Jaguar Feather Studios is my dedicated electronic music studio facility that contains a number of instruments, both vintage and modern.
As in all modern studios, the heart of the room is a computer - in this case, two Mac G5's. The center keyboard is an M-Audio Keystation Pro 88.
The other keyboards visible are the MiniMoog (far left), and an Arp 2600 (2nd from left). More on the vintage units below.
Also visible is a Mackie mixer, KRK near field monitors, and Cerwin Vega D9 speakers.
The software I use is Apple's Logic Pro 7, a full featured sequencer and virtual instrument application with on-board synthesizers such as Sculpture, a terrific sampler, convolution reverb, and much more. It is this ability to have all the instruments and mixing/processing equipment in software instead of expensive dedicated hardware modules that has made this studio and my music possible.
I also use two important "virtual instrument" libraries for the sampler. EWQL's Symphonic Orchestra is a full virtual orchestra, and Ethnoworld is a collection of exotic instruments from all over the world.
These great tools deliver endless possibilities for creation!
Also in the studio are two old friends of mine. This is my Minimoog Model D, which I purchased new in 1974. Now considered a classic vintage instrument, it's "fat" sound is cherished by musicians. The Minimoog was the first relatively inexpensive compact synthesizer and was used by many famous groups and artists, like Keith Emerson.
I still use this instrument by sampling its sounds into the EXS24 Sampler in Logic for further processing and playing.
The original unit is monophonic - it will only sound one note at a time. No chords!
My other long-time companion is the ARP 2600. This instrument was billed as the "synthesizer in a suitcase" since it would snap into two cases for easy carrying (note the handle on the front of the keyboard!).
A great vintage instrument that saw much use over the 70's and into the 80's, notably by the Who. It was also a great learning tool for many of us who were first getting into synthesis.
An interesting side note is that both of these vintage analog synthesizers have now been "cloned" into software versions that replicate the circuitry of the original hardware you see here.
This original unit was able to play TWO notes simultaneously!
A few of my other, mostly percussion, instruments, including my shaman's drum (center) with an elkhide skin.
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