Making music at home with classical maestro İlkay Bora Öder

Can you tell us what inspired you to start making music?

I've always held the belief that musicians have a unique voice and should express themselves through their own musical compositions. While playing others' compositions is enriching, contributing my own creations to the world has always been a personal goal. That's why, at some point, I decided to study traditional composition, and those eight years of intense study proved to be both beneficial and transformative.

What was your first-ever piece of recording gear?

My first recording setup included a dual-core laptop with Windows XP, which used Cubase 5.1 as the DAW. Back then, I was monitoring through a pair of headphones.

What's the most recent piece of gear you bought?

Not so long ago, I acquired a new audio interface, a Focusrite Scarlett 4th generation device, which includes 'Loopback' functionality, which uses virtual inputs to help record computer audio. This addition was crucial for the recording setup of my YouTube Tutorial series.

In which room is your home studio based, and were there any challenges in setting it up?

My studio is in the main living room of my home, which is the most spacious area. I've faced no issues, which I attribute to the quality and flexibility of my 8010A Genelec monitors, which are real beasts despite their compact size. With two of them at ear level on stands, I've achieved a very effective setup. The DIP switches on the rear of the 8010s allow me to manipulate the response to suit their position within the room, which has been very helpful for finding the most balanced setup for my monitoring needs.

What type of projects do you use your studio monitors for?

I primarily focus on orchestral arrangements, particularly for large symphonic ensembles. I specialise in orchestrating and handling copy work for movie music and contemporary composers. Creating high-quality audio mock-ups is crucial for my work, and the Genelec monitors allow me to do this with pristine sound.

What more can you tell us about your experience with Genelec monitors?

I'm absolutely enamoured with the quality of Genelec studio monitors. My first encounter with the brand was during my composition studies in 2013 when I was introduced to the impressive, mid-sized 8030 model. The aesthetic appeal, sound quality, and the overall feel of craftsmanship have made Genelec my go-to reference. Besides, they are a perfect tool for my job. I can clearly hear every detail in every sound of the orchestra, which makes me even more productive in my work.

What’s your top tip for being creative at home?

Be lightning! My Lightning Sibelius Tutorial Series reflects my method for achieving a super-productive day in the studio with minimal effort and maximum output. Minimising time spent on technical issues allows artists to focus more on artistic problem-solving.

Can you describe what a productive day looks like in your studio?

I kick off my day precisely at 8:00 AM. Starting with coffee, I then dedicate the morning to music notation copying, allowing my ears to ease into the day. Afterward, I delve into orchestration work, relying heavily on third-party high-end orchestra samples and the Genelec monitors to ensure meticulous detail and balance. When my ears start to tune out, I switch back to music copying to conclude a productive day.

Have you come across any new gear or apps to make home creating easier?

NotePerformer software and its brand-new Playback Engine have been a game-changer, significantly enhancing my workflow. Essentially, it allows me to utilise third-party high-end libraries such as Spitfire, East West, Cinematic Studio etc., directly from notation software. This enables me to arrange and orchestrate using musical notes instead of MIDI, allowing me to focus more on the artistic aspects rather than dealing with technical issues.

Since working in your home studio, which equipment can you not live without?

Undoubtedly, my two Genelec 8010As, my Redragon M908 Macro mouse, my Stream Deck and my G8000V-X7 keyboard with custom macro abilities; they are all indispensable for my work. These tools, especially with custom macro abilities, allow me to program repetitive and time-consuming tasks into one-key-hit actions, significantly enhancing my workflow speed and efficiency.