Production Stories

G kept appearing when I analysed the kicks in records whose low end really worked. Not every time, but often enough to investigate. The reason has less to do with a magic note and more to do with where deep bass meets the limits of playback systems.

Great synth presets are designed to impress on their own, not necessarily fit your mix. Before reaching for EQ, check the effects already shaping the sound.

From Abbey Road to Curve Pusher, a reflection on mastering, perspective, and why great masters finish records rather than fix them.

Paralysis from analysis in music production: why producers lose perspective and how stepping away can save a track.

Some tracks capture a moment. Others need time. The real skill is knowing when to stop – and when to keep listening.

How discovering real rhythm patterns–from Disco to Blues–transformed my approach to electronic music and opened a new world of groove.

Sampling isn’t just about borrowing sounds. It’s about hearing music differently. From crate digging and disco loops to Barry White and modern production, here’s how sampling changed the way producers listen.

Own your music, protect your rights. Learn the truth about record deals and the best way to balance independence with label support.

Chicago, 1996. A room full of records I'd grown up on. And one detail I wouldn't fully understand until years later: the tape.

The more I learnt about mixing, the closer I got to the sound in my head. The tools gave me control. But how far do you really need to go?

Do all DAWs sound the same? Technically yes. But after decades working across Logic, Ableton Live, Cubase and Pro Tools, I've consistently heard something different.

Building a professional plugin collection doesn't have to mean paying full price. Here's the approach that's saved me thousands over the years.

Five mix engineers fundamentally changed the way I think about mixing. This is a personal tribute to the people whose techniques, generosity and way of thinking shaped my approach to music production.

Some tracks take far longer than others. Here's how I know when to stay with a track, and the techniques I use to keep shaping it until it finally clicks.

It’s 2026. I'm running Logic on an M2 Max that's in a completely different league to the Power Mac G4 I started on. Yet somehow, I'm still freezing tracks.

Learn how a repeatable workflow and consistent musical choices can help you build a recognisable sound in music production.

Euclidean sequencing adds natural movement to rhythms. HY-RPE2 brings that modular feel in the box, creating dynamic, evolving grooves.

Discover how Akai S-Series samplers shaped 90s House & Techno with iconic sounds still in demand today. Find out where to get them!

In ’93, I made a track in my bedroom. Months later, it shook The Hacienda. Music takes you places you never expect—trust the process.

The Timeless Appeal of the Pultec EQ: A Personal Journey My fascination with the Pultec EQ began in 2006 when I first learned about its legendary status. This EQ, originally designed in the 1950s, had achieved an almost mythical reputation. I was captivated - how could something so old still be so revered in modern music production? My curiosity led me to explore plugin versions like Waves’ Puigtec EQ, developed with mix legend Jack Joseph Puig, and UAD’s Pultec EQ. These plu