How has your setup evolved over the years? What was the first piece of music technology you had?
I started out with all the classic Roland analog gear. The 909, 808, Juno 106... those were significant pieces of gear in Detroit. Then I finally saved up enough money to get the Roland S-770 sampler. I did a lot of production with that. As time went on, I started to implement software in to the studio due to new technologies and formats. But I always held on to the classic synthesizers. When I discovered Reaktor, it changed a lot for me. Reaktor has definitely played the most significant role in my music production. It all fell into place and seemed like magic. It has been my main sound source in terms of software, ever since.
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MY LIFE WITH REAKTOR
Mike Huckaby has been an integral part of Detroit's rich musical output over the last 15 years, both as a producer and a DJ. Huckaby's two imprints, S Y N T H and Deep Transportation, have gained a reputation for quality deep music existing somewhere between house and techno, while his busy remix schedule has seen him add his distinctive feel to Pole, Loco Dice, Juan Atkins and Rick Wilhite, among others. In this Tech Talk interview, Mike discusses his love of REAKTOR, as well as throwing some light on his work with Detroit's Youthville project. Plus, Mike has created an exclusive REAKTOR tutorial video, that you can view here.
You're really into Reaktor. Does Reaktor live up to its hype?
Absolutely. Reaktor, as described by many, is the grand daddy of all modern software. The most important thing about Reaktor is the reciprocal relationship it has with actual hardware. Reaktor teaches you a lot about hardware, and actual pieces of gear, and vice versa. Reaktor is the answer and understanding to all things concerning synthesis, and music production. I've been trained by some pretty heavy guys way deeper into Reaktor than I am for sure. So, I've seen what a black belt in Reaktor looks like. If you ever got a glimpse of that, you would be choosing the same path for sure.
How did you get the idea to teach Reaktor to kids?
I was enthusiastic about Reaktor from the very start, and Youthville was founded in Detroit around the same time. I had asked to do a one-time Reaktor demonstration there, and that led to the possibility of doing an entire class based on Reaktor. I told Jeffrey Horton from NI about this possibility, and he was immediately on board supporting me. I am very glad it worked out that way because teaching Reaktor is teaching me more about its possibilities than simply using it.
What are your favorite things to do with Reaktor sound-wise?
I use Electronic Instruments Volume 2 quite a bit. I fell in love with Limelite and Lazyfish's akkord sequencer. I've been taking piano lessons for over 10 years, and I use the Akkord sequencer to teach me more about music theory than ever before. It is possible to learn music theory and sophisticated jazz voicings just by using it. Just program a jazz chord into it and see the possible variations. This is something you can only do in Reaktor.
What can Reaktor users gain from the akkord sequencer tutorial you produced?
Reaktor users can benefit exactly from the information I just described above. From the tutorial, Reaktor users will also gain the understanding of how to trigger external gear from within Reaktor too. The akkord sequencer is quite a sophisticated ensemble. It really shows the depth of Reaktor's versatile features. You can definitely count on this tutorial, and the akkord sequencer to keep the creative flow going, when you might have problems doing so.
Watch Mike's akkord sequencer tutorial here.
Tell us more about Youthville Detroit.
Youthville is the most significant thing that has occurred in Detroit since the beginning of the Detroit Electronic Music Festival. The DEMF provided a great sense of direction for Detroit electronic artists, and Youthville has followed up to be just as significant. It's a multimillion dollar facility dedicated to creating a positive difference in the lives of the Detroit youth. It's privately funded, and the membership for individuals is an amazing low fee of 25 dollars a year! Students can learn any form of technology there within music, film, or radio. Helping a student unlock his musical dreams is an extremely rewarding experience. I'll never forget the day I showed an 11 year old how to make a synthesizer in Reaktor. Not only did he do it, but he went around the class and showed everyone else how to do it as well! Learning Reaktor with 11 years? Man, I wish that could have been me. Many kids can't afford the computer setup required to do something like this. So Youthville becomes a unique opportunity in Detroit to do so. And, having the kids learn Reaktor at Youthville has an impact beyond music software. It builds character, it equips the students with the right attitude in life to achieve success. It shows them that they can achieve anything through discipline. The experience in my class is meant to cross over into their homework and studies too. I want them to see that they can become successful using Reaktor, and in school too. All the students have to do is to apply themselves.
Has working with the kids influenced your own approach to music?
Absolutely. I stumble across new things I didn't mean to do all the time in class. Often a student will ask, hmmm, how do I do that? Or, how did my favorite producer do that? I have to provide the answer and demonstrate it in the Reaktor environment. It keeps you sharp and under pressure because it is now your job to facilitate answers for others.
Describe how Reaktor helped you create your famous, "my life with the wave" release.
That project was not produced in Reaktor, but I relied heavily on the skills that I have learned in Reaktor to complete that project. Again, this is an example of the reciprocal relation I'm talking about. I'm doing remixes like crazy right now. I've done remixes for artist such as Juan Atkins aka Model 500, Pole, Deepchord, Lo Soul, Loco Dice, Blake Baxter, The Advent, and many others. Reaktor taught me a lot about the Waldorf Wave synthesizer, and the Waldorf Wave taught me a lot about Reaktor.
What is the situation for the electronic music scene in Detroit these days?
Many artists are relying heavily on the internet and especially MySpace to find fans of Detroit electronic music worldwide. I had no idea that I had a fan base in Budapest, and that they love electronic music from Detroit. Not only was that the case, but they had also heard about my involvement with NI, Reaktor and Youthville. The world is a small place these days, and the audience for music from Detroit has actually increased thanks to that. Being on tour last year in eleven different countries showed me just how emotional the word Detroit is for so many people.
Great, thanks so much for your time!
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