Ken Scott shares his stories about recording songs like “Helter Skelter” and “Rocket Man” and also sidebars EpiK DrumS: A Ken Scott Collection

Barbara Schultz’s Report for MIX features Ken Scott discussing his career and Sonic Reality’s EpiK DrumS: A Ken Scott Collection in an in-depth “Classic Tracks” Feature, here are quotes from the article:

“Scott’s desire to offer these classic sounds to the masses stemmed from a conversation he had at a re-visit to Abbey Road Studio 2, where he became re-acquainted with Brian Gibson, a maintenance engineer he’d worked with on Beatles sessions back in the day. ‘We hadn’t seen each other in donkey’s years,’ Scott says. ‘He told me had specifically asked to work that day so we could have a chat about old times. And he said, ‘Do you remember, when we started here, there were all these old timers who had the most incredible stories of the beginnings of recording? And we used to just sit there listening, fascinated by what they were saying.’ And I said, ‘Yeah, absolutely.’ And he said, ‘Well we’ve now become them. The next generation now wants to hear our stories.’ The Beatles: “Helter Skelter” (The White Album, 1968) Scott sets the record straight about the mood in Abbey Road Studio 2 for these sessions, which took place early in his long career. George Harrison: “What Is Life?” (All Things Must Pass, 1970) Scott overdubbed and mixed tracks for this singular, Phil Spector-influenced song. Elton John: “Rocket Man” (Honky Château, 1972) After leaving Abbey Road and joining Trident Studios, Scott found himself traveling to France with Gus Dudgeon and a cutting-edge artist called Elton John. America: “I Need You” (America, 1972) Back at Trident, Scott tracked and mixed the debut album from a transplanted folk-rock trio. Devo: “Secret Agent Man” (Duty Now for the Future, 1979) Scott and his family moved to L.A. when Scott was working steadily with Supertramp. During this period, he was frequently found at Chateau Recorders in North Hollywood, Calif. Missing Persons: “Walking in L.A.” (Spring Session M, 1982) Scott saw something in the Missing Persons that contradicted label rejections and even his own better judgment.” – Barbara Schultz, MIX

Read the full article here

Legendary Ken Scott delivers the “impossible”, recreates tones made 30 years ago with EpiK DrumS: A Ken Scott Collection

Scott G’s Report for Recording Hacks features Ken Scott and Rod Morgenstein discussing Sonic Reality’s EpiK DrumS: A Ken Scott Collection as part of the reporter’s NAMM experience, here are quotes from the article:

“If you’ve ever tried to match tones across sessions, you know it’s a challenge. Even if you have the same instrument, the same room, and the same mics, the sound can be different. Why? The mic isn’t in exactly the same place. The gain and EQ knobs aren’t in exactly the same place. The weather has changed. You’ve changed. Now imagine trying to recreate tones from 30 years ago. Gear has come and gone. Studios have been torn down. Playing styles have evolved. It seems impossible. And yet, legendary producer Ken Scott has done it anyway. Apparently weary of being asked how to recreate some of his drum sounds from classic records of the 1970s and 1980s, from artists spanning the creative genres from Missing Persons to Mahavishnu Orchestra, Scott set out to build what will be one of the most amazing drum sample libraries to date.” – Matthew McGlynn, Recording Hacks

Read the full article and watch the video interview here

Sonic Reality’s Gear and Studio in Miami, FL Is Featured in Keyboard’s Geek Out!

