CREATIVE CRIBS - Jon Opstad (Black Mirror, Woman In White)
Vložit
- čas přidán 22. 05. 2024
- Fellow shed alumni Jon Opstad takes us through how he has built up a demand for his work by developing a unique way of working with synths, samples and tape to deliver scores for the likes of #blackmirror and #tomclancysrainbowsixsiege that are out of the ordinary.
For more info about Jon's work go here: www.jonopstad.com/
...and here's that TAL sampler: tal-software.com/products/tal...
Jon Opstad is a London-based composer, working across film, television, contemporary dance and concert music. His music often combines contemporary classical elements with electronics, merging acoustic instrumentation with both modern and vintage electronic instruments and techniques.
Recent work includes scoring the upcoming 10-part science fiction drama The Feed for Amazon, starring David Thewlis, Michelle Fairley, Guy Burnet & Nina Toussaint-White; scoring the 5-part BBC period drama The Woman In White, starring Jessie Buckley, Dougray Scott, Charles Dance & Art Malik; and composing all the new music since early 2018 for the major Ubisoft video game Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, taking the place of original composers Ben Frost and Paul Haslinger.
Other television scores include two episodes of Charlie Brooker’s cult dystopian Netlfix/Channel 4 series Black Mirror (White Bear, and the feature-length special White Christmas starring Jon Hamm); the second series of ITV thriller Safe House, starring Stephen Moyer; 5-part BBC thriller Thirteen, starring Jodie Comer; the acclaimed BAFTA-winning Channel 4 docudrama The Murder Detectives; BAFTA-winning BBC single drama Don’t Take My Baby from writer Jack Thorne; BAFTA-nominated TV movie Cyberbully starring Maisie Williams; Channel 4’s The Watchman, starring Stephen Graham; and the Savile episode of Louis Theroux’s hard-hitting documentary series for BBC Two.
In summer 2019 Jon’s composition ‘Ignis IV’ was used as the score for the trailer for the upcoming film Ad Astra, starring Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones.
Jon studied music at Cambridge University and film music at the National Film & Television School. After graduating he began his career by working extensively as an additional music composer, programmer and orchestrator for a range of composers including Jocelyn Pook, Max Richter, Martin Phipps, Ruth Barrett, Sheridan Tongue and Richard Thomas, across many film, television and stage projects. Jon was also additional music composer for the Oscar-nominated film Theeb.
Jon’s music often combines his classical training with a progressive approach to electronic music, as shown in his upcoming score for The Feed, which is scored for string orchestra, analogue synthesisers, vocals and electric guitars.
Jon contributed synthesiser parts and string arranging to the track ‘Smoke’ from singer-songwriter Tracey Thorn’s acclaimed 2018 album Record.
Jon was nominated for a British Composer Award in 2014, in the Stage Works category, for his score for contemporary dance work Ignis, combining solo violin with electronics. He was the winner of the 2011 Presteigne Festival competition for composers. Radio broadcasts of his music include BBC Radio 3’s Late Junction and In Tune programmes, as well as New Sounds on New York radio station WNYC, for which Jon was interviewed discussing his music in 2015. - Hudba
Thanks Christian, it was a real pleasure!
There are so many of us that completely understand the organization and beauty of what's going on with this setup.
And again the reason, why it`s not a problem of ours, composers, studio geeks, to keep social distance with all these friends in from of pieces of music gear. Such an informative and serious interview with this subtle irony hidden behind the surface. Love that Jons still chasing his childhood dream synth. Thank you, Christian.
The shed of my dreams, always fascinated with these creative cribs.
Yes! Finally more creative cribs! I’m freaking addicted to these
Yep, that's what I loved about the old LP sleeve notes. Ever since my older brother got a copy of Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life album, when I started to read about the instrumentation and musicians, I was hooked on doing so whenever I got my hands on an album. I knew next to nothing about the instruments back then, but it was still a fascinating read.
I would love to hear more from yourself and Jon about specifically how you run your picture (within Logic or separate mac mini, but how, and how you work with updated visuals / cues), and how you organize your output/stems/episodes.
The question asked all over the world, "How difficult can it be?????" Lmbo......reminded me of several occasions where I should have told myself NO! Like the time I overhauled a chevy 350 engine and I had a 5 gallon bucket of parts left over after I was finished....Amazingly it ran...however, I realized my shortcomings as a mechanic. Lol
I’m right now looking to buy my first house (in Edinburgh!) and it looks like I’m going to be another shed composer! I’m currently renting a little studio space in Leith but I want to move into an in house solution ASAP
The lack of presets on these instruments lends itself to creativity and imagination. It is a lovely way to compose/create. Inspirational video!
