producer michael johnson

Michael Johnson whose many credits include Blue Monday’s best-selling UK 12” record ever has experience not just of creating hit records, but also recording orchestral, jazz and folk music, as well as film soundtracks and TV commercials at many top studios.

Russell Cottier visited Michael with his camera to record a very interesting interview that contains many very interesting recording techniques and tips with some interesting history. Michael tells Russ about his experiments with mixing in a car and much more!

Click here to watch the video

Feb 122012
 

Reflecting on our photos we’ve taken in studios of musicians and record producers over the last year we thought we’d share some of our favourites.  You can browse our huge photo galleries here if you would like to see more.  Most are in colour but these somehow are all B&W.

Tom Rowland of the Chemical Brothers in his recording studio

Tom Rowland of the Chemical Brothers

Rock and metal music producer Simon Efemey at the Chapel Studios

Rock and metal music producer Simon Efemey at the Chapel Studios

Music Producer Danton Supple photographed in Alan Moulder's Studio

Music Producer Danton Supple photographed in Alan Moulder’s Studio

Record producer Stuart Bruce

Record producer Stuart Bruce

 

Browse our huge photo galleries here if you would like to see more!

 

Ken Scott at Abbey Road Studios talking with Russ Cottier about microphones and placement

WATCH PART THREE OF THE INTERVIEW RECORDED AT ABBEY ROAD

In this third part of the interview series we found out from Ken about how using less impressive microphones when recording drums needn’t be a problem, talks about dynamic range, the importance of good monitoring (again) and making a decision to keep a session moving. Come back soon for the fourth part of our interview!

All of the Ken Scott Features

 

Recording engineer and music producer max heyes talks on camera about lynchmob studios

With credits ranging from the Doves to Paul Weller, Oasis & Primal Scream to Jamiroquai & Massive Attack. Max Heyes is happiest in a live band environment, as well as with dance-pop projects. We met up with Max at Lynchmob Studios, London, to find out more about his career and the studio that he’s based at.

Watch the Max Heyes Video Feature – Click Here

Combining the best of new technology with the organic feel of true live sound, Max co-produced The Doves’ Mercury Music Prize Nominated UK#1 album “The Last Broadcast”, and contributed mixes for Primal Scream’s XTRMNTR album- recently voted number 3 in NME’s top albums of the decade. Max was also involved in developing the La Roux project with mixes of the smash hit ‘In For The Kill’

 

record producer stuart bruce at his recording studio

Stuart Bruce began his recording career at London’s SARM studios under the tuition of legendary engineers Gary Langan and Julian Mendelsohn. He worked as an assistant with artists such as Dollar, ABC, Malcolm McLaren, The Undertones, Monsoon, Echo and the Bunnymen, Simple Minds, Tears for Fears, The The, Nik Kershaw, the Belle Stars, Spandau Ballet and Trevor Horn’s own band The Buggles.

Since then, Stuart has had an amazing recording career, highlights include recording the Band Aid single. We met up with Stuart at his private recording studio near Bath, England, and as there was so much ‘interesting stuff’ we have kept the feature quite long – we think it’s well worth watching all the way as it’s the only way to find out who Status Quo locked in the toilet by watching all the way through…..

Watch the Stuart Bruce video interview in HD by clicking here

Many thanks to Stuart for his time and to George Shilling for asking the questions

We really loved his studio and you can look at and buy our full quality photos in this gallery here.

 

Ken Scott at Abbey Road Studios talking with Russ Cottier about drum microphone placement

Part Two of our exclusive video interview with legendary recording engineer and producer Ken Scott shot at Abbey Road Studios with Russell Cottier asking the questions.

In this second part we asked Ken about his microphone choices and placement when recording drums and came back to making decisions as you go along when recording and how important good monitoring is.

Come back just before Christmas for the third part of our interview!

 

WATCH PART TWO OF THE INTERVIEW
RECORDED AT ABBEY ROAD

Last Week’s Part One is here 

 

 

Ken Scott’s video guide of how to record and mix drums for students and engineers is a superb DVD pack. Find out more about the EDU version by clicking here!  Its videos cover everything from basic mic techniques to mixing and everything in between. Ken walks you through the recording process and on the second disk you get to play with the drum tracks that he recorded so that you can understand how he does things.

Special thanks to Ken for giving up so much time and to everyone at Abbey Road but we’d like to mention Mirek Styles, Colette Barber and Simon Campbell for their help in making this possible! We would also like to give special thanks to Russell Cottier  for coming all the way from Liverpool to record the interview!

Come back just before Christmas for Part Three!

ken scott epik drums sample library

OTHER EXCLUSIVE KEN SCOTT VIDEO FEATURES

Watch Ken recording the Epik Drums Samples (5 Videos)

Watch Ken talking in an interview with Nijel Jopson at Abbey Road

 

Ken Scott is a legendary British recording engineer and producer who recorded The Beatles, David Bowie, Elton John, Supertramp, Pink Floyd, Jeff Beck, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billy Cobham, Duran Duran, Dixie Dregs, Missing Persons, Devo, Lou Reed, America, George Harrison and many other iconic artists in music history. He had his start in the 60’s working as a Tape Operator at Abbey Road Studios and from there went on to engineer and produce some of the most acclaimed albums of the 20th Century. Ken has recorded timeless songs such as “I Am The Walrus”, “Rocket Man”, “Ziggy Stardust”, “Dreamer”, “Walk On The Wild Side” and many others. One of the unique aspects of Ken’s career in music is the diversity of iconic styles he has been a part of from the 60’s to today.

“EpiK DrumS – A Ken Scott Collection” is a Sonic Reality virtual instrument/plug-in for drum kits and grooves with the authentic sound and feel of timeless classic albums. Expanding the Drum Masters series with high resolution vintage drum sounds, EpiK DrumS features drum kits and grooves of 5 of the world’s best drummers all recorded and mixed by legendary producer/engineer Ken Scott.

In this first massive volume from the Ken Scott Collection, Ken has recreated the drum sounds in the style of multi-track studio sessions he recorded with David Bowie, Supertramp, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Dixie Dregs, Missing Persons, Elton John and The Beatles. These authentic classic sounds were achieved by using the same rare recording equipment, drum kits, percussion and expert technical assistance from Ross Garfield “The Drum Doctor”, advanced programming by Sonic Reality and collaboration with the original legendary drummers Bill Cobham, Terry Bozzio, Woody Woodmansey, Bob Siebenberg and Rod Morgenstein. All together it is one the most EPIK productions ever done for a software drum and groove instrument.

ISBN 10: 0739080881
ISBN 13: 9780739080887
PRICE: $29.99