Latest articles by Roland Schmidt
“An undeniable classic, for the modern age”: Rhodes MK8 review
The new Rhodes electric piano is no longer a vintage curio from the '70s and '80s. We play the new MK8, with all of its FX and MIDI finery
Replicate the sonic magic of the Human League’s defining synth-pop anthem
The first UK No. 1 to use a drum machine plays host to one of the most recognisable synth parts ever. We re-create its opening 5th riff in all its 80s glory
From the Purdie shuffle to its extended jazz chords - analysing Steely Dan's Babylon Sisters
A track that took 274 attempts to mix must’ve been worth it in the end, right?
Re-create the sound of the powerful Where’s Your Head At bassline - which Basement Jaxx nabbed from Numan!
Where’s your head at? Because our headspace is deep in Moog territory, as we rebuild a classic Gary Numan bass patch that was famously sampled by Basement Jaxx
The inventive music theory of one of Tame Impala’s most dazzling songs
We peer into the inner musical workings of one of Kevin Parker’s finest moments
How to re-create one of the most infectious synth riffs of all time
After several attempts at creating the perfect pop production, Take On Me finally became the global hit that A-ha deserved. We build its classic lead sound in software
Dissecting the musical magic of Superstition, the song Stevie Wonder just couldn’t let go
“He played it to Motown, and they said, 'No way is Jeff Beck getting this song, it's too good’”
The complex music theory that underpinned a Talk Talk classic
Mark Hollis’ masterpiece became an anthem of self-determination, but it was far from an overnight success
“A stunningly creative and beautiful sounding synthesizer”: Korg miniKORG 700Sm review
They say great things come in small packages, but is Korg’s new miniaturised analogue synth just another victim of shrinkflation? We grab a microscope to find out
A decade on, we look back at the musical theory and retro gear that shaped Bruno Mars’ 2016 classic
Exploring how one of Bruno Mars’ biggest tunes works on a musical level - and revealing its debt to the 1980s
How to replicate the sample-based sonics of a gnarly Prodigy classic
Dissecting one of the big beat heavyweights’ most iconic bangers, and learning how to recreate its sound ourselves
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
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
