
Q. How do I choose between computer-based recording and dedicated units?
I have been recording tracks on my computer's hard disk for two years, but I now realise that the results are less than...
Editor In Chief Sam Inglis has been with Sound On Sound for more than 24 years, rising through the SOS staff ranks until in 2020 he took over the Editor In Chief hotseat from Paul White.
Sam is a recording engineer, producer, songwriter and folk musician who studies the traditional songs of England and Scotland, and the author of two books: Neil Young's Harvest (Bloomsbury, 2003) and Teach Yourself Songwriting (Hodder, 2006).
As well as writing, Sam can be found presenting SOS Podcasts and SOS TV YouTube Exhibition Videos on our channels.

I have been recording tracks on my computer's hard disk for two years, but I now realise that the results are less than...

I am thinking about upgrading the audio setup of my computer system (G3/300 tower with 92Mb RAM). I am looking at the MOTU...

Writing the words to songs is often thought of as a process of pure intuition, but there's a lot more to it than that. In the first part of a new series, Sam Inglis suggests an alternative way of going about it.

What's the difference between an audio CD I have burnt on a CD‑R and one that is produced 'professionally' at a...

Ken Nelson favours the old school of recording, based around clean signal paths, live playing and analogue tape — but that hasn't stopped him working with some of the hottest new bands in Britain. Among them are Coldplay, whose debut Parachutes album crashed straight into the charts at number 1. Sam Inglis finds out how it was recorded.

Since UK garage emerged from the underground last year, record companies have been scrambling to sign up the stars of the latest Big Thing. Foremost among these is Mark Hill, who, as well as being one half of Artful Dodger, has also produced Craig David's hit single and debut album Born To Do It.

I am a second‑year A‑level student doing Music and Electronics and have been a keen musician for 11 years. I...

Those who bemoan the lack of invention and experimentation in today's rock music must make an exception for Mercury Rev and the Flaming Lips, two of America's finest and most successful 'alternative' outfits. Their shared producer and engineer Dave Fridmann tells Sam Inglis about their unique approaches to recording.

Most record producers would greet the discovery that their work has been bootlegged with dismay. For German dance producer Ramon Zenker, however, it proved to be the key to a smash hit. Sam Inglis finds out more...

There aren't many bands who produce their best work over 20 years into their career, but XTC's 1999 album Apple Venus Vol. 1 has been widely acknowledged as a masterpiece, and their latest, Wasp Star, is a joyous collection of noisy, catchy pop songs. Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding recorded it in their own Idea Studio, where they talked to Sam Inglis.
