Bob Clearmountain: The King of Mixers?

BY ALEXANDER LAWSON, ISAAC FERRY

Early in 2010 I got to work with Bob Clearmountain while he mixed the recent Bryan Ferry album, Olympia, with producer Rhett Davies at (my long-time mentor) Hugh Padgham's Sofa Sound studio in West London. One of the world's most successful mix engineers, Bob invented the concept of the specialist hit mix engineer — having mixed anyone who's anyone from the '70s to the present day, there would be plenty to talk about! Unfortunately, by the time we all had a good handle on the session itself, there wasn't time to put together the landmark interview that I was hoping for. Consider this more like studio gossip with Bob. These were topics that came up in conversation that we're printing with his permission. Bob is one of the nicest people I have ever had the pleasure to work with, and I hope that we will be able to give him more thorough coverage in the near future.

Ed Ackerson: A Minneapolis Institution Goes Solo

BY WALLY MARX JR.

Twenty years after his entry into the Minneapolis music scene, national success with his band Polara, opening his Flowers Studio and mid-wifing countless projects ranging from local demos to national-release works by luminaries such as The Replacements, Golden Smog, and Brian Setzer, Ed Ackerson is releasing his first solo album. The impressive Ed Ackerson contains twelve songs ranging stylistically, but all featuring Ackerson production trademarks: clear vocals, shimmering guitars, and enough tricks in the background to keep your interest.

Justin Ulysses Morse (bonus): Behind the Gear with Roll Music

BY LARRY CRANE

Roll Music Systems has been slowly bringing out pro audio products since 2003. Starting as a small recording studio in Minneapolis, this company (Justin Ulysses Morse and John Sommer, aka Johnny Smokes) has some unique and excellent gear.

Relax, It's Just Digital

BY ULRICH WILD