Mixing / Production

After much high-profile production work in the 1980s, David Lord retreated from the stress of the pop world to concentrate on chosen projects which would exercise his considerable composing and arranging talents. Paul Tingen runs him to earth at Terra Incognita studios, for a long-overdue update.

TV music composer David Lowe tells Paul White how a British Airways World commercial took him halfway around the world — and back...

Richard Buskin talks to top engineer Jon Jacobs and learns about his partnership with legendary man-behind-the-board, Geoff Emerick, and the novel techniques they employed during the making of the latest album by Elvis Costello and The Attractions.

One-time lords of synth-pop, OMD have had a chequered 18-year history, but frontman Andy McCluskey genuinely believes their 10th and latest album ranks among the band's best work. Nigel Humberstone talks to McCluskey and producer Matthew Vaughan about the making of Universal.

Hugh Padgham is one of a select band of producers whose work is always in demand by top musicians, and whose style always seem current and relevant. Richard Buskin catches up with him on a rare break in his busy schedule, to talk about his latest project with Sting and Phil Collins.

In addition to his respected solo work, Roger Eno has been involved in collaboration with brother Brian and other musicians, and is now part of Channel Light Vessel, also featuring the talents of Bill Nelson, wind player Kate St John, and Zither player Laraaji. Paul Tingen talks to him about his many musical facets.

Jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine is breaking down the barriers between acoustic and electronic sound generation, marrying jazz with modern forms such as hip hop in a cross-genre partnership which is partly forged in his own home studio. Paul White hears some Modern day jazz stories.

One of the unwitting founding fathers of so-called 'new age' music, Kitaro has journeyed down many musical roads in his 20-year career. Paul Tingen reports.

Essex dance outfit The Prodigy have long outgrown their rave beginnings, and their recent number one single 'Firestarter' points the way to a newer even harder sound. Paul Nagle tackles some burning topics of modern music-making with the group's aural architect Liam Howlett...

With a new studio album set to take their unique brand of instrumental music to the top of the charts, Ozric Tentacles are arguably the most successful truly independent band in the UK today. Jonathan Miller met leader Ed Wynne at their Somerset studio.

JJ Jeczalik, one third of '80s sampling pioneers Art Of Noise and erstwhile 'Mr Fairlight' has sold his series III and bounded into the '90s with an Akai sampler and a brand new album of dance music. Paul Tingen finds out why no noise is good noise.

Newcastle-based Dubstar released one of the most successful pure pop albums of the last 12 months — and they made most of it using gear that wouldn't be out of place in many SOS readers' studios. Matt Bell gets sidereal with the band's programmer and main songwriter, Steve Hillier.

Gary Numan's music epitomises the electro-pop era and undoubtedly helped boost synth sales in the early '80s. with the chart re-entry of his classic hit single 'Cars' Numan is approaching his third decade in pop. Jonathan Miller receives a lesson in the art of survival...

It's taken a couple of years, but 808 State have at last emerged from a variety of studios with a sleek new album, the superbly-crafted Don Solaris. Mat Bell talks to head of State Graham Massey.

Nigel Shaw isn't signed to a record company, yet sales from the multiple albums he's produced in his home studio enable him to make a good living from his talents. Paul Tingen talks to him about the business of independent music

With years of record label legal wrangles finally behind him, George Michael set about making an album to put him back at the top of the charts and consolidate his status as serious artist/producer. Working the desks on the Older sessions at SARM West was engineer Paul Gomersall, who tells Mark Cunningham about the making of the album.

The last year has seen Steve Rodway shoot to fame as a producer/remixer whose golden touch is on the mainstream charts. Matt Bell meets the man behind the Motiv8 to discuss his mixing methods, the technology he uses, and the remix work that put him on the map...

You might expect Bjork's eclectic repertoire and capricious temperament to make the task of arranging and sequencing her live shows a nightmare. As Paul Tingen discovers, however, for Guy Sigsworth, that's half the fun...

In spite of his success producing Saint Etienne, Ian Catt hasn't left his roots behind. Richard Clewes talks to him about his work with the band, his production techniques, and how to place an SM58 in a U-bend for that ultimate 'Armitage Shanks' sound...

This duo can take the credit for an amazing range of TV themes and scores, but how did they get into such a fiercely competitive industry in the first place? Paul White learns about the ratings game...

For most of us, computers in the studio are part and parcel of the digital revolution. Not from where avant-garde composer Paul Schutze is standing. Paul Tingen discovers a new perspective...