Imaging OZ in 2018, Chris Davis, Mike Santos and the…
WOW! It’s finally here! The first masterpiece of 2018. I am so thrilled we could finally put this together. One of the best Imaging teams in the world in one interview. Thanks so much to the KIIS crew for taking the time to answer all of my questions and for going far beyond! ENJOY… and learn more about favourite PlugIns, tricks and of course check the latest imaging pieces!
Producing the lead up piece for the Same Sex Marriage result. It was a massive deal and probably the biggest thing I’ve produced in my career. That, and being nominated for an ACRA.
KIIS Same Sex Marriage Montage
Melissa Alger:
Intro-ing a refreshed team for the 3pm show on network. It meant a re-package that played up the playfulness of the new girls, and staying an active part in editing show content. It was a way to re-energise that hour of content.
Well, the biggest highlight has to be winning the ACRA for Best Achievement in Production. But broadly speaking, our ratings successes are always highlights and great to celebrate! Other highlights include repacking the station for a fresh launch in 2018. We updated almost everything on the station (Sydney and Melbourne KIIS) in one big go and that is always the most satisfying.
KIIS Sydney Switch Promo
Dan Hunt:
The morning every listener that got to air during The Kyle and Jackie O Show won a car! 14 cars were given away during the show that morning which sounded amazing. In the production booth, I got to make an epic montage of all the car winners and the funny content around them winning, along with a winner promo to play outside show hours.
Getting the gig at KIIS!
It would have to be landing my dream job as Kyle & Jackie O’s Imaging Producer. Nothing in my 2017 can really top that.
TALKING ABOUT YES AND NO, WHAT IS A MASSIVE YES IN RADIO IMAGING FOR YOU @KIIS, WHAT’S A BIG NO?
Mike Santos:
YES – we’re always pushing each other to be more creative, to produce bigger.
NO – losing to Chris at the ACRAs! hahaha
Melissa Alger:
Massive YES – keeping imaging playful and upbeat, while not being afraid to play around with stopdowns and playing up
awkwardness in content.
Massive NO – getting used to relying on the same tricks without trying to explore new ways of doing things.
Chris Davis:
YES – big, bright, slick and energetic imaging that sounds different to the rest.
NO – plain, boring, typical, near enough is good enough sounds.
Dan Hunt:
YES – making station/show branding that is not only selling a message but is creating great content at the same time.
NO – doing the same production over and over again. I think all audio producers always need to change what we do and not be afraid to try something different.
Rhys Messenger:
A massive YES is making things sound loud, tight, hot, big… need to say more? Also, you’ve definitely got to live and breath radio. Some people believe the complete opposite, but I think you have to, because if I didn’t analyse and study radio as much as I do, I wouldn’t be where I am now. A big NO is having something go to air that sounds crap. As an Image Producer, it’s your job to make things sound 110% even with the tightest of deadlines.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT PEOPLE COPYING YOUR SOUND? DOES THIS HAPPEN AT ALL?
Mike Santos:
We’re in a business where EVERYTHING is derivative and ideas are constantly being shared, borrowed, stolen, etc. I’m all for copying when you’re first starting out, because it gives you a good starting point and a reference for critique, but it will only take you so far… At one point in time, everyone wanted to produce like someone, but you should never lean on someone else’s style to define yours.
Melissa Alger:
I’m still building up my name and reputation in the industry, so no one is biting on my stuff just yet. I think I would be flattered, more so if they’re someone that I know and have had a conversation with.
Chris Davis:
In terms of sound, I think it’s a great thing when people emulate gear they like and endeavour to learn how to do the same tricks – to get to that next level. It’s how you grow and improve as an image producer.
Dan Hunt:
I personally like it and feel complimented. Although I think everyone copies and gets ideas from other audio producers work from time to time as well.
Jaxson McLennan:
Everyone pulls inspiration from somewhere. When you’re working in a team, particularly when you’re all producing imaging for one station – you all want to be pulling in the same direction – so it should sound like it ‘fits’ whilst still having your own creative stamp on it. Completely copying someone else’s work isn’t going to get you far. It’s your own creativity and interpretations that will further your career and get you the gigs you want.
That said, if someone does ‘my sound’ better than me – good on them. Means I need to step up my game!
Rhys Messenger:
I don’t think this happens to me as I’m still quite young (19 years old), but if it did happen to me or does in the future, I actually wouldn’t mind – I would be honoured that someone looking up to my work wants to copy my sound. I think it’s okay to copy some things as long as you can keep developing your own sound at the same time.
ANY NEW FINDINGS IN TERMS OF TOOLS, PLUGINS, TRICKS?
Mike Santos:
Meta Flange/MondoMod/H-Delay has been my go-to combo as of late. I love it for VO layering.
Melissa Alger:
Building more with subtle layering with pitch and delay. Especially with stopdowns, as a way to bridge the silence so that it’s building to the beat kicking back in.
Chris Davis:
I’m always messing around with different PlugIns to see if there’s any new stuff they can do. I’m big on messing with octaves on VO at the moment and combining plugs to alter the sounds slightly rather than just hitting presets.
Dan Hunt:
At the moment I am a fan of stuttering VO, distorting, panning and filtering both high/low ends of the stutter for a subtle sonic sweetener.
Jaxson McLennan:
I started working in grid mode almost exclusively a little while ago for anything that contains music or music hooks and it changed my life. In terms of tricks, for me I’ve realised that the most important stuff is not necessarily the tools or the PlugIns, but the process side of things. Learning to keep perspective on the overall mix rather than getting lost in the minutiae and being able to stay in the right headspace so you don’t get sloppy.
