SEIDS aka Sabrina Seidman has gained a huge following on TikTok and Instagram with her mission to make music production and music entrepreneurship more accessible. A singer, songwriter, producer and educator, Seids has been making a huge difference with her quick-fire production tips and approachable style. This time, we talk about unconventional acoustic treatment, the “cheeseburger of audio interfaces”, the perfect studio climate and an affordable microphone that’s her go-to.
SEIDS aka Sabrina Seidman has gained a huge following on TikTok and Instagram with her mission to make music production and music entrepreneurship more accessible. A singer, songwriter, producer and educator, Seids has been making a huge difference with her quick-fire production tips and approachable style. This time, we talk about unconventional acoustic treatment, the “cheeseburger of audio interfaces”, the perfect studio climate and an affordable microphone that’s her go-to.
STUFF WE TALK ABOUT (SPOILERS AHEAD!)
https://www.instagram.com/seids_/
https://www.seids.co/links
https://focusrite.com/scarlett
https://musictech.com/news/gear/focusrite-fourth-generation-scarlett-range/
https://novationmusic.com/products/launchkey-37-mk3-refurbished
https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/buy-mac/mac-studio/24-core-cpu-60-core-gpu-32-core-neural-engine-64gb-memory-1tb
https://apogeedigital.com/product/symphony-mk-ii/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/petertaylor/2016/10/31/winteriscoming-guess-where-the-weather-is-75-degrees-and-sunny-all-year-long/
https://novationmusic.com/products/launchkey-37-mk3
https://www.sessiondesk.com/basic/index.html
https://www.genelec.com/8381a
https://www.headphonesty.com/2021/03/most-expensive-headphones/
https://www.gear4music.com/Headphones/Audeze-LCD-XC-Closed-Back-Headphones-with-Case-Leather/4WL6
https://kmraudio.com/products/genelec-8381a-sam-adaptive-point-source-main-monitor-blackpair
https://www.sonicacademy.com/products/ana-2
https://www.spectrasonics.net/products/omnisphere/
Logic Pro Crash Course: https://www.seids.co/offers/G8pFB2tu/checkout
Chris Barker:
I'm Chris Barker.
Will Betts:
And I'm Will Betts. And this is the MusicTech, My Forever Studio podcast, brought to you in partnership with Audient.
Chris Barker:
In this podcast, we speak with musicians, dj's, engineers and producers about their fantasy Forever studio.
Will Betts:
The imaginary studio that our guests construct will be one that they must live with for the rest of time. But even in our world of studio foreverdom, we do have some rules.
Chris Barker:
That's right. Our guests will first select a computer, a Daw, and an audio interface. Those are the three items we let everyone choose. Then our guests will choose just six other bits of studio kit, plus one non gear related luxury item.
Will Betts:
But yes, no bundles.
Chris Barker:
That's right, no bundles. Choosing something sold as a package of separate software or hardware as a single item is not allowed.
Will Betts:
This time we're joined by a singer, songwriter, producer, educator and music technology influencer who's built a huge community online with her live streams, courses and music production tips.
Chris Barker:
Yes, and like all of us, she's a gear nerd and is always lusting after the latest hardware and software for the studio.
Will Betts:
But with our fantastically irritating rules, we'll make sure she focuses on the gear that really matters.
Chris Barker:
Yes, that's right. Let's do it. This is my forever studio with sides.
Will Betts:
Welcome, welcome.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Hello. Thanks for having me.
Chris Barker:
Thanks for joining us. Before we get into the construction of the fantasy studio, tell us a bit about your setup right now and how the setup came to be as it is your journey into music production.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, I think like every music producer, my setup has grown with me. So, you know, we get very nostalgic to the pieces in our studio because they're almost like little milestones. You know, every single time you upgrade to the next bit, it's like, oh, I'm here now. Right? Like when I first started, the first interface I bought was the Apollo twin by Universal audio. And it was so overwhelming that I actually returned it and bought the Scarlet interface, the Scarlet's focusrite. Cause I couldn't wrap my head around learning anything else. Cause I didn't even understand how to use logic. I was just so overwhelmed.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
So I just needed something to plug and play. And now, once again, I have the Apollo twin universal audio. But you know what I mean? Like little baby steps. It's like you can't have everything at once. It's gotta be one at a time. Because every single thing that is good quality is a learning curve, you know? And you want to use every tool to its best capability, right. Especially when you spend thousands of dollars on it.
Chris Barker:
So you were fine with that journey? Because for me, I would be frustrated that I had to sort of go one step back.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I mean, I didn't even know how to program drums. Like, I was like, day one, do you know what I mean? So I just, like, took an online course, and it was like, here's what you should buy. Here's, like, a beginner version. Here's, like, a more intermediate version. And I, like, went with the more intermediate version for some reason. And I was immediately like, no, but.
Chris Barker:
Do you think that's because you were already, like, a musician and a singer? You know, it's not like you were new to music, just the production side. Right?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah. But I was still at the mindset where I thought, like, music production was the equivalent to rocket science. So I was like, I. I just needed baby steps, you know, I needed things more approachable at each given moment. And even now, to this day, I have very, very expensive microphones, and I have low budget microphones, and the first microphone I grab is this one always. Even though I have way more expensive microphones, because it's just accessible. It's easy. I plug it in.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
It sounds good enough. Do you know what I mean?
Chris Barker:
And for everybody listening, that's this. Is that seven SM seven b?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
No, SM seven db.
Will Betts:
Oh, the brand new one with the built in preamp.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
It's so good. It's so good. I'm obsessed.
Chris Barker:
You attempted for that one.
Will Betts:
Well, right when that came out. Yeah. I was like, if I can get the same sound without having to have a little cloud lifter, that is. Good times. Good times all around.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
It's so good.
Chris Barker:
Is it USB as well, or is that goes into a pre still?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I'm not sure if it's a USB. I wouldn't ever use it as such, but.
Will Betts:
Ooh. So we're into the snobbery section already, I can tell.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I don't mean to be snobbery. I just need processing on my vocals, and I can't do any latency. And it's kind of like, if you eat a hamburger, you're like, okay, cool. But then you have a cheeseburger, and you can't go back to a hamburger. So I can't ever go without an interface with DSP now because you're just spoiled.
Chris Barker:
I like the food allergies on everything here. So the scarlet is the hamburger, and then the Apollo twin is the cheeseburger.
Will Betts:
Cheeseburger of one of your interfaces.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I work with everyone. That's how I make my income, is, hey, I gave the scarlet, a really good plug because that was my first interface and if I didn't have that, I probably would have quit because I was so overwhelmed. So every interface is right for a different stage in your career and journey. And genuinely, I mean that from the bottom of my heart, I would have quit. It was just so complicated to learn a console and all the different plugins on top of learning how to record.
Chris Barker:
Well, it's the biggest alien space in the world. Like by ridiculous numbers as well.
Will Betts:
They've sold 6 million of them.
Chris Barker:
Yeah.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
And they've come a long way. Like the newest one. I just tried it out too. It's so good. And every time it just gets better and better and better.
