The Mix

We've now officially wrapped Producers Corner, our exclusive video series in which we grilled our favorite producers about their mysterious craft while following them around their natural habitat: the studio, of course. Over the past few months we've traveled everywhere from New York City to California's Grass Valley to talk to everyone from indie-rock giants (Phil Ek, John Vanderslice), hip-hop-and-beyond innovators (AraabMUZIK, Zakee), pop stars and all-around Renaissance men (Andrew W.K., Teddy Geiger), and more. Here, we've collected the highlights, the most salient pieces of wisdom, and our all-time favorite moments. It's all brought to you by ASUS and Intel. Enjoy.

The latest entrant in our Producers Corner series is hip-hop phenom AraabMUZIK, who's basically the Jimi Hendrix of the MPC sampler. We asked him to let us watch as he built a new beat on the thing, and he graciously obliged -- watch and be amazed.

On the Record is a video series where rock stars gush about their favorite records -- in exactly 45 seconds. Click above to watch Producers Corner member AraabMUZIK give it up for Jay-Z.

AraabMUZIK Electronic Dream

Jay-Z Hard Knock Life

Welcome to Producers Corner, our new video series in which we grill our favorite producers about their mysterious craft while following them around their natural habitat: the studio, of course. So far we've talked to folks like wily Renaissance man Andrew W.K., M.I.A. cohort Zakee and indie-rock kingpin John Vanderslice. Today, we chat with hip-hop wunderkind AraabMUZIK, fleet-fingered master of the MPC sampler, who's worked with Cam'ron, 50 Cent and other big names in addition to putting out his own album, 2011's Electronic Dream. He talks about how many beats he makes a day (about a dozen) and his advice for aspiring producers (spoiler alert: It's "Be yourself"). Nice watch, too! It's all brought to you by ASUS and Intel. Enjoy.

Welcome to Producers Corner, our new video series in which we grill our favorite producers about their mysterious craft while following them around their natural habitat: the studio, of course. So far we've talked to folks like Pacific Northwest icon Phil Ek, fearless M.I.A. cohort Zakee and SF rock guru John Vanderslice. Today we make a home visit to Jimmy Tamborello, the electro-pop innovator who records as Dntel, has worked with the likes of Rilo Kiley and Bright Eyes, and is also one-half of celebrated indie-pop duo The Postal Service. He tells us why he prefers working from home (who doesn't?), how to deal with writer's block (buy something!), and why it's better to work alone (you feel free to do dumb stuff). It's all brought to you by ASUS and Intel. Enjoy.

On the Record is a video series where rock stars gush about their favorite records -- in exactly 45 seconds. Click above to watch Producers Corner member Tim Green give it up for The Creation.

The Creation How Does It Feel To Feel?

Welcome to Producers Corner, our new video series in which we grill our favorite producers about their mysterious craft while following them around their natural habitat: the studio, of course. So far we've talked to folks like Pacific Northwest indie icon Phil Ek, wily Renaissance man Andrew W.K. and Grass Valley noise-rocker Tim Green. Today we visit John Vanderslice, the artist and producer behind San Francisco's Tiny Telephone Studios, birthplace of great albums from Death Cab for Cutie, The Mountain Goats, Spoon, tUnE-yArDs and more. Here, he discusses his "sloppy hi-fi" philosophy, why the second or third take is always the best, the joys of not using computers, the value of "unknowingness," and much more. There's also a few kittens, and a special visit to Vanderslice's very own echo chamber. It's all brought to you by ASUS and Intel. Enjoy.

On the Record is a video series where rock stars gush about their favorite records -- in exactly 45 seconds. Click above to watch Producers Corner member John Vanderslice give it up for Neutral Milk Hotel.

