Electro superstar Zombie Nation is a true veteran of the studio, having been generating gritty analog hits since his career-defining stadium anthem, “Kernkraft 400.” Next week, Florian Senfter will be releasing his fifth studio album, RGB, on Montreal’s legendary Turbo imprint. To mark the release, ZN stars in the first edition of Turbo’s new Studio Sessions video series, which shows Senfter hanging with studio pro Spaceman as he works the vintage Roland System 700 analog synth. Things get groovy once the track that gets going and the in-studio disco lights come on. Watch the video and read Zombie Nation’s breakdown of his own home studio set-up after the jump.
ZOMBIE NATION HOME STUDIO BREAK-DOWN
Teenage Engineering OP-1 synthesizer
Don´t hate on this toy! This little synth is to music production what the iPhone was to cellphones. While it´s difficult to make a whole song with it, I use it a lot to collect ideas on the road. I have used it on as many as five songs on my new album.
My favorite feature is the internal FM radio receivcer, where you can grab samples and they are instantly laid out over the keyboard in bite size pieces. The other day I sampled radio stations while I was on a plane! Be fast, each station will only appear for about 8 seconds.
Roland System 100m modular synthesizer
This early ’80s modular synth is less complicated than it looks. I used it quite a lot with Tiga on our ZZT project, with Tiga on the right block and me on the left — we we are ready to jam. This leads you to unique places and into situations that you can´t get in the virtual world. Enjoying the process is very importand the the final result.
Vertigosound VSC-2 Quad Discrete Compressor
This compressor represents the outboard section in my studio. I have a bunch more stuff but this is my favorite, not only because of it´s blue metallic shine. I use it all the time because it is so subtile and glues the mix together with a bit of a magic. It´s a pro machine and the pricetag is very high, but it´s arguably the best modern compressor around. My tip: there is a plugin by Brainworx which is 90% as good as the real thing at 5% of the price.
AKAI MPC 1000 Sampler/sequencer
I am a decided MPC addict since 1997 – when I bought my first electronic instrument — a MPC 2000. It´s my tool of choice to work out patterns and beats. I have made almost all my music on MPCs. Recently I am working more on the road and there is no usable battery powered version (yet). I have even dragged the 4000 around for live shows for five years, every weekend. That beast weighs 14 kilos! The main advantage of an MPC: you dance while you work on it.
Quested V3110 speakers
Speakers are the most important part of a studio setup, followed by good studio acoustics. Whatever instrument you use, if you can´t hear how it sits in the mix you are taking the risk that only you will hear what it’s about. And it gives you a sense of purpose if you can listen to your stuff loud!
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