Breaking Down ohGr - Music Production and Engineering

[@josh34578]

Even though it's a hot day, I turned off my ac so I could hear this properly.

[@hiwattmarshall]

Josh I just blew out a mouthful of coffee hahaha!!! Thank you for sharing (and sacrificing) on what must be a hot day my friend ;-) Have a great weekend and stay safe! -hw

[@I05tream]

Thanks so much for doing these every week. Skinny Puppy, FLA, these are the bands that inspired me to pick up a keyboard and sequencer and start making music almost 30 years ago, and they are still putting out great, fresh music. Seeing how it was done, is really cool, and I have learned so much from these short videos.

[@hiwattmarshall]

Justin Forbes thank you my friend, you just put a HUGE smile on my face!!! I appreciate you sharing here, and particularly that you’ve been able to apply some ideas to your own work, that just makes it even more fun when I plan my next session Justin! I hope you have an awesome weekend, stay safe! -hw

[@gremlinaftermidnight4493]

Ken Marshall all agreed, And gator wave has become a favorite pastime.

[@phobosrising9849]

Yo, Hiwatt! 2 years later, here I find myself. OhGr is timeless, and still an inspiration. That being said, I am a hobbyist musician, if you can call your lifelong passion a hobby. That brings me to my question. You have been very successful at making a living from your passion. I have (yet) to achieve that - frankly I don't care if I make money from it, because I do it for myself. I'm sure I am in the majority, as far as that goes. I wonder if you would give some pointers about how to gracefully share music with others. Perhaps you can also touch on how to balance a hobby that is so time-intensive, especially when (if you're like me) dreams of being a professional musician died with my teenage years. With the technology becoming so accessible, and the questionable influence of social media, how can we as creators collaborate in healthy ways without shoving our work down someone's throat? Sorry for the long post, I figured you're always looking for new topics. Thanks as always for your brilliant content and unshakable passion and joy for our labor of love. Mase

[@phobosrising9849]

Let me add another note - the opposite is also true: I would love to give feedback and enjoy the fruits of my brothers and sisters labor. How have you found like-minded individuals to work with outside of a professional relationship? You're the man, hearing your optimistic approach is what inspired me to go back for the audio engineering degree. You've changed my life.

[@TPTnny]

As an old audio engineer rarely having time to focus on my own compositions (family-man etc) your channel and your work is some of the most important and inspiring content I’ve come across. Your channel has become seriously important to me to keep in touch with the neglected composer/mixer part of my soul. Thank you Hiwatt. I love you.

[@Neroese1]

Finally someone who's showing some production stuff about industrial music

[@onlyvaluknow]

this is awesome. please do more ohGr songs, they're so interesting to break down and dissect the layers of

[@radiomorph]

Getting this perspective from recordings of bands I love, like FLA, Skinny Puppy and ohGr is amazing. Huge thanks!

[@asthmaenthusiast]

Your enthusiasm bolsters my optimism for humanity. Keep doing good.

[@haujobbperfect]

Might be my fav lesson so far. Nivek Ogre is amazing.

[@ira_akira]

Oh, I love that stretched vocals section!

[@VacancyOfDisco]

One of my favorite ohGr songs! Really cool to peak behind the curtain

[@sikk66]

I make rap/trap music and I have learned so much from your channel. Long time fan of your work, sir. Thanks for sharing your wisdom on here.

[@subskull33]

Very, very cool of you for sharing this! One of my favorite ohGr tracks!

[@WORSAW666]

I can't thank you enough for this channel Ken, you have given me so many amazing production technique ideas over the past year that i never would have though of in a million years. Keep up the awesome work!!!!

[@hiwattmarshall]

WORSAW666 your sharing here absolutely makes my Friday, thank you for that!!! You just put a huge smile on my face cause this is what it’s all about, sharing ideas that I hope other colleagues can benefit from 😊💥 Just about everything I’ve learned has come from others willing to share along the way. I’ve been privileged to be assistant engineer to some of the greatest in the business, and it has always blow me away at how willing so many of them are to share ideas...very inspiring!!! I appreciate your engagement WORSAW666, have an awesome weekend!! -hw

[@ScottGlenn-n9t]

These videos are absolute gold. Thank you Ken for your work and willingness to share all this with us. Mark Walk and Ohgr are indeed a force to be reckoned with. Geniuses. That aside, I’ve probably yelled out “now pushing through the voodoo fringe” more times in traffic than I could count...