Chris Barker:
But tough question. Do you think it would sell as well if it wasn't red?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Hmm. I don't know.
Chris Barker:
Duh.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I wanna say it was a very good marketing scheme, but ultimately I think it came down to just being the easiest.
Chris Barker:
I think the red thing's cool. Cause when people see it online, it's memorable. There's no other red ones. They don't need to know the model number or the brand. They see a red thing, they go online, oh, it's the red one. But it still has to deliver, doesn't it? Like, if people get it back and it's not very good, the red thing can only work for so long.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
It's a good marketing thing because it aligns with its name. Like it's called the Scarlet and it's Red.
Chris Barker:
What came first, do you think? Did they name it and then go, maybe we also make it Scarlet? Or did they go, I think they.
Will Betts:
Realized they can make it red.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I think they made it red and then named it.
Will Betts:
Yeah.
Chris Barker:
And then named it. You think it's that way around 100%?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah.
Chris Barker:
By the end of this series, we're gonna figure that out. Okay.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I mean, it's a 50 50 chance, right?
Will Betts:
The big questions.
Chris Barker:
Yeah. I want to know why, though.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, it's interesting because I don't feel like in a lot, I'm a big nerd about marketing. I've been coming to love marketing almost as much as I love music, which is so weird. I would have never thought that of myself, like, five years ago. And it's so interesting when music tech companies also excel at marketing because so many of them, so many of the music companies just don't get it. And then the ones that do, and then they're like the biggest ones, it's like, okay, here's a reason, guys. It's like, you have to have a good product, but you also have to have really good marketing. It's almost equally as important.
Chris Barker:
Yeah. Especially with products that. So not only that have been around for a long time, but that everybody needs. Which brings us onto the start of our studio.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yes. Let's do it.
Chris Barker:
So, as you heard in the intro there, we've got. You get three items for free. So these don't count as part of your six studio items. These are the three ones that we start with. And those three items are an audio interface, a computer, and your daw of choice, which I think we can guess. But let's. Let's hear about what in your dream studio, fantasy studio, what's your computer, and what is your audio interface?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Okay, so my computer is the Mac studio, whatever the newest and best one is, preferably one that has, like, a self learning feature so it can, like, upgrade itself.
Chris Barker:
Okay.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
You know, we're getting there.
Will Betts:
Okay, sure. Okay.
Chris Barker:
Sounds like you might. You might end up getting murdered by a computer within about two years.
Will Betts:
Too many upgrades.
Chris Barker:
I don't know if you've seen Terminator, but making it self aware probably isn't the best.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, you said I have to only use the same computer for the end of time.
Chris Barker:
Yes.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
So that means that would only last for four years. No.
Will Betts:
What? Look, we've got a forever studio maintenance technician, and they're pretty handy.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Okay.
Will Betts:
So you can fly them in and get them to fix anything.
Chris Barker:
Yeah, and they're just like a computer node. They're not like a self aware killing machine.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Got it.
Chris Barker:
It's a lot safer.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
So I want that, like, the best of the best one.
Chris Barker:
Okay.
Will Betts:
Okay. Max studio. Got it.
Chris Barker:
That's a standard choice. I'll take that off.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
It'll basically be the price of a car. Essentially. That's the one I want.
Will Betts:
I'm just mega specking it up right now.
Chris Barker:
Yeah.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Biggest hard drive. I'm so disorganized. So I need, like, the biggest space possible on the actual computer.
Chris Barker:
Okay, and then what about the dream audio interface?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Okay, so I would want, like, a custom build symphony by apogee.
Chris Barker:
Why? Why custom?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, because I've been there and I've seen them make it, and I want that special treatment.
Chris Barker:
We need to know this story. Tell us about building a custom apogee. Like, so what would happen?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, okay. Well, it's so hard for me to know what specs and stuff I would want because we don't even get a lot of stuff in the studio, so maybe I don't even need this, but essentially, I would want. I just basically want it to be something where I never run out of inputs because I hate that. I hate running out of inputs right now. I have to shuffle around inputs, and it's mucho annoying.
Chris Barker:
I think in the forever studio, you're gonna be fine.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Exactly. Cause I can only have seven things.
Will Betts:
Well, six.
Chris Barker:
Six things.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, six things. So. Okay.
Chris Barker:
But that's cool, though. You can still spec it. Let's spec it. It's still a dream audio interface.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I just want it to be, like, my last stop. I don't want to have to keep getting inputs and getting adapters and everything switching around things. I want it to just be simple, easygoing. You know what I mean? Because right now, I have a compressor, and I don't have enough input, so I always have to move things around. Mucho annoying.
Chris Barker:
So the custom modifications are the amount of inputs. We're not talking. We're not talking, you know, crazy colors or anything. Any, like, special shapes.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
No, no, I'm okay with just, like, the standard one that fits neatly into the desk.
Chris Barker:
Okay. Maybe just with your signature on it, like a.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yes. Sides was here.
Chris Barker:
Yes. That's kind of cool. Like a signature edition.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yes.
Chris Barker:
Okay. Okay. Yeah, we can make that happen. And then your door of choice.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, definitely logic.
Chris Barker:
Okay, so tell us a logic story. Cause, you know, you're kind of. That's kind of your thing.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
So I am an apple loyalist. I have, unfortunately, drank the Kool Aid. I don't know. Is that okay for me to say?
Will Betts:
It is? Yep. Permitted.
Chris Barker:
I think that's exactly what they want you to say.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Okay. Yeah. I pretty much have every single apple product that comes out.
Chris Barker:
Is it apple Kool aid as well?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, pretty much.
Will Betts:
Have you tried the vision pro?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
No, no, no. That is one thing. I don't have one. I don't like things on my face.
Will Betts:
Fair.
Chris Barker:
Yeah. No, but that's the thing with that product, isn't it? A lot of people.
Will Betts:
It's freaky.
Chris Barker:
Yeah. And seeing people with it on their face is a problem as well. It's weird.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
At that point, I'd rather just, like, have a helmet. You know what I mean? So nobody has to, like, see me. I would want, like, an apple helmet.
Will Betts:
Like a bike helmet.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah. So it's like. It covers everything. Like, no one talks to you, no one knows you. You can't get COVID.
Chris Barker:
That would make more sense. You could just flip up the visor as well and be like, give me a second.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I am a visionary. They need to hire me on their team.
Will Betts:
Just kidding.
Chris Barker:
Then you could, you know, you just be like one of those courier drivers. Just go into the convenience store and just be like, oh, yeah, yeah.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Or what it should do. Yeah, you can flip it up or it could be one of those things that it, like, it's tinted and then you can press a button and untint it if you wanted to see.
Chris Barker:
That's the kind of impression they gave you with the vision pro, that you could kind of. That it would show you what's underneath. But it doesn't sort of look like the adverts, does it?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, I don't like, I just don't like things on my, like, eyes and skin. I have very sensitive skin, particularly on my face, so.