AraabMUZIK White Wilderness

Neutral Milk Hotel In the Aeroplane Over The Sea

Welcome to Producers Corner, our new video series in which we grill our favorite producers about their mysterious craft while following them around their natural habitat: the studio, of course. So far we've talked to SF rock guru Patrick Brown, Pacific Northwest indie icon Phil Ek, genre-hopping M.I.A. cohort Zakee, wily Renaissance man Andrew W.K., and Grass Valley noise-rocker Tim Green.Today, we break bread with NYC producer/artist/actor Teddy Geiger, who shows us around the boards and discusses the role a reality-TV show called In Search of the Partridge Family played in his career, the importance of taking a walk and/or reading a book to the producing process, and more. It's all brought to you by ASUS and Intel. Enjoy.

On the Record is a video series where rock stars gush about their favorite records -- in exactly 45 seconds. Click above to watch Producers Corner member Teddy Geiger give it up for Elliott Smith.

Teddy Geiger Living Alone EP

Elliott Smith Elliott Smith

Welcome to Producers Corner, our new video series in which we grill our favorite producers about their mysterious craft while following them around their natural habitat: the studio, of course. So far we've talked to SF rock guru Patrick Brown, Pacific Northwest indie icon Phil Ek, genre-hopping M.I.A. cohort Zakee and wily Renaissance man Andrew W.K. Today, we visit Tim Green--who's worked with Bratmobile, The Donnas, The Melvins, Comets on Fire, Six Organs of Admittance and more--out at his absurdly beautiful Louder Studios enclave in Grass Valley, CA. Seriously, that place looks awesome. He gives us a tour, talks about his early production experiments (putting a tape recorder in the freezer, say) and much more. It's all brought to you by ASUS and Intel. Enjoy.

Welcome to Producers Corner, our new video series in which we grill our favorite producers about their mysterious craft while following them around their natural habitat: the studio, of course. So far we've talked to SF rock guru Patrick Brown, Pacific Northwest indie icon Phil Ek and genre-hopping M.I.A. cohort Zakee. Today we sit down with artist, producer, club impresario and general Renaissance man Andrew W.K., who's produced both his own pop-metal classics and records for art-rockers (Sightings, Wolf Eyes) and reggae icons (Lee "Scratch" Perry). Here, he discusses his early boombox experiments, his love of Laurie Anderson, and his aspiration to "suck the life out of sounds in a good way." It's all brought to you by ASUS and Intel. Enjoy.

On the Record is a video series where rock stars gush about their favorite records -- in exactly 45 seconds. Click above to watch Producers Corner member Andrew W.K. give it up for ZZ Top.

ZZ Top Afterburner

On the Record is a video series where rock stars gush about their favorite records -- in exactly 45 seconds. Click above to watch Producers Corner member Zakee give it up for Dr. Dre.

Zakee Assimilations

Dr. Dre The Chronic 2001

Welcome to Producers Corner, our new video series in which we grill our favorite producers about their mysterious craft while following them around their natural habitat: the studio, of course. This installment features the fearless, genre-spanning artist/producer known as Zakee, who's worked with M.I.A. and other globetrotting big-shots. He fills us in how he got his start making beats in his school’s faculty bathroom, and why he believes that a powerful energy will always triumph over expensive gear. It's all brought to you by ASUS and Intel. Enjoy.

Welcome to Producers Corner, our new video series in which we grill our favorite producers about their mysterious craft while following them around their natural habitat: the studio, of course. This week we visit Pacific Northwest titan Phil Ek, shepherd of innumerable indie-rock classics from Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, The Shins and more. Watch as he shows us around his inner sanctum, laments the plight of new up-and-coming producers, and tries to explain how much work this job really entails. It's all brought to you by ASUS and Intel. Enjoy.

Welcome to Producers Corner, our new video series in which we grill our favorite producers about their mysterious craft while following them around their natural habitat: the studio, of course. To kick things off, we dropped in on Patrick Brown of San Francisco's A Different Fur studio, which has birthed classics from Stevie Wonder, Too Short, The Morning Benders, Jonathan Richman and more. It's all brought to you by ASUS and Intel. Enjoy.

On the Record is a video series where rock stars gush about their favorite records -- in exactly 45 seconds. Click above to watch Producers Corner member Patrick Brown give it up for Paul Simon.

Paul Simon Graceland