Mixing / Production

Since riding to fame on the crest of the late '80s DJ sampling wave, Tim Simenon has re-cast himself in a variety of moulds, not least those of producer and record label boss. Paul Tingen caught up with him to talk about his latest album and his brilliant career...

What happens to the many talented musicians in the UK who never get a chance to be heard by a wider audience because the music they make isn't what major record companies want to sign? Discovering new talent and helping to bring it to the fore has always been the producer's dream. But now producer Floyd-Douglass is launching a new project to do just that...

Mike Oldfield's new album was inspired by the writings of Arthur C Clarke and features an interactive CD-ROM section. Paul White asked the composer about the artistry and technology behind the project.

Influential producer Rupert Hine this year celebrates 30 years in the music industry — and he shows no signs of slowing down, with a current solo album on general release, and a string of new Hine-produced albums, including one for offbeat French combo Les Negresses Vertes, waiting in the wings. Paul Tingen talks to him about technology past, present and future.

Classical violin player Andrew Price is making his fortune with music that he deliberately didn't copyright. Here he explains to Paul White how he manages it, and offers some tips on blending MIDI-generated music with real orchestral players.

Canadian hardcore band Front Line Assembly have carved out a niche for themselves in the Electric Body Music market — but the hard men of synth rock have a softer side, which is emerging through various alter-egos and an evolution of the band's own sound. Nigel Humberstone talks to Front man Bill Leeb.

Paul Tingen talks to Boris Blank, one half of idiosyncratic Swiss duo Yello, about the release of their 10th album, Zebra.

Countless bands have been influenced by The Rolling Stones, which makes it all the more interesting to find out how they work and record. Richard Buskin talks to top producer/musician Don Was and engineer Don Smith about their contributions to the Stones' new album.

What constitutes a classic record? Why is that one record still sounds fresh and exciting 20 years after its release, while another seems dated within six months? According to producer, songwriter and musician Pete Wingfield, the secret lies in keeping the musicianship as real as possible, and not resorting to drum machines and sequencers.

808 State have seen the future — and it's called the Internet. You can now contact the group via the net thanks to their new information service, State to State. 808 mainman Graham Massey explains the idea to Matt Bell.

Despite having produced a string of successful albums by artists as diverse as Crowded House, Suzanne Vega and Elvis Costello, Mitchell Froom still strives for a fresh approach to each new project and refuses to sit back and sink into a formula. Paul Tingen talks to him.

American producer Steve Ferrera has a problem with most A&R people — and that's why he's taken a job as head of A&R at Echo, the new record label set up last year by Chrysalis group chairman Chris Wright. Artist-friendly labels may be a cliche, but Ferrera is determined that Echo really will be different. Here he explains his Philosophy...

Probably best known as the producer of Meat Loaf's monster selling 'Bat Out Of Hell' album, Todd Rundgren's wide-ranging career has continually encompassed cutting edge technology. Jimmy Phillips talks to him about his latest ventures: an interactive music CD and interactive stage show.

Fluke got their first low-key press attention in the late '80s for their innovative dance-based sound and inteligent, musicianly approach. Now they're gaining a higher profile for their varied remix work. Nigel Humberstone talks to the trio.

There are very few people who can make a living doing a job they really enjoy. Producer John Leckie feels he is one of the lucky ones — and that's why it irritates him when people he works with in the studio don't realise how lucky they are. He explains why he thinks that artists, engineers and producers should all count their blessings...

Touring with Pink Floyd is not, as you might imagine, like a quick gig down the Bull and Gate. There's a tour budget of around £70 million, and the efforts of hundreds of people go into making each concert truly spectacular. In this exclusive, Mike Lethby talks backstage to some of the men who keep the Floyd on the road.

From a garden studio in Wales, Danny Chang scores multi-million pound animated productions for TV companies throughout Europe. Paul White talks to him about the gear and techniques involved in writing music for cartoons.

This month, we turn Production Lines over to the classical fraternity, with some words from classical producer Joanna Leach.

Nigel Lowis has made his name producing female soul vocalists like Dina Carroll and Judy Cheeks, but his skills also include songwriting and remix work. Sue Sillitoe joined him at Sarm West, his home from home, to talk about songs, synths and success...

Future Sound of London aim to infiltrate broadcasting and permeate TV and radio, rejecting the traditional roles of studio musicians to fashion themselves into a complete 'broadcast system' with control over every aspect of the audio/visual mix. Nigel Humberstone discovers what it's all about.

Mike Stock, once one third of production giants Stock Aitken and Waterman, ponders the future of British pop...