardware includes a Boss GT-Pro guitar processor, a TLAudio A3 Ebony valve microphone pre-amp, a Roland XV-3080 rack mounted synth, a Rode NT2A studio microphone, a kit of Roland V-Drum pads which drive the software drums via Cubase. An RME Fireface 800 audio interface is used to get all the recorded sounds into the computer.
Various other music gear dotted around the house include a Marshall JCM900 50w guitar amp head & angled speaker cabinet, a Hughes and Kettner Tube50 guitar combo amp/speaker, an AER Alpha40 acoustic amp, a Kora, a Djembe, a Trumpet, a Bugle, a Hunting Horn, a Didgeridoo ... not all of them are actively in use!
When I play live with my band or in my acoustic duo I use either a Boss GT-10 floor guitar effects processor, or a custom-made pedal board with several Boss compact effect pedals. For backline amplification I use either the Hughes & Kettner or the AER. I rarely use the Marshall half-stack any more - it's heavy! And LOUD!
PHOTOGRAPHY
I have a Canon EOS 40D. My main lenses are:
Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6
Canon 17-40mm f4 L
Canon 24-105mm f4 L
Canon 70-200mm f4 L
Canon 100mm f2.8 macro
I have the Canon Speedlite 580EX II flash gun and a Marumi 14C ring flash for macro work. For a tripod I have a Manfrotto MN055XPROB with an MN322RC2 ball head. I have various filters, close up lenses, and a Lowepro case.
On the computer I have Adobe Photoshop CS4.
When it comes to photography I am trying to improve. I have accumulated several nice Canon 'L' lenses through my company and would love to take time to take more photographs. I really enjoy macro photography, and I think I would like architectural shots too. Maybe one day I will be able to spend more time with my camera!
