Liam preparing his setup in
soundcheck.
Dirtchamber is Liam's home
studio.
Liamat Milton Keynes 2012.
See and learn what equipment Liam Howlett uses when he composes The Prodigy's music!
About this section
This is a kind of trainspotter section. I have done this section 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's 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.
Discuss about the gear at Prodigy forum with other users
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'
- 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 - 31st January 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
- 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
Article scans
Future Music - February 1993
Future Music - December 2000
Respect to my mind and to my equipment.
Liam Howlett, December 1991, Charly single cover
Liam Howlett's gear list
| Ableton Live software | |
| Access Virus TI Polar | Picture/Info |
| Aiwa Dat | |
| Akai CD3000XL MIDI Stereo CD-ROM Sampler, (10MB) | Picture/Info |
| Akai S2800 midi stereo digital sampler | Picture/Info |
| Akai S3200XL Professional Stereo Digital Sampler | Picture/Info |
| Akai S5000 sampler | Picture/Info |
| Akai Z8 Digital sampler | Picture/Info |
| Alesis BRC MIDI machine | |
| Alesis compressor/GATE | |
| Aphex Type C Aural Exciter | |
| Apple Logic Pro software | |
| Apple Mac G4 laptop | |
| Apple Macbook Pro laptops x4 | |
| ARP 2600 analog synthesizer | Picture/Info |
| Arturia Analog Factory | Picture/Info |
| Arturia MicroBrute | Picture/Info |
| Arturia MiniBrute | Picture/Info |
| BBE Sonic Maximiser 322 | |
| Behringer Ultrafex II EX3100 2-Channel Multiband Sound Enhancement Processor | Picture/Info |
| BOSS guitar pedals (distortion, overdrive, phaser, flanger) | |
| BOSS SE-70 Effects unit | Picture/Info |
| Casio Casiotone MT-41 | Picture/Info |
| Casio Casiotone MT-68 | |
| Celestion speakers | |
| Clavia Nord Lead Virtual Analog Synthesizer | Picture/Info |
| Critter & Guitari Bolsa Bass | Picture/Info |
| DBX 160A Compressor/Limiter | Picture/Info |
| Drawmer DL221 two/dual channel compressor | Picture/Info |
| Drawmer LX20 stereo compressor | Picture/Info |
| Dynachord Leslie Effects cabinet | |
| Dynaudio Acoustics M3A monitors | Picture/Info |
| E-MU Orbit 9090 | Picture/Info |
| E-Mu Proteus 3 Ethnic Sound module | Picture/Info |
| E-Mu SP-1200 sampling drum machine | Picture/Info |
| Electrix Filter Factory | Picture/Info |
| Event monitors | |
| Gemini MX2200 DJ mixer | |
| Genelec 1032A monitors | Picture/Info |
| Genelec 6010A monitors | Picture/Info |
| Gibson Les Paul (Steve Jones Replica) | |
| Joemeek compressor | |
| JVC AK-22 HI-FI Amplifier | |
| Korg ARP Odyssey | Picture/Info |
| Korg ER-1 - Electribe R Rhythm Synth | Picture/Info |
| Korg Kaossilator KO-1 Dynamic Phrase Synthesizer | Picture/Info |
| Korg KM-2 Kaoss Dynamic DJ Mixer | Picture/Info |
| Korg Kontrol49 - midi keyboard/controller | Picture/Info |
| Korg Legacy Collection - soft synths | Picture/Info |
| Korg MicroKorg Analog Modeling Synthesizer with Vocoder | Picture/Info |
| Korg Monologue | Picture/Info |
| Korg Monotron Analogue Ribbon Synthesizer | Picture/Info |
| Korg MS-20 keyboard | Picture/Info |
| Korg MS-2000 Virtual Analog synth | Picture/Info |
| Korg Prophecy Synthesizer | Picture/Info |
| Korg R3 synthesizer vocoder | Picture/Info |
| M-Audio Oxygen 49 (3rd gen) | Picture/Info |
| Mackie 32-8 bus analog mixing desk | Picture/Info |
| Mackie CR 1604 Mixer | Picture/Info |
| Mackie Onyx 1620 16-Channel Mixer | Picture/Info |
| Manley Enhanced Pultec EQP1A EQ | Picture/Info |
| Manley Massive Passive stereo Tube EQ | Picture/Info |
| Moog Prodigy | Picture/Info |
| Moog Voyager Synthesizer | Picture/Info |
| Morley Dual Bass Wah | Picture/Info |
| MOTU 828 Audio Interface | Picture/Info |
| Mutable Instruments Shruthi | Picture/Info |
