S******

When I buy a new bit of gear I photocopy the most important bits, as I said, and keep those copies close by the 'bit of kit'. Synth patches can be looked up so much quicker than scrolling through the readout. Patches on Reverb units such as Quadraverbs can be looked up so much quicker.

Also, of course, you can add little comments to the notes such as "great for slap back on kik" .... "mega stadium reverb/delay....maybe for power chords on guitar". These notes will save so much time .... you only need to audition the effect once, write the note, then you will forever have a picture in your sound-brain of that effect .... saves a bundle of time and frustrated effort! On synths I will make a note like 'Cars'. This will immediately tell me that the basic unaltered tone of the patch will be reminiscent of the Gary Numan hit synth sound as featured in 'Cars'. Pal of mine was involved with that recording .... tells me that Garry walked into the studio .... someone had left an old 'Moog' synth (one of the first ever synthesisers) from the previous session. Gary just put his hands on the keyboard, to see what it sounded like and played the opening anthem of 'Cars'. "What's that?" everybody screamed. "I don't know" said Gary "It just came into my mind". As they always say: "The rest is History" 

I have just got to tell you a quick story about Gary, before I forget (get back to music in a minute .... let's have a break). This will give you a heck of an insight into how hit songs come about! Gary, as you will know, had huge success with his 'new' sound, black hair, evil, sinister look. His songs were put together on a wing and a prayer. He had a unique talent for creating songs that were so futuristic.  He would simply sing any mumbled words that came into his head.

The story goes that when he had his first hit he actually held a competition among his mega fanbase to see which of them could interpret his 'mumbles' ... and you guessed it ... he used those words as the published ones on the sheet music.  Don't sue me Gary!  I have heard that story from quite a few sources.

http://www.numan.co.uk/

Regards

Dec 

You may use any part of this 'One Minute' in your own publications...we simply require you to add:

Start ============

'One Minute With Dec' is written each week by Dec Cluskey. Dec's advice?

Get in touch personally to discuss what you want to achieve in music dec@makehits.com

web: www.makehits.com or call +44 (0)1323.728005

Finish===========

============================================

The gags: