What do Bryan Adams, Sarah McLachlan, Pink, Joe Cocker, The Cranberries, Bonnie Raitt and Nickleback have in common? Aside from sharing world-class artist status, they’ve all worked with Engineer/Mixer Chris Potter. Beyond Potter’s chops behind the console, his diverse skill set includes mastering, studio design/consulting and even electronics repair. Sonnox caught up with him at his Vancouver, CA based studio to chat about his work and Oxford plug ins.
Formerly of duo, DeepDish, Dubfire’s latest solo technical set up comprises the Xone:DB4 at the centre of two X1 controllers running Traktor and an iPad controlling Maschine and Ableton.
Kirsten Price‘s music is likely already familiar to you. With TV licensing placements to high profile shows on VH1 and MTV, Price has thrived in the modern music business landscape where publishing is the key to longevity. Her style is eclectic, yet focused. Whether it’s a rock track, a pop ballad, or a hip hop tinged beat it sounds decidedly like a Kirsten Price track. In the video she also takes us through a recent track of hers produced in Reason.
For their 2011 Summer tour season, dubstep supergroup Magnetic Man turned to Focusrite and Novation to supply software controllers and audio interfaces for their three laptop systems. They chose Novation’s flagship Zero SL MkII USB/MIDI controllers and Focusrite’s recently announced Saffire Pro 14 audio interfaces.
Ken Thomas, legendary record producer and recording engineer, and his son Jolyon have recently installed a pair of Unity Audio Rock monitors for their private studio in Hampshire.
To say Chicago Recording Company (CRC) is in demand is more than a bit of an understatement. “I’ll see my work at least once a night watching TV,” says senior post engineer, Eric Cauwels, “and that doesn’t count other rooms producing national spots on a daily basis here.” If Chicago is the production hub of the Northeastern United States, CRC is the hub of post work in Chicago.
Solid State Logic, the world’s leading manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles and control surfaces, is pleased to announce that Asif Illyas recently installed a Solid State Logic ‘Nucleus’ control surface and ‘MX4’ + ‘Alpha-Link MADI SX’ virtual console and I/O system in his home studio. The award-winning film score composer and producer scored his first film soundtrack back in 2002, going on to win the Best Score award at that year’s Atlantic Film Festival. He’s since scored a wide range of Canadian documentaries and films. His home studio – ‘The Shire’ is based in Nova Scotia and gets results that are more commonly associated with major studios, something Asif attributes to his Solid State Logic virtual console set up…
Solid State Logic, the world’s leading manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles, is pleased to announce that Peter Luts has installed a Solid State Logic Matrix, X-Rack and X-Patch at the heart of his home studio. The prolific Belgian dance producer first rose to prominence as a key creative force behind such global superstars as Ian Van Dahl and Anna Grace, as well as his own project, Lasgo, who’s debut single Something sold over five million copies. Also an in-demand remixer, Peter’s discography reveals a prolific desire to produce music and a hectic workload, which drove him to explore ways to improve his workflow and expand his sonic palette.
Ed Sheeran is one of the UK’s most hotly tipped young singer/songwriters. Parts of the story of his rise to fame are familiar: making music from a young age, couch-surfing at friends’ places, playing open mics all over the country before running out of money. But some things set him apart, like playing over 300 gigs in 2009, buying a ticket to LA in 2010 with no shows booked, being spotted by Jamie Foxx, selling 7,000 copies of his No.5 Collaborations Project EP and reaching number 1 in the iTunes chart without any label or promotion. Fast forward to Summer 2011, and Ed has deservedly caught the attention of the mainstream. His single ‘The A-Team’ debuted at number 3 in the UK singles chart, before he played to a packed stage at the world-renowned Glastonbury festival.
Felix Cartal spent his early years as a musical pinch hitter… filling in for local Vancouver rock bands whenever they suddenly needed a member. After taking a class on MIDI production in high school, however, Cartal realized both the advantages of being a solo artist and the power of producing with Reason. His sound still borrows heavily from his punk rock origins, using synths to convey the heaviness and aggression normally coming from guitar amps. After successful releases on Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak Records and tours with MSTRKRFT, Felix Cartal is still driven by his band roots both in sound and production philosophy.
Solid State Logic, the world’s leading manufacturer of analogue and digital audio consoles, is pleased to announce that Sound Temple Studios has installed a Solid State Logic Matrix console and Alpha-Link audio converters. The North Carolina-based studio was only completed last year but is already making a big impact, thanks to its incredible design and bespoke facilities.
One of Britain’s premier alternative rock record producers, Alan Moulder, has recently installed a pair of Unity Audio’s active Rock near-field monitors into his North London studio Assault & Battery.
Courtney Pine is one of the true British Jazz legends of our time. In a career spanning almost 25 years he’s played with many of the Jazz greats, won the prestigious Mercury award, a MOBO, an OBE and a CBE in recognition of his services to the black community and Jazz music.
Since opening its doors in 2008, Germano Studios in New York City has hosted sessions for the who’s who of recording artists. In the studio´s short history, top artists such as Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas, Kelly Clarkson, John Mayer, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, Britney Spears, Rihanna, and T-Pain have all called Germano home.