I could watch these cribs all day. It's a bit like watching escape to the country when you know it's somewhere you could never afford but it's nice to dream :)
Beautiful space
Wonderful. Thanks to you both.
Love this
Awesome, I’m a big fan of Jon’s music. Can’t wait to watch this
Nice! Loved his work on Black Mirror.
these are unbelievably fantastic (as is all your content). Thank you!
fantastic!
That was great! Love it!
Wonderful space! And thank you so much for making this series!
It is absolutely amazing to see all these different approaches and ideas of various musicians.
This is a guy with creative thought and application. Great video
This is so inspiring! Thanks for posting.
Another colourful studio 👍
Fantastic video. Great studio and discussion. Love the sound of the CP30 - very underrated.
I want a studio like this so badly.
I had a Juno 6 in college back in the late 80's and sadly I sold it to a music store (I think). I didn't realize at the time it would be such a coveted synth today. My loss is someone's great gain I'm sure.
Such a cool setup and fun creative methods. I’ve used Akao samplers in the past and was also thrilled when I found the TAL Sampler. I love those acoustic panels on the walls too.
Nice to see he uses TAL Sampler! Love it.
The Clavinet is absolutely wonderful for fading in chords and single notes with a deep reverb. It can create really complex long lasting sound scapes this way. I love it!
Great Studio, lovely collection of working Synths. I didn't know about that Herbie Hancock Album so I learned something new. Thanks!! Greetings from Dublin Ireland 2020!
this is fantastic!
Yay, more cribs!
Good to hear that I might just be either following some fads, or I maybe correct in my perspectives and maintaining the proper outlook! It always feels good and makes me smile when I can listen to a couple of professionals (who make money doing the things I do more for a hobby) talking to one another and I can understand just what they’re saying and why. Thanks for sharing this!
The Clavinet can do massive distorted guitar chords with the right pedal. I think that space is nice to keep your mind sane just sitting in silence and watch the stuff.
This was awesome Christian thank you. I really enjoy using the Yamaha VSS-30 sampler to create sounds, have just bought the TAL as like the VSS I like the idea of it's simplicity.
Bought the TAL Sampler! Excactly what I was looking for!
Good sampler for a cheap price, since I'm just starting to sample stuff. :)
Thanks for the great video!
Hey, I've always said my Juno-6 would be the first thing I grab if the studio was on fire. My first synth and 60 synths later, still my favourite.
This man's amazing music and studio all due to a mistake purchase, love it! I live my life by random flukes!
Another great crib! It was great to hear how Jon uses the Sony with his CopyCat and pedals. It's also surprising that this is the first time a crib has a pair of the KM310 monitors. They were on my short list before I bought my Barefoots. I was waiting to hear if he uses his Roli Rise very much (it was under the qwerty keyboard). Thanks for the new crib CH. I love 'em!
So many wonderful things in this studio! I had a Juno 60 15 years ago and sold it for £100 when I needed some money... not ready to talk about that yet :)
Are you ready to talk about it now 🤔
The synth shed supreme. Thanks for the walkthrough and nice to hear how Jon works with them in his music.
On a related note, I'm deep into a massive ARP documentary and interviewed several of the guys who designed and developed the 2600, Pro-Soloist, Odyssey and Axxe. The people and stories behind them are as amazing as the instruments themselves.
Looking forward to watching this Alex
@@jonopstad6596 Hi Jon. Will be next month if all goes to plan.
The Pro-Soloist is a particularly curious as it was designed by a Brit who had previously worked on anti radar jamming systems. You'll here the account first hand and probably appreciate your instrument even more than you already do. :)
@@AlexBallMusic I've forever wanted a Pro-Soloist since seeing it listed on Telekon by Gary Numan - just like Jon, as a 14 year old, I was fascinated by the names of all the gear that was listed on the inner sleeve of the record.
@@philippendletonmusic Absolutely, I love looking at the back of Herbie Hancock, Weather Report and YMO records and reading through the gear. Then looking it up if I've not heard of it.
Easy to Google nowadays but must have been more of a treasure hunt back in the day.
@@AlexBallMusic Definitely looking forward to watching this Alex. It's interesting the link between synth design and military electronics - I read an article about EMS recently that said that some of their early experiments were with adapting ex-military equipment.
Loving your channel Christian, great insight.
