Sound designer & composer Diego Stocco‘s latest music video is an audio celebration of the Earth, Music From Nature.
Stocco’s sound design can be heard in the presets for Omnisphere, Trillian, Stylus RMX and other synthesizers. Stocco’s probably best known, though, for his talents as a sort of musical MacGuyver, making music with whatever he’s got on hand.
Music From Nature was created for Earth Day 2012, April 22nd, and was sponsored by Burt’s Bees.
Check it out and let us know what you think of it!
No wonder Eric Persing likes this guy. His all-inclusive sampling habits are like the flip side of Eric’s synth programming skills proper. Remember, Eric was one of the main designers for the D-50’s impressive presets. This piece reminds me of some of Bernie Krause’s use of sounds drawn directly from nature, especially animals. I love hearing people explore that odd realm only made possible by sampling and loopers. Diego is a breath of fresh air.
The thing that makes this guy’s work so wonderful, is his ability to find a groove using anything he samples. So many other people just play random washes of stuff, but Diego’s work is always very musical, and his joy about the process comes through.
Great video. Interesting contrast of technology and nature. Seems like a positive collaboration between arts and corporation. Glad to see Diego getting the recognition he deserves for his talents.
This man inspires me, but unfortunately I just don’t have his energy =/
I always click on these sample-based videos of his thinking “How good can this really be?”, and by the end of the video I always realize “Oh, really, really good”. Inspiring sound design. Also, anyone happen to know what those contact mics he’s using are? I’ve been using a DIY piezo thing recreationally, but it’s not good enough for proper, high-quality work.
Hey guys, thanks for your feedback : )
I thought to clarify one thing about how this piece is made (and also Music from a Tree, Music from a Dry Cleaner, Experibass, Bassoforte, etc..), there’s no sampling or samplers involved, and no looping either, I simply record take after take, defining a musical structure, and when I feel it’s ready I mix the result.
I like to work this way because the result is more musical, it’s much easier to get a natural groove from a tree by playing the tree with your hands, rather than playing a set of samples from a keyboard.
I’ve long thought that a decent portable stereo recorder was a huge secret weapon that goes unsung too often. Live and learn! Darnit, Diego, now I have to go shopping for a nice little hand-held. How dare you inspire me into another $200 or so of sound exploration?? Very nice work, D.