Chris Barker:
Wow, Vegas, good choice.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
That's gonna be a no for me. But I love their Apple Watch. I have like, their iPhone, the iPad, the computer. And I was pretty well versed in GarageBand because I was a singer and I was building shows and doing a lot of vocal arrangements. I wasn't producing, but I was doing a lot of vocal arrangements. So, you know, GarageBand is essentially, is a light version of logic, and I am one of those people that like to do things as fast as possible. So I really got into logic and I just learned all of the tricks and I keep always learning more and more tricks and then I share them on the Internet. And that's kind of my small claim to fame right now is sharing logic Pro tips.
Will Betts:
And we thank you for your service. Thank you for that. As a logic user, I deeply appreciate your tips because I was doing a bit of extra research before this show and I was like, oh yeah, and they flicked that and, oh yeah, I.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Could do that as well.
Will Betts:
That's great, great, great. Like 20 things in about three minutes. I was like, oh, my God, how does I not know? Like 15 years of using this software.
Chris Barker:
That's what it's about. The oh yeah moments, for sure.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, it's so exciting. Cause I'm able to reach a large audience of people that are just learning logic and also Grammy award winning producers that just haven't relearned it or don't wanna read a long manual, watch a really long video. So that's why I post the logic Pro tips and I even made a logic pro crash course and ebook. So, yeah, that's there.
Chris Barker:
And so with that in mind, is there anything that you would custom add to logic right now? Is there anything.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, yeah.
Chris Barker:
I'm not asking you to hate on it, but like, yeah, I want one.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Like, pretty much everyone wants like, when I tell you this, you're gonna be like, yes, I want this. So I work remotely, 100%, and I want it, like, in one logic that we can work. I can work with someone in England, I can work with someone on Australia, wherever we are, and we can work in one logic in real time, and we can collaborate together.
Chris Barker:
I know an app you could use.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yes, of course there's other ones, but you know what I mean? I wanna use my daw.
Chris Barker:
Yes.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, but the hard part is latency and not running on the Internet. And you can get clever with Zoom and having other people control it and stuff like that, but I just want it to be in real time. Or if not even that, if you can't do it in real time, at least have one project that you can share right away. So you save the project, and whatever you guys do in it, it just shares and sends back and forth and updates it. And I don't know anything if they're working on it or not, but I would assume so, right. In the next couple of years. That's just, that's just gotta happen, right? It's just gotta be like a remote, cloud based studio thing.
Chris Barker:
And until then, there's Bandlab.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yes, and Bandlab is great. Bandlab is great.
Chris Barker:
But what about a feature, though, or anything that, like, there's like a workflow or something that irritates you right now?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Just as, I mean, another thing I wish would be, if so, right now they have. They can detect tempo, but they can't detect the key. So that could be kind of helpful for people to detect keys. I don't know if other daws can do that or not. I haven't seen that, but I think that could be kind of cool because, yes, you don't need music theory to produce, but obviously it's helpful. And a lot of people didn't have the chance to learn, et cetera. So it kind of would help if it can analyze this stuff for you, and then you can kind of use, you know, critical thinking to, oh, cool, this is in this key, and then I can figure it out. And even if it just gave you, like, music theory, like, tips along the way, I think that could be really cool because.
Chris Barker:
Yeah, like the melodic wheel kind of thing, like the dj mixed in keys style, where if you hovered or if you selected that piece of audio, it could show you all the other things it would match with or could go to.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Exactly. And I have, like, a lot of good idea ideas about plugins and stuff that I want to create. So yeah. If anyone's listening and they're a plugin creator, hit me up.
Chris Barker:
Okay. I'm sure. I'm sure. Well, I know for sure we have a few that listen.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, that'd be great.
Will Betts:
Before we get onto our six items, though, we got to know where in the world you're going to put this studio and tell us about the vibe.
Chris Barker:
Yes. Let's design it and tell us where it is.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Location is very, very important to me. I want to be somewhere that has minimal bugs but a beach and, like, 75 degrees weather every single day.
Chris Barker:
You like your location? Like your software book free.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yes. 78 degrees, you say, and sunny like most days of the year.
Chris Barker:
So where is this, though?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I don't know. That's the hard part. I've been thinking about a lot. Laugh. I'm not a fan of LA because I also want to be away from everyone, but maybe. Yes. A beach town in California, somewhere south.
Chris Barker:
The weather's pretty spot on, isn't it? But, yeah.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah.
Chris Barker:
Not too bad for bugs.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
They have bugs. They have, like, black widow spiders and stuff and tarantulas. Anywhere that has, like, nice weather also has bugs because, like, bugs also want to be in the nice weather. You know what I mean?
Will Betts:
They're suckers for it.
Chris Barker:
Love it.
Will Betts:
Yeah. So I've actually found an article. Would you be okay with 75 degrees, not 78 degrees? Would that be acceptable?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yes.
Will Betts:
Okay.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yes.
Will Betts:
I found an article that has five places that are 75 degrees all year round.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Is it San Diego?
Will Betts:
Santa Barbara. You got Loja in Ecuador. Oh, the Canary Islands.
Chris Barker:
I think it's pronounced Ecuador.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, yeah.
Will Betts:
I think you might be right, isn't it? I think. I think that's right. I think that's accurate.
Chris Barker:
According to the song.
Will Betts:
According to the song. There's Costa Rica as well. But I feel like there are famously enormous bugs in Costa Rica.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Enormous, yeah. And you can get, like, malaria there somewhere. I'm actually going in April.
Chris Barker:
Okay. Scout it out.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I scouted out.
Will Betts:
So where do you think, then?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Probably Santa Barbara.
Will Betts:
Okay. Right. Done.
Chris Barker:
Done. Okay. What about the style of the studio?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, yes. I want it to be, like, this is gonna have to be, like, futuristic, like, next level something, because I want it to be, like, all glass with, again, the capability to, like, tint it and, like, maybe, like, one of those window, like, one of those, like, glasses rooms that I can shut. Close, like, a prison and then open.
Chris Barker:
Like, the labs and Terminator.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yes. Yeah.
Chris Barker:
The labs, yeah. Okay.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
And it needs to be, like, very secluded. So maybe, like an island, maybe not an island, but you know what I.
Chris Barker:
Mean, something secluded, forest or some. Or.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yes, but also by the beach, so it's kind of complicated. And also 75 degrees year round.
Chris Barker:
That's okay. Okay, so we're thinking like some kind of woodland area that leads onto the beach.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, I'm thinking like a cliffside bit like a private, like peninsula. And I don't want it to be like super far away from civilization, but like a good 15 minutes drive.
Chris Barker:
Yeah, but deliveroo and doordash capable.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, definitely Amazon and like all of that.
Chris Barker:
Yeah, that's good, that's good. And what about, what about style? I mean, it's all glass, but I.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Mean, I want it to be like pretty modern, like minimal, not too much stuff on. Obviously I need some like room treatment, so I don't really know how that works with the glass, but we'll figure it out. We'll figure that out. Yeah.
Will Betts:
You can, I believe, 3d print a scaled up moth wing because they have nano mazes that absorb sound. Because these moths have adapted to hide from bats that use ultrasonic. They use ultrasonic sounds to find moths. And the moths have this evolutionary adaptation that means that they can evade bats because they absorb so well into their little moth wings. But if you made that bigger, that would bring the frequency down to a point where you could maybe, maybe absorb some sound in the audible range.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
So they're like. And they're like clear or can you.
