Mikael Jorgensen

"My main 88 key controller is the Nord Stage EX which is controlling a MUSE Receptor running Native Instruments' Komplete 8, and very specifically the Acoustic Piano & Electric Piano samples in Kontakt. I've found that these are the best sounding sets for what I'm doing with Wilco. I've got a Moog Multipedal to control some virtual effects like reverb sends, Wurly tremelo amount, and sending the piano through a leslie simulator."

"What led you to include the Virus TI in your keyboard setups?

Jeff (Tweedy) had a Virus KB when I first joined the band & I was using that for years until we upgraded our American backline and began keeping backline in Europe, so I was sort of grandfathered into a Virus. When doing the research to update my rig, I couldn't find another "virtual analog" synth that sounded as good as the Virus."

"The first synthesizer that I owned was a Sequential Circuits Six-Trak and I really loved that thing for a while. That must have been about 1984, and I was foolish to sell it for a Yamaha DX-100. However the first synthesizer that I ever played was either a Minimoog or an Oberheim 4 Voice. My dad would stop by a synth repair shop in New Jersey on his way home and pick up a repaired keyboard and I'd have at it for a night. He'd take it back into Manhattan the next morning to return it to it's owner, most likely Bob James. I was hooked immediately. The knobs and switches made sounds change and wiggle in the most exciting way!"

“In addition to a Fender Rhodes, there was the [Access] Virus, the Moog Little Phatty, and the ARP 2600. Those were the center points, because you could get poly synthesizer stuff from the Virus, and then get really great, thick, monophonic stuff from the ARP. Then the Little Phatty, through the tape delay, and all this really nice, mushy, organic processing."

Seen on right side, on top of keyboard

"About those synths: “In addition to a Fender Rhodes, there was the [Access] Virus, the Moog Little Phatty, and the ARP 2600. Those were the center points, because you could get poly synthesizer stuff from the Virus, and then get really great, thick, monophonic stuff from the ARP. Then the Little Phatty, through the tape delay, and all this really nice, mushy, organic processing."

Seen on the ground next to the Hammond Organ

"The first synthesizer that I owned was a Sequential Circuits Six-Trak and I really loved that thing for a while. That must have been about 1984, and I was foolish to sell it for a Yamaha DX-100. However the first synthesizer that I ever played was either a Minimoog or an Oberheim 4 Voice. My dad would stop by a synth repair shop in New Jersey on his way home and pick up a repaired keyboard and I'd have at it for a night. He'd take it back into Manhattan the next morning to return it to it's owner, most likely Bob James. I was hooked immediately. The knobs and switches made sounds change and wiggle in the most exciting way!"

"My main 88 key controller is the Nord Stage EX which is controlling a MUSE Receptor running Native Instruments' Komplete 8, and very specifically the Acoustic Piano & Electric Piano samples in Kontakt. I've found that these are the best sounding sets for what I'm doing with Wilco. I've got a Moog Multipedal to control some virtual effects like reverb sends, Wurly tremelo amount, and sending the piano through a leslie simulator."

"On top of that is the Virus TI with an Eventide Time Factor delay pedal velcro'ed down. For a while I'd put a Crowther "Prunes & Custard" after the Virus, before the delay to do some waveshaping sweeps, but opted for the internal Virus waveshaper as it's more consistent from night to night."

I've been using the Bleep Labs Nebulophone for the song "Laminated Cat" going into the Virus and using a BPF to sweep it's adorably digital arpeggios into oblivion before hitting the Time Factor.

Jorgensen posted this photo on Instagram in 2013 with the caption, "Adios old buddy. You're going to a new home and someone who will care for you better than I ever could. #Rocksichord #RMI"