(L-R): Warren Harris, Roland’s Dan Kent, and Full Compass’ Cal Mazzara, John Bayer and Joel Dennis.
Cleveland, Ohio–based producer, multi-instrumentalist and composer Warren “Hanna” Harris has released a string of house, techno and jazz CDs. Recently, he hosted of a free clinic at Full Compass Systems (Middleton, WI), Harris introduced a gathering of local musicians to production secrets used on his own soon-to-be-released EP Time Will Tell and full-length LP Bless (Sound Signature).
Taking center stage at the Full Compass clinics were Roland’s Fantom-X workstation and MV-8000 production studio, which were used to build individual tracks into complete musical passages created on-site in a layer-by-layer fashion.
Says Harris, “The purpose of a clinic like this is to educate people on how to better use this gear. These are high-end, technologically advanced components, and sometimes it’s beneficial to have someone show you how to get the most out of them. I’ve learned how to perform many production tricks with them you’ll never read in any manual, and this is a great forum for sharing that knowledge. Like those in the audience, I’m constantly seeking to learn better ways of unleashing my creativity. This is my chance to send everyone home with something they didn’t know before and that they can use to improve their own sound.”
The Fantom-X offers 128 MB of wave ROM that includes sounds like an 88-key split piano. From manufacturing beats to sampling and CD-burning, the MV-8000 production studio provides quick access to arrangement tools via 16-velocity aftertouch-sensitive pads and a powerful audio/MIDI sequencer. Effects and mastering tools are also part of the package.
One of the nation’s premier suppliers of audio, recording, and AV gear, Full Compass has slated a number of other clinics throughout the remainder of the year covering such diverse topics as computer-based digital audio workstations and microphone technology. For more information, please visit
For more information, please go to www.fullcompass.com.
