Max Hype, also known as Protohype, is an acclaimed American music producer and DJ renowned for his distinctive fusion of dubstep, trap, and hip-hop in his productions. With a multitude of releases, collaborations, and performances at renowned music festivals and venues worldwide, Max Hype has made a significant impact on the electronic dance music (EDM) scene. As an enthusiastic user of our plugin Elastique Pitch V2, we had the opportunity to speak with him about his musical journey.
– Hi Max, thank you for your time and involvement. Would you mind recounting the experiences you’ve had as a musician? How did your musical journey begin, and what motivated you to pursue a professional career in music?
I’ve been lucky enough to get to travel the world and play my music for the past 12 years…it’s been an incredible journey. I’ve known that I was going to pursue music since I was about 12 years old when I started writing original music on the guitar. Honestly I never even considered the possibility of a different profession.
– Your determination has led to remarkable achievements. Impressive! Reflecting on your career, what are some noteworthy accomplishments or significant milestones that bring you a sense of pride?
I mentioned it before, but my favorite thing is being able to travel across the world and meet people who have made memories of my music. It’s a mind blowing concept to me, and it feels so powerful. Besides that, being able to have my music showcased in video games and television has been really awesome as well. All of these things have led me to becoming a teacher, which I feel is really why I was put on this earth.
– Truly captivating! As the years have gone by, how has your music evolved and transformed, and which key influences have played a pivotal role in shaping your unique sound?
As time has passed, my music has really leaned into a focus on lyrics and vocals. Melodies have always been my biggest strength as a music producer, so I just kind of stopped making sweaty sound design producer music and started to write more catchy melodic tunes, which I enjoy making much more.
My signature sound comes from a Sylenth preset that I have just abused for the vast majority of my career. Don’t be afraid to reuse sounds, it’s one of the fast tracks toward finding your signature sound.
– That’s an excellent piece of advice for aspiring musicians, discovering their own musical style. I want to extend my congratulations on the successful release of your latest single, “Castles in the Sky”! I must say, I’m quite enamored by the intro synth, pristine vocals, and the trippy reverse kicks. Could you share the background story behind this project?
I think this is the fifth song I’ve collaborated on with my now wife, Charmae. Working with her has always been a pleasure…but this one was the first one where we sat in the same room for the majority of the songwriting process which was so awesome. It’s great to get to that level of comfortability with a collaborator, let alone your wife.
I’ve always had a deep love for orchestral instruments, and this record is showcasing that. The drops are done with granular synthesis, which I’ve grown very fond of in recent times.
– First and foremost, let me extend my heartfelt congratulations on your marriage. It sounds like a truly wonderful union of music and love. I’m eager to learn about your firsthand experience with Elastique Pitch V2. How has this tool enhanced your creative process, and did you incorporate it into the production of “Castles in the Sky”?
I use Elastique Pitch in every single song I’ve made for the past maybe 4 years. It’s just the easiest and most effective way for pitch shifting elements, and the algorithm sounds amazing. I use it mostly in build-ups for snare stuff, but occasionally will use it on vocals to create something fresh and unique sonically.
– We appreciate your support! Which particular features of Elastique Pitch V2 do you consider the most valuable? Furthermore, do you have any suggestions or proposals for improving the plugin?
I know the plug-in is super powerful, I mainly use it for pitching things up or down in buildups, but I also like the formant option, as well as the delay.
– I completely agree with you! I also frequently employ the formant shifting and delay features in my productions. In your experience, what advantages or unique benefits have you observed when utilizing Elastique Pitch V2 compared to other pitch manipulation tools you’ve used in the past?
Pitch automation has always been fairly janky in Ableton, and this totally negates that issue. Clip modulation is out, Elastique is in. Pop it on, automate, and you’re good to go. So as far as advantages goes, the main one for me is workflow speed.
– The availability of automation in Elastique Pitch V2 is a crucial feature that is not available in our SDKs integrated within DAWs. How important is it for you to have access to plugins that are of superior quality and dependability?
Extremely important. Sound selection is what separates the good producers from the great ones.
– Nicely expressed! Do you have any advice for fellow musicians or producers who are considering incorporating Elastique Pitch V2 into their projects?
Get it now! It’s going to make your workflow 10x faster, and improve the sound quality of your mixes instantly.
– We appreciate you sharing your musical journey with us, Max! To wrap up, what are your aspirations and goals for the future of your musical journey?
I’m working on a special new project with Charmae. I can’t talk about it yet, but I’m so excited to share new music.
To stay updated with Protohype’s musical journey and future projects, be sure to follow him on social media: Instagram, Facebook, Spotify.