AES Student Blog

Interview with Simon Lindskog (University of Lulea-Pitea) – SILVER Category 1

SDA:   How long did you work on your competition entry? Was this your first entry?

     SL:     I worked for two whole days recording two different pieces and spent one late night editing them. After that, I listened to them a lot and decided which I was going to send as my entry. Yes, it was my first entry!
 

SDA:   Tell us about the production of your entry. Stories? Inspirations?

     SL:     I love Bach pieces, but have always wanted them to have a more percussive sound and a closer feel, like a cembalo (harpsichord) being played in someone’s house – the way I think the piece was played years ago. It might have been a bit risky, but it was really fun exploring new ways to record and listen. The pianist I was recording was going to submit the song with her application for the Sibelius Academy in Finland, so we worked really hard to capture her performance. She loved the sound!

SDA:   What initiated your passion for audio? When did it start?

     SL:     It started when I was about 11 or 12 years old. I plugged my dad’s electric guitar into his Cubase rig and just sat and recorded whatever sounds I could make. My dad walked in and burst out, “How do you know how that works?!” Later, I started recording ideas for my band and we tracked some songs in our garage. I was mixing for days, learning by trial and error.

SDA:   Funniest experience as an engineer so far?

     SL:     When I was running a TV-show rehearsal at the university, the show host went to the men's room without telling me, the wireless mic still attached to his jacket. I sat there wondering, “What is that sound?” After a few seconds, I realized what was being sent to the in-ears of the whole crew...

SDA:   Biggest mistake you made during a production?

     SL:     Fortunately, I haven't made many mistakes, not big ones anyway. Once, me and one of my classmates recorded a symphony orchestra playing Mozart’s requiem. We used two A/D converters together to fit all the channels, but they weren’t synched correctly so we had awful pops in half of the channels. Luckily, our main stereo channels were safe.

SDA:   Favorite frequency?

     SL:     Any frequency that’s in the right spot! If I have to pick one, I’d say about 4322.065 Hz or so.

SDA:   Favorite mic, outboard box, and plugin?

     SL:     Hmmm... Mic: Thuresson C402, I guess. Outboard box: UA 1176. Plugin: Waves API 560A.

SDA:   Best recording of all time?

     SL:     That’s a very good question. One of my all-time favorites is “A Day in the Life” by The Beatles.
 

SDA:   Do you play any instruments?

     SL:     Yes; I play the piano, guitar, bass, and I also sing.

SDA:   Any other hobbies?

     SL:     I like writing a lot. I exercise quite often, so I’ll guess that’s a hobby, too.

SDA:   The best part of the 132nd AES Convention?

     SL:     The Student Recording Competition, of course!

SDA:   The best thing about the AES organization?

     SL:     That it even exists! It is always inspiring knowing that there are others like me, and even a whole society!

SDA:  Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

  SL:     I see myself running a music studio in Sweden, where I write and record with inspiring artists and friends. I also want to freelance as a sound engineer for national television, and as a sound designer for films and games.