Brilliant little creative space. I'm just starting to play around with Padshop 2 in Cubase which can do similar stuff to that Tal Sampler, or just the inbuilt Sampler Tracks are great. Also slowed down tape is wonderful! Cheers! :)
Cool guy, lovely setup
This video could not have come at a better time, as I literally have just finished the outside of mines and about to do the inside and this is almost exactly the same size, so this gives me a very valid perspective of my space. Awesome! The Buso XL is gonna be nice in there :))))
Oh my, would you look at that! Got one of those red Selmer Companion 49 reed organs from a car boot sale for about a fiver. So at least we have that in common 😄
Yes! Finally some love for the TAL-sampler!
It must be good, their freebie VSTs are excellent.
55 euro :o
The room treatment sounds good too despite the low ceiling.
I love my small set up, everything is in the box, and Spitfire is the center of it all.
NICHOLSON CALIXTE agreed. Seems like much of the items in this studio either don’t work or aren’t practical workflow-wise when compared to the software counterparts available. I and most others have everything sonically in this studio, “in the box” within their computers in software form. Seems like a lot of clutter and hassle to store all of this gear when you can replicate it all and more in your computer.
Superb space, and collection. I see just enough room for a *dreadbox* erebus V3, - I've got a humble vintage collection that i've built up since the late 80s, but the Erebus is just instant BBC Radiophonic Workshop, in a box.
~ Still own most of the s-series Akai units, even have an unused, brand new 3000xl, - i preferred their OS compared to the Emu and Roland samplers, - i believe the akai OS was designed in part by one of the original EMS engineers/designers. ~
*pro tip for the use of your Akai S3000XL use the jogwheel just to get the "a" of whatever your symbol is at that time, name it like AAAAA1 and write that down in a small notebook and write what it is in there. The easiest way to log and save all your samples. Or even better, midi dump them in your computer and name them there. When you re-use the sample and dump it back in it will be named accordingly. I have been using it for decades in that way now and from recording to keybed programming the entire range on my keyboard literally takes me less then a minute if I don't record a sample over 20 seconds. I hope that helps.*
This makes me miss my old Juno-6, even though I still have a 60.
Reaper's Resamplomatic 5000 is great for the old school one shot sample over the whole keyboard sounds.
It was really nice to watch this whilst renaming piano samples. I'm finally at a point where I can watch your videos and not immediately want to go buy 12 things. lol
This is so inspirational, the way Jon works is incredible. Can’t wait to take my sound making further, if you’ve got any other creative processes please share!
I'd recommend to check out Sylvia Massy's channel & her book:
'Recording Unhinged: Creative and Unconventional Music Recording Techniques'
Nice!
Since a great and inspiring video. I had a CP-30 years ago and couldn’t wait to get rid of that boat anchor lol. Maybe that was a mistake?
Ever since I was a teenager and scored a Watkins copycat at a car boot sale, I’ve been dreaming of owning the Roland.
Maybe it’s time 🤔
underrated content!
The way he used Herbie Hancock as a template is the same way I use the Atlas studio tour by Air as a template.
When I ever I watch these videos I always like to see gear I have in common with the composer. In this case it's the Bleep Labs Thingamableep and the same Ikea desk :-(
I see an Op-1in there! Also an Alesis q25? Honestly a solid budget option
Er hat die ganzen Schmuckstücke in so einer feuchten Gartenlaube ...... strafbar!!!
That gear!!
Aah! the Sony TC-377.
First band recording I ever played on was on a pair of 377s.
Tracked bounce by bounce.
In a converted stable still with an 'ambience' of manure ...
Demo got us on the telly though ...
I've kept one of my old Akai 4000DB machines 'just in case' I get a mad tape only idea ...
Loops 'n splices etc.
Is this tv footage of your band on CZcams?
@@G.Man- Nope, just admiring the vintage gear ...
Amazing a composer of his caliber is using Logic. TAL Drum is Also a creat sampler. It’s got all the Akai Posh Bits.
If Jon is after a CS80 (but doesn't want a behringer when its finally released, or even a Deckards Dream) can I recommend a Yamaha Electone E-75? With the correct modifications it can do almost as much but there are more of them!
1:49 MESCALINE!!!!! The best :-)
very impressive collection, i love it. but as a hancock fan you are missing a fender rhodes, i'm pretty sure on the album cover picture is one under the clavinet ;)
I see your Herbie Hancock and I raise you a Funky Porcini. That album cover drove me toward synth madness for quite some time. Had to back it off...
Thanks for the video!, but please could you get a mono pod, I can hardly watch with the shaking and ultra wide angle it feels as though I'm hallucinating, hahaha.
It may save Jon bit of money on eBay to know that the Herbie Hancock photo had a CS-50, not a CS-80 :-)
Well that's lucky! Great news :) That makes sense actually. He must have switched to a CS-80 soon after this then, with the second keyboardist in the live band playing a CS-50.