[@Ritual_Gaze]

Always loved that song! Definitely dig learning production and finding inspiration through music I love.

[@masterchain3335]

Was looking for insight into ohGr's production, particularly the vocal processing, after listening to this song and then found this video on the exact track I was interested in! The vocal harmony on this song is just fucking amazing. Also, love the change you made to that ending build-up - a definitive improvement over the original.

[@tkexit]

Please keep doing these vids! So awesome to see track breakdowns like these (and for less explored genres), helps all of us to appreciate the work that went into these songs!

[@Mind_Idiot]

The segment with the stretched out vocals really takes the track to another level. Fantastic.

[@LordKlektar]

This is my favorite ohGr song; somehow I knew it was going to be the one you featured in this video before I clicked! And I LOVE what you did for the chorus. That a cappella part grabbed me the first time I heard it and has never let go.

[@Schizomancer]

I've listened to UnDeveloped over and over again ever since I bought the CD when it came out and I got to say that hearing this breakdown of a track that I'm deeply familiar with is truly inspiring. Thanks a lot for sharing this with us!

[@ikkjetilgjengeleg]

The part you changed is just about my favorite point in that great song :) Thanks for sharing!

[@hiwattmarshall]

Kyrre M G THANK YOU for sharing my friend, it’s a really big deal, and I appreciate it 😊 Love that breakdown...I swear, Ogre sounds like Sting when stretched out lmao!!! We should do more ohGr breakdowns for sure ;-) Have a great weekend and stay safe! -hw

[@beastbrain]

Thank you for this Ken. I've been a fan of ohGr since Welt and it's crazy that Undeveloped came out 11 years ago! Love this track and love your vids dude! Excellent techniques, insights, and positive energy!

[@joeprestoneoj]

This album is so dope!!! My fave track.

[@ambrsanford3703]

You do amazing work! And, I think it bears saying that you have equally fantastic energy!

[@weteagle01]

Love seeing this, this whole album is great front to back. I'm not sure if it's even possible, but I would love to get these multitracks and other ohgr ones as well someday! Would be really cool for remixes and such.

[@twitch451]

Thanks so much for sharing this and all the information about mixing this track. What you have been doing in your channel is so powerfully eductational it's blowing my mind. I use this channel as a reference library for mixing and production. It's awesome, cheers!

[@hiwattmarshall]

David Secore this puts a HUGE SMILE on my face, thank you for sharing here ;-) It’s music to my ears to hear how you’re able to apply some of these ideas...that’s what it’s all about, so thanks again for engaging 😊 I hope you have an awesome weekend my friend, cheers to you! -hw

[@stanislavzalevskyi3968]

Thanks for this series, Ken! Your channel is my absolute favourite on KZbin. Every time, so inspiring!!!

[@AbominusRules]

Ogre, mark and cevin are just amazing beyond words.

[@nichttuntun3364]

Hi Ken. I listened to this album multiple times back some time. Great work from all of you guys. The new ending for me makes me think it would and should have been like that from the start. Very interesting to watch your thought process here. Thank you. Stay safe and sound.

[@strik979]

That was awesome thanks for that.

[@roleplayingpain4349]

i love this ohgr ..I love this hiwatt

[@hiwattmarshall]

Roleplaying Pain THANK YOU my friend, I too love this ohGr ;-)) So fun to restore tracks from 10+ years ago!! I hope you can apply some of these ideas to your own productions 😊 Cheers to you, and stay safe! -hw

[@huskymischiefmakers2377]

Wow! That was really inspiring to hear how you mixed that track. Great work ! Man if I could ever have the opportunity to choose someone to mix my record you would be first choice! First time finding this channel and subscribing.

