----------------------------------------------------- MAY 2002  ----------------------------------------------------- Source: Apple Computers http://www.apple.com/creative/musicaudio/jonanderson/ Jon Anderson: Solo Singing — Songs from the Spirit Game “I want to create a very freeform album based entirely on a surround sound concept with video and strong imagery tied directly to the music. Movement is very important to music, and to the future of music.” Thus began our conversation with legendary recording artist, Jon Anderson, during a recent visit to his home recording studio. As cofounder and lead singer of the super-group Yes, Jon has been one of progressive rock’s most distinctive and recognizable voices for more than 30 years, and one of its major influencers and innovators. And he’s equally so as a solo artist. Jon’s just beginning work on a brand new solo effort that, as is always the case with him, pushes the envelope of innovation and musicianship. Tentatively titled “Solo Singing — Songs from the Spirit Game,” Jon intends to create a body of work completely done in surround sound, with heavy reliance on video and imagery as an integral, equally important component of the project. “Our lives are, in many ways, omni-directional and in surround sound,” says Jon. “Music should be the same way.” One of this project’s unique twists is Jon’s intent to play all the instruments — something he hasn’t done since “Olias of Sunhillow,” his solo debut effort released in 1976 — and completely record and produce the album himself in his home studio. Such is the power of the tools he’s using: a dual 1GHz Power Mac G4 with SuperDrive, an Apple Cinema Display, and a bevy of the latest goodies from Digidesign. Jon: “The great Apple and Digidesign equipment I’m using affords me the opportunity to have a perfectly good studio at home, capable of producing truly professional quality work. Plus, a home studio is much more cost efficient than a regular recording studio, and I get the same high quality, pro results.” Thirty Plus Years of Great Music As cofounder and lead singer for the legendary super-group Yes, Jon Anderson has managed to stay ahead of the music-and-technology curve for over three decades.  During the 1970s, Yes pioneered the use of synthesizers and sound effects in modern music. Driven by Jon’s artistic vision, they produced such timeless, symphonic-rock masterworks as “Roundabout,” “Close To the Edge,” and “Awaken.” In the 1980s, Yes pushed new digital sampling technologies to their limits, selling millions of records and influencing a generation of digital musicians with classics like “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” and “Rhythm Of Love.” Moving through the 1990s and into the new millennium, the band keeps expanding its boundaries by using the latest hard-disk recording techniques and, most recently, working with a full orchestra to create their genre-defying music. Jon Anderson is equally prolific outside Yes. He has released over twenty solo and collaboration albums, working with musicians from around the world for a sound that is always fresh, positive, and culturally diverse. In the 1980s Jon teamed with Vangelis and scored two Top Ten hits in the U.K. with “I Hear You Now” and “I’ll Find My Way Home.” As a solo artist, he maintains his fascination with cutting-edge technologies — Jon recently managed to record an entire CD on his PowerBook while vacationing in Hawaii! The Tools That Make It All Possible In order for Jon to tackle this new project, sophisticated, powerful tools that are up to the challenge are an absolute must. Aside from his dual 1GHz Power Mac G4 and Apple Cinema Display, Jon uses a variety of products from Digidesign, including Digidesign’s expanded high definition audio production workstation, Pro Tools|HD 2, along with the new192 I/O, Digidesign¼s 24-Bit/192 KHz multi-channel audio interface, and a DigiDrive FireWire 80GB hard drive. Digidesign’s Pro Tools|HD 2 system offers professionals like Jon, as well as hobbyists, a sophisticated, integrated environment for audio production. This new, high-definition workstation incorporates a highly advanced hardware architecture, delivering superior sonic quality. Along with major DSP power for real-time mixing and effects processing, Pro Tools|HD 2 features support for sample rates up to 192Khz, high track count and input/output capacity, expanded routing flexibility, and much more.  Digidesign’s new 192 I/O audio interface facilitates the process of getting high-resolution audio into and out of your Power Mac G4. 192 I/O is the flagship audio interface for Pro Tools|HD, supporting sample rates up to 192Khz, and up to 16 channels of high-definition audio throughput via its multitude of analog and digital connections. “The great Apple and Digidesign equipment I’m using affords me the opportunity to have a perfectly good studio at home, capable of producing truly professional quality work.”  Creative control is at the heart of Jon’s decision to record and produce in his home studio. Jon points out, “Having your own studio is like having your own playground. It’s a matter of putting all your ideas together and realizing your dream in a musical form. What’s most important is the excitement of being creative, and the flexibility afforded by this equipment allows me to be exactly that.” Along for the Ride Between now and November, Jon will share with us everything involved with putting this project together and bringing it to fruition. We’ll be providing a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at how Jon uses the equipment, how the recording is actually performed, how production is accomplished, and much more, culminating in the release of the album. We’ll also hear snippets of Jon’s new songs, from their very raw stages, through to polished, professional recordings. Plus, we have a few surprises planned. So be sure to join us each month for this rare glimpse into how a major artist records an album. As Jon states, “I want to show how even a 10 year-old can pick up a guitar and feel empowered to create music. No one should feel they need years of instruction to create music. What I’m doing here is like a blueprint: we’re going to show that without too much musical knowledge, anyone can go out and create music.” Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, problems, corrections, or additions, contact YesinthePress@aol.com