Workspace and Environment: Joseph Fraioli

Joseph Fraioli has released albums on Planet Mu, Sublight and his own Jafbox Recordings and now runs his own sound design company. You probably know him better as Datach’i. Enjoy!

Background
I was born in Mount Kisco, New York and now live in Brooklyn, New York and have been here for just over 11 years. I was spending so much time in brooklyn and the city that it just made sense to move here.

I’ve been involved with making music since when I got my first guitar from my cousin when I was 10 years old. I eventually started experimenting with it to get new sounds using different tunings and pedal configurations, messing with the tremolo bar, etc. just because I wanted to hear something new. I first discovered sound design when I was 16 and saw a making of Jurassic Park on PBS where they had an interview with Gary Rydstrom. It blew my mind how he combined different animal sounds to make the t-rex and different dinosaurs. It really stuck with me. Years later in 2001, I got my first opportunity to create sound for picture for an installation at the museum of modern art in new york. It was then I realized my passion for sound design for picture. As if all the while I was creating sound for images I had in my head.

In general what keeps me motivated is finding new sounds and developing / implementing new processes.

Hardware
My favorite pieces of gear would have to be my eurorack modular system and my Pacarana Kyma system. The modular is so great for original source generation. Like every module is an idea and a patch becomes a cohesive thought. The possibilities seem endless and I like how you cant recall anything. Once you take apart a patch thats it, it forces you to be creative in a different way. With Kyma, I love how I can make sound into silly puddy: bending and stretching conventional sounds into something new and different. What really gets interesting for me is using Kyma and the modular together. Another go to processor for me is the Eventide Orville. Such a deep machine especially with the vSig software.

Software
I’ve been really into GRM tools v3 and sound hack pvoc kit lately. Love having granular, pvoc and spectral shapers available as plugins in Pro-Tools to morph and alter sounds with recall.

Workspace and Environment
I like an almost sterile and blank slate feel in the studio the best. It helps me listen, think and feel relaxed. All the gear in there is very purposeful to how I like to work. Ergonomics are pretty important. I love my bungee chair, all I have to do is spin it around and I have access to everything.

Surroundings
Well, I haven’t released music in a bit but the city certainly does have an effect on my work. It’s often either a direct inspiration from my surroundings or escape from them.

Extra Curricular
These days I’m more involved with non-personal projects, I create sound design for advertising and film. I started my own small company called jafbox sound a few years ago and aim to bring innovative feature film quality sound design into all types of media.

jafbox Sound
Datach’i