Rhys Messenger:
I’m a big fan of going through acapellas for a song lyric that relates to the promo and then find a bed for the promo in the key of that acapella. Once I’ve got the key, I then try to find other acapellas in the same key that also relates to the promo. I think acapella cuts really help sell a promo and make it sound good.
STAYING CREATIVE – WHAT’S THE SECRET?
Mike Santos:
Get out of the studio. Live your life. Talk to people. Do everything you can to not stare at the computer.
Melissa Alger:
Being motivated by the team around me helps. If I feel like I’m in a place where people are confident in my work I feel more freedom to experiment more and to take risks.
Chris Davis:
Study different formats/sounds/styles and experiment. Scripting plays a big part. Got an ‘out there’ idea, not sure if it will work? Try it!
KIIS Threesome Tease
Dan Hunt:
For me at the moment it is listening/viewing other sources of entertainment for content ideas, to get an understanding of different program structures and to keep up to date with new sounds that are out there.
Jaxson McLennan:
Make sure you take time out for yourself. If you’re stressed it suddenly becomes a lot harder to be creative. Consume other media and listen to music – especially music your station doesn’t play if you like it. Be open to the idea of ‘what if’. ‘What if we did…’ ‘What if we took this and did this to it…’. Play around with stuff. Try new things. Find what works best for you – try out different things and see what happens!
Rhys Messenger:
Being inspired daily is definitely the key. Monitoring other people’s work is also good, especially the Imaging Producers that you look up to. Also once again I want to mention, living and breathing radio is a must. Yes, it is easy to get burnt out in this industry, but if you live and breath radio and have a big passion for it like I do, it’s hard to get burnt out, because you enjoy your job and the industry you work in so much.
WHAT’S YOUR ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT TO WORK AT KIIS? I BET YOU HAVE PLENTY CVS COMING YOUR WAY 🙂
Mike Santos:
Send us your shit. We can’t hire you if we don’t know who you are. Bonus points if you send food… but only from me. *Hint*: pizza
Melissa Alger:
Build up your experience, don’t be afraid to ask what tricks people have up their sleeves and find a way to make it your own. Experiment and get plenty of feedback!
Chris Davis:
Be super passionate, live, breathe it and want to crush it, have a flawless work ethic and be ready to bring your A-game every single day.
KIIS Coming Home
Dan Hunt:
– Have a positive attitude.
– Get in touch with people who work at KIIS and send through demos.
– Don’t play it safe by producing audio the way everyone else does out there, create your own sound.
Rhys Messenger:
The only advice I can give is what I did. Hassle (nicely!) people that will get you where you want to be. Building relationships is the key. It’s not what you know, it’s who you know! Don’t burn your bridges as well. Also, I already had a massive love for the KIIS and Kyle & Jackie O Brand before I started so, having a love and knowledge for the brand definitely helps.
FAVORITE VO GUY OR GIRL?
Mike Santos:
Nat Bond is radical… Super bubbly and a nice change from the “too cool for this shit” VO, plus she’s super nice.
Melissa Alger:
Using a new lady named Rachel for Sydney – pretty much everything about her reads makes me happy. And it’s so close to her natural speaking voice that is very authentic and genuine.
Chris Davis:
ALL our VO guys on KIIS are amazing. Howard Richie, Steve Taylor and Rachel McGrath are my faves! They always bring it and get our style of writing and imaging!
Dan Hunt:
Male VO – Jeff Berlin
Female VO – Roberta Solomon (movie trailer read)
Jaxson McLennan:
Too many to name. If you’re looking for an Aussie VO, my rates are very reasonable… 😉 haha!
Rhys Messenger:
Male – I would have to say Steve Taylor.
And female – Rachel McGrath.
They both have such amazing voices and can do any type of read.
FAVORITE PLUGIN?
Mike Santos:
Little Alter Boy, MondoMod and Sci Fi.
Melissa Alger:
H-Delay, probably too in love with it, but great for layering.
Chris Davis:
Pitch ‘n Time is still a must, but im actually playing with the Scheps PlugIns (waves) at the moment. Parallel Particles and Omni Channel are my faves.
Dan Hunt:
Pitch ‘n Time Pro.
Jaxson McLennan:
I use Pitch ‘n Time Heaps and have been using Air Vintage Filter a lot lately. H-Delay, H-Reverb, Auto-Tune… The standard gear. That said, there’s no reason you can’t make great stuff with just the stock standard AudioSuite PlugIns.
Rhys Messenger:
This is going to sound boring, but it’s a hard question. So, I go straight to the PlugIn I use the most – MetaFlanger. The reason I use MetaFlanger the most is, because I layer it constantly on a filtered track with the normal VO and then pan left to right. I learnt this trick from Dan Hunt so credit to him.
FAVORITE PRODUCTION TRICK?
Mike Santos:
Probably tricking out the music beyond stutter edits and pass filters. Switching beats, adding drops, claps, EQs, etc. Treat your music as a remix and give your listeners something familiar, but with a twist.
Melissa Alger:
I don’t play favorites, haha. Just happy to hoard as many tricks as I can learn.
Chris Davis:
Mangling VO bits to make them sound robotic and harmonic! hahaha!
Dan Hunt:
Layering Auto Tuned VO under the original VO in the key of the music it is being voiced over.
Rhys Messenger:
I’m a big fan of cutting VO’s on the beat (using grid mode of course) without making it sound unnatural. It makes the Promo flow better and sound more consistent.
