Artist Interview with Adrian Tucker
- 06/02/2022
- Gabriel Maceu Faria
- VTC
- Interview
Our latest interview was an informative and friendly chat with Spanish music producer and YouTuber, Adrian Tucker. He gave us some of his insights about his evolution as a producer, his work with different technologies, and much more. Check it out!
Hi Adrian, thanks a lot for taking part in our interview series. Please introduce yourself to our readers!
Adrian: My name is Adrian Tucker, I am a Spanish music producer, YouTuber, and manager at Adrian Tucker. Certified by Rockschool London and endorsed by brands like Dolby, Native Instruments, Kahayan, Merging Technologies, Audio Technica, Arturia, Tierra Audio…I produce and mix music for other artists, here you have some of my stuff. The good reception and the trust I generate have helped my channel to become one of the most important for the Spanish-speaking professionals of audio.
Tell us about your audio setup in general and, of course, in which part of your processes our product(s) are most important to you.
Adrian: Here in my studio, I produce, record, mix and master music. This is a small room (15 square meters) with a good acoustic treatment and designed to make music from the composing to the mastering or just 1 of the stages, for example mixing. The only thing I always record out of my studio is drums. I own the Vari Tube Compressor and I use it both for tracking and as an insert within the mix. Thanks to the dual-mono feature I can use the 2 separated channels (usually for tracking) or link it (usually when I use it as an insert during the mix or mastering).
Building an analog setup is all about creating a signature sound and constantly developing it further. Before you got your Tegeler unit, which changes in tone or workflow did you look for and why did you decide to go for our Vari Tube Compressor?
Adrian: Well, I needed a tool for soft dynamic control with warmth and character. It is perfect when you want to get a thicker and rounder signal, this is provided by the character of the tubes, transformers, and the slow musical compression it applies. It is almost impossible to make it sound wrong.
Can you describe the most important aspects of your work in 3 short sentences?
Adrian:
1.- Creativity above all, the technique must serve the art.
2.- Not to standardize processes, every single song is unique.
3.- Never stop learning.
How did your production/mixing/mastering techniques evolve since you started?
Adrian: Early in my career, I thought just the opposite of the 3 sentences in which I answer the previous question. All my learning has evolved to that point and, curiously, my results are better and better, so I think I am correct.
How did your production/mixing/mastering techniques evolve since you started?
Adrian: When I was early in my career, I thought just the opposite of the 3 sentences in which I answer the previous question. All my learning has evolved to that point and, curiously, my results are better and better, so I think I am correct.
Do you think that gaining experience in audio production/engineering primarily benefits technical skills or does it also affect creativity?
Adrian: Absolutely both! As I said, the technique must serve the art, and, the more tools you have, the more processes you learn, more creativity. For example, if you know many different pieces of gear to configure a vocal recording chain, you’ll know what to use if the client wants a more modern, vintage, clean, or texturized character, so you are being more creative thanks to the technical knowledge.
The effects of the still ongoing Covid pandemic are a hard hit for society. We think it's important to keep up a good spirit. Did you experience any subjectively positive side effects of the pandemic? Did you spend more time in the studio?
Adrian: I hope this nightmare ends as soon as possible, I have seen friends losing their work and having a really bad time… Thanks God, I didn't go through that, and my growth, for example on my channel, was one of the best moments ever but you cannot enjoy it when this horrible situation rounds you…
Are you currently planning on changing your hardware setup?
Adrian: Yes, I am mounting a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos Setup. I don't know if, finally, Atmos will be imposed instead of stereo, but the reality is Dolby is making too much effort to make it happens. I want to be on this boat before setting sail.
How satisfied are you with our products and would you modify them in some way if you could?
Adrian: I am very happy with my VTC, it is a really useful tool! Maybe in the future I change the tubes to find other different textures and colors but for now it is perfect.
If you could have our team of experts design your dream analog gear, what would it be?
Adrian: I would like to have an analog multi-band compressor with parallel mode. I use the Leapwing Dynone plugin in all my mixes at the mix bus so I would love to have an analog tool as close to this.
Last but not least, what are you working on at the moment? Any projects that will be released shortly?
Adrian: Everybody can follow me on Instagram, this is the best way to stay tuned because I use to share daily content with the projects I am working on! One day I am mixing an album and the other I am producing a song or recording drums… I love my work.
Adrian Tucker YouTube Channel
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