Accessories / Gadgets

Many affordable patchbays come half‑normalled by default, and to change that you must flip the cards inside. It’s easy enough, but there’s a knack...

This DIY adaptor cable will fool your organ into thinking a real Leslie is attached.

Even in today’s computer‑based studios, a patchbay can change your life. We help you choose the right one.

There can't be many Pro Tools users left who have not had to invest in an iLok key in order to run their favourite plug-ins. But did you know that you can insure, transfer and even buy and sell iLok plug-in licences electronically? Find out more...

Whether you're running a single PC in your bedroom or a bank of them in a professional studio, sometimes a tiny freeware or shareware utility can make the difference between frustration and elation. We round up some of the best and point you to places where you can find more.

Does defragmenting your hard drives, including the ones you use for recording audio, really result in better PC performance? Opinion is divided, so we take a considered look at the subject, as well as testing some of the most suitable 'defragger' utilities.

Windows XP is probably the most important PC operating system upgrade since Windows 95, but as always, its new features come at a cost. Should you upgrade your computer? Here's the definitive guide...

Having looked in Part 1 at how to condense your studio setup for use as a live rig, David Harman concludes this short series with tips on how to prepare yourself and your gear for the rigours of live performance.

Being a MIDI-based musician doesn't mean that you can't get out and play live gigs; you just need to plan more carefully than the average pub band. Grizzled live MIDI veteran David Harman explains the pitfalls and outlines some of the preparation you need to take your show on the road.

The GM, XG and GS sound specs are frequently derided for imposing boring uniformity on the synth universe — but in fact they contain many unusual sounds. Dave Stewart, a man who knows a gopi-yantra from gankogwe, sheds light on some of the lesser-known instruments in the General MIDID set, and provides some useful playing tips.

Confused by word clock? When is it best to normalise a signal? Are optical cables a con? Paul White answers these and other questions we're most often asked about digital audio.

We've all lusted after the shiny new gear that appears month after month in the pages of Sound On Sound — but how do you know what will make a real difference to your recordings and what will be an expensive luxury? Paul White picks out the areas where money will be well spent, and the products that will take your sound up a gear.

In these days of sampling, DSP and physical modelling, you might think that building your own electronic instruments would be a daunting prospect. According to Reed Ghazala, however, it's a piece of cake — you don't even need to know how they work. Sam Inglis finds out more.

The plug-in compatibility of most audio software means that you can add new effects and processing capabilities — but not all programs support the same types of plug-in, and some require additional hardware. In the first part of a comprehensive roundup, Paul White and Martin Walker look at the different plug-in formats available.

What does the SOS team want for Christmas this year?

Chris Carter offers insight into motivation and stress in the studio and some possible solutions.

Carbon-fibre cables, gold-plated connectors, contact enhancers and spiked, lead-filled supports — not a list of props from a science-fiction blockbuster, but a selection of the many accessories available from hi-fi specialist dealers. Martin Walker enters the twilight zone to sort fact from fiction and discover whether any of this black magic can help you in the studio.

Most of the time, inspiration doesn't so much strike as go on strike — so what can be done to coax it back to work? Paul White proffers a few suggestions.

If you're on a budget, there's nothing to beat buying second-hand. Derek johnson and Debbie Poyser trawl the Reader Ads to highlight more of yesterday's forgotten gear that's worth a closer look.

While the likes of Roland TR909 drum machines and TB303 Basslines sell for inflated amounts, less trendy but often more functional gear regularly appears in the free ad columns at unbelievable prices. Derek Johnson takes advantage of the fickle nature of fashion to help you assemble a budget second-hand system...

Having wondered last month about the reliability of your gear, David Mellor discusses the even less predictable nature of music business people...