I’m a lifelong musician and music technologist. I’ve had music-making gear around me since I was a kid, and I still get the same spark from equal parts sound and systems — the joy of playing, and the joy of the technology that makes modern creation possible.
I’m also a proud father of four. Three of my kids have reached intermediate to advanced instrument levels — a huge source of pride and tradition for me is that music has always been an open, easily accessible door in our home. Live music in the house isn’t a special occasion. It is normal.
Over the years I’ve loved opening our home to my music buddies — rehearsing, jamming, writing, laughing, and just enjoying the camaraderie. We show up, we dare to suck, and we get better together. I document my setup to share what’s working for me right now — steal ideas, remix the workflow, and make it your own.
The Workhorse
The center of gravity for writing, jamming, recording, teaching, and tinkering.
Akai Professional MPC Key 61
This is the living room studio’s workhorse — composition, jamming, sketching, recording, sampling, sequencing, and mixing. I use it as my primary instrument and my primary production environment, which means ideas stay playable while they become tracks. It’s also the kind of box you can sit a kid next to and say, “Press this. Now listen.”
It’s fitted with a SanDisk Ultra 3D NAND 2TB Internal SSD that holds my entire music and sample library — including exports I programmatically hand-crafted from years of previous DAW investments in Reason, Band In a Box, and more. I like having the whole palette ready: when inspiration shows up, the library is already there.
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Piano-style action, always connected. It’s one of those simple pieces that quietly makes everything feel more like an instrument.
Keyboards
Stacked on a dual keyboard stand — two very different instruments, both within reach.
Perched above the MPC Key 61 on the dual stand is an Alesis Recital — 88 Key Digital Piano with semi-weighted keys. Sometimes you just want a full 88 under your fingers with a simple interface. It also keeps the doorway into music wide open for the kids: sit down, turn it on, play.
Drums
For joy, for practice, and for the band.
Alesis Command Mesh Kit
600+ drum kit sounds, USB MIDI connectivity, dual-zone mesh pads. I play for fun, for exercise, and when jamming with friends — including in the band Tainted Dream (more on that coming soon). Mesh pads keep things practical while still feeling good under the sticks.
Guitars & Effects
We love rocking out...
I keep a small collection that covers the bases for jamming and writing: an electric for riffs and texture, bass for the foundation, and an acoustic-electric for quieter sessions. The goal isn’t to have everything — it’s to have enough options that when friends come over (or a kid says, “show me”), there’s always an instrument ready.
Epiphone Les Paul
My grab-and-go electric. Great for chunky rhythm parts and leads that need attitude.
Ibanez 4-String Bass
The backbone. Bass lines turn a sketch into a song fast.
Ibanez Acoustic-Electric Bass
For living-room unplugged vibes that still want low end.
Kadence Acoustica
Acoustic-electric for songwriting, chords, and “play it again” moments.
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Guitar effects and amp simulation with an expression pedal. Great for quickly dialing in a vibe without a floor full of pedals.
Wind, Brass & Strings
These instruments are mostly about joy: they keep me learning, and keep the house musical.
Trombone was my first band instrument, and brass still feels like home. Over time, other instruments found their way in — some gifted, some picked up out of curiosity, some bought because I wanted the kids to see that learning never stops. They’re here for exploration, for friends who visit, and for the simple thrill of making a new sound.
pBone Trombone
Purple, lightweight, and fun. It comes out when my jazz mentor visits — and any time I’m reminded that breath and phrasing are a whole different kind of practice.
Saxophone
A beautiful gift instrument that keeps me humble — and keeps me learning.
Yamaha Venova
My most recent addition. Saw it in a music shop and couldn’t resist. Can't wait to learn it!
And the Rest
Trumpet · Violin · Flute · Clarinet · Didgeridoo· Daf · Tombak · Congas
Recording
For when my wife needs to drop some bars
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Large diaphragm cardioid condenser XLR microphone. My go-to for vocals, quick demos, and capturing moments before they disappear.
DJing
A different kind of musicianship: selection, timing, and feel.
Pioneer DJ DDJ-SB3
Paired with Serato DJ Lite for DJing, scratching, and mixing. I love it because it’s immediately musical: you can practice technique, build a set, and move a room without needing a full booth. It’s also a fun way to teach rhythm and listening — in a house where music is always welcome.
Monitoring & PA
When friends come over, this is how we make it loud.