Chris Barker:
Just buy 1 million moths?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, look, no, that's not for me. Remember, no bugs.
Will Betts:
No bugs, just, ah, just producing with a flying everywhere.
Chris Barker:
Sounds so good in here. Acoustics are amazing. Galphin, don't turn on the light.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
That's gonna be a hard no for me.
Will Betts:
It's a hard pass. Okay, great. So some sort of acoustic situation.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I'm thinking like, I'm thinking like panels that are like clear, see through and then something where like the material is also like aesthetically pleasing. So it's kind of like those like clear, like technology. You know, like the old technology from the nineties, the 2000, the early two thousands was like all see through.
Will Betts:
Yeah.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
So it'll be kind of like that. So it'll be like hip and cool.
Will Betts:
Do you know what? I have actually seen one of these in the church. Paul Epworth studio in London. He has a perspex diffuser at the back of one of the studios and it's exactly what you're describing and it sounds brilliant.
Chris Barker:
And why has he got it Perspex? Is that for a window as well, will?
Will Betts:
No, it's just for the look.
Chris Barker:
Looks cool just to.
Will Betts:
It sort of lights up as well. Cause you can sort of send different colored lights through the Perspex and it sort of glows.
Chris Barker:
That's a flex. I like that.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, I think the best acoustic panels are the ones that are also aesthetically pleasing.
Will Betts:
100%. 100%.
Chris Barker:
Or moths.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
No, I'm not even letting you guys run with that idea.
Chris Barker:
We'll mothball that idea. Okay, nice. The music tech My Forever studio podcast is supported by audient, makers of the id range of audio interfaces.
Will Betts:
Yes, building on audient's 25 years of design heritage, the iD range spans from the portable ID four to the more feature packed iD 14 and 24 interfaces, or all the way up to audience powerhouse desktop interface, the iD 44.
Chris Barker:
You can expect rugged build quality and exceptional audio performance across the entire range with every ID interface. Using the same award winning console mic preamps found in their renowned recording console, the ASP 8024.
Will Betts:
He the id 24 is the latest addition to the range, featuring two of those console mic preamps along with balanced inserts, a JFET instrument input, AdA expandability, and customisable monitor control, making the id 24 and its larger sibling, the id 44, perfect for using with outboard equipment and tracking instruments and vocals.
Chris Barker:
Thats right. And the audient id 24 is available now, priced at 299 pounds, €349, and $399.
Will Betts:
Visit audient.com for more information and to explore the full id interface range.
Chris Barker:
Item number one. What's it gonna be?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
You guys are gonna be like pretty disappointed in my answers, I think. No, I'm a simple girl when it comes to technology. I really am. So I need for sure, for 100% sure, I need a three octave midi controller. It has to be three octaves.
Chris Barker:
What happens if you get a fourth octave?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
It's too much space. It takes up too much space, and I feel weighed down by it. And if it's too small, I don't want to try to like, finagle different octaves, you know, it needs to be three octaves.
Will Betts:
Can I go on? Will upsell your dream.
Chris Barker:
Upsell the dream.
Will Betts:
I'm just going to remind you here that this is your forever studio. You can have it set up however you want. You could have the biggest, biggest desk in the world. You don't have to have the desk you have right now.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I love my desk.
Will Betts:
What if it was one octave wider?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
No, it like, it stifles. I've learned. I've learned that. And this sounds so dumb, but I genuinely have learned that less is more for somebody that has ten different midi controllers. Because I work with these companies, this is my premium situation.
Will Betts:
Love it.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
If I go to travel and I have to just use my laptop, I'm miserable. And if I'm in a studio where there's, like, a giant thing in the way, I'm also miserable. And all of these little tiny things truly stifle my creativity because I am inherently and I work really hard. You guys know, I work insane hours. I'm doing a bajillion projects, but I am ultimately, like, inherently lazy. Like, if it was up to me, I would just, like, sit on the couch all day with my dogs and, like, watch television. So anything that, like, deters me to getting something done will, you know, I really like things that are accessible and functional, and that, to me, is the most important thing in my studio. Like, I just want something that works that's easy, and I can get a lot of things done in a short amount of time.
Chris Barker:
Okay, so which is your three octave keyboard of choice?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, I don't have a specific alliance to anyone, so truly, it doesn't matter. It could be, like, dealer's choice. But right now I'm using the novation launch key, and that's just what's been on my desk right now. And I like it. And I don't even use any of the special stuff. Like, I don't use. I just need, like, this stuff in here. But I guess, theoretically, it is nice that it has, like, a pad if I want to mess around with that.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I mean, I guess if this is my forever thing, it should be as souped up as possible. Right? Because who knows? I might want to expand my limits. But, yeah, I like the launchkey 49 from novation, I think.
Chris Barker:
Yeah, that the big one I've got here is a launch key. Novation. I really like the keyboard action on novations as well. They feel like old synths, like the old Roland synths.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I also do really like the art Arturia Midi controllers as well. So those are the two ones I have, I've worked with.
Chris Barker:
But we're gonna lock in the launch key. Is that what you want to lock in?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Keep it. We'll keep the launch key.
Chris Barker:
So that's the launch key 49, is it?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah. Innovation. The good thing on my list is that anybody, if anyone's listening, they could affordably buy all the stuff. Like, it could actually be the dream, because most of the stuff, pretty much all the stuff, is going to be, like, under $500.
Chris Barker:
Okay.
Will Betts:
But, I mean, I'm gonna press the button again at some point. So let's see, let's see, let's see.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Okay, let's see.
Chris Barker:
Let's see if we can get you bougie fight.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Okay.
Chris Barker:
Right. Item number two.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
You guys already know SM seven db. Okay, well, is there a bougier version of this?
Will Betts:
I don't think there is.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Exactly. With the built in preamp, I just like this situation. I'm, again, so lazy. I hate having to stand to sing, like, and I'm a singer primarily. I just want to do what I'm doing and then just quickly record and it sound good enough. I'm a good enough kind of girl. Everything I do is like, okay, this is good enough. That's, like, my motto.
Will Betts:
Did you use the SM seven b before you got the DB?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
What's the story there? I was using. I hate saying names. Cause I work with everyone, but I was using a different microphone.
Chris Barker:
It's all names.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I was using a different microphone that was even more budget friendly, but it started getting a hiss. I don't know why. It was getting, like, a hissy sound. So I upgraded to this, I guess.
Chris Barker:
Rode does that, right?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
No, it's not rode.
Chris Barker:
Come on, Chris. I took a pun.
Will Betts:
It's below the belt.
Chris Barker:
No, come on. That's my investigative journalism at the max there. That's the best that I've got.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I will say, to be fair, it's a very cheap microphone. I think it's like an dollar 80 microphone. So it's still really good for what you get, but ultimately, you get for what you pay for at the end.
