“When I first heard the Moog Voyager, it was like getting addicted to crack.” Crazy P’s Ron Basejam shows us around his studio.
Ron Basejam – My Studio
Jim Baron shows us around the Nottingham studio where he records with Crazy P and makes his own solo records as Ron Basejam.
Vocal Setup
I’ve been experimenting more and more with the voice as an instrument and this little setup comprising the TC Helicon VoiceLive and the Electro Harmonix 4500 gets the vibe up and going real quick. The loops can be dirty if you’re not working in the headphones but I really like that and there’s something to be said for capturing things quickly. I’ve tried to re-record the loop ideas with nice mics but I often find myself returning to the original takes, which just have something extra.
Vermona Kick Machine
On the face of it a simple tool but it’s much more versatile than that. It’s great at four-to-the-floor but the variation of parameters, particularly the pitch and bend, allow you to take it away from its intended purpose. You can get programming on the rhythm and get it sounding more like a weird 303, which is nice. You can hear it doing its thing on this:
Godwin String Synth
I’m a big believer in using outboard wherever possible. Some plugins get close but lack the character of the real thing. This beauty is a great example of that: its three mixable octaves and ‘modulator’ section make it more than just a string machine. From wonky pads to ethereal slow-release swells, this bad boy has it covered.
Moog Voyager MK1
When I first heard it and had a go on one, I don’t think there was a bit of kit that I wanted to own more. It was a bit like how I’d imagine it’d be being addicted to crack. I’d have sold my figurative dog for one. When she did arrive it was fun time. Feel the depth!
Auratone Speaker
A little mono reference speaker. In times where you have to accept people aren’t always going to be listening to your stuff through a great system, it has to sound decent through anything. This is a big help on that front. It’s also a big saver on your ears. I can happily work an afternoon on it then switch big later in the day, which is always a fun moment!
Vintage Fender Precision Bass
We inherited this from bass supremo Jon Thompson a few years back. All his basses have a story attached to them. ‘Bootsy’ as she’s known is rumoured to be previously owned and played by the man himself. Its tone is so rounded and smooth, a dream to play. You can hear it on this Crazy P tune:
Orville
Orville and the late Keith Harris look down on us from between the speakers, like a beacon of light and spirituality casting their slightly weird brand of light entertainment wherever you are in the studio. It’s actually a very dark record, particularly in the second verse, where Orville is candid about his orphan upbringing and his clear self-loathing. Ive heard Danielle Baldeli play this at the wrong speed. Probably.
Find Ron Basejam on Facebook and SoundCloud.