Fennesz

[https://cycling74.com/articles/an-interview-with-christian-fennesz] In an interview with Cycling '74 Christian talks about the role that PPooll plays in his music: "I've been using this for many years, and I've gotten really used to it – this is my main software for live playing. It gives me everything I need: a sampler, loopplayer modules, a few synths ,effects , audio in, audio unit/vst connections, MIDI controllers, etc. It's like a toolbox or a studio on your laptop. I also use it in the studio in combination with logic 9 and X. I actually still use a quite old version of ppooll. I also have ableton live(with Max 4 Live) installed on my computers but i barely ever use it. It's a great piece of software but I think I can improvise much better in a live gig context when using ppooll."

That is a Soundhack Spectral Gate plug-in. You can set the attack and release time and control it with a MIDI controller or a sequencer. I am also using a custom analog distortion pedal that a friend of mine made for me.

"PD: Have you tried Kore, from Native Instruments?

F: No, but that sounds interesting to me. I use Reaktor a lot in studio. I use a lot of Native Instruments software, but not for live playing."

I am always looking for the right balance between staying simple with the equipment and exploring new options: like new plug-ins, new software etc. For a while I had too many options in the studio; it was too much; I didn’t know where to start. I have been downsizing and now have a setup that works for me. I think it is more important to have good speakers than a lot of compressors. Though, I recently discovered the software modular synthesizer Aalto. It’s fantastic. I have been working with it a lot lately and I do program that.

"I use a Max/MSP patch for real-time processing."

From an article describe a collaboration between Ian Bellamy and Thomas Strønen.

GM: Have you been getting into the iPad apps like Borderlands and Samplr?

Fennesz: A friend of mine made Borderlands; it is fantastic.

Were you processing Thomas or Ian in the studio or just yourself?

It was really quite basic. It was like jazz playing. I didn’t process their instruments, but of course I processed my guitar. I use a Max/MSP patch for real-time processing.