May 25, 2024
by GForce Software
Tom Hall is a Tasmanian, Australian electronic audio-visual artist. Hall works with a deep fascination with the interpolation of time, the exploration of peripheral environments, phenomenology, and the non-linearity of everyday life. Drawing from diverse approaches, he recontextualizes these concepts to create soundscapes and visual imagery that merge in hybrid audio-visual environments, offering unique translations of temporality. His artistic expression encompasses found and computer-programmed sound synthesis, reactive visual synthesis, and physical installations, performing and presenting to audiences worldwide.
Beyond his solo career, Hall extends his skills to custom sound design, music hardware, and programming custom software for esteemed artists such as Nine Inch Nails, Will.I.Am, Miike Snow, Pantha du Prince, and Fast & Furious composer Lucas Vidal. A decade-plus tenure (ongoing) as a full-time developer at Cycling ’74, the makers of the programming language MaxMSP/Jitter & Max for Live further cements him as a sought-after and influential figure in the music industry.
Tom Hall, who contributed to impOSCar3‘s sound design, kindly agreed to answer a few questions.
Do you have any tips for getting great-sounding patches?
Exploring the Unison Modes is a must if you want to have big sound leads, basses, and pads. Be sure to check out the Ring Modulation and also remember that you modify both of the Oscillators Wavetables and build and draw your own LFOs
Which of your impOSCar3 patches do you consider your personal favourite?
It’s really hard to choose, I’d say it’s a 50/50 split between Deep Dark and Swiss Army Lead, there’s just some much variation that I build into the Macros.
Is there anything, in particular, you liked about impOSCar3?
It’s really great at classic analog, subtractive sound design, and super strong. But I love the wavetable and user LFOs, It is definitely possible to get into plenty of experimental, no traditional type areas and sounds.
What’s your favourite synthesiser?
My #1 favorite synth in the world is the Nord Lead 2 (funnily, also the first ever hardware synthesizer I purchased and still own).
Closely followed by the Nord Modulars (MM, G1, G2).
Where can readers find out more about you?
https://www.threads.net/@tomhallsonics