Everything plugs into a carpeted PA system with 4 main and 2 auxiliary inputs — enough to run a full jam session with multiple instruments and mics. A desktop Windows workstation with secondary monitor speakers handles any production overflow. The point isn’t perfection; it’s access: friends can show up, plug in, and we’re making music.
Bedroom — Portable Setup
The quiet corner for arranging, notation, and portable production.
The bedroom setup revolves around a MacBook Pro 16” (M2 Max) — more than enough power for scoring, arranging, and production work that benefits from a bigger screen and a deeper edit. It’s where ideas get organized: parts get voiced, harmonies get checked, charts get written, and mixes get nudged into place.
Desktop Software
MPC 3
Akai Desktop Software
Logic Pro 12
Apple DAW
Dorico Pro 5
Steinberg Notation
Ableton Live 12
Live Performance DAW
Finale
Music Notation
RipX DAW
Stem Separation
Audio Interface
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6-in/6-out USB audio interface with dual Focusrite mic preamps, up to 24-bit/192kHz, MIDI I/O, and dual headphone outputs. The hub connecting everything on the desk.
Controller
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25-key keyboard controller. Compact, responsive, and surprisingly expressive for its size. Picked up October 2025 from Guitar Center, San Jose.
Portable Flavor — Roland AIRA Compact
Two small boxes with a big spirit. These Roland AIRA Compact units are portable, immediate, and playful — perfect for sketching ideas away from the main rig. The P-6 handles sampling and granular sound design; the J-6 is pure JUNO-60 chord magic.
Roland AIRA Compact P-6
Creative Sampler — granular sound design, powerful sequencer, onboard keyboard, built-in mic, hands-on effects
Roland AIRA Compact J-6
Chord Synth — JUNO-60 synth engine and presets, chord sequencer, effects, portable song creation
Monitoring & Portable Audio
Edifier R2000DB
Powered Bluetooth bookshelf speakers — near-field studio monitors, 120W RMS, optical input, 5” woofer
Shure SRH840A
Professional over-ear studio headphones — critical listening and monitoring, tailored frequency response, collapsible
Tribit StormBox Lava
80W portable Bluetooth speaker — IP67 waterproof, 24H playtime, XBass, built-in mic. Takes the studio outdoors.
Bluetooth 5.0 Aux Adapter
2-in-1 wireless transmitter/receiver with 3.5mm jack. Bridges anything without Bluetooth to anything with it.
MPC Plugins & Expansions
The software arsenal — built sale by sale, deal by deal.
On the software side, I’ve slowly built a library of instruments, effects, and expansions that cover a lot of sonic ground. I do keep an eye on sales and bundles (engineer brain), but what I’m really collecting is color — sounds that invite a new idea, a new texture, a new direction. Every link below goes to an official product page.
| Name | Category | Acquired | |
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Queensbridge Story | Expansion | Dec 2025 |
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AIR Tape Double Track | Effect | Nov 2025 |
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Studio Instrument Collection | Bundle | Oct 2025 |
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MPC Pro Pack | Bundle | Oct 2025 |
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Flex Beat | Expansion | Jul 2025 |
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Ether & Sprite | Bundle | Jul 2025 |
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Soft Clipper | Effect | Jun 2025 |
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Jura | Instrument | Jun 2025 |
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Lo-Fly Dirt | Effect | Jun 2025 |
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MPC Desktop Software 3 | Software | May 2025 |
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Sway | Instrument | Feb 2025 |
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Homage | Instrument | Feb 2025 |
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NACHT | Instrument | Feb 2025 |
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Cloud Supply | Instrument | Feb 2025 |
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Analog Dreams | Instrument | Feb 2025 |
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Multiband Filterbank | Effect | Nov 2024 |
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Sub Factory | Instrument | Aug 2024 |
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MPC Stems | Utility | Mar 2024 |
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Flavor Pro | Effect | Oct 2022 |
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Mini D | Instrument | Oct 2022 |
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AIR Organ | Instrument | Jun 2022 |
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AIR Stage EP | Instrument | Jun 2022 |
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AIR Stage Piano | Instrument | Jun 2022 |
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AIR Fabric Collection | Instrument | Jun 2022 |
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AIR OPx-4 | Instrument | Jun 2022 |
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AIR Studio Strings | Instrument | Jun 2022 |
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DECAP Drums That Knock | Expansion | May 2022 |
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Hook City — Trap & B Edition | Expansion | May 2022 |
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Urban Roulette | Expansion | May 2022 |
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Late Night Trap x RnB Vocals | Expansion | Dec 2017 |