Vikter Duplaix
Occupation:
Artist, producer, DJ, songwriter
Official Website:
http://www.vikterduplaix.com
Background:
Vikter Duplaix, a Philadelphia native, began his career by studying music and singing in touring choirs with legendary artists such as Teddy Pendergrass and Luciano Pavarotti. His DJ skills were honed with Philly legends Jazzy Jeff and King Britt and he was mentored in the art of business by Philadelphia International’s own Kenny Gamble. Duplaix is a founding member of Philadelphia’s Axis Music Group, a music production house shared with Grammy award-winner James Poyser and executive Chauncey Childs. His introduction to the global music scene came in 2000 with his installment of K7!‘s DJ Kicks series, which showcased his vocal stylings and musical taste. In 2002, Vikter released his first full-length artist project titled International Affairs on Hollywood Records, which garnered critical acclaim.
Uninhibited by the confines of major labels, Duplaix formed a joint venture with BBE Records. The first release was an EP, Stimulation, a prequel to Duplaix’s full-length release, Bold and Beautiful. Appearances and collaborative production work included James Poyser, Micheal Angelo, Esthero, Tye Tribbet & G.A., Raphael Saddiq, Karsh Kale, Gary Dourdan, Suphala, Omar Edwards, Junius Bervine and house music pioneer Louie Vega.
Duplaix’s production work continues to defy genres as he creates soundscapes for artists as diverse as Earth, Wind and Fire, Jazzanova, Norman Brown, Nitin Sawhney, King Britt, Bob James, N’dea Davenport (Brand New Heavies), Ladybug Mecca (Digable Planets) and Spacek.
Vikter Duplaix
Duplaix on M-Audio Hardware: “My home studio consists of a PowerBook G4, Axiom 61, Trigger Finger, FireWire 410, Torq Conectiv and Pro Tools M-Powered. My Axiom 61 is my main signal creator, and I like the fact that it’s powered directly by my USB port. My FireWire 410 acts as my main audio sound card in my studio, and I use it on stage as well. I mainly use it as the output for the additional tracks we use in the show (backing vocals, sound effects, extra basses). I find the 410 a lot more convenient than other, bulkier FireWire interfaces—I use the 410 at every gig.”
Duplaix on M-Audio Software: “Pro Tools is pretty much the industry standard for file trading. Pro Tools M-Powered makes it easier to jump in and out of other programs without changing hardware.”
His production process: “I’m proud of my evolution from DJ to producer to artist. It gives me a solid understanding of how it all works together. I rely on feel and vibe. Technology gives me access to a recording lab at any given moment. Being able to make a completed song on a laptop has given me a great deal of freedom.”
Why M-Audio? “M-Audio gear has really helped make a high-powered yet compact studio more manageable than ever before. That’s very important for a traveler like me. M-Audio is always eager to assist with any issue I might have. Also, the communication of new ideas happens at a level that could possibly push things even further. M-Audio makes well-designed and high-quality tools for the serious sound creator.”
