Moving Music Management

About

thinksoundstudio4

Thinksound – Introduction to the Team:

Thinksound partners Leo Elstob (aka Leo Zero), and Simon Hitner met at their local youth club in early days of Electro, Rap & Rare Groove. They soon joined each other on create digging expeditions to London, and between them over the last 25 years have amassed a 40,000 strong vinyl and CD archive that would make them both rich overnight, if they could ever part with those rare treasures on ebay!

The boys truly bonded over a love of clubbing during the birth of Acid House in the late 80s – Leo, hanging off the rafters in the main room, and Simon bustin’ a move in the back room meant they had record collections to die for, from Balearic, House to Hip-Hop and everything in between.

It wasn’t long before their vinyl interest evolved into production skills and making their own music, which is where the really exciting bit happens..

 

Simon Hitner

simon_hitnerBegan his music career by producing music and sound effects on CD ROM titles fro Nickelodeon and Microsoft. Trained as professional Mastering Engineer, with fifteen years’ experience, working for top mastering companies: ‘Chop ’Em Out’,  ‘Sonic Arts’,  and ‘Masterpiece’, many of the top producers personal requested Simon; from DJ Krust to John Digweed, DJ Raf and Illogical – he even cut Dizzee Rascal’s first 12 ‘I Luv U’!

Simon has an in-depth knowledge of vinyl disc cutting and digital editing, having mastered releases on all formats for Universal, Virgin, EMI, Polydor and many independent record labels, including Full Cycle, Bedrock and Botchit and Scarper.

Simon has produced and remixed tracks for Latin Jazz record label Far Out Recordings, including the DJ First Klas ‘Good Feeling’ EP and tracks on the Azymuth and Friends From Rio Albums. DJ sets include nights at Bar Rumba, Plastic People and The Complex, some of the leading clubs in the UK.

Current roles include Simon’s contract work with Sky Television and Audio Dubbing Mixer, engineering promos and documentaries across the Sky network including HD and 5.1 surround features.

Simon is a specialist in Jazz/Hip Hop/Drum & Bass/ Cinematic Soundscapes – he’s been collecting Hip Hop and making beats since the days of Grandmaster Flash, and today still mixes old school techniques and equipment with today’s latest software for that authentic sound.

So when an agency says “we need a Massive Attack style track” or “an energetic Roni Size orchestral Drum and Bass piece” – you don’t just get a poor man’s version – you get the real deal from someone who knows all the techniques and is an expert in the genre.

Special Powers:

DAW’s / Software
Mastering
Sonic Solutions / Sadie

Post Production
Fairlight – Evo / Xynergi / Dream II

Production
Logic / Protools / Waves plugins

Mixing Consoles
Soundtracs DPC II / Fairlight – EVO console

Outboard
Post Production
SSL X-Logic Multichannel compressor / Focusrite Blue 230 compressor / Focusrite Red 7 microphone preamp / Neumann U-87 microphone
Mastering
Maslec MEA-2 mastering equalizer / Summit Audio DCL-200 dual tube compressor
Production
Akai MPC2000XL

Cutting Lathes
Neumann VMS 80 / Neumann VMS 70

Skills
Recording / mixing / sound designing long & short form programs / promos & sponsorship projects in Dolby 5.1 and stereo. Both in High and Standard Definition.

 

Leo Elstob (aka Leo Zero)

leozero2

Leo has fast become the remixer of choice for acts such as Florence and the Machine, Bryan Ferry, Paul Weller, Lissie and Jack Penate to name but a few. He has also had very successfull albums released through Strut, Republic of Music, Endless Flight (Japan), and DJs all over the world too – plus he’s a very successful Graphic Designer Artist.

Leo began his career in event marketing and music promotion. This included launching international club nights Soulsonic and Faith, hosting after-parties for Vivienne Westwood and events at many of London’s premier club venues including Ministry of Sound, Fabric and Pacha. He has promoted music events in Moscow, New York, numerous Summer residences in Ibiza, and Miami Music Conference pool parties.

Leo launched his music career with a top 40 hit, and a recording contract with label Deconstruction. He then went on to form chart-topping dance act Chicane, co-writing the Ibiza favourite ‘Offshore’, and tracks on both gold-selling Chicane albums. Leo was also in the highly acclaimed bands a Mountain of One, and Zarrylade, who r

eceived airplay on Radio One, and many other stations the world over, and is currently working on a house music album, a looped Techno affair, and a cosmic disco one too, his repertoire like Simon’s is very wide!

Special Powers:

Login / Ableton  / Guru / Geist / Reason / Recycle / Melodyne
& the Universal Audio UAD 2 Card + it’s full software set.

All run alongside countless soft synths, drum machines, samplers, and FX programs.

Current favoured programming/writing set utilises: Fxpansion Geist, runnig within Logic 9 with Ableton 8 Suite as a re-wire slave.

Specialist AKAI drum programming and control interfaces such as the MPD24 and the APC 40 Live Controller.

Leo DJ, remix and performs live using the APC40 / Pioneer CDJ Turntables/12” Vinyl, and Serato Scratch Live 3 with Ableton Bridge.

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Super Special Powers:
Extremely Creative
Nice People
Easy to Work With
Solution Focused
Deadline Driven
Forward Thinking
Technically  Talented

Clients:
Sony / Bloomberg / Nike / Ford / Nintendo / Microsoft / Nokia / Virgin / Sky / THQ / The Body Shop / Sega

Remix:
Bryan Ferry / Paul Weller / Florence and The Machine / Patrick Wold / Charlotte Gainsbourg / Hercules and Love Affair / Everything But The Girl / Loud Reed / Badly Drawn Boy / Basement Jaxx / Chicane / Dido / Underworld  / x-press2

Production:
EMI / Virgin / Sony BMG / Chrysalis / Junior Boys Own / Sunday Best / Junior Renaissance / Ministry of Sound / Far Out Recordings / Moshi Moshi / Mercury / Motown / Strut Records / Endless Flight