Welcome to the SOUND ON SOUND web site, the home of the world's premier music recording technology magazine.
We've been publishing our print magazine since 1985, growing in reputation and stature year-on-year. Our web site came later, housing our vast, continually-expanding, archive of highly informative articles (from January 1994 to the present day).
Every month, SOS print/online/iPad magazine delivers an unequalled mix of detailed, hands-on Product Tests of cutting-edge music hardware/software, covering all aspects of sound acquisition, editing and playback. Our producer/engineer/musician Interviews are second to none and there's a goldmine of "how to" Workshops and Tutorials (in the Technique section) to help you get the most out of your gear — whatever your level of expertise.
Search our treasure chest of current and archive articles
Articles on this site generally fall into 5 broad categories:
SOS is one of the few magazines in any sector to publish the entire editorial contents of our current print magazine in an online format (we call this the eSub), for the benefit of our ever-growing global community of subscribers. Some of the regular columns (eg. Sounding Off, Leader etc) and some teaser reviews are free for everyone to access. After 5 months, we unlock the current issue and add its articles to the 11,800+ available FREE on soundonsound.com via the SOS Search engine, ready to answer your many questions and assist you in selecting the most appropriate tools for your music recording studio.
Here are links to just a few of the most recent articles...
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Classic Tracks Classic Tracks
Forty years after its original release, Mike Oldfield tells us the story of recording his hugely successful debut album, Tubular Bells. Adam & The Ants ‘Stand & Deliver’ Classic Tracks
To say that producer Chris Hughes was closely involved with Recording Adam & The Ants’ biggest records would be a bit of an understatement — he got so involved he joined the band... Frank Sinatra ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’ Classic Tracks
In 1956, Frank Sinatra revived his flagging career with an album that would define the swing sound and go on to become one of the most highly regarded in history. John Palladino, now in his 92nd year, was at the controls... Classic Tracks
For many, (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? is Oasis’s masterpiece. Producer and engineer Owen Morris tells us the story of its creation. Classic Tracks
Although the shock value of its lyrics and ensuing censorship earned it notoriety, ‘Closer’ perfectly exemplifies Trent Reznor’s radical use of sampling and singularly focused musical vision. Classic Tracks The unlikely result of a collaboration between two 4AD bands, the release of ‘Pump Up The Volume’ by MARRS was a great day for house music and copyright lawyers alike. Gary Moore 'Parisienne Walkways' Classic Tracks 'Parisienne Walkways' showcased Gary Moore's virtuoso guitar work and quickly became his signature song. Its recording also provided a young engineer at Morgan Studios with his first, unexpected production credit. The Beatles 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' Classic Tracks
Recording the White Album was a major project by any standards, not least for Ken Scott, who, at the age of just 21, found himself engineering the biggest band in the world... Whitney Houston 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' Classic Tracks
'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' was a huge global hit, but it also represented a tour de force in coaxing the perfect vocal from a singer, as explained by producer Narada Michael Walden. Classic Tracks
Soft Cell's cover of 'Tainted Love' not only catapulted the duo to stardom in the UK, but also went on to spend a record-breaking 43 weeks on the American Billboard Hot 100 chart. Classic Tracks
The story of Don McLean's 'American Pie' goes from cryptic beginnings to massive chart success, and an eventual position as a perennial US radio favourite. Sinéad O’Connor ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’
Recording Sinéad O’Connor’s breakthrough hit was easy in some ways, but difficult in others — for example, all compression was forbidden... Classic Tracks
The single ‘Downtown’ gave Petula Clark a worldwide hit and rejuvenated her career. Presiding over the session was engineer Ray Prickett, who tells us how it happened... The Buggles 'Video Killed The Radio Star' Classic Tracks
The Buggles' JG Ballard-inspired 'Video Killed The Radio Star' hit the number one spot in no fewer than 16 different countries, and confirmed Trevor Horn in his career as a producer in the process. Classic Tracks The haunting dub of ‘Ghost Town’ perfectly captured the mood of its time, and spent three weeks at the top of the British charts during the turbulent summer of 1981. Elton John: 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' Classic Tracks
Elton John’s Goodbye Yellow Brick Road has proved to be one of his most popular and enduring works. The man at the controls, David Hentschel, tells us how it came to be. Classic Tracks But for the timely intervention of Mick Ronson, John Cougar’s celebrated portrait of small-town American life might never have existed at all, let alone topped the Billboard Hot 100. The Orb: 'Little Fluffy Clouds' Classic Tracks
Dr Alex Paterson tells us how the Orb’s cavalier sampling and devil‑may‑care attitude towards copyright took ambient house from the chill‑out room to the top of the charts. Marvin Gaye 'What's Going On?' Classic Tracks
As the ’60s came to a close, Marvin Gaye was forced to ask some serious questions about the world as he found it; the result was the sublimely soulful piece of social commentary, ‘What’s Going On’. Jerry Lee Lewis: 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On' Classic Tracks
Jerry Lee Lewis’s raucous piano playing is the stuff of rock & roll legend, but his discovery and signing to Sun Records was the result of a series of lucky chances. Engineer Jack Clement tells us the story... |
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