Find Mirko @
Official Website
Mirko @ SoundCloud
Tell us a little about yourself and what you do for a living?
First of all thanks for the opportunity for this interview. I was born and live in Berlin, Germany and have a multicultural background. As long I remember I was interested in music. 18 years ago my first serious encounter with music was as I began play drums in a band. Still now I always play in a band formation. But the most inspiring and emotional side is playing around with various Sound libraries/ Vst’s in the DAW. It is so fascinating and there are endless possibilities. In this time I have produced a lot of music. I decided to promote myself, and began with some creative commons, and later to sell licences for business use.
I am the sound supervisor at dv-sound, where you can license music for your needs. I am also part of the “underground” filmmaker crew kinokabaret in Berlin, called kinoberlino. Also there I got a lot experience with creative filmmakers, work with minimal equipment and with a low amount of time limit.
What is your niche or speciality, that makes you stand out from rest of the audio professionals?
There are so much great composers out there. The internet is full of media and music that it is not easy to stand out. But perhaps my long experience, ambition and the tireless work are my bonus points. Also without studying music I had my own way to “understand music”. That’s the reason why my music sounds different than ordinary score music.
Can you give us a brief summary of the equipment you use regularly?
I use a Intel quad core PC with 8 GB of ram with a lot of hard disks. Apple mobile devices with various inspiring music apps. Roland V-Drums, MIDI keyboards, external USB Sound card and microphones. Also different percussion stuff, guitars, harmonicas, flutes and also things that have interesting timbre. ;-)
What are your go-to plug-ins and software? (virtual instruments, audio processing etc.)
On the go:
Nano Studio for my iPhone ;-)
Studio:
My sequencer is Cubase. I use a lot of virtual instruments / libraries that work with the NI Kontakt engine. I purchase a lot of different libraries, that is always fun and inspiring to browse the sound content. Sample Logic and Heavyocity are one of my favourite sample library developers. I also use EWQL Orchestra with a lot of other East West Play products and Native Instrument stuff…
When do you find you are most creative?
24 hours a day the brain works to put the music a step forward. New productions In the night and weekend. The rest of the day there is much work for promoting, releasing, communicating etc.
What is your usual process for creating audio content for games, films etc.?
First is to understand what the customer wants. Really helpful is a reference track. Not to copy or something like that, but to have a starting point. Then I hear my sound patches, and if I have something interesting I jam with these. Afterwards record a interesting sequence and fill out with other instruments. Yes, it begins with an idea. ;-)
Are there any particular secrets to your creativity?
Free your mind. Your system and your Desk / DAW have to be tidy clean and organized. Sometimes it is not so easy, I know that, but then you can realize your ideas and work creatively.
Do you have any audio creation techniques that resulted in something interesting?
Sampling a sound source and putting it through “putting through “MOOG Filtatron” is very crazy.
Any specific “lessons learned” on a project that you could share?
I think you have to learn about yourself, the mistakes, experience, challenges . We are all different personalities, there is not one way to follow. Let me think… perhaps organize yourself well. Your creativity and ideas you have to write it down or record it. A notepad and pencil, or your smart phone is your best friend. Perhaps you have THE idea in mind when you are in the train etc. Also you can write/plan your further progress (new projects, blogs, your webpage content, releases…)
Any tips, hints or motivational speeches for the readers?
Music is a gift, let the others know about it. Release it in the web and don’t be afraid of it. If the music is good, the rest comes naturally. But you have to be patient and work continuously.