SoundGym Hero: Ralph Stokes

Guitarist, Mixing Engineer, and Music Producer from Newcastle, England. Ralph Stokes is this month's SoundGym Hero!

Who are you, and Where are you from?

I’m Ralph, a mixing engineer, and producer from Newcastle-upon-Tyne in North-east England. I’ve been writing, producing, performing, and recording music for most of my adult life.

How did you get into music?

I got into music by learning to play guitar when I was somewhere between 12-14 years old.  I wanted to learn how to do what my favorite musicians were doing at the time - things like Nirvana and Rage Against the Machine (it was the ’90s).  My dad was a classical and flamenco guitarist and had played jazz and blues in his youth, so he got me my first guitar, strung it up left-handed for me, and set me on my way. 

I soon started writing my own songs, and when I was 17 I got my first computer and set about trying to record myself with the free microphone you used to get with the motherboard. I would place it in front of my massive Roland amplifier in my tiny bedroom and make terrible recordings using Fruity Loops (version 3 maybe?) then Sony Acid Pro. I did everything with my guitar and small samples collected from commercial CDs. I didn’t even know synthesis existed, or drum machines, or clean drum samples!  My first compositions were layers of hundreds of guitar tracks with effects from my Zoom 505 MkII, which was my first effects unit.

By the time I left home, I decided I wanted to be a musician. I had started an art degree but was frustrated with being told what to do with my creativity.  I decided if I was going to do music, I didn’t want someone to tell me what to create, so I choose to study music production rather than music.  During my music degree, I developed a deep love for dance and electronic music, especially Acid Techno and Psy Trance, and I got further into recording, production and synthesis. I met lots of people who shaped who I am today, and really that was the best thing about doing a university course.

For the last ten years or so since finishing my Music production degree I’ve carried on producing music, playing in bands, learning and exploring music in many forms.  I’ve learnt more about sound, music and people than I did during my time at collage.  Over the last four years or so, I’ve been making a living from Mixing, Mastering and Producing for other artists.

What do you like to do for fun outside of working on music?

Outside of music I like to spend time outdoors, walking, gardening, wildlife, and bird-watching. Sometimes cycling. When you spend so much time indoors listening intently, it’s important to get outside and reset. I spend time with my kids, we do a lot of lego and reading - especially fantasy.  And sometimes I let them play around in the studio on the instruments.

What's your most useless skill or talent?

I’m actually very good at painting models and miniatures!  I did a lot of it as a kid before I discovered music, and the skill has never left me.  Totally useless and I’m not sure I’ll ever need it again!

What inspires you to keep making music?

I believe music holds the world together.  It transcends all borders and boundaries and has the power to unite, heal and inspire.  Music can connect with something deep within all human beings.  Today, I think the world needs some revolutionary music more than ever.

If you could sit down to a session with any artist, who would it be?

Ott. Ott is a Psychedelic dub producer from England and I’ve always loved his music. It’s pretty underground stuff I think. While I’m sure there are many mix engineers I’d really love to see work (Serben Ghana, for sure!) really I just want to see how Ott manipulates his vocal tracks to get these amazing singing-synth sounds!  I’d settle for a session with Simon Posford (Shpongle, younger brother) who achieves similar things.

Any habits you have before starting a session?

Cup of coffee.  A listen to my monitor reference playlist and play at least one game of something on SoundGym - I usually pick the thing I’m doing worst at!  This helps me tune my ears, as my perception of sound can change a lot depending on lots of things, like how well I’ve slept, what I’ve eaten, the air pressure, and the weather. After that, I’m ready to work.

If you could pick one, what would be the theme song of your life?

This is a difficult question, there are so many amazing songs/tunes out there. I’m sure I’d give you a different answer on different days!  Today I’ll say Squirrel and biscuits.  Suitably mad, lovely sounds. If I could describe it with words there’d be no need for music!

What is your favorite piece of music gear you own?

This is a really tough question.  But I’ve got to say, it’s my guitar.  It’s not an expensive guitar - a left-handed squire start, and I’ve put a humbucker pickup in the bridge position and moved the volume pot because I always hit them when I’m strumming. I’d be happy with almost any guitar, but music always comes back to playing an instrument in the end. You can make music with only yourself and an instrument, even if all the electricity in the world goes off!

What is your favorite SoundGym feature? 

Well, I really like the whole platform. I never enter competitions, I’m not a competitive person. I don’t know if it’s a “feature” but the SoundGym has me coming back every day and my listening skills have definitely improved quickly as a result.  I’m happy, my clients are happy, the music sounds better!

What does the future hold for Ralph Stokes? 

I’m just going to keep learning, keep loving, keep making things sound as best as I can, and hopefully help as many people as possible in the process.

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