Grammy for Matt Howe
It hasn't been a bad couple of months for Metropolis' Chief Engineer Matt Howe. Not only was he presented with a Grammy for his engineering on the Album of the Year
category, won by 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' - he returned to the UK to see another of his engineering projects, Boyzone's version of the Billy Ocean Classic 'When the Going Gets Tough', make the number one chart spot before going platinum.
 Originally hoping to become a professional musician - he played the violin at age four - Matt's early classical tastes were soon modified by rock, jazz and blues.
Equally importantly though, as a teenager he saw his future as an engineer by combining his love of music with a passionate interest in audio gadgetry.
"The penny dropped," Matt insists, "when a mate showed me a picture of a large in-line console featured in 'Studio Sound.' When he explained that with these things you could completely change the sound
of a recording, I was hooked !"
Serving his apprenticeship at Air Studios with such luminaries as Sir George Martin and Jon Jacobs was an exciting time. "When I arrived, aged 16, I was shown their new SL 4000 series E console with 48 inputs. I was overwhelmed! That particular console was used on some fantastic material
including albums from Tears for Fears and Simply Red."
In January 1989, Matt and a number of colleagues left Air for Metropolis which was fast earning a reputation under Gary Langan as the most exciting new startup in town. "I'd worked with some very high profile clients during my six years at Air," he explains, "but I was looking for a more of a challenge."
Howe's career at Metropolis has included some memorable sessions with a huge array of artists and he recalls his engineering with Elton John and Joe Cocker with particular fondness. "Never try and blind clients with technology," he asserts. "Good preparation and a thorough understanding of how technology, can help achieve creative goals is the key. Above all, keep an open mind to technological advance
and embrace it. Broadening your horizons enables you to avoid a formulaic approach to your work."
Matt Howe is an unashamed fan of the SL 9000 J series at Metropolis : "It's the most sweetest, open sounding console with an EQ that's pin-point accurate. The control surface has a great feel that's so familiar."
© Solid State Logic Newsletter Issue 23 - Page 7 |
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