Sound Design
Music and sound effects for film, web and live performance.
For many years I have produced sound design for film, media and live performance.
I'm excited to share with you a variety of short sketches of some of my work showcasing the diversity of sounds I can create for your project. Working with a wide range of instruments, synthesisers, sample libraries, plus having the ability to provide location and foley recording enables me to create a wide range of music, textures and soundscapes, matched to the kaupapa of your project.
Exhibitions
I have produced many soundscapes for museums and galleries, including a series to support the work of Robin Slow and Brian Flintoff, of which Ngā Hau Ngākau toured nationally (view here).
Recently I was asked to create music for a series of videos featured in a new exhibition at Puke Ariki, the New Plymouth Museum, called Whakarūaumoko: Active Earth. Imagery of exploding volcanoes, lava flows, gentle streams, ocean waves and important kaupapa Māori kōrero, were featured in the different videos inspiring a broad range of music genres and soundscapes:
All music composed and performed by Bob Bickerton. Thanks to Puke Ariki.
Theatre
Mark Hadlow, Artistic Director of the Professional Theatre Company in Nelson and writer Gregory Cooper have asked me to provide sound design for a number of plays, some of which have toured nationally. Here's a selection of sketches from Mr and Mrs MacBeth of Dodson Valley Road.
All music composed and performed by Bob Bickerton. Thanks to the Professional Theatre Company.
Film
During the early 2000s, we created music for several films directed by Kathleen Gallagher of WickCandle Films. These soundtracks featured Richard Nunns playing taonga pūoro, Aroha Yates-Smith composing waiata and myself playing harp and flute. Here's four examples of our work.
All music composed and performed by Aroha Yates-Smith, Richard Nunns and Bob Bickerton. Thanks to WickCandle Films.
Other Media
It's wonderful not knowing what will come through the door next! The first three sketches are excerpts from textural loops created for a pilot video game produced by Kahu Smith and Ankita Singh and the last two are tracks created for Sound On Sound magazine projects.
All music composed and performed by Bob Bickerton. Thanks to Kahu Smith, Anika Singh and the Sound on Sound team.
Taonga Pūoro
I'm often approached to provide taonga pūoro recordings for kaupapa Māori projects, which I'm happy to do provided mana whenua have granted consent for me to be involved. Each recording is made for a specific kaupapa and so new recordings are made for each project.
You may wish to read my Kawa Whakaruruhau (policy statement) regarding taonga pūoro use here and please do not hesitate to contact me should you require further information.
Instruments
Taonga Puoro (full range)
Pilgrim Clasarch Harp (32 strings - gut)
Uilleann Pipes (Denis Crowley in D)
Irish Flute (Terry McGee in D)
Irish Flute (Terry McGee in C)
Irish Flute (Terry McGee in Bb)
Tin Whistles (variety of keys including low whistles)
Taylor 312e Acoustic Guitar
Maton FG100/6 Vintage Acoustic Guitar
Bodhrans
Epiphone 'Viola' Bass Guitar
Vermona Perfourmer MKII Synthesiser
Instruo Seashell Hybrid Desktop Synthesiser
Roland JU-06a Synthesiser
Torso S-4 Sculpting Sampler
Torso T-1 Sequencer
Atoms Physical Modelling Synthesiser
Korg MS-20 Synthesiser (virtual)
Korg Liano Digital Piano and MIDI Controller
Novation LaunchKey 49 MIDI Controller
Lujin MIDI Controller
Expression E Touché SE
Recording Equipment
Microtech Geffel UMT 70 S Multi-Pattern Microphone
Sennheiser MKH8020 Omni-Directional Microphone (x2)
Sennheiser MKH8040 Cardioid Microphone (x2)
Sennheiser MKH8050 Hyper-Cardioid Microphone (x2)
Neumann SM69 Stereo Multi-Pattern Microphone
AEA N8 Ribbon Microphone (x2)
Beyerdynamic M201 Dynamic Microphone (x2)
Shure SM7 Dynamic Microphone
AKG C411 Contact Microphone
UAD Apollo 8P Audio Interface
Focusrite ISA Two Pre-Amp
Sound Devices MixPre-10 8 Channel Portable Recorder
Tascam FR-AV2 Stereo Portable Recorder
Neumann KH 120 II Monitors
Neumann NDH-30 Headphones
Neumann NDH-20 Headphones
Beyerdynamic D770 Headphones
Logic Audio
Plug-Ins by UAD, SSL, Sound Particles, Strymon, Soundtoys, SoundGhost, Sampleson, Eventide, Mountainroad, Liquidsonics, iZotope and Accentize.