[@johangustafsson4843]

Great track to revisit! Thank you for doing this series, Ken!

[@hiwattmarshall]

johan gustafsson thank you for sharing here my friend, you make this even more fun ;-) I agree 100%...❤️traGek Happy Friday and stay safe! -hw

[@JacobSkriver]

Tragek is such a great track - remember the first time it came out as a single - love it and love the mix!!!!

[@hiwattmarshall]

Jacob Skriver THANK YOU for sharing my friend, I hope you know how much I appreciate it 😊 I totally agree on traGek...it strikes me as a feel-good Friday kind of song! Same here, first time listen I was hooked ;-) Have a great Friday and stay safe Jacob, thanks again! -hw

[@megal0maniak]

Awesome video, Ken! I'd really love it if sometime down the line you could do a video talking about the album you did with Cevin Key called "The Dragon Experience". The sound design and production on that album are truly on another level. Easily one of my favorite albums of all time!

[@turbinerocks]

Seconded, Dragon Experience is mighty *destructor beam*

[@ClosetoHumanMusic]

Holy shit - I'd totally forgotten about this track. It's so good!

[@neveser]

These are so much fun to watch, TY Ken!

[@hiwattmarshall]

neveser THANK YOU!!! Your engagement here makes all the difference my friend, I appreciate it BIG TIME 💥 Cheers to you, stay safe! -hw

[@distortomanipulo]

"Is it still with the risk of asking." Hits closer to home every listen. Thanks for another awesome fascinating video!

[@hiwattmarshall]

Distorto Manipulo I love it, ohGr / Ogre lyrics are some of my favourite...he has a unique way of delivering and manipulating his own voice into some of the coolest melodies ;-) Cheers to you my friend, and I hope you have an awesome weekend! -hw

[@distortomanipulo]

@@hiwattmarshall a true word Smith to be sure! Make sure you're having a good weekend yourself! 🖖⚛️

[@Trig242]

I had no clue those break down vocals were stretched parts of verse 1, I thought it was just a while new part sung! So wild!

[@Trig242]

Yes! I love Ohgr! I don't know if you're working with them on their new album (hope you are) but I love unDeveloped so much.

[@hiwattmarshall]

Craig_M I sure hope so my friend!!! Thank you for sharing here I appreciate it BIG TIME ;-) I always look forward to working with Ogre and Mark...understatement haha!!! Cheers to you Craig! Stay safe ;-) -hw

[@xperimentador]

I always love your positive attitude and enthistatic explanations! Also I appreciate your pronunciation is also very clear and easy to follow up. Great work and thanks for sharing! All the best from Belgium, Europe

[@victimasdelspleen]

Love this track and this album. Thanks for sharing.

[@kilroy914]

Loved this album since its release and it's such a treat to see behind the curtain on this track. You nailed this one. Thanks Ken!

[@hiwattmarshall]

Randy Wentzel THANK YOU for sharing, I appreciate it very much 😊 This was a particularly fun album to mix, and restoring it from the original TDM session brought back some great memories! I hope you have an awesome weekend my friend, cheers! -hw

[@kilroy914]

@@hiwattmarshall You too Ken! Hope the mosquitoes aren't out in force for you yet (that's a Canadian thing, right?). Cheers friend!

[@Goetia72]

Love these vids - so amazing.

[@BreakEnterSociety]

This really makes me happy, thank you so much for making this videos!!! Any tips on the best way to mix distorted vocals and to avoid the p's and b's and get some clean and distorted vocals(paradox here)

[@disciplinamedicina]

Would like to see some industrial drum machine tips. It’s awesome to come inside these songs because of creative decisions and geekiness.

[@kunoichivee]

You are incredible!! Thank you!!!!

[@nxoeed]

one of my all time favorite songs.

[@rainbowrotcod]

Amazing as always, Hiwatt!!!!! :]

[@chadsix4838]

Is there a download or purchase option for this updated mix you have here? Awesome work man! I love your talent and enthusiasm!

