The Spirit Studios Podcast

Join Al as he ditches his instruments and explores found sounds and creative effects processing to make music out of non-musical objects - including cardboard kick drums, elastic bass synths and psychedelic cork risers.

Join Al as he makes a funky disco beat in Ableton Live, featuring groovy basslines, retro synth sounds and percussion layers inspired by 1970s classics.

Al and fellow Spirit Studios tutor David chat with Scott Maclachlan, A&R Director at Warner Music New Zealand. Scott shares his insight into working at a major label, how streaming has impacted music production, and what it was like signing and managing Lorde.

Al chats with Spirit Studios graduate, producer, and Do As You Please label founder Niall Roche. They talk eclectic electronic music, taking inspiration from David Byrne, and how to assemble your first EP. Do As You Please: https://doasyouplease.bandcamp.com/ Listen to Niall's playlist here: https://spoti.fi/31Ihvvu

Al chats with students Mihnea and Alix, winners of Interface 2020 - a collaborative competition between Spirit Studios in Manchester and the Catalyst Institute in Berlin. Together they created a fantastically dark cinematic soundscape titled Metamorphosis which you can view via the link below. https://bit.ly/340aKa4

Al and fellow Spirit Studios' tutor David chat to special guest Ian Huffam, partner at X-ray Touring - an independent global music agency that handles the live careers of artists such as Anderson .Paak, Blur, Eminem and New Order. Ian talks about how he got started, the impact of Covid-19, and shares advice for newcomers to the live industry.

Al and fellow Spirit Studios' tutor David chat to Maddie & Tom about their first year experience studying on the Music Business & Creative Industries degree course.

Get started with synthesisers and join Al as he explores the world of oscillators, ADSR envelopes, filters, LFOs & arpeggiators.

In this episode, Al shares his tips and tricks on how to make a professional-sounding podcast from home.

Al breaks down the beat created for the Spirit Studios Virtual Experience on 1 August 2020. Join him as he chops up some mellow piano, creates time-shifting delay effects, and re-samples his own voice. Link to our Virtual Experience: https://youtu.be/lQNSkCvI7Jg

Make some space and join Al as he explores the fundamentals of reverb. In this episode he offers some mixing tips, compares concert halls with springs and plates, and does some recording in a bathroom.

Al chats with David Cameron-Pryde, head of A&R at MUK Records and Music Business & Creative Industries Tutor at Spirit Studios. They talk about record labels, branding for independent artists, and why Kanye is the new Morrissey. https://bit.ly/3eK1poQ

There's some fantastic free plugins out there! Join Al as he explores some of his favourite effects plugins that won't cost you a penny .

In this episode, Al breaks down essential drum rhythms for five different genres of music - hip hop, house, garage, techno, and drum & bass. Follow the link below to download the MIDI drum patterns. https://bit.ly/38AcgjK

Al goes back to the 80s and creates a Synthwave track from scratch. Get ready for retro arpeggiators, big gated snares, and lots and lots of synths.

Al chats with Andre Pires about his one-man experimental metal project Cut the Berry, self-promotion on a budget, and moving to the UK to study sound engineering. Andre's playlist: https://spoti.fi/2Z37QgH Illusion by Confusion video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSjrY5AhnoE

Compressors are one of the most useful tools at our disposal when working with sound. In this episode, Al introduces the main functions and controls of a compressor, and explores some creative ways you can apply compression in your mix.

Join Al as he chats with Aaron Haigh, a drummer and producer who plays with Seafret and has toured as a drum tech with artists like the Courteeners, DMA's, and the Chainsmokers. Link to Aaron's playlist: https://spoti.fi/2U9S6XU

To celebrate the massive Logic Pro update that recently dropped, Al creates a lofi track using its main new features. In this episode he chops things up with the Sampler plugins, gets granular with synthesis, and goes off the grid with Logic's new step sequencer.

Al chats with Spirit Studios alumnus Chris Sherwin, live sound engineer at Manchester venue Night & Day and singer/guitarist in post-rock outfit Bards. Link to Chris' playlist: https://spoti.fi/3bJ1OpQ

Link to our downloadable Home Studio Setup guide here: https://adobe.ly/2T15BZj

Join Al as he explores the budget-friendly genre of Bedroom Pop & creates a track with harmonised guitar parts, lo-fi synths, and lots of delay plugins.

In the third part of our Production Lockdown series, Al finalises the arrangement, mixes Motown-style vocals, and makes moves with automation. Full track: https://soundcloud.com/al-atcheson/no-rush 

In this episode, Al explores vocal harmonies, retro arpeggiators, and pastes together a guitar solo.