REPOSTEXCHANGE
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In the studio with Zvrra
Jaz from the RepostExchange Team
 

How long have you been producing music and how did you learn? 

I’ve been producing music for about 18 years. I learned how to make music originally using Sony Acid loops and then I got the demo of Fruity Loops back in 2003. What got me into producing techno fully was this video game full of techno music called Midnight Club 2. When I was a child, I looked up to music producers like Felix da Housecat and Misstress Barbara who are two famous techno producers on the game's soundtrack. 

I learned to produce by just messing around experimenting with every module and I’d practice almost every day and make little loops and recordings. I had the demo of Fruity Loops 4 back in the day and you couldn't render your stuff out so I’d take an external program like Audacity and hold my speakers up to the microphone. It was very amateur but eventually, I purchased FL Studio and I’ve just been producing ever since perfecting my craft. 

What DAW(s) do you use and why?

I use Ableton Live 10 and FL Studio 20 because they allow me to quickly get ideas down and into audio form before I forget them.

What are your favourite pieces of gear and why?

With my budget right now probably the Alesis Vi25 or the Akai MPK49. They allow me to control all the parameters without an overwhelming UI and I can record at any time.

What are your favourite software plugins and why?

  • Izotope Neutron 2 because it helps me quickly tame sounds, eq sounds etc. 
  • Absynth 5 allows me to mutate any sound and turn it into something else which helps my creative process tremendously. I often load my own presets and then I can hit mutate and after a few clicks I've got new sounds to work with. 
  • Omnisphere 2 is my powerhouse synth and sampler, it's my fav. I’ve been able to create these gigantic sounds using a combination of it's wavetables, along with my field recordings to create beautiful sounds.  

How would you summarise your approach/workflow when creating a track?

Ideas just randomly come out of nowhere depending on what I hear and that's about 80% of my process. I usually like to open Absynth and I’ve got a preset that I created and then I can press 'mutate' and it will randomly generate something based on what it's fed. That's how I make sounds out of nowhere and either resample or leave it as is. 

What resources do you use to improve your craft?

YouTube is my most used resource! Places like Point Blank Music School, Yalcin Efe, Pheeks Coaching Corner

What is the last YouTube tutorial you watched that you would recommend to other Re-Ex Members?

What knowledge or advice do you wish you'd learned earlier?

Learning how to gain stage and overall mix my tracks. It feels weird because I’ve been making music for such a long time I feel like I should be way better with mixing and also the mastering side but for years I didn't know about the process.  

Another thing I wish I would’ve learned earlier is how to organize my project files efficiently(!) When you start getting a lot of tracks and project files it's a nightmare if you do not organize them. Also, don’t let your tracks collect 'digital dust', finish them and get them out. 

What challenges related to making music do you face and how do you overcome them?

A challenge for me is just finishing tracks. Often I’m easily distracted, but I’ve been coming up with ways to try and combat that by organizing my tracks and archiving or breaking down barely-started ideas into loops and scrapping the project file. 

Can you share any killer tips or techniques?

  • Less is more.  
  • If something doesn't fit in the track, don’t force it.  
  • Make copies of your projects in different states. 
  • Turn your master fader down to hear your sounds in a different context. 
  • Remove low end from sounds that don't need it otherwise it's extra noise. 
  • Stock plugins are fine. 
  • There's nothing wrong with using presets. 

Do you try and get feedback or suggestions to improve your music? If so, how?

Yes, I try to seek feedback from others using RepostExchange, Metapop, mailing lists, label mates and even record labels. Sometimes though you have to filter through what people tell you because sometimes it can be counterproductive so you always want to be careful on feedback, but it's usually going to let you know where you are and how people hear your music.

Which track are you most proud of and why?

Has RepostExchange affected the way you make music? If so, how?

RepostExchange played a part in me getting invited to DJ for one of my first online events after promoting my techno tracks on the platform. I dropped a stellar mix and it’s been up from there. I’ve been reaching some of the top names in techno and they’ve been giving me feedback that's been letting me know I have great production on my hands. From there I’ve been just consistently releasing on Bandcamp and SoundCloud. 

Desert Island Gear

Top L-R: Spectrasonics Omnisphere 2, Valhalla Supermassive.

Bottom L-R: Ableton Live, Native Instruments Absynth 5, FL Studio 20.

Connect with Zvrra on SoundCloud, Bandcamp, Twitch, and Instagram.

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This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.