Throughout his accomplished career, producer Michael Beinhorn has worked with some of the biggest names in rock and beyond, including Herbie Hancock, Marilyn Manson, Soundgarden, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Hole, just to name a few. Beinhorn is credited with producing many of these aforementioned artists' “career records,” including Superunknown by Soundgarden, Celebrity Skin by Hole and Mechanical Animals by Marilyn Manson. In fact, during the week of September 15, 1998, Beinhorn achieved the distinction of being the first-ever record producer to have two records simultaneously debut in the Billboard Top Ten, with Celebrity Skin at #9 and Mechanical Animals at #1. But Michael's work doesn’t stop there – in addition to his success as a producer, Beinhorn can list programmer, performer, songwriter, arranger, mixer, and engineer as part of his repertoire. He is also an accomplished fine artist and writer, continually pursuing his passion for free, creative expression through as many avenues as possible. As part of our “Ask Me Anything” series from AES 2014, Michael sat down with us to answer some questions from the on-site audience and from fans on Twitter. Question: Michael, how did you get started in the business? Michael Beinhorn: I was in a band. I played synthesizer and I lived on people’s couches. It was a very hard road. I fell into producing by accident, actually. We started producing records for my band, Material, with a bassist named Bill Laswell. One thing led to another and we did a record with Herbie Hancock, which at that point was his biggest record. And that’s where it all started. Q: What do you consider the best moment of your career? MB: I don’t know, man. Every time a take gets finished and I feel that I have worked with someone who came into a recording session with a preconception of what they were going to do, and the take is done and they’ve been changed through the whole process of doing it… That’s always the best moment. It happens so often, but that’s what it’s supposed to be. Historically, there have been so many events like that, so many moments where I would hear a recording that somebody has done and I would be like, “Wow, this is exactly why I do this.” It’s so moving and completely takes you over. There is no thrill in the world that can top it. Q: Did you always know music was the direction you wanted to go in, or did you have other things in mind?  MB: No, I didn’t think it was. I started out in fine arts. I thought I was going to be a medical illustrator back when people did that. (Laughs.) It’s beautiful artwork as well, but that was what I was really interested in. However, I’ve always loved music and to tell the truth, the two forms aren’t necessarily separate from one another. They’re just forms, underneath it’s the same thing. It has the same exact meaning. It’s all an expression. Q: Away from your work, what is it that you enjoy as a hobby? MB: All my hobbies are my work. I like to write, I like to draw, and I like to make records. I like to play around with modular synthesizers. And I like to spend time with my wife. That’s not a hobby, though – that’s a life choice. Q: What genre of music would you like to work with that you haven’t yet? MB: I don’t think there is one. I like all the genres I’ve worked with. It’s more about the artist. Q: What are you listening to now? MB: A lot of ethnic music, especially ethnic African and Asian music. A lot of baroque, because as we like to say, “If it ain’t baroque, don’t fix it.” A lot of Renaissance music – a lot of early music – a lot of Bach. For the complete AMA interview with Michael Beinhorn, please check out the video below!

We would like to thank Michael for taking the time to be part of our AES Ask Me Anything Livestream event!