Chris Barker:
Of the day, especially with things like.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Microphones, this is a classic for a reason. And I've talked to even another vocal producer that has produced for Kelly Clarkson, Jessie J, so many people. And she says she has an amazing mic locker, but she still ends up just using the SM 70 B. It just sounds good and it's accessible. And, yeah, I love it. If I had to trade this up for a $10,000 mic, and that was my only mic, I would be so sad. I'd rather have this.
Chris Barker:
Wow.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
That only have a really expensive microphone.
Chris Barker:
That's hard to upsell dreams on that will.
Will Betts:
It really is. So what's the other mic that you have that you're ignoring?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, I really. I have, like, so many microphones, to be honest, like, I have because I'm, like a singer, producer, content creator. I kind of been able to tap into that market a lot, and it's been really fun, and there's so many microphones. I really like, bunch of the microphones. I can't remember each individual model name, so don't quote me on it. But all the ones from austrian audio, they make excellent microphones. And I just really love that company. And I love, like, they make everything I believe, even in Austria, so that's really cool.
Chris Barker:
That's how they were started. Right. Because weren't they former AKG people?
Will Betts:
That's right.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, yes, yes, yes, that's right.
Chris Barker:
They started their own thing. Yeah. You get a lot of brands like that, don't you? Like Eve audio, former Adam people, correct.
Will Betts:
Yeah.
Chris Barker:
Blackstar, former Marshall people.
Will Betts:
Is that right?
Chris Barker:
I think so. I mean, yeah, I don't end up in court, but. Yeah, but usually happens, isn't it? Like it happens in every industry where a company grows really big and a selection of employees go and make their own little boutique version that isn't mass market and then it ends up mass market and it happens over and over again. Yeah.
Will Betts:
Austrian's a great, it's a great company. And some of the, I don't know if you know, some of those, they're using incredible technological advancements in the microphones themselves.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
That's one of the things that surprised.
Will Betts:
Me about them as well.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah. And I personally love working with the smaller companies for many reasons. Right. They're just like, generally easier to work with. But also there gets to a certain point where, like, the line between, like, caring and, like, not caring, it just gets, the space is just so much larger that it's hard to, like, it's just hard to work together, you know what I mean? And there's so much like red tape and there's so many things that you can and can't do, and then it's really hard because I'm at the final section between me and the audience. And it's like, if it gets confusing.
Chris Barker:
It'S a strange, counterproductive thing, isn't it? Because a lot of companies come to influencers or people that have communities online, like yourself, in all industries, for that authenticity and for that direct communication with the audience. But then they put all the corporate barriers in to stop you from being able to communicate like that.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Exactly.
Chris Barker:
And if they're trying to change how you communicate with the audience, it's kind of defeating the object of why they came to you in the first place. But, yeah, it's exactly, it's a struggle a lot of companies have, I think, like, it's usually companies that existed, obviously, before the Internet and have processes and procedures in place that they're used to. Dealing with tv adverts and print and marketing things that are very controlled, and.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, they're always, like, ten steps behind, and by the time they catch up, I'm like, this isn't how things are anymore.
Chris Barker:
Ice bucket challenge. Yeah, do that.
Will Betts:
They already found the cure.
Chris Barker:
Yeah.
Will Betts:
So in terms of those companies and do you sort of. Or the types of companies that you like working with, what does that process look like for you when you're doing your content creation?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, I will only work with companies that align with my mission, and my mission is really important to me. It's to make music production and music entrepreneurship more accessible to more people. That's why I've done a lot of work with Bandlab. Right. Because they do just that. That's why I love working with the smaller companies, because they care about the fine details, and even if their product is more expensive, it's worth it. Right. It's not just a pyramid scheme or.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
You know what I'm saying? Right. And that's why I work a lot with AI companies. Cause whatever you want to say about AI, ultimately it's gonna make music production and has made music production more accessible to more people. So that's the criteria. I get emails all the time for everything under the sun. Like, will you post about tequila, brain pills, workout clothing, contacts, teeth whitening? That one was a hard one to say no to. Cause I do want my teeth whitened. But I did say no.
Chris Barker:
Ultimately, tequila as well. That's kind of cool.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Tequila, CBD pills.
Will Betts:
Wow.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
You wouldn't believe it. And it doesn't matter how much they'll pay me, I always say no because, one, I don't want to be a sellout, and two, I have align with my mission, you know? So if it's not doing what I say it's doing, then I won't say yes.
Chris Barker:
Yeah. And it's longevity, isn't it? It's. That's the sellout thing. It would have to be such an extraordinary amount of money to change somebody's mind. It would have to be money that you could live off forever because it might end your career doing what it is. If you start. If you start messing with it.
Will Betts:
If you had to end your career right now, what would be the deal you went for?
Chris Barker:
Yes.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, my God. It would have to be like $5 million.
Chris Barker:
What are you advertising for $5 million?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, like, I don't know, like Sapphire chase card or something.
Will Betts:
Worth it.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I can at least say that I've used that card for ten years.
Chris Barker:
So you have to do an advert for McDonald's where you try and convince people that the. The hamburger is better than the cheeseburger.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, see, that would be even harder because I'm really good at selling things I believe in, you know? So it would be ideal if it'd be something I actually use, but even that would be so weird. I mean, we've all seen those influencers that take these deals, and you're just like, huh?
Will Betts:
Yeah.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
And it just is. Like, it just gets weird over time, you know?
Will Betts:
You're not suddenly gonna flip your channel into one of those fake games where you've got to shoot the little men running up the screen.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Can you imagine? My channel is, like, 90% men, so.
Chris Barker:
Well, that's got to change as well.
Will Betts:
Yeah.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yes.
Chris Barker:
You must have quite a strong community of females coming to you, though, because.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
You know, I mean, I think I have the females that are in this community. Yes, I do think that they are there, but ultimately, there's just not as many right now. So that's why I'm hoping that more and more people that see me doing it or. And that's what the whole point of trying to make it more approachable, because, like, I told you earlier, I genuinely thought music production was the equivalent to rocket science. So I thought, only an elite group of people can access this, and it's just not true. Like, once I learned how to program drums, that was like, the thing for me is, like, once I learned how to program drums, I was like, oh, my God, I can do this. So it's just really important to me to keep going with that mission. And I know it'll sprinkle out to, you know, first the people already here and then to their friends and onwards.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
It's kind of like a virus. So I get messages from, like, 13 year old girls or parents being like, I've showed your page to my daughter and stuff like that. Of course, that warms my soul. But the numbers don't lie. And there's just more men following me and. Yeah, yeah.
Chris Barker:
But the industry is getting better. It's slow, but it's getting better, especially from when we first started in.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, my gosh.
Chris Barker:
Being on the media side of it. Well, it's much better.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, significantly better. Like, even the last ten years, it's just night and day, honestly.
Chris Barker:
Where are we at? Item number three.
Will Betts:
Item number three.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Okay, item number three. You guys are gonna hate me. This desk. I'm obsessed with this. Oh, I can't do desk.
Chris Barker:
Well, you can get that. It's free. So you get your furniture. We're not gonna be okay.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
This is literally the best desk ever.
