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BOYZ II MEN DRUMMER, INDEPENDENT PRODUCER FINDS ULTIMATE GETAWAY WITH YAMAHA AW4416 —Freddie Holliday Uses New DAW in the Studio and on the Road— BUENA PARK, CA (March 23, 2001)—Best known for touring with R&B sensation Boyz II Men, drummer Freddie Holliday recently took a bold step when he replaced his mixer and hard-disk recorder with a Yamaha AW4416 digital audio workstation at his home studio, FreddiDay Entertainment. In operation for just under a year, Holliday says that the bulk of his projects at his studio involve pre-production and working with rap artists. He personally listens to pop and R&B, and as his studio develops, Holliday is looking forward to working on projects of other musical genres as well.
Back in 1991, members of Boyz II Men went to hear Holliday play at an uptown Philly nightclub. The quartet was preparing to go on tour in support of their breakthrough/popular album "CooleyHighHarmony" and auditioning musicians for their road band. Holliday beat out the other 40-plus drummers and today continues to enjoy success and growth not only as a musician, but independent producer. Enthusiastically referring to the Yamaha AW4416 as 'the bomb', Holliday knew he 'had to have' one after having a demo at the Winter NAMM 2000 trade show. "At first, I was looking at the [Yamaha] 03D and 01V [digital mixers], until I was given a tour of the Yamaha 4416," Holliday says. He proceeded to swap out of his studio a Mackie mixer and Akai hard-disk recorder in favor of the AW4416. "With the 4416, I have all the same features in one chassis, plus automation and digital operation. I don't have to switch screens to see levels because of the meter bridge." Holliday says that the AW4416's automation, internal sampling and effects, plus CD-burning function, all played a part in his decision. The multifaceted musician explains that not only does he use his AW4416 at FreddiDay, but he also takes the workstation out on the road with him for songwriting purposes. "I set up the 4416 with some powered speakers, a keyboard controller and sound modules, and the guys [Boyz II Men touring band] plug right into the board," Holliday explains. "I also make tracks for vocalist friends like Rex Salas, Janet Jackson's music director, who's doing jingle work." Holliday continues, "I've been telling a lot of people about the Yamaha AW4416. Our programmer, Richard wants to get one and Shawn [Stockman, Boyz II Men] is interested as well. Ideally, I'd like to get a network of people using AW4416s so I can, say, send a CD to them while in working situations." Holliday, a self-proclaimed stickler for details, describes the Yamaha workstation's 'touch' as 'professional'. "Some machines feel flimsy, and for me, detail is everything. The materials and buttons on the AW feel good," he says. Because Holliday uses the AW4416 equally in the studio and on the road, he says that he would like to get a second unit. But, in the meantime, he's thrilled to have gotten two custom cases to transport the Yamaha workstation. "I have a Zero Haliburton with foam fitted for the 4416 and a soft case as well." Next up for Holliday is hitting the road again, and the drummer says he'll have his AW4416 in tow. He's scheduled to do some dates with new singer/songwriter Pru. Then it's off to South Africa, Australia and England for the second leg of the current Boyz II Men tour, out in support of their new album "Nathan, Michael, Shawn, Wayna."
© 2001 Yamaha
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