Exploring AI, Smart Homes, and Music: A Catch-Up with Ian Dixon and Garry Whittaker
Release Date: 03/26/2025
OP-6, Hydrasynth & More! Chalkwalk Music Talks Sound Design & Gear
The Digital Lifestyle.com
🎹 Welcome to this week’s TDL Synth Chat! In this episode, I talk to Daniel from Chalkwalk Music about his journey into synthesis, sound design, and creating inspiring YouTube tutorials. We dive into his background, favorite gear, live improv sessions, sound design philosophies, and even DIY Eurorack projects. Whether you’re into the Korg OP-6, Hydrasynth, MicroFreak, or modular gear, you’ll find loads of insight into sound design, improvisation, and the creative process. 👉 Check out Daniel’s channel here: 👉 Follow me for more synth chats, tutorials, and sound packs: [Your...
info_outline
Yamaha DX7 History & Legacy | Rob Puricelli on FM Synthesis, Classic Sounds & Synth Evolution
The Digital Lifestyle.com
The Yamaha DX7 is one of the most iconic synthesizers of the 1980s, shaping pop, electronic, and film music with its groundbreaking FM synthesis engine. In this video, I sit down with Rob Puricelli (Pro Synth Network, Gear News) to explore the history, legacy, and lasting influence of the DX7 and its family of FM synths. We cover everything from the origins of FM synthesis at Stanford University to Yamaha’s early GS models, the launch of the DX7, and how it changed the sound of an era. Rob shares insights on programming, presets, and why the DX7’s electric piano patch remains legendary. We...
info_outline
Underrated Synths You Need to Hear: DW-8000, Alpha Juno 2 & More
The Digital Lifestyle.com
This week, Ian sits down with Alex Dalliance (aka Vulture Culture) to shine a light on the analog synths that deserve way more love. From the gritty charm of the DW-8000 to the overlooked brilliance of the Alpha Juno 2, we dig into the gear that delivers serious tone without the boutique price tag. If you’re tired of hearing about the same five synths over and over, this episode is your antidote. We cover real-world usability, sonic character, and why limitations can be a creative superpower. ⏱️ Timestamps – Synth Spotlights & Deep Dives 00:00 – Intro: Why underrated synths...
info_outline
Surface Pro 12 & Laptop 13 – Hands-On with Rob Quickenden | Copilot+ PCs, AI & ARM Performance
The Digital Lifestyle.com
This week on The Digital Lifestyle Show, I’m joined by Microsoft Surface MVP Rob Quickenden to dive into the latest Surface devices and what they mean for users. We cover the new Surface Pro 12 and Laptop 13 models, Snapdragon vs Intel processors, Copilot+ PCs, and what it’s like using these devices for music production, video editing, and day-to-day work. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Welcoming Rob Quickenden back 01:00 AI features in Windows 11 (Recall, Copilot, Studio Effects) 03:00 How AI is rolling out in Windows Insider builds 05:20 The shift from Windows 10 to AI-powered...
info_outline
Gadgets, Smart Home, Synth Sounds & My New Album | The Digital Lifestyle Show
The Digital Lifestyle.com
Coming Up This Week on The Digital Lifestyle Show 🎧 This week, Ian and Garry catch up on the latest in gadgets, smart home tech, EVs, music projects, and more. From new portable chargers and Surface devices to custom synth sound packs and Ian’s brand-new album, there’s plenty to dive into! 📌 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment if you’re enjoying the show. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & what’s coming up 01:06 – Testing new portable chargers 08:07 – Smart sensors & lighting projects 13:33 – New power banks & charging tests 16:15 –...
info_outline
Synth Chat Podcast – Episode: Marc Barnes on Sound Design, Sampling & Vintage Synths
The Digital Lifestyle.com
This week on the Synth Chat Podcast, Ian catches up with Scottish sound designer and musician Marc Barnes. Marc returns to talk about his latest Korg Multi/Poly and Wavestate sound packs, programming tips, and his thoughts on the creative process. We dive deep into sampling workflows, vintage synths, and even the challenges of producing other artists’ music. From the underrated DW-8000 to the TX7, from SampleRobot tips to full album mastering, this is a wide-ranging discussion packed with useful insights for musicians, producers, and synth enthusiasts. 🔹 In This Episode Marc’s new...
info_outline
From Battery Mods to CS-80 Sounds – This Week on The Digital Lifestyle Show
The Digital Lifestyle.com
Gary joins me as we catch up on our latest smart home projects, new tutorials for the Korg Multi/Poly and Wavestate, and take a quick first look at the newly announced Surface devices. Plus, we chat about automation, AI video creation, vinyl over Sonos, underfloor heating tech, and some not-so-great experiences with smart home firmware updates. 📺 Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 00:31 – Catching up with Gary 01:11 – Blink Outdoor Camera Battery Extender Review 03:56 – Eero Doorbell Battery Swap Workflow 05:30 – Home Assistant Integration with Blink 06:03 – First Look: Surface...
info_outline
TDL Synth Chat – Interview with Chileas: From Hip-Hop Beats to Vintage Synth Heaven
The Digital Lifestyle.com
This week on TDL Synth Chat, I’m joined by Chileas, a producer and synth lover from France, whose musical journey has taken him from beat-making in Paris to building a studio full of classic synths and exploring synth-pop sounds. We chat about his early days in a hip-hop scene full of samplers and soul records, and how that eventually led him to the world of analog synthesizers. From the MicroKorg to the Korg DW-8000, Casio CZ series, and classics like the DX7, D-50, and M1, Chileas shares how each instrument shaped his sound and style. 🎹 “When I got my first synth, I didn’t know...
info_outline
Smart Homes, AI Assistants & EV Tech | TDL Show
The Digital Lifestyle.com
Welcome back! After a short break, we're back discussing the latest in smart home automation, AI integration, electric vehicles, Windows 11 builds, music tech, and more. Join Ian and Gary for a packed episode covering gadgets, home automation experiments, and future tech. 👇 Timestamps & Topics: 00:00 – Welcome back & holiday recap (Surface Go, Kindle, suitcase trackers) 01:48 – Capturing field sounds for future projects 02:01 – Gary’s smart home experiments with Xiao AI device 03:12 – Flashing ESPHome firmware & integrating Google Gemini 04:00 – Voice assistant demo:...
info_outline
AI in Music, Smart Homes & Synth Design – Creative or Just Copying? | The Digital Lifestyle Show
The Digital Lifestyle.com
This week on The Digital Lifestyle Show, Ian and Garry are back with a deep-dive discussion after a string of great guest episodes. From the creative impact of AI to hands-on synth sound design and smart home automation hacks — it’s a wide-ranging conversation packed with insights, demos, and gear tips. 🎧 In This Episode AI in Music Creation Can AI truly be creative? Or is it just cleverly copying? Ian and Garry explore the impact of AI-generated lyrics, music, and vocals — and how prompt engineering is becoming a new creative skillset. Home Assistant & AI Integration Garry...
info_outlineIn this episode, Ian Dixon and Garry Whittaker catch up on various topics, including recent music interviews, travel experiences, and the efficiency of charging networks. They discuss Ripple's receivership and its impact on investors, as well as Garry's home projects like a rain sensor with impressive battery life. Ian shares his work on programming drum machines and recreating sounds from various artists, while Garry talks about AI integration in his smart home system. They also touch on the latest builds of Windows 11 and the functionality of Copilot in Visual Studio. The episode concludes with plans for future shows and guests.