Will Betts:
What is it?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
And they're called session desk. Have you guys heard of them? Session desk?
Chris Barker:
No.
Will Betts:
I think I've seen them, actually.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, they're out of Germany.
Will Betts:
Yes.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
They came to my house. I met them at Nam. And then they.
Will Betts:
Were they invited?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, yeah, they were. So. So, actually, I got this. So the US dealer here is audioscape.
Will Betts:
Okay.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Audioscape is great. And I got this desk via them. And then, you know, I was talking with session desk throughout this period, and then I met them at Namm, and then they said they were coming to Vegas, and I said, oh, come to my house. So they came over and they were, like, fixing my desk for me because I put it together myself. And they were like, oh, no, no. It's not perfectly balanced. And they fixed it for me. And, of course, now it's perfectly balanced.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
But this is the best desk, especially if you're into content creation and stuff. The angles, it's so nice. The wood is so good. I believe they said the wood was from. I want to say it was like Sweden or Norway or something like that. And they build it, I believe, in Portugal. And it was just like. It's just like the best company.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I love buying stuff from companies that I also like and that are also, like, artists. And, like, I believe, because I'm an entrepreneur myself, like, I love supporting, like, small businesses and businesses I truly believe in. And, yeah, everyone, you guys need to check out this desk, especially if you're in Europe or in the US. They're so good. It's the best desk.
Will Betts:
They are beautiful things. So you've got the wooden one?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, I got the Gustav. It's called the Gustave.
Will Betts:
Gustave. Okay. I was looking at the home. So, Gustave, that is a delightful looking desk. And it's sort of got. You've got a straight piece in front of you and then angled out to the left and right. Is it?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yes. Which is so good, because I was having a desk before that was just straight. And it's really hard to film content with that because you need angles and dimensions. And I also feel like I'm kind of like the captain of my shit spaceship vibes. Yes.
Chris Barker:
Love it.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
But he was a producer himself, and he was like, I need to build a desk. That's better. And that's how he came up with this whole company. So it's just like, it's so cool to see. And I just love this desk. I would never, ever, ever get a different desk.
Will Betts:
Also swear, those companies where somebody is literally solving a problem for themselves, they're like, I'm the target user. I'll make it how I want it. And then I reckon there are other people, too, who might want this. Best companies love them. That's so cool.
Chris Barker:
But we still. You're gonna get that desk. I mean, we'll go to luxury item as well at the end, which might be something similar, but we can talk about item number three now.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Okay, item number three. What else do I want?
Chris Barker:
Think about. How are you hearing any of this stuff right now?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, right, right. So I need monitors.
Chris Barker:
I love that this happens all the time in the podcast, though. Like. Oh, yeah.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I don't know if I have a dream. I would love to try some genelecs. I would love to try those. I've heard that they're like the best.
Chris Barker:
Of the best, these ones.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, do you love them?
Chris Barker:
Yes, I built those in the factory in Finland.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Did you really? Well, I guess I'll put that on the list. Like, whatever the best ones of those ones are.
Chris Barker:
Oh, is it the Sam ones? They've probably got new ones. It's been years since I've.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I haven't even worked with them yet, so, I mean, I don't have any connections with them.
Will Betts:
Do you want the massive ones that stand on the. On the floor?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
This is like the souped out ones.
Will Betts:
I'm gonna suggest you go with the 8381 a. Yeah.
Chris Barker:
They're the ones where you can adjust to room as well, right?
Will Betts:
Yeah, that's the Sam adaptive point source main monitor.
Chris Barker:
That would work in your glass room really well, actually.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Great. That's what I'll go for. And as far as headphones go, I will.
Chris Barker:
That's item number four if you want headphones.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I haven't researched this enough, but I would want the best of the best closed back headphones. The ones I want closed back headphones that literally have zero leakage. Cause they all say they don't, but they all do. I don't even know if one exists that genuinely has. No.
Chris Barker:
No leak.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
No leak.
Chris Barker:
I mean, at this point. Well, I'd like you to press the button because we've successfully up sold some dreams there under $500. Come on. Those jelly lakes, what are they, like ten grand?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
That's true.
Will Betts:
I think you've got to inquire.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
And also, the desk is kind of expensive. Well, the desk is 3500, but the.
Chris Barker:
Desk is thrown in. It's not in your six items, so don't worry about that. So we're gonna go. That was item number three with the monitors, the top Genelex. And then we want some. You want headphones as your next item?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yes. I'm a singer, so I need headphones.
Will Betts:
Quick point on that. Those speakers are 60,000 pounds.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, great.
Chris Barker:
So that's, what, $75,000 or something?
Will Betts:
Something like that, yeah.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
That's insane.
Will Betts:
Sorry. Headphones.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Okay. What would you say are the best closed headphones on the market?
Will Betts:
Best or most expensive?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Are they the ones that I would get beheaded for?
Will Betts:
Oh, what?
Chris Barker:
The Highlanders, they're called?
Will Betts:
I think so, I reckon.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Are they made of gold?
Will Betts:
Audisy headphones are great. They're also extremely expensive, the LCD X C, which is closed back. And that's 1250 pounds, which is quite expensive for a headphone, that is.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I wonder if they're the best, because I've done. I've done a bunch of campaigns for open bad headphones, which is great because they're super comfortable. And obviously they sound more natural and, like, it's great for, like, zoom meetings or whatever, because you can hear each. You can hear yourself talk. But I'm a singer, so it doesn't really work, you know?
Will Betts:
Yeah.
Chris Barker:
What have you got at the moment? Close back. Are they Beyers that you've got?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
These are the Sony.
Chris Barker:
Sony?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, it's a classic 7506, like the standards. Classic.
Chris Barker:
I have no input on headphones, really.
Will Betts:
I mean, if you had your 60,000 pound speakers and then you had your 85 pound sonys, I mean, it'd be pretty good balance, I think.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah.
Will Betts:
But if you want to go higher end, you can totally go higher end. But there's a reason those are so well used and so well loved.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, these are. These have been used for, like, 20 years or since the eighties. Right.
Will Betts:
They've been around forever.
Chris Barker:
Yeah. I always think the eighties is 20 years ago, but it's not anymore.
Will Betts:
Aw.
Chris Barker:
I know.
Will Betts:
I feel the same. Every day I get reminded of that item number five.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, we're only at number five. Oh, gosh.
Will Betts:
Two more.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Okay. I need some, like, plugins. Right. Obviously. So. And I can't do a bundle.
Will Betts:
No.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
So I really like ANA 2.
Will Betts:
Ah, nice.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
That's usually my go to synth. And then after that, I would probably pick. Well, I don't know if Arturia is considered, like, a bundle. It must be considered a bundle.
Will Betts:
Sorry, no bundles. Yeah, but do you mean v collection? Yeah, that's a bundle. Oh, that's a bundle.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, what if I pick just like. Well, no. Cause I can't do one of the collections. Cause it just wouldn't work. So I'd probably go with, okay, what about omnisphere? That's not a bundle.
Will Betts:
That's not a bundle? No. Okay.
