Mike Huckaby sold me a lot of the key Techno records in my collection from labels like KMS, Underground Resistance and Planet E. Mike has been DJing around Detroit for while, throwing down anything from the Deep House and dub techno he is most associated with to techno classics that are still as hot as when they were first pressed.

Thanks to Jovia of Jovia Music, I was able to set up a recent interview with Mike and pick his brain about his recent work with Ableton, Native Instruments, and the other gear in his studio.

What DAW or DAWs do you produce with?

Right now I'm experimenting with Kore and the Kore controller. I like the idea of being able to organize hundreds of sounds into personal categories. That's a very useful feature. The Arturia Origin synthesizer blows my mind too. I'd be lost with Origin for days at a time. Radikal Technologies Spectralis synthesizer is also quite interesting. I gave it the hands down winner of the NAMM show for hardware the year i saw it there.

What kind of outboard gear are you using?

As far as synthesizers are concerned, I am using the Waldorf Wave and a Triton Pro 88 keyboard. Between those two synths, I have all bases covered. I am extracting a lot of sound from the Waldorf Wave these days. I still use my outboard sampler sometimes, too: the Roland S-770 sampler. I love the warmth of its filters. The Roland S -770 sampler has the best filters I've ever heard. It ain't all over for hardware by no stretch of the imagination!

What VSTs do you find yourself using the most?

There's quite a few of them. Right now I'm using Ableton Live 7, Reaktor, Kore 2, Kontakt 3 and Izotope Ozone 3 quite a bit. Live 7 is the king of the remix, Reaktor is the god of synthesis and Izotope Ozone 3 is something I'll always use on every track.

What is your DJ setup like?

Believe it or not, I'm still solely using vinyl and the traditional two turntables and a mixer set up.

What are some of the challenges you are encountering with trying to DJ now that everyone seems to have a laptop?

Finding new records! It's becoming increasingly hard to find new records in Detroit. However, it is possible to find new records elsewhere. I still prefer the actual feel of vinyl. I also enjoy everything that comes along with it. I love the art work that comes along with the LP cover, the graphics on the label and simply the tangibility that vinyl gives you. I just don't feel like I own anything with an mp3.

What did you originally start writing electronic music with?

I started off using all the classic analog gear; gear such as the Roland 909 and 808 drum machines, the Minimoog, the Roland Juno 106, the MMT-8 sequencer and the Roland S-750 sampler. Roland gear has been extremely influential in my production career from early on.

Nowadays, production is a lot easier and affordable with so many great products to choose from. Most people that have been producing music for quite some time find it very pleasing to take advantage of what technology offers you today.