Name: Andy Killcross
Region: Port Augusta
What does your Digital Media involve?
I write and record songs using Digital Media. I also use the internet to promote and sell my music. I use the tools that digital media has to offer both individually and in a band environment. The media has also allowed me to communicate with others globally who share similar passions.
I’ve also worked with a digital film maker / animator to make a video for one of my songs
What does the term “Digital Media” mean to you?
To me it’s any technique or device that involves digital technology be it sound or vision related.
How do you present your Digital Media?
I rely on it for so much in my life. As a GP working in a country town we us digital technology to communicate and treat people around rural Australia. In so doing we’re able to solve a great many logistical challenges through the use of digital media.
What medium do you work in?
(i) Sound – Pro Tools sound recording / editing software, Line 6 guitar processing hardware, BFD drum creation software, Roland workstation hardware, Sibelius music notation software
(ii) Visual arts – Photoshop
How did you learn your skills?
(i) Asking others with expertise in their fields (there are a number of very knowledgeable people in this region who can help)
(ii) Online tutorials (eg. Youtube has a wide array of excellent tutorials) while a number of online forums also provide advice
(iii) Books like the ‘…for Dummies’ range
(iv) Magazines such as those dedicated to music technology (Sound on Sound) and visual art.
Do you see yourself as a beginner, intermediate or advanced? Hobbyist, emerging or professional?
Intermediate hobbyist I think. I’m always on the look out for opportunities to make this a part time professional career though!
Have you come from a traditional media background and made a transition, or always used DM… Tell us about your path?
I started playing drums at 13 and then learned guitar at 20 –something
I first got hooked when a music teacher bought a 4 track TASCAM analogue tape recorder for our school when I was about 14.
I bought my own in my teens but felt limited by the analogue tape methods which were restricting in terms of their capabilites.
I bought a BOSS 8 track multi-track digital recorder about 8 years ago and loved the versatility of the digital domain. Eventually I upgraded to a Mac / Pro Tools system about 4 years ago and haven’t looked back since.
What are the skills you use in your digital media work?
It’s a broad mix really from musical creativity to learning about software functioning to the not so – finer points of sound engineering / audio physics.
In working with other people you also learn networking and team building / negotiating skills.
At home I use a wide range of digital technologies for music production and distribution.
I also love other elements of digital media such as graphic design software.
Living far away from my UK – based family I use digital software to communicate with them.
Is your digital media something you have been drawn to do, or has it been a survival skill?
I love it; yes definitely drawn to it. Staying up to date is a mixture of word of mouth, reading magazines and on line forums and also talking with others who share the passion.
Does being familiar with digital media and the tools you use give you any edge in your work or life?
Definitely in all aspects of life. Digital technology is a boom industry and there’s little these days that’s not been influenced by the digital age. I think it pays to keep up to date with it.
Having said that it’s lovely also to hear of those who refuse to bow to digital pressures.
Bands such as Foo Fighters and the White Stripes often prefer a ‘purist’ approach; recording with analogue equipment, while many people continue to show a distinct preference for vinyl over MP3’s (with good reason)
Where do you see these skills taking you in the future?
My hope is to continue writing and recording exciting and innovative music and to share my passion with others in collaborative projects. I’d also very much like to establish myself as a commercial song writer.
What do others think of you and your work?
People seem genuinely interested to hear about the options available in home recording.
I love the idea of being geeky!
Are other forms of technology or software providing you with new opportunities – tell us about it
-Certainly Facebook’s been useful for promoting band gigs and developing a band ‘community’
– Our new album is distributed through an awesome site called cdbaby which also sends your music onto iTunes and Amazon for them to sell. For just $37 (U.S) your music gets put onto the world’s most established on line music stores – very cool indeed!
Is there anything else?
Yes; Our web site is www.generationcall.com
We can also be found on Facebook, iTunes and Amazon
You can hear (and buy) our music, watch our videos and find out more about how digital technology has helped us realise our passions there.
