In The Studio: Alpha Mound
For those not familiar with Alpha Mound, just know that our man is definitely one of the most prolific and creative soul that we have in the collective. Alpha Mound is the recording project of Joakim Westlund, who has since 2012 released many albums, EPs and collaborations. His style is focused in the ambient genre and sometimes mixed into more deep going indie-electronica, techno and kraut sounds. The sound design is always a main feature where you can find complex melodies alongside slow drones and spare rhythms.
We’re delighted to invite you today in Joakim’s creative space.
“A good place to start is the main mixing desk/workstation. I’m using a iMac from 2015 and two MOTU cards (828x and 828 mk3 - connected over ADAT, giving me 16 inputs and outputs). With an Audient Nero monitor controller to be able to choose where I listen. Either the Neumann KH 120 A as the main monitor, the small Tivoli Audio speaker as a reference or as you’ll see later the hi-fi playback.
The table is custom built by me in 2020 and has 12 U of rackspace on either side. On the left side there are basically four channels through outboard preamps, compressor and EQ (and an additional four inputs in the patchbay as well directly to the MOTU). And on the right side excluding the interfaces and utilities, six units of Boss Micro Racks for fun FX which I use to rarely… but the best thing are the Samson patch bays, one on either side. They bring all connected inputs and outputs to the front so I can easily send or receive sounds anywhere within the setup.
The synths residing here right now are the DSI Mopho x4, ASM Hydrasynth and Novation Circuit.”
“Moving in a clockwise fashion we see the full pedalboard setup, a choice of stringed instruments and some keyboards as well there. That keyboard setup which features a turntable and a drone machine at the moment is combined in a sub-mixer before going to the patchbay (and after that to the main inputs of the MOTU interfaces).
Two Casio keyboards and an Alpha Juno 1. Which I have using a shared FX send in the sub-mixer for some Moogerfooger effects and a EHX Holiest Grail.
The drawer units there were actually left here when I moved in here in 2019 so I put them to good use storing microphones, power supplies and all other random stuff.”
“Moving around a bit more we see the hi-fi speakers which are powered by a NAD amplifier which are great for checking mixes on or when you want to fill the room with sound and not work in a designated sweet spot, they are better for that than the more critical Neumann’s. Between them are a very recent acquisition, a mini drum kit. I wanted to be able to do some cymbal swells played live and I also figured I could have some use for doing acoustic snare and hi-hat for more lively drums. I am no drummer by any stretch of the imagination but working in a studio setting with unlimited overdubs I can make something with it. And good to have some acoustic sounds around
Also on the table to the right there is my current live setup. I have played one gig so far using it and soon to be at least one more. Using an iPad, a 4-track, Microfreak and Model: Cycles and some effects through my live mixer, a Radius 4 there. The Radius is also connected as a sort sub-mixer going as a stereo out to the patch-bays/MOTU setup for whenever I want to record what I am rehearsing or if I want to make live jam videos at that setup, which has been awhile now to be honest.
Gear collection on the wall I guess, I often rotate what I am using and come back to things after a while and come up with new ideas for setups so good to have as much as possible within arms reach. A friend's Mesa Boogie bass amplifier is in the corner there as well.”
“The last view and the newest setup. I built this table earlier this year and the reasoning behind it was to be able to record more hardware or hybrid jams/songs on separate channels opening up the possibility to adjust the mix. Right now it features my modular, Virus Access TI Polar, Moog Minitaur, Waldorf Strechfett and a bunch of FX. Also the Ableton Push for hybrid stuff. The rack I put in there on the right of the table has 14 U I think and hosts the NAD amplifier for the hi-fi and a Tascam cassette deck.
Here I also have a Behringer 8 channel interface with their ADAT expansion as well giving me 16-inputs, or rather 8 stereo instruments as I tend to put stereo FX on most stuff going in. This has worked quite well with an easy switch of which audio interface to record from in Ableton. It isn't any problem jumping over to the Behringers from the MOTU’s which I use most of the time. The only drawback with the Behringer is that the inputs coming in over ADAT must be monitored through the software mix which I wasn’t aware of when going for it. So far it hasn’t been much of a problem setting up the monitoring in Ableton though. But still a small gripe as I am used to using hardware monitoring when recording. But getting 16 separate inputs for that price you really can’t complain.”
Initiated by
Petite Victory Collective
Related Artists
Further Articles
