SonicMonkey

SonicMonkey is the online musical playground of Michael Hacker, an Arizona-based guitarist, songwriter, recording geek, and techie. Michael is the owner of SonicMonkey Studios (a.k.a. the spare bedroom in his house) and likes Pro Tools, Line 6, and other stuff that he wishes would give him a sponsorship. Michael occasionally talks about stuff. Sometimes, he posts musical sketches (read: filler). Even more rarely, he finishes a song.

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about me

Triumphant Guitar Hero Pose

That’s me… your Illustrious Host with his Illustrious Line 6 Variax 700 (can you say “sponsorship?”).

It seems that I’ve been yutzing away on a guitar since sometime in the early 80s… I can’t remember exactly when I started, though, so don’t bother asking. I’ll probably just say something sarcastic, anyway.

My tastes run the gamut from 1960s ~ 1980s rock, folk, jazz, j-pop, and even some classical. But I love the classic 70s rock, à la Boston, Kansas, Queen, Meatloaf, etc. My primary playing / songwriting influences are The Beatles (duh), Queen, Ty Tabor (of King’s X fame), Nuno Bettencourt (formerly of Extreme, currently of DramaGods), Tommy Emmanuel, Edward Van Halen, Frank Zappa, and Indigo Girls. In other words, pretty much a little of everything.

I had my first experience recording in the mid 80s in my buddy Joel’s basement. My friend Dave and I (well, mostly Dave) built a makeshift multitrack recording system out of 2 cheap portable cassette recorders, some wires, a few cheap (there’s that word again) microphones, and a 2-channel mixer Dave bought from Radio Shack. Dave and Joel played keyboards and I played a cheapie loaner guitar that had microphones for pickups. I probably still have a tape hiding around here somewhere (which is where it will stay).

I eventually graduated to a Fostex 4-track and entry-level Roland drum machine sometime in the late 80s while living in beautiful Monterey, CA. Now I have a Mac Octo-core running Pro Tools. Neat, eh?

After a brief 10 year hiatus in Japan, I now find myself in sunny Arizona. I have a small digital project studio in my home, which is where I record and produce all of the things you will be hearing here. In addition, I also collaborate with other local recording folks and musicians.