Chris Barker:
That's not a bundle.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, but it's a huge thing. It's like the hugest thing.
Will Betts:
Enormous. Enormous. So tell us about ANA 2, then, because we've not actually had that one. I think that's the first time we've ever had that on the podcast.
Chris Barker:
I think it is, yeah.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, really? Well, it is part, well, it's, it's part of a bundle, but not really. It's not a bundle. It's his own thing.
Will Betts:
It's okay.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
And I don't know if you can get it on its own. But anyways, it's part of Slate Digital's all access pass. It's a synthesizer. I really like stuff. Once again, that's just super easy to use. Omnisphere is cool because there's a lot you can do with it.
Chris Barker:
But it has a starting point in omnisphere, which keeps it.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, it has a starting point.
Chris Barker:
Yeah.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
But even still, like, it's, omnisphere's like, my second go to. My first go to is ANA 2 just because it's just, like, the easiest and the most accessible to just, like, search through and edit and stuff. Whereas, like, omnisphere, I can get weighed down by decision paralysis because I'm like, oh, I can do this thing and this layer. You know what I mean?
Chris Barker:
It's like the additional octave scenario again, where.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
And also omnisphere, like, is kind of like you'll be, you know, like when you're walking around a store in, like, h and m, and they'll be like, oh, I really like that shirt if it didn't have that one thing on it, you know? So, like, the omnisphere sound are like, oh, I really like the sound if it didn't have this one thing, and then it has, like, 10,000 layers, and you're like, trying to find the one wooden layer they threw over it that has a delay on it, and you're like, where's this wooden delay thing? And you're like, you know, I feel like I'm in a scavenger hunt. I'm like, where's this one attack? And you finally find it, and you're like, I did it. But then sometimes you'll take off something you liked and you didn't know what you took off, and then you have to go back from the beginning.
Will Betts:
This is why the Juno 106 is so popular. Like, it's. It's all so clearly laid out.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah. But I think if I was gonna do it for, like, the end of time, I would pick omnisphere because it's just. It's just so good, you know?
Chris Barker:
Okay, so we're locking that in. Item number five, omnisphere.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah. But also ANA 2 for six then.
Will Betts:
So, yeah, we've got five and six locked in.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Great.
Will Betts:
But in terms of the sounds, what would you choose ANA for over omnisphere and vice versa?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
So I really like some of the bass as an omnisphere, particularly the Moog bass. The moog. How do you say it? Moog, like vogue.
Chris Barker:
Well, we say moog cause we're british.
Will Betts:
But I say moog now.
Chris Barker:
Yeah, well, Will says moog because he used to work at sound. Or sound. You'd be hung in the office if you pronounced it incorrectly. Right.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I made a video and I said it incorrectly, and will came on there straight away.
Will Betts:
I'm really sorry about that. I'm a different person online. I wasn't myself.
Chris Barker:
He's the police for it.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Believe it or not. I do like to be corrected in the appropriate manner. Right. Like, if you're coming, like, if people are coming off, like, mansplaining or patronizing, obviously, it's just like, relax. It's not a big deal. Or if they, like, act like I ruined their day about pronouncing something wrong. But if they're just like, hey, FYI, it's technically pronounced mogue instead of moog. Like Vogue.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
That's how someone commented. He was like, FYI, it's like vogue but with an f. And I'm like, oh, thank you. You know? Like, of course I know I'm not right about every single thing, but you don't have to be an a hole about declaring how wrong I am.
Chris Barker:
I think Bob said that. He never cared, though, did he?
Will Betts:
I didn't give a shit.
Chris Barker:
No, you didn't care how people said it.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
It's. It's a hard one. Like my name. People always pronounce my name wrong. They always think it's like seeds.
Chris Barker:
Yeah, I nearly did. It was Will that corrected me on that. Will's got all the pronunciation stuff locked. Just go to will all the time. I often ring him in the day and just be like, will.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
No, I do check now on Google things that I don't know in videos. Like, I double check. I'm like. Cause, like, one time I made a whole video on synthesizer. So I was doing a synthesizer series and I thought oscillator was pronounced oscillator. And people lost their shit over that.
Chris Barker:
If you're Dutch, like, I used to do many interviews with dutch producers and I used to actually, like, I love it when it's like the oscillator. And they say quantitativeise instead of quantize as well.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Quantitative, quantitize.
Chris Barker:
I think it's cool. I think it sounds cooler like that.
Will Betts:
It's like that Lego belt video where they're in his house and he's like, synthesizer, synthesizer.
Chris Barker:
That's my video, Will.
Will Betts:
Oh, is that your video? Is that yours?
Chris Barker:
Yeah, that was me going, what's that? He's like, this is a synthesizer. I was like, what's that one? Synthesizer? And somebody did like a supercut of it. It was two hour long. He was absolutely amazing. I love that guy. And he had a synthesizer. I'm not even joking. In his bathroom, in his kitchen, he had so many synths that his whole apartment, there was nowhere where there weren't synthesizers.
Chris Barker:
Like underneath the coats, on the coat rack, there was just synths stood up against the wall that he hadn't got round to.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
So this is genuinely. That was genuinely your video, the Lego welt one?
Chris Barker:
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh my God.
Chris Barker:
Oh, yeah.
Will Betts:
Birth of a meme.
Chris Barker:
Memes. I just didn't. I never went on camera in the days, so, like. Yeah. Anyway, that's all of the items now, right?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Oh, great.
Will Betts:
Unless you want to switch something out, wouldn't it?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
No, no, no, I'm happy with this.
Chris Barker:
Well, I think in that case, then, let's have a little listen. So will describe this studio, and then you can have a listen to this and see what you think. Okay.
Will Betts:
It's 75 degrees.
Chris Barker:
Exactly.
Will Betts:
Exactly 75 degrees. Not a bug in sight. We're standing on a clifftop looking out over the sea. It's Santa Barbara. Trees behind. You're in a futuristic all glass studio with tinting on demand on your private peninsula. You're sitting at a session desk. The Gustave, your computer, is a Mac Studio M two ultra.
Will Betts:
Your interface is a custom built apogee Studio I o. Your daw, of course, is logic pro. And for your six items, you have chosen a three octave novation launch key, a Shure SM seven db. Your third item for speakers are the Genelec 8381. As for headphones, you have the Sony MdR 7506s. Then for soft synths, you've chosen Sonic Academy's ANA 2 and Spectrosonic's omnisphere. How does that work for you? Making music?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, I think I can make a lifetime of music there.
Will Betts:
Love it.
Chris Barker:
Excellent. So that brings us on to the luxury item.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
So I think I would want. Hmm, let me think. I want, like, a human.
Will Betts:
Sorry.
Chris Barker:
A human, you say?
Will Betts:
Okay, I don't know what kind of trade you think we're in. It's not that.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, like, I. I don't want to be alone forever, you know?
Chris Barker:
Oh, you don't have to be alone.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Okay.
Will Betts:
No, you allowed to bring. No, you're allowed to bring people with you. You're allowed to have people, like your loved ones, your pets. That's all allowed. You don't have to do this by yourself.