| Native Instruments Maschine Mikro MKII | Picture/Info |
| Novation Bass Station analog synth | Picture/Info |
| Numark Blue Dog DM900 2 Channel Mixing board | Picture/Info |
| Oberheim Four Voice | Picture/Info |
| Oberheim Two Voice analog synthesizer | Picture/Info |
| Pendulum audio Quartet | Picture/Info |
| Propellerhead Reason software | Picture/Info |
| Propellerheads ReCycle! | Picture/Info |
| Roland AIRA System-1 Synthesizer | Picture/Info |
| Roland Alpha Juno-1 | Picture/Info |
| Roland Alpha Juno-2 | Picture/Info |
| Roland E-660 Digital Stereo Parametric Mastering EQ | Picture/Info |
| Roland GAIA SH-01 Synthesizer | Picture/Info |
| Roland JD-990 | Picture/Info |
| Roland JP-08 Sound Module | Picture/Info |
| Roland JP-8000 analog modeling synthesizer | Picture/Info |
| Roland Juno-106 synthesizer | Picture/Info |
| Roland MC-303 Groovebox | Picture/Info |
| Roland MC-505 Groovebox | Picture/Info |
| Roland SH-09 | Picture/Info |
| Roland SH-101 monosynth | Picture/Info |
| Roland SP-808 Groove Sampler | Picture/Info |
| Roland Space Echo RE-201 | Picture/Info |
| Roland TB-03 Bass Line | Picture/Info |
| Roland TB-303 Bass Line | Picture/Info |
| Roland TR-707 Rhythm Composer | Picture/Info |
| Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer | Picture/Info |
| Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer | Picture/Info |
| Roland VK-7 | Picture/Info |
| Roland VP-330 Vocoder Plus | Picture/Info |
| Roland W-30 Sampler Workstation | Picture/Info |
| Sequental Circuits Pro One | Picture/Info |
| Sherman Filterbank 2 | Picture/Info |
| Sony DTC 1000 ES DAT machine | Picture/Info |
| Sony DTC 750 ES DAT machine | Picture/Info |
| Squier Fender bass guitar | |
| TC Electronic Finalizer 96K | Picture/Info |
| Technics SL1200 turntable | Picture/Info |
| Thermionic Culture Phoenix stereo valve compressor | Picture/Info |
| Thermionic Culture The Fat Bustard II 12 Channel Summing mixer | Picture/Info |
| Thermionic Culture Vulture stereo valve distortion | Picture/Info |
| TL Audio valve EQ | |
| TOA 280 ME monitor speakers | Picture/Info |
| Unity Audio Boulders & Avalanche | |
| Yamaha HS50M 5" Powered Studio Monitor | |
| Yamaha HS80M speakers |
Gear that has been in use over the years
| Akai DR-8 Hard disk recorder | Picture/Info |
| Alesis ADAT mk2 | |
| Alesis Quadraverb effect unit x2 | Picture/Info |
| Apple Macintosh 7100 computer | Picture/Info |
| ART MULTIVERB ALPHA 2.0 | |
| Dynachord DLS300 digital organ | |
| DYNATECH HARDRIVE (270MB) | |
| E-MU Proteus World module | |
| E-MU Vintage Keys module | Picture |
| Ensoniq DP/2 FX processor x2 | Picture |
| Glyph Drive Scsii | |
| HHB CDR 800 CD recorder | |
| Kenton pro 2 midi to cv | |
| Korg Electribe EA-1 | |
| Korg Electribe EM-1 | Picture/Info |
| Korg Electribe ES-1 | Picture/Info |
| Mackie 8 bus 24/8/2 | |
| Midi xpress XT -serial port/rs422 | |
| Moog Minimoog | Picture/info |
| Octave Cat | |
| Park GB15/10 bass practice amp | |
| Peavy Analogue Filter | |
| Philips CD 624 | |
| Roland U-220 sound module | Picture/Info |
| Roland DJ mixer | |
| Roland JD-800 | Picture/Info |
| Roland JUPITER-6 | Picture/info |
| Roland JUPITER-8 | Picture/Info |
| Roland VP-9000 Variphase sampler | |
| Sans Amp Teck 21 NYC PSA-1 distortion box | Picture/Info |
| SCI PROPHET V (Software Synth) | Picture/Info |
| Steinberg's Cubase on the Mac | Picture |
| SYQUEST EZ135 hard drive | Picture |
| Sony Laser Disk MDP850D | |
| Tascam CD401 MkII-CD player | |
| Tascam DA-20 DAT recorder | Picture/Info |
| Tascam DA-30 MKII-DAT | |
| Tascam DA-40-DAT | |
| Tascam M-3500 32 TRACK DESK | |
| TEAC V3000 stereo casette deck | |
| Vestax PMC07 pro DJ mixer | |
| Yamaha SPX 1000 FX Unit | Picture/Info |
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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