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See and learn what equipment Liam Howlett uses when he composes The Prodigy's music!
About this section
This section is done for all those trainspotter Prodigy fans who are also interested in the equipment Liam uses when he's creating Prodigy music. One reason is that I'm also very interested about them myself. And that's one of the reasons why I have collected this huge list of gear and lots of info and pictures about them too!
About the list
Liam`s kit list, compared to some other bands is not that massive. Some of the synths are for beginners, because he's collected quite a bit of gear since the early days. But the Prodigy sound still revolves around certain pieces of kit Liam has had for years. You should also remember that this list won't be ever complete or as up to date it could be! Liam maybe won't buy anymore new stuff but he has so big collection of them and I think he gets so much gifts from the big companies too. He has also sold or given away some of his gear over the years and some are of course simply broken up. So, if you know some other hardware/software he uses or has used (seen on stage or magazines), please mail and inform me!
Studio
Liam's first home studio was originally called Earthbound. After success of the Fat of the Land Liam moved and built a new studio to his house and that was called the Dirtchamber. These days he rarely visits his gorgeus studio. He likes to write in his garden, plane or bedroom with his Apple Macbook Pro laptop. He has also used many other studios over the years like Strongroom, Rollover Studios, The Lodge and Tileyard Studios.
Live
Nowadays he also uses laptops in live shows. Although he has been always more keen on hardware gear than software and computers. One of his laptops crashed at manchester 2005. Liam took a microphone and asked who dick destroyed his laptop. Later at the end of the gig asked if anyone would like to buy a cheap computer. There are also some other known reports of problems with his Macs.
In 2005 someone called "mallorca" posted to Prodigy fansite Nekozine and said Liam doesn't do anything live apart from press a button to start each track. Liam angrily replied with a diary entry on the Official Prodigy Website and explained what he is doing live: "let me explain to the dicks out there who r apparently confused about what i do live. i got two apple mac laptops running ableton bak to bak. with ableton u can trigger audio in any way at any time.the carcuss of the tunes run from the laptops with maybe some of the keyboard parts -samples missing that i play live.most guitars r taken off and rob plays them.ableton is basically about triggering parts of the songs and thats why the set is different everytime. there is no bakup but the chance of both computers goin down is slim.whoever that tit was who said it was a cd with shouting over is a prick and i find that insulting. bye bye"
Sources
I have mainly spotted the gear myself, but some other people have also helped me a lot with building this massive section. Some stuff is spotted from various interviews and reviews. (Like Roland's and Korg's own interviews and different music interviews).
Thanks
I would like to thank all people who have helped me with this section. I would also like to thank Analogue Heaven for some nice technical infos.
Respect to my mind and to my equipment.
Liam Howlett, December 1991, Charly single cover
Liam Howlett's gear list
Gear that has been in use over the years
Other Info
- What is a sampler?
- His style of sampling
- Live photos
- Talk about gear
- Sonic Academy - How To Sound Like The Prodigy
Articles & interviews
Selected articles where Liam Howlett talks about his gear of choice and/or production style.
- MusicTech magazine - 30th July 2019 Prodigy engineer/co-producer Neil Mclellan remembers the Jilted Generation sessions
- UKF - 15th June 2018 We Need To Talk About Leeroy Thornhill
- Universal Audio - 22nd June 2015 Producer Neil McLellan mixes The Prodigy with UAD plug-ins
- MusicTech magazine - 18th May 2015 Landmark Productions: The Prodigy – The Fat of the Land
- Martin Audio - 23rd April 2015 Jon Burton mixes The Prodigy through MLA
- Sound On Sound - 1st October 2010 Jon Burton: Mixing & Recording The Prodigy Live
- PSNEurope - 1st June 2010 Jon Burton and The Prodigy - 'His law'
- Hot Press - 8th May 2010 Leeroy Keeps Swinging
- Ukdrummer.com - 5th March 2010 Leo Crabtree Interview
- XLR8R - 30th March 2009 The Prodigy: Fire Starters
- Mix Magazine - 1st May 2006 On the Road: Jon Burton
- Keyboard Magazine - 1st February 2005 Trim the Fat
- Native Instruments - 1st January 2005 NI Kore is a Key part of The Prodigy's Live Set
- TC Electronic - 1st January 2005 PowerCore FireWire Used for Worldwide Prodigy Tour
- Korg magazine - 29th November 2004 Never Outgunned: Liam Howlett
- Sound On Sound - 1st October 2004 Liam Howlett: Recording Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned
- Remix - 1st August 2004 Behind the Curtain
- Sonic State - 19th July 2004 Prodigy Dig The Mackie Sound
- Propellerhead Software - 15th December 2003 The Prodigal Reasoner
- BBC Radio 1 - 13th August 2002 OneMusic interview: The Prodigy
- Gearbox.com - 30th November 2001 Massive Attack take MIX to the max
- Korg magazine - 30th November 2000 Liam Howlett interviewed by Korg mag in winter 2001
- Future Music - 1st December 2000 DIY Prodigy
- Power On - 1st January 1999 Catching Up With The Prodigy
- Future Music - 31st October 1996 Favourite 50 - 1 Korg Prophecy
- Sound On Sound - 1st October 1996 Liam Howlett • The Prodigy & Firestarter
- The Music Technology Magazine - 1st September 1993 Issue 83: Liam Howlett of The Prodigy
- Future Music - 1st February 1993 Prodigious talent
YouTube videos
- Jon Burton and TC Electronic PowerCore
- Walls Have Ears E2 - £2 A Gig to The Prodigy
- Jon Burton (FOH engineer)
for
Prodigy tells us about his use of the VoiceLive Rack in live situations
- Jon Burton Tannoy Studio Monitor Review
- Rob Holliday Laney Rig Rundown
- Gibson Festival Check with Rob Holliday from The Prodigy
Discuss about the gear at Prodigy forum with other users
Article scans
Future Music - 1st February 1993 Prodigious talent
Future Music - 31st October 1996 Favourite 50 - 1 Korg Prophecy
Future Music - 1st December 2000 Firestarter
Future Music - 1st December 2000 DIY Prodigy
Keyboard Magazine - 1st February 2005 Trim the Fat
Help Wanted!
This section is updated regularily and needs your help. If you got some new interesting info, pics, articles, or you have seen Liam using new stuff in the gigs or somewhere else, please send all infos to me. I would be very grateful if you can contribute this project. You can contact me via mail juge@theprodigy.info.
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