[@nickdestruct]

One of my fav ohgr tracks. Them stretched vox ended up sounding like richard patrick lol ;)

[@InvisibleASPS]

Yes, that was amazing. Thank you for sharing. I'm curious if you have any tips for remote collaboration? Such as how to set it up successfully, how to keep it on track if things go sideways and how to wrap it up at the end so that everyone is happy/satisfied? I've had mixed success with this over the years but would love to hear your insight.

[@hiwattmarshall]

Invisible ASPS THANK YOU for sharing here my friend, I SO appreciate it 😊 What a brilliant group of questions Invisible, so much so you had me run for my hiwattSOUNDbites book and make notes!!! OK, this would make an awesome session, and one to share sooner than later, for sure ;-) Thank you for inspiration on a Friday Invisible, that’s just pure gold, and I really appreciate it! Be safe, -hw

[@danielclarke7036]

Thanks so much again for sharing this. Love getting this insight, so inspiring

[@winternightmarecrochet]

This is amazing. I'm a very very big ohGr fan loll

[@sdmoonlitsea12]

Thank you for doing these breakdowns of my favorite artists! ohGr's voice is amazing here. I noticed that you worked with Tear Garden on Last Man to Fly. I would love to hear about the making of that album!

[@BlackburnBigdragon]

Ohgr is damn great! I think my favorite song that came out of that project is "Lusid". It's such a kick-ass tune.

[@hiwattmarshall]

BlackburnBigdragon OK, now your gonna have me looking that one up! As with most albums, I relate many songs to their working titles, it actually creates a lot of confusion towards the end of the project when all the titles morph haha!!! Love that you’re sharing here my friend, thank you ;-) Have a great Friday! -hw

[@Pete_Logic]

Oh JOY!!!

[@hiwattmarshall]

Pete_Logic you always inspire a huge smile, thank you my friend, appreciate it BIG TIME ;-) Cheers, and have an awesome weekend! -hw

[@dr.feelicks2051]

Dirty earworm, cleanly archived

[@hiwattmarshall]

Dr. Feelicks I LOVE IT! Thanks for sharing my friend, you make this even more fun ;-) Happy Friday and stay safe! -hw

[@tacticalcenter8658]

Can you do a video doing a song from skinny puppy 'the process'... One of my favorite albums of all time.

[@hiwattmarshall]

Tactical Center thank you for sharing my friend, and what an awesome suggestion!!! I feel the only one qualified to breakdown a song from the Process would be the one and only, RAVE!!! On one perfect Friday, maybe Dave would join us to chat about that mix! I was Rave’s assistant engineer on The Process, and we mixed it in a beautiful studio in Brian Adam’s basement haha!!! Large frame SSL...amazing consoles, and certainly a contributing factor to the Process’s sound. That said, RAVE is the reason the Process, and so many earlier albums sounded so good!!! Rave is still the master ;-) Super awesome suggestion, I’m making notes in my hiwattSOUNDbites book right now! Thanks again Tactical, I hope you have an awesome Friday! -hw

[@gremlinaftermidnight4493]

Ken Marshall “Summer of 69” that Brian Adams? If so, WOW never would have imagined The Process recorded same place as the 1990s Robin Hood soundtrack. Haha now I want a “The Process / I do it for you” mash up

[@deastman2]

If possible, I would LOVE to have a breakdown of the vocal production on Skinny Puppy’s Pro-test. Sounds like a whole lot of Melodyne work to me!

[@hiwattmarshall]

deastman2 you’re prolly spot on there...we’ll have to engage Mark on that one for sure...I know he was a groundbreaker with Melodyne!!! I’m making notes in my hiwattSOUNDbites book deastman, thanks for the suggestion;-) Cheers to you, and be safe! -hw

[@Black_Agent_Seattle]

For some reason i always assumed a lot of the vocal processing on TGWOTR was done via the Roland V-Synth, since that thing can totally separate pitch and time like nothing else. But it wouldn't surprise me if it's a combo of the V-Synth and Melodyne. I would def love to see a vid on this one.

