This excerpt from a Sound On Sound article is an interview with #trance music legend #ArminVanBuuren, outlining his approach to music production. The article begins by discussing his production philosophy, emphasizing the importance of listening to other artists and trends to stay relevant, and then dives into his specific production process, which he reveals is often based on creating variations on a single eight-bar theme. Armin then delves into the importance of sound design, advocating for mastering a limited set of tools rather than chasing endless technological possibilities, and shares his mixing techniques, stressing the importance of clarity and using EQ to create a "clean" mix. Throughout the interview, Armin highlights the significance of monitoring quality and investing in a proper studio environment, advocating for a space conducive to creativity and optimal listening. The final section focuses on mastering and compression, with Armin expressing a preference for leaving those processes to professionals. The purpose of this interview is to shed light on the process of creating trance music by a renowned artist, providing insights into his techniques and the key elements of successful production in this genre.