PAUL MADDOX
As a solo artist, engineer and one half of techno duo Spektre, Paul’s a pro at maximising his studio time…
: What keeps you motivated throughout the process of taking a track from start to finish? PM:
“I try to get a rough arrangement together as quickly as possible, rather than agonising over the details too early. It’s easier to bash out a quick arrangement then see what’s right and wrong with it, rather than being too particular from the outset. Taking regular breaks is also important – having a cup of tea and sticking Bargain Hunt on for 15 minutes can sometimes end up being more useful than mindlessly flicking through presets when you hit a creative block!”
: You’ve had success as both a solo artist and as part of a duo. Would you say you’re more efficient when collaborating? PM:
“Yes, definitely. It’s far easier to make decisions when you have a trusted second opinion sat next to you, which helps avoid those times when you end up flicking through hi-hat samples all day…
“I also find it helps keep focus on time. As Rich (the other half of Spektre) and I only have limited time together in the studio, there’s a healthy bit of pressure there to crack on and get things done.”
: Once you have that initial idea, how do you ensure you don’t get stuck in ‘loop mode’? PM:
“A good trick is to drop a track you like (that has similar elements to what you’re working on) onto an audio track and analyse how its arrangement works. Once you’ve got started you’ll probably end up ignoring the guide track, but it helps get over the intimidation that an empty screen can sometimes cause!”
: What’s your relationship like with hardware and software in terms of studio workflow? PM: “
I’ve used varying mixtures of hardware and software in my own studios over the years. As far as workflow is concerned, I definitely prefer the software approach. As I work on several of my own projects as well as co-producing and engineering for a number of other artists, being able to quickly switch between tracks and go back to make amendments far outweighs the undeniable fun factor of having a lot of outboard.”