[@umpireofthefenceless3520]

Is it just me, or, if it's right saying that the beat to Tragek sounds like Smothered Hope by Skinny Puppy, then does Breathe by The Prodigy sound like Smothered Hope? Every once in a while, when I go on a music obsession session, I am reminded again of the un-unhearable closeness of Tragek and Smothered Hope. And, how Paparazzi by Lady Gaga also, in my mind, smoothly overlays Tragek.

[@tweakoz]

Can you do a breakdown of something from Too Dark Park? Grave Wisdom would be cool... So many layers.

[@Tkivo]

Great work! Is there any way we can get stems of ohGr or Skinny Puppy songs? For remixing/learning purposes.

[@aeciodesouza]

man you are awesome. did you work with them on welt or sunnypsyop? if so, would you do a breakdown of somre tracks from those albums too?

[@hiwattmarshall]

Aecio de Souza thank you my friend, I appreciate you sharing VERY much ;-) I wasn’t assisting the guys with those ohGr albums, I bet Mark Walk would join me on a session to chat about them...that is, if I can find Mark...have you seen him?!? Haha, I hope you’re having an awesome Friday Aecio de Souza!!! -hw

[@CYB3RC0RP]

Love this track but I have to say I miss the cut vocal part, I always listen to the 5 minute single version for that reason.

[@peetrwilson]

Tragek had a wicked heavy ending part in a 'demo' version I downloaded years ago... I always wished that heaviness stayed in the track for the album. Still a great track though!

[@maxmatson1578]

I like these Episodes where you go back to old material that you worked on. I would very much love to see you do a video on your work with cEvin Key on "the dragon experience" in particular how "shortwave connector" Came about? Perhaps what the original Demos that cEvin made sounded like, and comparing it to what you added to it?🙏✌

[@hiwattmarshall]

Max Matson for sure my friend, we have to do a couple sessions on the DE. That was an absolute blast, working with a bag of cEvin’s 4track portastudio tapes!!! I so appreciate you sharing Max, and I hope you have an awesome weekend 💥 Be safe, -hw

[@maxmatson1578]

@@hiwattmarshall Thank you so much for responding back.🙏 I can't wait for those videos. 🎹🎧💫😵👌😎👍Thank you! BrAp oN!!¡!✋✌

[@randallhunt9170]

Speaking of collaborations, time for another community collab?

[@norieganoriegaaaaa]

Do a Tr/st video bro

[@haujobbperfect]

Ken, do you have a lapel mic on? Always curious on the wire on your left sleeve :)

[@hiwattmarshall]

Psquare that’s an anti-static strap I wear whenever I’m using my touch-sensitive controllers! I live in a very dry climate during summer months, and during winter the furnace draws humidity, so my controllers work approximately 1000 times better when I’m ‘attached’ via a simple ground strap. Highly recommended when touch controls are not making that connection, and I believe my gear loves me for not constantly discharging on it lmao! I so appreciate you sharing and engaging here Psquare, it makes sharing approximately 1000 times more fun ;-)) Have a great weekend and stay safe! -hw

[@haujobbperfect]

@@hiwattmarshall Thank you sir, I am a huge fan of your work and SP's stuff. This makes a big diff on my recording actually because I have a basement hobby studio and it's super duper dry... I get weird pops when I record my voice. Ordering right now to add to my gear.

[@slowneutron6163]

Heroin is a helluva drug. #Spasmolitic

[@BenDover-hl3xf]

👍❤️

[@hiwattmarshall]

Ben Dover thank you my friend!!! Can’t really ask for anything more awesome than a thumbs up and heart on a Friday!!! I appreciate you sharing, cheers! -hw

[@time4anew1]

I feel like Link Park stole that breakdown somewhere.

[@gossamyr]

what if we never get up to do that with anyone else at all ever? I like the concept of your vids, but your energy is a little over the top for me, I keep waiting for 'and if you order now, you won't just get one, that's right, you'll get 2 gold plated(white noise channel changing)' I hope you are ok, man.

[@evvnmllr]

A guy can't be passionate about his work? Especially when the work is exceptional? Do YOU need a hug? *hugs*