Imaging Hungary or How To Win the Image Dave Foxx…

I bet some of you guys know Karlo. Karlo is based in Hungary and creates awesome Imaging for clients all over the place. He is part of the benztown Imaging Roster since years and an awesome dude. By the way he just won the Imaging Dave Foxx Contest from RAP magazine!

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A few weeks ago I took the chance to interview him. Enter Karlo.

1. Which production system do you use and why?

Using Logic Pro 9 worked for me the best as it is more easier for me to do many tricks on it compared Pro Tools. In my opinion the actual knowledge of the system gives more freedom for creativity than a specific plug in. Of course plug ins are essential and usually I use personal settings to make the outcome even more special. There are countless ways to create your own sound and in order to find the best you have to be able to experiment with the settings apart from the original. I was quite surprised when during my stay in Amsterdam at the Imaging Days in September, Simon Palframan a KISS Group Imaging producer said that he was using Ableton live to create all the audio materials that all had an amazing sound and dynamics. It made me understand that the same system will not work for everybody. We all have to find the most suitable way to creative our own sound, and for me it seems to be Logic and Pro Tools.

2. What are your favourite plug ins?

It’s hard to choose one specific as I have a lot of favourites, but what I find the most useful right now is Fabfilter FF Saturn. I apply it for voice overs and also to break the tempo of music. As I mentioned personal settings are really i1. (Side Note Andy : Show us those!!) When it comes to choosing the most useful and necessary effect it has to be the Waves package.

 3. How do you schedule your work?

It depends on the project itself, but usually I start it with the music part. I start by collecting the most useful and catchy parts. It can be feels, drops, acapellas, clean beats or any part of music that grabs my attention. If it’s necessary I sometimes look for instrumental versions and in some cases I also tried to recreate a certain part of the original song. The next step is to create the voice (VO), the SFX and finally the master. I am still not done by mastering, listening to the material after a 5-10 minutes long break is a must to be able to correct whatever that doesn’t feel right.

4. What do you love about working in Hungary compared to work international?

Currently I live in Hungary but I am not working for hungarian radio staions. I would like to continue all that I learned in the U.K. Winning the Z100 “Produce Dave Foxx 2” competition gave me strength to not give up on my dreams and what I love to do. I have a lot of new creative ideas and I am open to any opportunity to challenge myself and if it’s abroad then I am willing to move out from Hungary.

5. How do you get inspired and what do you use as a source of creativity? What means the term “creative Imaging” to you?

First of all my love and passion for what I am doing keeps me going. I listen to the work of all the people who are highly recognized in business and who I look up to. Music itself, the songs, give me inspiration to always find a new way to create something that has never been heard before. When I listen to a song I immediately start thinking about the possibilities to take it to the next level and create something special from it. I guess that’s what creative imaging is all about. Constantly challenging yourself to bring out the best from the actual project that you are working on.

6. Who were your radio production idols, who influenced your work as a producer?

George Taylor és Andy Jackson were the two most significant persons in my career. I feel extremely blessed that I had the chance to learn from them and then to actually work with them for 1,5 years. I’ve just received a letter from one of my idols, Dave Foxx saying that he really acknowledges my work. The fact that he speaks about my work in such high terms means a lot to me. Connected to the competition I am going to have the chance to meet him personally in the near future which I really can’t wait for.

7. What would be your 3 key advices for a youngster?

I can only say what I was told by George Taylor a few years ago. Practise, practise and practise! That’s the only way to see the progress you make by each day.
Never give up on your dreams because nothing can bring you down if you have the strength to fight through anything that can distract from reaching your goals.

Thanks Karlo !