MediaPros recently supplied three Pro Tools|HD systems to legendary Trip-Hop artists Massive Attack and their producer Neil Davidge.
The Bristol-based band used the fully-expanded Digidesign Pro Tools|HD Accel systems to put the finishing touches to their fifth studio LP Heligoland. It was the first time a Massive Attack album has been mixed entirely within Pro Tools.
World-renowned engineer Mark ‘Spike’ Stent chose the system because he wanted quick access to chop and change material as the work progressed.
Composer and producer Neil Davidge, who co-wrote eight of the 10 tracks as well as playing keyboards, bass and guitar on the album, said: “Heligoland was final mixed on Spike’s HD rig. We had the studio, the same SSL G series we’d mixed the previous Massive albums on, but this time we did it all in the box.
“After the experience of the previous albums, us constantly tweaking and changing our minds, he wanted to keep things fluid, keep the mix virtual so he could quickly incorporate the changes we were making. I’m sure this saved us a huge amount of time and stopped us getting bored with the ideas while he was recalling the mixes and changing our minds yet again.
“I know there’s a lot of people who’d argue a console mix sounds better but, when you’re working on a project that could shift direction at any point, you go with whatever will best allow your creativity to flourish.
“Pro Tools|HD not only allowed us the flexibility to change our minds but it sounded great too.”
After using the technology on Heligoland, Neil got MediaPros to install two of the HD systems in his own studio. He has since used them for his recent work on the score for the Hollywood blockbuster movie Clash of the Titans.
Being able to access a large amount of sounds was the key attraction for Neil.
He said: “Towards the end of Heligoland, I’d bought myself a Pro Tools LE system for home, just to mess around on. It was then I realised what I was missing out on. “I started collecting Kontakt sample libraries from various sources and found these guys called Sonic Couture in particular who’d sampled bowed pianos and other wonderful things. The sounds I was creating at home excited me far more than the stuff I could create in a traditional analogue studio, I could see I needed a change.
“I decided to move to Pro Tools|HD, because for the film score work I needed instant access to a lot of sounds. The deadlines for film scores are normally two to three months at the most to write, arrange and mix up to 50 pieces of music.“I now have two HD systems, one HD2 and one HD3. The first project I did on the new system was Clash Of The Titans. I did half a dozen pieces for the film and completely reworked a couple of pieces for the soundtrack album.”
Heligoland was Neil’s third LP working with Massive Attack, in addition to their movie score collaboration on Danny the Dog. He also composed and produced the film soundtracks to Bullet Boy, In Prison My Whole Life and Trouble the Water with Massive’s Robert Del Naja
It is not the first time Neil has worked with MediaPros, who specialise in supplying Professional Audio/Video equipment to the Broadcast, Film & TV Post-Production, Multimedia and Music Recording industries. Neil has relied on the expert knowledge of MediaPros’ Key Accounts Manager Andy Brooks while working with Massive Attack and writing and producing music for movies, adverts and computer games. Andy has supplied Neil with everything from fully configured Apple Mac computer systems to outboard equipment and microphones. He has also been on hand for advice and guidance to keep Neil at the top of his field when it comes to composing, recording and producing music. Neil said: “Pretty much everything I’ve worked on in the last 15 years I’ve done on equipment that Andy has supplied. He will go out of his way to find the right solution, it is not about cost or trying to make a profit it is simply finding the right product and I appreciate that.”
MediaPros works with a number of top artists, and Neil believes it is that industry knowledge that sets them apart.
He added: “You can waste a lot of time and money buying equipment that does not actually do what you need it to. “MediaPros is part of the industry; the team is talking to people using the technology day in and day out. They have a reputation to maintain so you know they will not try to sell you something just to make a quick buck. “If there’s something you need to improve your workflow and help you become more creative they will find it.”
For more information please visit the Neil Davidge Website and the Massive Attack Official Website