Latest articles by Roland Schmidt
Why Ryuichi Sakamoto’s spellbinding theme from Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence remains so captivating
We take a deeper look at the theory underpinning Ryuichi Sakamoto’s gorgeous, award-winning theme from the movie that gave him his acting and scoring debut
Dissecting the musical magic of Superstition, the song Stevie Wonder just couldn’t let go
Exploring the mechanics of the song which was taken to mega-success by Stevie Wonder - much to Jeff Beck's frustration
How to pan like a pro and spread your mix across the stereo image
We help you broaden your mixing horizons with some useful tips for panning perfection
The difference between distortion and saturation and how to effectively get a gnarly sound
Adding small or even large amounts of saturation doesn’t have to be bad for you, as we explore how to singe your sonics
“A cost-effective wavetable synthesizer you could fall in love with”: Waldorf Protein review
If you’re lacking a little Protein in your production diet, Waldorf has just the supplement for you
How to conjure the spirit of early techno and trigger your own retro zaps in software
How a sound design approach originally deployed for television effects became an electronic music staple - and how to make it yourself
Delving into the inner workings of the title track from Kraftwerk’s most influential record
Back in the 1970s, Kraftwerk anticipated the machine-dominated world we now inhabit. We prise open The Man Machine to see how they managed it
How to replicate the trailblazing pulse of I Feel Love
I Feel Love’s innovative electronic rhythm section set the stage for pretty much everything that followed, and here’s how you can recreate its bewitching energy in your DAW
“Offers power, warmth, charm and usability, in a highly convincing virtual analogue reproduction, with real heart and soul”: Cherry Audio SH-MAX review
Continuing its Japanese homage, Cherry Audio reignites three of Roland’s finest synths from the '70s, in a single soft-synth with plenty of reinvention
Improve the impact of your basslines by quickly learning the basics of bass compression
Creating the perfect foundation for your track begins just the right amount of compression for your bass - here’s how to not overdo it!
A decade on, we analyse the inner workings of one of Beck’s most potent bangers
Released over a year ahead of its effervescent parent album Colors, Wow demonstrated that Beck’s penchant for genre-blurring was still in rude health
The influential Chic classic that spawned one of the most recognisable basslines of all time.
We pull apart this legendary funk classic and highlight the ingredients that would leave a stamp on the future of music
The intricate music theory and lyrical weight of a Tears for Fears classic
A cover of the song would later be a Christmas number one for Gary Jules, but the dense arrangement of the original remains hugely impressive
How close listening to Chic can teach us about the integral relationship between the kick and bass
If you want to add more punch to your production, start at the foundation of your track, with the kick and bass
“Ozone 12 feels like a rite of passage, with a considerable number of enhancements that will make this a worthy upgrade”: iZotope Ozone 12 Advanced review
An industry standard in mastering, Ozone gets an upgrade to version 12, but does it do more than just pump up the volume?
“Built upon the strengths of the original, it takes this vintage classic to contemporary heights”: Cherry Audio Mercury-8 review
Completing the Mercury trilogy, Cherry Audio answers the prayers of its user base, with a recreation of the mightiest of ’80s polysynths
The true meaning and dense theory of one of Gary Numan’s most beloved tracks
The true meaning and dense theory of one of Gary Numan’s most beloved tracks
How to emulate the sound of Gary Numan’s synth-pop classic Cars
We lift the bonnet on a foundational piece of synth genius, and demonstrate how you can achieve its distinctive sound yourself in your DAW
How unquantizing your tracks can make them stand out from the AI-dominated crowd
If your music is sounding a little mechanical, maybe it deserves a sprinkle of organic nurturing. We invite you to un-click the quantize!
The elegant simplicity of Radiohead’s second biggest song
What happens if you cross the inspiration of Pet Sounds with lyrics that convey a sense of resignation, and frame it within one of the most soothing arrangements of all time?
Unpacking the technical genius behind one of the most iconic rock songs of the 1980s
Take an old 4-track demo, add a splash of expensive 80s tech, and the results might be a good enough reason for a band of prog legends to reform!
The fascinating music theory behind the kicked-around track that Prince shaped into a hit
What happens when you write a hit for another band, but you want it back? We find out as we trace the complicated history and intriguing theory behind an iconic Prince classic
“One of the most unique, stylish and feature-packed workhorses available”: Spectrasonics Omnisphere 3 review
The flagship synth from Spectrasonics gets a major upgrade, but does it continue its omnipresent status?