Chris Barker:
But I do like the fact that you not being alone forever, you didn't have a specific. You didn't think of somebody that you already know. You just went, a human, any human. Just a human.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I'm literally crying.
Will Betts:
Okay.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Um. Okay. I don't know. I need to think. I'm gonna think of it later, and I'm gonna be so mad I didn't say this.
Chris Barker:
You're not gonna be lonely anyway. Cause of all the moths.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
No, the moths aren't invited. Okay? I know. I know what I want. I want, like, a special frigerator that makes salads for me when I'm hungry.
Chris Barker:
Okay.
Will Betts:
Ooh, salad making fridge, kale based.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
No, I don't want a lame salad. It has to be one of those really luxurious salads that isn't even healthy for you anymore. No, they are healthy.
Chris Barker:
Covered in ranch bacon.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
No, no, they're really healthy. But expensive. You know, they have, like, the one purple mushroom that someone hunted for for, like, seven years, and it's like the cure to Alzheimer's. Like that kind of sad.
Will Betts:
The lion's mane.
Chris Barker:
Wow. Okay.
Will Betts:
Or whatever it is.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, yeah, yeah. One of those. But, like, I want all of those, like, ridiculous. Like, I'm really into that. Whether or not they work or not. If they tell me they do, that helps me a lot. Do you know what I mean?
Will Betts:
And a little pecorino on top.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah. And, like, edible flowers. Like, it's like one color of the rainbow in the salad, so it's like macrobiotic and.
Will Betts:
Yeah, so tell us more about that.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, one I, like, really, I'm affected by what I eat. Like, if I don't eat well, I don't feel good. So, like, I can't do the, like, fast food or anything like that. I'm really bougie picky when it comes to food. So. And I also, like, cooking is.
Chris Barker:
So the whole cheeseburger stuff was a lie?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah. I mean, I was just trying to make it an analogy of how, like, when you get something, it's hard to go back.
Chris Barker:
Whereas in reality, you were like, these are both disgusting.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, growing up, I used to eat cheeseburgers, but recently. No, but that was the feeling I had when I was growing up. I was like, I would never. Why would you ever order a hamburger after you have a cheeseburger, you know?
Chris Barker:
No, I agree with that 100%.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah. Like, how do you go back from flavor? But, yeah, like, I just want, like, something that'll, like, make it, and then it's like, I don't have to clean, I don't have to cook, but I'm like, well nourished and healthy.
Chris Barker:
Like a miracle salad, vending machine fridge thing that just.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, exactly.
Will Betts:
It's interesting as well, because, as you say, you're working crazy hours doing what you do. You're making music, you're content creator, doing all sorts of projects. It's, you know, one of those things that people often forget starting out. You've got to fuel yourself properly.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I learned the hard way. Pretty much everything I've learned has always been the hard way. Sad enough, but two summers ago, I was just working nonstop. Cause I was like, okay, I gotta, like, I gotta do this. Like, things were working out for me. I was like, let me work around the clock. And then a couple months went by, and then all of a sudden, I had pins and needles on, like, the right side of my body for, like, four months. And I'm also a hypochondriac.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
So immediately I thought I was, like, dying and had a tumor. So then it was just, like, four months of just, like, feeling miserable. And it's all just because, like, I wasn't working out. I wasn't eating well, I wasn't going on walks. I wasn't getting sunshine. I wasn't being social. Like, your health is the most important. It has to be at the top of the food chain, because if you don't have your health, you have nothing.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I mean, look at Steve Jobs. I mean, he had every single thing in the world except his health. So ultimately, he has nothing, you know? So I always tell everyone, like, health first. Like, no matters what.
Will Betts:
Good sentiment. Love it. Totally agree.
Chris Barker:
Cheers to that.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Salud. I have my ridiculous drink, non caffeinated energy drink that also has those special mushrooms in it, and then this little water bottle.
Chris Barker:
The water bottle looks wicked.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah, the water bottle you turn it on. I don't know if you can see, but it's spitting up the stuff for me. It's like a little blender in it.
Chris Barker:
It washes it for you so you don't get all this thing at the bottom all the time. Nice.
Will Betts:
Yeah, that's. What is that?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
It's called a visp. Okay? It's an $80 water bottle.
Chris Barker:
It's good for margaritas.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Yeah.
Will Betts:
See where your head's at, Chris. I get it.
Chris Barker:
Hey, it's late here. Okay, we've got that luxury item, the fridge. We need a name for the fridge. Give it a name.
Will Betts:
The salad Genie 9000.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I was kind of. I was thinking something like. I was thinking something like a human name, like Charles, or something like, I want to be like Charles. Make me a salad, you know?
Will Betts:
Yes, mom.
Chris Barker:
Yeah, that's how he'd sound, isn't he? Some old English, like the butler from tomb Raider making you salad.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Why does it have to sound like a butler? Everyone wants it to sound like a butler.
Chris Barker:
The salad butler. That's quite nice.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
I was thinking like a Morgan Freeman.
Chris Barker:
Nice.
Will Betts:
Okay.
Chris Barker:
Morgan Freeman. Salad butler.
Will Betts:
There we go.
Chris Barker:
Coming soon.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Maybe the Freeman. No.
Chris Barker:
Oh, the first time I've made a salad.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Is he southern? I don't think so.
Chris Barker:
Yeah, he is.
Will Betts:
I thought you were doing the Shawshank voice.
Chris Barker:
It was my Shawshank. It was my Andy Dufresne.
Will Betts:
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Chris Barker:
The first time I met Andy Dufresne.
Will Betts:
Yeah.
Chris Barker:
That's. That's the only way I can lead into any kind of Morgan Freeman voice. I'm not an impressionist. Well, come on.
Will Betts:
You an artist, not a jukebox. I'm so sorry. Art.
Chris Barker:
God damn it. Right? Okay, so now we've got the studio all locked in. Tell us all a bit about what you're up to right now, because. Yeah, many things, many projects going on. So why can people find out more about you? What are you up to?
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Well, I am sides on all platforms. It's spelled S E I D s. It's an abbreviation of my last name, which is sideman. So it's actually my name. And I am really focusing on my mission, which is to make music production and entrepreneurship more accessible to more people. So I post every day about that. I have some products that also align with that, which is my logic pro crash course, my social media class, a daily planner, and I'm working on a new course, which is how to work with music tech companies. I spoke about that a lot.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
It's a really great job, and I feel like a lot of people don't know how to navigate that area. It hasn't really been taught. So I'm working on a full program about that. I'm also releasing music and working on live stream shows and stuff like that. I have some sample packs coming out, so stay tuned for that. And yeah, that's what I'm working on.
Chris Barker:
Excellent.
Will Betts:
Amazing.
Chris Barker:
Well, it's been an absolute pleasure and extremely hilarious. Thank you so much for joining us on the my Forever studio podcast.
Sabrina Seidman aka SEIDS:
Thank you for having me.
Chris Barker:
Thank you.
Will Betts:
Thank you. Sides, all that's left to say is thank you so much for listening, and we will catch you next time for another adventure into studio foreverdom. Bye.