Who is The Music Tech Guy UK and his journey to date?

Meet Jon

I am probably old enough to know better, but I have been hooked on electronic instruments and gear since being introduced to the music production scene when I was 18 and acquire my first keyboard, a Yamaha DSR2000, a keyboard that most of you have probably never heard of.

To set the scene this was the late 80's keyboards and synthesisers were going digital, recording was going digital, processing was going digital. Acts like SNAP, S-Express and Beats International were topping the UK charts and heavily reliant on electronica to create their sound.

Many of those around me were utterly lost by computers and MIDI. They could play their instruments but struggled with the setup and maintenance. But for me the technology really fascinated me and made a lot of sense. What can I say I was hooked. But of course at that age I had no money, so would beg and borrow from other musicians to get my 'electronica fix'.

Move on some 30 years and I find myself living on the south coast of the UK after growing up in a vibrant London music scene. Why did I move away from London? Well simply. Space. London is expensive for little space whereas where I live now allows more space for more equipment (eventually!). Following a nasty and expensive separation I now have a little more disposable income than I had when I was 18 and a very understanding partner that allows me to service my 'electronica fettish'.

I have a few choose keyboards at my house with most of my collection being in secure storage until the next stage of my journey can be realised. But more on that as it is realised.

So I can now spend my spare time playing and composing my own music under The Music Tech Guy Uk branding that I seem to have adopted.

As The Music Tech Guy UK I have also been able to establish a small workshop which is where many of the videos for the channel are now filmed. If you look closely in you will often see 'Shaun the Sheep' or 'Bertie Bunny' the channels unofficial mascots lurking in the background. The workshop has allowed me to take on larger restoration jobs and allowed me to leave those jobs in a state of disassemblement while I source parts, which sometimes can take a while. Sometimes I will take on a repair for friends like the series of videos on the Roland JX-3P for Drum and Bass producer Gary Robinson professionally known as The Death Beats. Or the Gibraltar Hardware keyboard stand build for Wayne Harris, keyboardist with the tribute acts Bon Giovi and Airtight 80's

The Music Tech Guy UK electronica collection incorporates classic keyboards, modules, samplers, drum machines from Korg (M1, T1, OASYS), Roland (D-50, S-50, TR-909), Yamaha (DX7, SY99, TX16W), AKAI (S1000, S6000) just to mention a few units. There are also newer units in the collection like the Behringer RD-8, Korg KRONOS and Roland Jupiter-80. Unfortunately space constraints means most of the collection it safely packed up and in a secure storage location until such time as a new 'studio' space is realised.

I look forward to saying hi sometime either through the channel or at a trade show.

The Music Tech Guy UK is always looking for new subjects for the channel and fuel my interest. I have had collaborations with other musicians over the past few years where I was able to show case various keyboards, like the Roland JX-8P, Roland JX-3P, Roland Juno-106 and Korg Poly 61, to mention a few. If you feel that you have a keyboard that might be of interest to showcase on The Music Tech Guy UK channel and website then get in touch, you never know you could also be the next big YouTube star.

Alternatively if you have a keyboard that you want to donate to the channel, working or not, also get in touch and we can discuss you proposal.

The easiest way to contact The Music Tech Guy UK is to use the form at the foot of this page.

Jon

The Music Tech Guy UK