A great guitar collection, learning to play the organ, GarageBand, and “modes are a musician’s best friend”. Our sister site AudioJungle is a royalty-free stock audio site that helps musicians earn money. In this interview series you’ll learn about those musicians, their gear, and their AudioJungle experiences. Today we meet RobGD.
Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from, what do you do for a living?
I’m originally from Carbondale, PA and have moved around the country a little bit. I’ve been in Richmond, VA for the past four and a half years. I have a few bits of school to include a recording arts and sciences degree from Omega Studios in Rockville MD, and an MCSA in MS Windows desktops and servers along with some other odds and ends. I currently take care of a cluster of radio stations here and no I don’t do the websites. 
I run a little local web startup on the side in which I have a few web sites and stores running on my server so far.
Which marketplaces do you belong to? What types of files do you sell?
I’m an author on AudioJungle. I like to keep my mics and guitars warmed up and in tune as much as possible. I started out doing more electronic stuff and ended up with a guitar last year and I’ve been obsessed with it ever since.
The collection in my studio has grown to include a Strat, 2 Schecter’s, a Telecaster, a Jazz Bass, Yamaha Acoustic, a PRS SE 24, and a ukelele. My direction has changed to include whatever it takes to make the right song.
I’m still growing and I doubt I will ever stop learning about music. I like to do the band in the garage or on the sound stage type tunes that have a hint of retro in them. The old school guitar and drum sounds are my favorite.
I try to make my stuff sound like it was recorded on a tape machine in a studio back in the 60′s with lots of glowing tubes in everything. I like my tunes warm and a little fuzzy.
How did you get started? Have you had any formal training?
I started out when I was a kid wanting to play the organ. I was granted my wish and took lessons for around five years. After that I picked up a guitar and started in on that until my early 20′s when I ended up having to let go of all my instruments. There was a long period of musical inactivity until early 2009 when I opened up Garage Band. It was like watching Star Trek! I haven’t set foot in a music store in ten years so just imagine my shock in seeing all that had come to play in that time. I was blown away and had to get back in.
Describe your home workspace.
My home studio is an ever changing mess of what it takes to get the job done. Right now it consists of a 24″ iMac, Digi 003 rack+, Novation SL 61 MKII, 2 dynamic mics, 2 condenser mics, 7 or 8 guitars and so on.
I have Komplete 6, Logic 9 for the DAW, and a few more synths. Everything is packed into my bedroom with odds and ends spilling out into the living room. It looks different every month and will probably continue to to so for quite some time.
Describe your creative process. What steps do you normally follow to create your files?
My creative process has been evolving along with my knowledge of theory. Right now I’m in the middle of doing things by ear and just going straight to what I need to play. If I go over a melody in my head that works for a chord progression I either know what key I’m in, or I find it by following patterns based on the pedal tone. Either way I get there. I’ve been starting with chords lately, and building the rest on top.
Modes are a musician’s best friend, and they work well with keyboards also. I’ve found that with a solid base of major scales and modes, you can do anything over the chords you’ve chosen. I’ll start out with an idea of what I want to do, and then trip over something else and go off on a tangent. Something get’s done, but it doesn’t ever seem to be what I started on.
What is your advice to other authors regarding how to create a successful portfolio?
Just make music. Do your best and see what happens. Ask around and see what others think. Try to get better every day. I’m seeing a light touch of success with that.
What do you do to market your files?
I tweet, put stuff on my site, try to share links with other authors. Every once in a while I’ll put something on Facebook. Not too much.
What are your three favorite files, and why do you like them?
Pensive Surfer. I like to pretend I can go back in time. This one takes me there.
Download audio file (preview.mp3)
Stroll on the Beach. I just like the mellow vibe with this one. I can fall asleep to it or hum along, it just works for me.
Download audio file (preview.mp3)
Acoustic Love. I am really thrilled with how nice this Acoustic sounds. Makes me happy to be able to make her talk a little. Then I like to go back and listen a little.
Download audio file (preview.mp3)
Apart from yourself, who is your favorite marketplace author, and why do you like them?
Sigh…well, I think folks have noticed by now I’m a bit of a cheer leader. When I hear some nice sounds I’m off to Twitter. Sorry but I can’t pick a favorite. Tons of great music and cool people. It’s nice to be here.
What do you do in your spare time?
Music has become my spare time, along with keeping my girls (14 & 16) out of trouble and spending time with my wonderful lady, Claire. Then there’s some MMA fights to watch, and a little football. Maybe a burger and a beer. Thanks for taking 5 to read this.