Celebrated across the spectrum for his singular fusion of UK bass, techno, and experimental textures, French artists Simo Cell shares his studio favorites! A key affiliate of Bristol’s Livity Sound and the French collective BFDM, he has garnered acclaim for unpredictable, genre-defying productions that bridge the gap between French and British club culture. His technical precision and dynamic versatility behind the decks have cemented his status as a forward-thinking innovator in the contemporary underground scene. Get to know what are his favorite tools in the studio!

Manipulator – Polyverse

“A tool to twist voices down to the bone but I also use it on drums or any kind of element. What I love is how it keeps emotion even when everything becomes unrecognizable. It brings something alive into sound design, a kind of mutant breath. It’s super light on CPU, and the stereo tool inside can open up the spectrum in a beautiful way. Really complete.”

Saturn – FabFilter

“I’ve used it in every track for years. It’s not just a distortion, it’s a complexe creative playground with envelope followers and multi-band EQs. I like to push it gently to dirty up the spectrum and let the material breathe. But I also drive it hard, with heavy feedback and certain EQ bands maxed out, to create feedback tones and unique sounds that became part of my sonic identity.”

Motions – Arturia

“I like plugins that provoke instead of decorate. Motions is organized chaos, it brings micro-variation and movement into static sounds. Perfect to let rhythm breathe without sounding mechanical. It’s a next-gen filter I use to add depth, unexpected grooves, and evolving textures.”

SSL 4000 E Channel Strip - Universal Audio

“Essential. My go-to mix tool for building buses and getting that punchy, glued sound. I feel naked without it.”

Gate – Ableton

“The gate is a texture weapon. I use it to sculpt silence and create rhythm from what’s in between the sounds. It’s simple but full of possibilities if you really listen to what it cuts. I also use it a lot in sidechain setups.”

VC3 – Volume Compensator

“A tiny, no-fuss plugin that keeps your output volume consistent so you can tell if a plugin is actually improving the sound — or just making it louder. Super useful for checking what distortion or saturation is really doing to the signal.”