250,000 cups of tea later

Sie began his journey into sound as a 'tape op' at Milo Studios in London’s East End. This was during a period of rapid transformation in the industry when digital technology started to crossover with analogue. It was in this environment and the convergence of old and new technology that ignited Sie’s passion for sound engineering and production. Over the years, he has become a go-to mix engineer and producer for artists and record companies worldwide, known for his ability to work across a range of genres, from electronic and pop to film composition and experimental sound design.

I must have made around 250,000 cups of tea before becoming an engineer.

Go-to sound engineer

Sie's career is marked by a range of high-profile collaborations. His work has led to the making of some landmark recordings and productions with true legends in the scene including Depeche Mode's "Playing the Angel", Gang of Four's post-punk album "Content", Massive Attack's “Heligoland” and Björk’s “Homogenic”. These artists alone demonstrate his versatility and expertise working between the lines of classic and modern sound design.

One particularly memorable project was the collaboration between Martin Gore and Vince Clarke of Depeche Mode, who had not worked together in 23 years. Daniel Miller, the founder of Mute Record, suggested they create an album using their extensive synth collections. Initially hesitant, they agreed when Sie was brought in to produce.

Working with both of them for six months in California, choosing a different synth every day, was one of the highlights of my career.

He is also the co-founder of the Music Production Academy and is committed to sharing his insights and supporting new talent in the industry. From post-punk to trip-hop, avant-folk and beyond, Sie’s mixing and mastering prowess has surely made a mark on the contemporary music landscape - a sonic jack of all trades combining originality with high production quality that has resulted in a diverse and accomplished career.

Music has always been my safe space…no matter what's going on externally, I can open my laptop, use a plugin, sit behind a console, and know that space for me can't be touched.

Synsound Live Session with Dan Lacksman

During our visit, Sie also sat down with Synsound founder Dan Lacksman, a significant figure in the development and popularization of electronic music. From the pioneering avant-garde synth pop of his band Telex to the production of Deep Forest’s cult classic debut album, Dan has tread a unique musical path - gathering a wealth of knowledge and gear along the way that bridge vintage and modern worlds.

Dan and Sie discuss and explore the evolution of software instruments and acknowledge the progress that has been made over the years, while paying homage to the irreplaceable tactility of original hardware. This is followed by a jam session using Dan’s Moog Modular and Arturia’s Modular V, a combination of virtual and hardware synthesis that reflects their production philosophy - resulting in an evocative synth ensemble and mixdown with FX Collection 5.

The thing that i see with Arturia is that you can tell that they’re really passionate about what they’re making, its not oh yeh what does the market need? Its, let's make this the best it can be and be the best at doing it.

Conclusion

Sie Medway-Smith's ability to blend traditional and modern techniques makes him a true explorer of sound. His use of Arturia's FX Collection exemplifies this approach—combining the clarity and creative possibilities of modern tools with the warmth of analog. Whether working on hit releases or teaching the next generation of pro-audio protégés, Sie's dedication to his craft is evident.

What makes Arturia plugs special to me is the attention to detail, hands down, its beyond the expectation, it goes further. It goes to the point where I’m saying to myself, how are they doing that?”