SC: How long have you guys been using Cakewalk/Sonar?
Kim: cakewalk sonar or cakewalk in general? As far as myself, I can remember using it since about 1996. G: at least since 1992 for me.
SC: What advantage do you see to using a computer compared to analog tape sytems of the past?
Kim: Flexibility, the Wav editing and the ability to fix mistakes. With old tape systems, you basically had to redo most takes to get it right.
SC: Your group Innerfaith has 12 vocalists and a 5 piece band. What is the approach to recording and producing a group so large?
Kim: Vocally, we approach them the same way we do live cause, we are trying to get the same sound on CD as we would have live. G: Musically we are tying to be very contemporary with a R&B, Hip Hop feel with the Gospel sound on top of it.
SC: Who would you compare your production
style to?
G: As far as the essence of working together, probably like LA and Babyface. Sound wise we definitely have our own sound.
SC: How did you guys meet?
Kim: {laughter} 10th grade marching band, Bryan Station Defenders baby!!!
SC: Is knowing each other for so long a positive thing when working with artists in the control room?
Kim: I really think so. G: yeah, we've known each other so long we know what the other person would like and wouldn't like. Kim : And what buttons not to push.
SC: Do you do all your sequencing in the computer?
Kim: Yes, now we do everything in Sonar.
SC: What is your general approach of putting a song together?
Kim: With songwriting, it varies. Sometimes we start with a hook and develop it and sometimes we have just a music track and build around that. Very rarely do we have all the lyrics written before we start putting music to it. G: Production wise it depends on who starts the idea. If Kim starts the idea he'll start with chord. If I start the idea I normally start with drums.
SC: What is the first real keyboard you worked with?
G: Poly 800, old analog keyboard.
SC: What difference have you seen in keyboards over the years?
Kim: Their ability to emulate sounds. A good keyboard can emulate a lot of different instruments on stage.
SC: I see you have an ASR in your studio, how do you mainly use it or do you still use it?
G: Mainly now it's just a Midi Controller. We have a lot of different sound modules.If we do need to sample something we use it as our main sampler.
SC: You guys do a lot of live shows, what's the difference in your keyboard set up for live shows compared to your studio set up?
Kim: Not a big difference as far as keyboard set up, we mainly keep the studio keyboards in the studio and use a different set for our live shows. G uses the
Triton and Korg X5 and I'm using two Roland keyboards and a third guy who uses a Triton and a Trinity. It's just a matter of us deciding who is gonna do what role,
compared to the studio where it's all sequencing.
SC: What projects are you working on now?
G: Right now we are working on the material for the next Innerfaith CD and building a song catalog for our production company, RW Productions. We are currently shopping material.
SC: What is your next equipment purchase?
Kim: A good compressor and pre-amp for recording vocals.
