Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About Us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist
  • Guitar Techniques
  • Total Guitar
  • Bass Player
More
  • How to make an AI cover song
  • 30 beautiful acoustic guitar chords
  • 86000+ free music samples

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. News

Me in my studio: Ishmael Ensemble

By Ben Rogerson
published 7 November 2018

Multi-instrumentalist and producer Pete Cunningham shows you his studio staples

Rising to prominence with releases on Wolf Music, West Friends and Church, producer Pete Cunningham is continuing his celebration of Bristol and its surrounding areas with the release of Severn Songs 2, the second in a vinyl trilogy.

Operating as Ishmael Ensemble, as well as producing the project he also plays sax, keys and synths, with other musicians contributing to this jazzy electronic melange.  

We asked Pete to show us the gear that keeps his musical wheels turning.

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
WEM Watkins Copicat

WEM Watkins Copicat

“This piece of kit is all over my work. I got a call one day that a friend of a friend was leaving town and selling a whole load of studio equipment; I paid £100 for it, an absolute steal!

“It's simple enough to use and adds so much warmth and character to anything you run through it. I have it set up as a send from my desk so it's always ready to go!”

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
Novation BassStation 2

Novation BassStation 2

“I bought this off a friend a few years ago. It's an amazing monosynth for the price. As the name suggests, it's great for fat squelchy basslines; however, it also has an arpeggiator with lots of parameters so it's perfect for creating rhythmic synth parts. I'll often record a four- or five-minute take just working the different knobs and then chop out my favourite parts. This can be heard in most of our tracks.”

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
Yamaha MT400

Yamaha MT400

“I first used one of these at my friend’s studio in Berlin last summer. The unit has two different record speeds as well as a pitch wheel. If you record at double speed then play back at half, with the jog wheel right down you get near enough an octave lower. I use this trick a lot for creating beds of ambient sax or guitar.”

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
sE Electronics X1R

sE Electronics X1R

“sE make some of the best microphones if you're on a budget. I've been using this simple ribbon mic for everything recently. It's great for vocals, horns and percussion. We also use it as a room mic when recording drums. I run it through a Focusrite preamp and then straight into Logic. It's always set-up in the corner just in case an idea comes to mind.”

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
Hand percussion

Hand percussion

“Never underestimate the power of percussion! A subtle clave or shaker is often all you need to elevate a simple drum beat into something more interesting. I usually just throw a load of loops I’ve made over a drum track and take them away one by one until something clicks. If there's more than one rhythm I like I'll hard pan them to each side of the mix for clarity.”

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
Yamaha YTS23

Yamaha YTS23

“I use a fairly common Saxophone set up; an Otto Link 6 mouthpiece with JAVA Red 3 reeds. Although perhaps less charismatic than some of the more vintage models I've played, Yamaha saxophones are built to last. Its sturdiness is perfect for touring and it’s yet to need any dramatic repair work, so why change?”

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
Boss VE-20

Boss VE-20

“Although more part of my live set-up, this pedal gets used from time to time in the studio. It's essentially a vocal effects unit but works great on other instruments. As well as fairly standard reverbs and delays it's got a harmoniser function that makes the sax sound like some alien choir. It always arouses curiosity and intrigue at shows.”

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
Ben Rogerson
Ben Rogerson
Social Links Navigation

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it. 

More about tech
Michiru Aoyama

Japanese ambient musician Michiru Aoyama has woken at 5am to record a new album every day since 2021 – he's now earning $3,000 a month from his music on Spotify and Bandcamp

max richter

Max Richter unveils new piano plugin based on the renowned composer's Steinway D SPIRIO | r: "If you want to evoke the intimate stories we all carry inside us, then you will be well served by this instrument"

Latest
English singer-songwriter and former Wings and Moody Blues guitarist, Denny Laine posed wearing a leather jacket outside near an harbor 1981

"He was an outstanding vocalist and guitar player" – Paul McCartney leads tributes to Denny Laine as the Wings and Moody Blues founder passes away aged 89

See more latest ►
Most Popular
7 free plugins you need to know about this month

By Matt Mullen5 December 2023

"I don't think it ever really goes away" – Brian May admits he still suffers with imposter syndrome

By Rob Laing5 December 2023

“I don’t want to generalise and say that he made everything sound good, but he did”: Joe Satriani reveals his strategy for replicating Eddie Van Halen’s tone on upcoming Sammy Hagar tour

By Jonathan Horsley5 December 2023

Modalics releases MINDst Drums, a new sampled drum kit plugin that promises realism and authenticity

By Matt Mullen5 December 2023

RØDE acquires rival Mackie to create audio powerhouse: "Their origin story is uncannily similar to ours"

By Will Groves5 December 2023

7 of the best new hardware synths in 2023

By Si Truss5 December 2023

"This video is what happens when you spend your time practicing instead of arguing about gear online" – Julia Przybysz proves groove is in the hands with a stunning bass workout of Michael Jackson's Get On The Floor on a $350 StingRay

By Rob Laing4 December 2023

Vince Clarke: "Martin Gore brought along his synthesizer, we looked at the thing and thought, this is a lot easier than learning chords on a guitar and you only need one finger to play it"

By Danny Turner4 December 2023

The 7 ways I learned to improve my guitar tone – that won't cost you money

By Leigh Fuge4 December 2023

Believe it or not, the Behringer UB-Xa synth is now on sale - and it’s even cheaper than we thought it was going to be

By Ben Rogerson4 December 2023

10 Christmas gift ideas for the music-maker in your life under $100

By Chris Cartledge4 December 2023

  1. The Prodigy
    1
    “It's so offensive that it can't actually mean that”: Have The Prodigy finally changed the lyrics to ‘the most controversial song of all time’?
  2. 2
    14 tips for producing better techno: "Automate the low-pass filter frequency to create a rhythmic pattern on your bassline"
  3. 3
    Sweetwater has the gear you need, at the prices you want
  4. 4
    The 7 ways I learned to improve my guitar tone – that won't cost you money
  5. 5
    Believe it or not, the Behringer UB-Xa synth is now on sale - and it’s even cheaper than we thought it was going to be
  1. Epiphone Greeny
    1
    Why does the Epiphone Greeny Les Paul cost $1,500?
  2. 2
    The 7 ways I learned to improve my guitar tone – that won't cost you money
  3. 3
    Believe it or not, the Behringer UB-Xa synth is now on sale - and it’s even cheaper than we thought it was going to be
  4. 4
    "It's just a good-looking toy": Is it worth buying a Teenage Engineering EP-133 KO II when you can do everything that it does (and more) on a free app?
  5. 5
    Teenage Engineering TP-7 review

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.