Pedals
Electro-Harmonix 720 - Looper
Eventide Blackhole - Reverb/Delay
Gamechanger - Sustain Pedal
Red Panda - Tensor
Soma Cosmos - Drifting Memory Station
Source Audio Collider - Delay/Reverb
Source Audio Nemesis - Delay
UAFX Golden Reverberator - Reverb
UAFX LA-2A - Compressor
Sample Libraries
Spitfire - Abbey Road Thematic Horns
Spitfire - Abbey Road Thematic Trumpets
Spitfire - Abbey Road Wonderous Flute
Spitfire - Abbey Road Grand Brass
Spitfire - Abbey Road Soaring High Strings
Spitfire - Abbey Road Legendary Low Strings
Spitfire - Albion Neo
Spitfire - Albion V Tundra
Spitfire - Appassionata Strings
Spitfire - Aperture Strings
Spitfire - BBC Symphony Orchestra (Professional)
Spitfire - BBC Steinway Model D
Spitfire - British Drama Toolkit
Spitfire - British Drama Toolkit Brass and Reeds
Spitfire - Contemporary Drama Toolkit
Spitfire - Eric Whitacre Choir
Spitfire - Fractured Strings
Spitfire - Harp
Spitfire - Heirloom (Emotional Ensemble)
Spitfire - Inder Goldfinger Percussion
Spitfire - Labs Bass Guitar
Spitfire - Labs Choir
Spitfire - Labs Classic Synths
Spitfire - Labs Dulcimer
Spitfire - Labs Gaelic Voices
Spitfire - Labs Guitar Harmonics
Spitfire - Labs Lap Steel
Spitfire - Labs Peel Guitar
Spitfire - Labs Uilleann Pipes
Spitfire - Labs Vintage Drums
Spitfire - London Contemporary Orchestra
Spitfire - MG Soft Acoustic Guitar
Spitfire - MG Soft Nylon Guitar
Spitfire - Olafur Arnalds Cells
Spitfire - Olafur Arnalds Composer Toolkit
Spitfire - Olafur Arnalds Evolutions
Spitfire - Olafur Arnalds Chamber Evolutions
Spitfire - Olafur Arnalds Stratus
Spitfire - Orchestral Swarm
Spitfire - Solar
Spitfire - Chamber Strings (Professional)
Spitfire - Solo Strings
Spitfire - Martin Ware Library
Spitfire - Originals Cinematic Frozen Strings
Spitfire - Originals Cinematic Pads
Spitfire - Originals Cinematic Percussion
Spitfire - Originals Epic Brass and Woodwinds
Spitfire - Originals Epic Choir
Spitfire - Originals Felt Piano
Spitfire - Originals Intimate Grand Piano
Spitfire - Originals Intimate Strings
Spitfire - Percussion Joby Burgess
Spitfire - Studio Strings
Spitfire - Studio Brass
Spitfire - Studio Woodwinds
Crow Hill Marshal Brass
DAACI - N-Drums
East West - Silk Road
Expressive E Soliste CLO.756 Solo Cello
Kontakt - Factory Library 2
Kontakt - Grandeur Piano
Lie - Expressive E Synth Engine
Luftrum - Bioscape
Native Instruments - India
Native Instruments - Ireland
Native Instruments - West Africa
Native Instruments - East Asia
Orchestral Tools - Parallel Orchestra
Orchestral Tools - Salu Solo Harp
Orchestral Tools - Miroire Baroque Oboe D’more
Triumph Audio - Ghost Cello
Universal Audio - Ravel Grand Piano
Vienna Symphonic - Flugel Horn