Mike Schmid Integrates Nocturn
07-03-2011
Mike Schmid is a Los Angeles based singer/songwriter and keyboard player. He plays for pop sensation Miley Cyrus, and has previously worked with countless big-name artists including Jonas Brothers, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sheryl Crow and The Corrs, plus numerous independent singer/songwriters, such as Connie Kim, Right the Stars and Renee Stahl. What's more, his songs have been played on network TV shows, such as 'So You Think You Can Dance' and 'The Real World'.
Mike recently got his hands on Novation’s Nocturn controller and had nothing but good things to say about it. When on the road with Miley, Mike uses various Roland synths, while in the studio, he uses a Nord Electro 3 with loads of other hardware and software tools. "But of course I'm currently obsessed with my Novation Nocturn", exclaims Mike. "I plugged it in and started automating delays on a tune. Made it sound like a million bucks in about 5 minutes. It fills a very specific need for me. I have limited desk space and wanted to be able to automate my virtual instruments and plug-ins without my mouse. Using the mouse engages me visually in a way that is unproductive. I like the old way: closing my eyes and moving a knob till it sounds right. The Nocturn is my little piece of dream gear. The build quality is very sturdy, the knobs all feel good and it's super easy to use. My mixes sound better because I'm just listening, instead of looking at numbers. And it's so much faster!"
Mike was attracted to the Nocturn due to its tight integration with Logic through Automap. "I love Automap! It’s so easy to map new controls on the fly. Speed dial rocks for quick adjustments. The ease of assigning controls is pretty amazing. Also, the whole package is much more slick and intuitive than anything else I've used."
So, Mike has really taken to the Nocturn: "It has completely revolutionized the way I work. It has become an extension of my brain; it feels like a body part. It has made my mixes sound better and take less time. And it's way more fun!"
Mike is currently touring with Miley and about to release his fifth solo album, 'Let It Out', a record of songs for children of all ages.
