and then into and Eventide H9. That goes
into the laptop through a MOTU Ultralite
audio interface.
Are you going through the computer
before you hit the amps?
Yeah. I’m using the laptop like a bunch
of pedals. All the effects in the laptop are
run in parallel. That way if Ableton Live
crashes I can still rock out, because the
sound card will keep pushing my “clean
signal” through. In Ableton, the effects
sends are maxed out with different effects.
I have three or four different settings in
Altiverb with different impulse responses:
everything from that mausoleum to some
nice plates. I used to have an old crappy
reverb pedal, which I loved for making
explosive noises, so I put that into Altiverb
as well. I am using the looper in Ableton,
which is really good for what it is. I’ve also
got some whacky chains of pitch things.
The MOTU interface goes into an
Eventide TimeFactor. It has a setting that
takes line level from the MOTU and sends
it out as instrument level into a couple
of DI boxes. I recently started using the
Rupert Neve DIs and there’s an amazing
difference. The signal goes from the DIs to
the amps and the front of house.
My live amp rig—since I can’t get
Hiwatts anywhere—is a pair of Fender
Twin blackface ’65 reissues with Jensen
speakers, linked up to two Ampeg SVT
Classics with 4x10s.
How are you controlling the laptop?
I use the old Roland FC-200 MIDI foot
controller just for simple CC [control
change] messages to turn on and off the
different effects chains. I can control the
length and volume of some reverbs, and
some pitch things. I also programmed a
simple controller in a Lemur app on the
iPad—some small buttons and faders that
control different effects. It is a really cutdown rig, but it’s nice. I don’t need to look
at the computer screen at all or do anything
with the laptop. It is safely stored in its case
onstage and I hardly ever touch it.
Do you carry a backup laptop?
No, but I have all my systems backed
up to Dropbox and all the plug-ins
are on iLok, so if everything fails and
I need to borrow or buy a new
computer, I can easily download
my systems from Dropbox and I’m
good to go.
Did you use that system in the studio
for your improvisation?
I have my Hiwatt combos in the studio,
but other than that it’s the same rig.
Sometimes I use a bass amp, but in the
studio it’s often overkill. You end up
with more bass than you can handle.
What’s coming up for you?
I’m doing another piece for the
Philharmonic orchestra in the
Netherlands that’s also being played at
a festival by an orchestra in Norway.
I’m doing some gigs with Sidsel and, of
course, I’m in the process of booking a
bunch of solo gigs.
A NGER
A
DER
A HARDER
www.bourns.com/proaudio
116 PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2016
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