Robbie Gennet and Stephen Fortner’s Report on Sonic Reality’s Colossal Collection at their Studio in Florida, here are quotes from the article:

“You know Sonic Reality as the purveyor of Ocean Way Drums and innumerable Reason Refills, but you might not know that founder Dave Kerzner is so huge a vintage synth geek that it’s positively surreal. Below is the keyboard room at SR’s Florida mothership (photographed) – turn the page for modular and rack synths. At keyboardmag.com/gear, you’ll find more pictures, plus a video tour where Dave and Keybard’s Robbie Gennet play every single one of these beasts!” – Stephen Fortner, Keyboard Magazine

View the full three page article from the February 2010 issue with photos here

NAMM 2010 Show Report News Features A Ken Scott Collection Virtual Instrument

Scott G’s Report for Music Industry Newswire features Ken Scott and Sonic Reality’s EpiK DrumS: A Ken Scott Collection as part of the reporter’s NAMM experience, here are quotes from the article:

“First of all, it is very difficult not to go off on a fanboy tangent after interviewing Ken Scott. The guy produced David Bowie albums, for cryin’ out loud. He engineered ‘The White Album’ by those four lads from Liverpool. I have plenty of great recordings in my collection bearing the credit ‘Produced by Ken Scott,’ including works by Jeff Beck, Devo, Billy Cobham, Dixie Dregs, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and many more. But back to the NAMM news. There are several things shared by all those great recordings on which Ken Scott worked: clarity, power, dynamics, excitement, and superb drum sounds. Which is what prompted the folks at Sonic Reality to create a virtual instrument/plug-in product with the imposing title EpiK DrumS – A Ken Scott Collection. So okay, what is included in the Collection? Well, first of all, Billy Cobham, Bob Siebenberg, Terry Bozzio, Woody Woodmansey, and Rod Morgenstein are the drummers who were recorded for the project, and they worked with Scott to provide us with drum kits and percussion in their own unique styles as well as recreating the subtlety and thunder of recordings by Bowie, Supertramp, Mahavishnu, Dregs, Missing Persons, Elton John, and The Beatles. Scott has spoken of the genesis of this project: ‘For decades people have asked me how I got this sound or that drum sound on so and so’s record. Now they can not only have that information but they can get the authentic drum sound itself.’ When I mentioned to Scott how the most impressive thing was not the astonishing sounds but the way they could so easily be altered, he noted that ‘Flexibility was one of our goals in developing this project.’” – Christopher Laird Simmons, Music Industry Newswire

Read the full article here

PC World’s NAMM Briefs:Drum Kits And Products From Sonic Reality

PC World’s Report features Sonic Reality’s product release news as part of the reporter’s NAMM experience, here are quotes from the article:

“Sonic Reality releases a slew of new products…Neil Peart Drums Vol. 1: The Kit…Neil Peart, drummer of the band Rush, collaborated with Sonic Reality and producer/engineer Nick Raskulinecz to digitize the sound of Snakes and Arrows’ Custom DW Drum Kit, Drum Masters 2-Multi-Track…In version 2, grooves can be selected from a scrolling keyboard menu and mapped alongside the kits in a “performance mode” that allows both to play on the same midi channel and be routed through the same 16 individual outs for seamless transition between midi-played kits and live-played audio grooves, Drummer Tracks for Jamming…Designed for guitarists, bassists, keyboardists, songwriters, and other musicians who just want to play along with professional drum tracks for songwriting inspiration, practice, play-along performance, and fun, Drummer Tracks offers drum sounds without any technical learning curve, Serafine FX Tron HD…This sound effects workstation, made as virtual instrument software, comes with Sonic Reality’s Infinite Player, powered by Kontakt, and works as a standalone program for the Mac and PC as well as a plug-in for major digital audio workstations. It features more than 12,000 sound effects covering ambient soundscapes, animals, electronics, industrial, musical, nature, science fiction, vehicles, weapons, explosions and more.” – Jackie Dove, Mac World & PC World

Read the full article here

NAMM 2010 show report news features Sonic Reality and Ken Scott

Chip Design Magazine’s Report features news on EpiK DrumS: A Ken Scott Collection as part of the reporter’s NAMM experience, here are quotes from the article:

“This years NAMM show, and some carryover from CES, was heavily focused on making use of the advanced processing & storage capabilities available in very low power form factors.  The result was Generation 3.0 of advanced sampling and modeling systems that now using the full data bandwidth and signal handling features that are available in standard components for both the consumer and industrial marketplace…Following this trend toward more realistic sound, for percussion Sonic Reality has introduced “Epik Drums – a Ken Scott Collection”. Ken is the legendary British recording engineer and producer who recorded The Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John, Supertramp, Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Dixie Dregs, Devo, Lou Reed, America and many other iconic artists.  The new virtual instrument plug-in contains 80GB of 24 bit drum samples recorded in multi-track as a combination of audio grooves and MIDI kits.  These samples were recorded from authentic historic drum kits and configurations by top drummers Billy Cobham, Bob Siebenberg, Terry Bozzio, Woody Woodmansey and Rod Morganstein as they played on the original albums.” – Peter Chatterjee, Chip Design Magazine

Read the full article here

NAMM 2010 show report news features Sonic Reality’s new virtual instrument

CNN’s iReport features news on EpiK DrumS: A Ken Scott Collection as part of the reporter’s NAMM experience, here are quotes from the article:

“I recently attended the NAMM Show, The National Association of Music Merchants…Ken Scott, producer to artists such as the Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John, Pink Floyd and many more, attended. Ken’s product is called  Epik Drums. It is a virtual instrument software that recreates classic drum tracks from Ken’s past in a cutting edge drum and grove instrument powered by Kontak/Infinite Player.” – Pixel, CNN iReport

Read the full article and watch the video interview here

Legendary Producer Ken Scott Video Interview By Drummer Connection

Drummer Connection’s Report features news on EpiK DrumS: A Ken Scott Collection as part of the reporter’s NAMM experience, here are quotes from the article:

“Ken Scott knows music. Having worked with some of the most iconic names in the industry it’s hard imagining any fan of music in the past 40 years who hasn’t heard a song he’s produced. Now having been reunited with 5 of the original drummers from his illustrious career Ken has teamed up with Sonic Reality to release Epik Drums. Epik Drums is a virtual instrument/plug-in that provides an assortment of drum samples and audio grooves that will allow the engineer to practice the art of mixing real drums without wasting valuable studio time. Accompanying  Mr. Scott was Rod Morgenstein, a good friend and one of the featured musicians on Epik Drums. At the Winter NAMM show Ken and Rod sat down to talk with us about the creative process that went into this new recording software, and the direction they feel music is heading in today.” – Damian King, Drummer Connection

Watch the video interview here

Interview with Ken Scott and demonstration  with CEO Dave Kerzner

Sonic State’s Report features news on EpiK DrumS: A Ken Scott Collection as news coverage from NAMM 2010, follow the link to watch the video and here are some quotes from their website:

“Ken Scott is a veteran recording engineer coming from the old school – he learned his trade on the Abbey Road Beatles sessions, amongst others. His credits are too numerous too mention, but his new sample collection features classic drum sounds recreated from sessions with some of the World’s top drummers. Sonic Reality and Ken teamed up to recreate these sessions with the original drummers. It was an epic two year task – hence the name EpiK DrumS. In this video we spoke with Dave Kerzner and also had the privilege to interview Ken Scott himself.” – Nick Batt, Sonic State

Watch the video interview here

NAMM 2010: EpiK DrumS: A Ken Scott Collection is introduced

The Loop’s Report discusses Sonic Reality’s new product release with Ken Scott, as part of the reporter’s NAMM experience, here are quotes from the article:

“Scott and Sonic Reality President Dave Kerzner partnered to record five of the world’s greatest drummers, on vintage gear, and with the character that we’ve come to expect from Scott. The result is something that really has to be heard to be believed. “The idea came from everyone asking me how I got that great sound years ago,” Scott told The Loop. “I want this collection to be character driven.” Overall, there are more than 2,000 grooves and seven kits that have been recorded. The kits can be mixed and matched however you want, so the sounds are almost endless. Regardless of what you choose, you will have Ken Scott engineering the sounds. That’s pretty hard to match.” – Jim Dalrymple, The Loop

Read the full article here