@@jonopstad6596 Good thing Stevie Wonder wasn't your favorite, you'd have to get one of Yamaha GX1s which I think actually do cost as much as a house!, fascinating interview thanks for sharing so much info!
this makes me feel better about choosing a cs50 over an 80 lol
I like the color scheme in his studio, do you have any pics you can post
Jon, I can inform you that Tonetweakers has a EML SynKey available so soon you'll be complete.
And as Stuart McNeill pointed out that's not a CS-80 : ) Good news since the CS-50 will come in at lower price than the Xpander does these days.
Oh, right, I couldn't see the Polymoog in your collection. Who doesn't want an analogue 71 polyphony!? : ) Get it with the Vox Humana preset and all is set.
corner liston the Synkey is such a weird beast. The chord interval buttons can make some odd sounds, but some great stuff, too (like the intro pad to Olson by BoC).
Oh no! I was always suspicious that the synth labelled as a Prophet 5 in the picture didn't actually look like a Prophet 5. I thought it might have been some sort of pre-production model with different casing, but you've finally answered that for me. Looks like I'll have to get an EML SynKey then ;) My 2600 came from Tonetweakers.
@@jonopstad6596 Good point, I tried to find that as well. Must be the one with dark wood underneath the EML? But that one only has four octaves so that must something else? The Solina?
Edit: Ah right, now I saw that photo. Yes they labelled the EML completely wrong : )
Jon Opstad I’ll trade you my EML Synkey for your Prophet 5 😜
Midi into his Juno-6 ?! YES!
GOD I love the midi to everything. THIS guy gets it!
wow. and how does one get one's compositions from inside his own
shed into any form of media at all?
The unanswerable question, right?
Hey Christian! Great videos from you. Please tell me where can I purchase that 'METAL PERCUSSION" instrument in your INTRO? You used a violin bow and a mallet or drum stick to strike it. I love that sound I need that percussion sound in my compositions.
Go & search for a 'waterphone'
Excellent! That synth collection in the picture he showed is an album ? Didn’t t get it
Yes. Herbie Hancock's Sunlight.
love the oberheim fvs :)
The joys of loading floppy after floppy into an s3000xl...good times 😂
Jordan Killiard needs a floppy to CF retrofit. Just as slow but without the clunkery!
Where can I get hold of a waterphone?
One of the synthesizers I didn't notice if he talked about or not? Was that a multi-Moog or micro-Moog?
It's a Micro Moog. Nice, individual synth. Has its own character, separate to the Mini Moog.
Neat. I guess I took his idea and I didn't even realize it. Albeit I don't have a skylight but hey, a bright led on a junk $1 trouble light is fine. Fine fine.
@Christian Henson Music Could we ask Jon which studio desk he is using there please?
It's a homemade desk (and racks), supported on Ikea legs
(23:43) This type of instrument was used extensively on the tv series "Kung Fu" in the early seventies.
and english drama horror thriller
Arthur '2 Sheds' Jackson!!!! ))))))))))
(Monty Python)
I clicked, because of the Oberheim.
me too
kh 310s are alright the barefoots probably been a better purchase especially in terms of bass monitoring. KH310 like no bass but the tops and mids are clear
Tell Jon Opstad there is a cs 80 at a local music shop here where I live for $9999 in colorado.
That’s a steal. I wonder if it was functional.
How big is the shed?
What is he running that Juno through? it sounds like there's a bit of distortion/color added and then the BigSky?
Just Timeline and BigSky
How utterly frustrating that you go and visit a dude with a room full of awesome instruments and we don’t get to hear any of them! Did he not know you were coming?
Lutosławski!
Well spotted! One of my favourite composers.
@@jonopstad6596 Mine too, I have "Musique funèbre" in the same book design, hence why it caught my eye so quickly.
@@Mattieval One of my favourite pieces of music!
I may have missed it, however I don't think you all discussed it. What's the 88 key keyboard directly in front center of his workstation?
It's a Roland controller keyboard
@@jonopstad6596 Thanks Jon! Love your work, and your thought process that goes into sound creation!
@@jonopstad6596 Hi Jon. Thanks for the tour of your crib and process. Say, could you mention which Roland and how the keys feel? I'm looking for a main controller. Thanks!
"Or Olafur in Island"
Olafurson, actually :b
Is it sacrilegious to Mention that Behringer has a 2600 as well?
3:53 I bet he thought it was the Herbie Goes Bananas soundtrack.
What is the instrument name at the begining?
It's a waterphone.
Spitfire Should make us
Water-Phone sampled plugin.
Play the bloody oberhiem!!!!!