Happy Hour(s) at Derek Sherinian's
Leopard Lounge
by
Christopher
Buttner
Sections of this article are reprinted with
Permission of Keyboard Magazine, April 2000 'Workspace' column.
Photo credits: Tom Stratton.
It's very easy for me to visualize the
eccentric - if not totally bizarre - looking cocktail party that should be
taking place within the confines of these leopard skin and purple
velvet-adorned walls. I should be 'Martini-equipped' as I mingle through a
gathering of retro-1960s looking lounge lizards - and lizardettes - as we
all try to 'out pose' each other to a soundtrack of 'Atomic cocktail'
music.
I'm sure Derek Sherinian throws a few such cocktail parties from time-to-time (gotta' get on the guest list), but, for the most part, this is a top-flight working studio environment in the Hollywood Hills home of a virtuoso keyboardist. Derek is best known from his work with Alice Cooper on tours between 1989 and 1998, on KISS' 1992 Revenge tour, and as a member of Dream Theater from 1994-1999. Since Derek left Dream Theater last year, he's been busy establishing his solo career with Magna Carta Records, and launching his new band, Planet X, which features Tony MacAlpine on guitar and "double bass dynamo" Virgil Donati on drums.
"Planet X is the realization of my
vision," states Derek. "I wanted to assemble a band that was so
fierce that it would strike fear in the hearts of other musicians. This
band is the ultimate combination of musical virtuosity and rock 'n' roll
pomposity. After 10 years of playing in other people's bands, it's a
pleasure to be playing my own music."
Commenting on his ultra-elaborate home
studio, Derek states, "It has two rooms, the control room, and the
Leopard Lounge/office. We soundproofed and put up tongue-and-groove wood
in the control room, which was a bedroom. The lounge has a panoramic view
of the Hollywood Hills and is covered in leopard and purple velvet. It's
pretty obnoxious [he says laughing]. My friend Tom Fletcher dialed in the
room acoustically so we could mix in here. My chief engineer Albert Law
operates the studio and keeps everything running smoothly."
Derek points out, "It's always been my
dream to own a killer recording studio in my home where I can make records
and not feel the pressure of the clock. It's so gratifying for me to be
able to play and write music with amazing musicians, and record and mix it
on state-of-the-art gear."
Derek is quick to note that some of that
gear are his trusted - if not beloved - Mackie mixers. "I have been
using two LM3204 mixers in my keyboard rig racks for years", states
Derek. "They've toured the world extensively and after - easily - 500
combined Alice Cooper and Dream Theater performances and innumerable
recording sessions, they still operate flawlessly and sound pristine.
Presently, they are operating perfectly in my module racks."
Derek tells us, "The entire record was
tracked and recorded on my Mackie 24*8 Bus console through my Mackie HR824
monitors." Derek notes, "I moved up into the 24*8 console from
my studio's humble beginning, when I used to mix everything on my Mackie
1604!"
Derek continues, "I love being able to
burn a CD after a session and crank it in my car. The view of the
Hollywood Hills is spectacular, and it's important to be in a relaxed
environment when you're being creative. I use the Leopard Room primarily
for my own musical projects, but I will book the room out to select
clients." Now about that cocktail party....
The new Planet X record is due out June 1,
2000. Check out the Planet X web page at http://www.xplanetx.com. You can
contact Derek directly at Dsherinian@aol.com.
Derek Sherinian's Leopard Room Gear List:
Keyboards:
Korg Trinity pro V3 (2)
Korg Triton
Korg Z1
Korg SGXpro
Keyboard rig:
Korg wavestation SR
Korg O1R/W sound module (2)
Korg TR rack sound module (3)
Kuzwell K2000R sampler module
Roland JV-2080 sound module (2)
Roland JD-990 sound module
Mackie 3202 mixer
Crown 2400 power amp
Vintage Room:
Moog Taurus 1 pedals
Hammond B3
Yamaha CP-70
Wurlitzer
Leslie 147 Speaker
Leslie 122 Speaker
Computer:
Mac G3 350MHz with 256MB RAM, and a
Digidesign mix card and Farm card
Monitors: (2) Sony 21"
Computer software: Digidesign Pro Tools 5.0
Recording hardware and software:
Tascam DA-38, DA-30, CDR-5000
Digidesign Pro Tools
Denon 650F
Sony R-500
Audio Gear:
Digidesign 888/24 mix plus
ADAT bridge
MOTU MIDI Timepiece
Mackie 24-channel mixing board
Mackie HR824 monitors
Alesis ADAT (2)
Tascam CD-5000 CD recorder
Tascam MK-II DAT machine
Sony MiniDisc recorder
Roland V-drum system
