Industry Talk

Brian Willis bemoans the lack of creativity in synthsizer programming and electronic music.

John O'Connor said farewell to the UK music business with the million-selling single 'Star Trekkin'. Paul Tingen tracks him down at his new home in America, where he is one of the principal composers for the cartoon King Of The Hill, as well as a successful recording artist in his own right.

In the sequel to his article last month about being a session musician, Big George takes a look at what it takes to be a successful programmer.

Neil Watkinson doesn't care whether your studio is analogue or digital, big or small, so long as new can hear the words...

While the fame and fortune of pop stars is frequently short-lived, session musicians can carve out a career lasting many years, making a living through sheer ability and professionalism. Big George Webley goes behind the scenes....

It's all in the mind... music, that is. A computer can't begin to make music without a human being... or can it? Paul Hodgson explains the current way of thinking at the cutting edge of research into music cognition.

Rupert Cook tells the Luddites among us to stop complaining and defragment our hard drives.

The head of the design team behind the Lexicon Studio talks to Paul White about the Lexicon sound and the benefits of the Studio approach — and offers some practical tips on optimising PCs for audio recording.

Do you ever wonder who's responsible for the waveforms and sound patches in your favourite synth? If it's a Korg keyboard, then the answer might be Steve McNally, one of the team of sound developers.

'That Martin Walker', you probably think as you leaf through your new SOS, 'he must be very happy man. He's always getting to look at the very latest music software — and for free!' But no, he's complaining about it. Here's why...

History is littered with people who proclaimed that the latest musical development was 'just not music' — Mozart, rock & roll, and techno have all come under fire in the past. Paul Nagle would normally be the first to decry such conservative musical attitudes, but some of the latest developments in music technology have got him worried; the end results just don't seem, well, like music anymore...

One day we all might drive a compact hatchback. Until then, Mac musicians should rally support for their beloved computer. Kenny Campbell sounds the call...

Recording Architecture's renowned Black Box modular acoustic treatment system is now available in a range of packages specifically aimed at the project studio. Dave Lockwood talks to consultant acoustician, Nick Whitaker and architect Roger D'Arcy about the company's latest venture in this sector of the market.

Last month Big George looked at what demos actually are. This month he tells you how to prepare for recording one and avoid wasting lots of time, tape, and money.

Paul Johnson has made up his mind; once in a while, he is resolved to spurn the seductive charms of his computer. And when it moans and refuses to work properly, he won't be putting up with any of its nonsence. Here's why...

John Oram now puts hsi name to his own range of mixers and studio outboard, after a varied career including many years of design experience with some of the big names in British audio. Paul White enjoys a slice of sonic history.

Paul White talks to one of the seminal figures of the electronic music era, pioneering synthesizer designer Bob Moog.

In the first of a two-part series, Big George looks at Father Christmas, the Easter Bunny, getting signed to a record company on the strength of sending out a demo, and other fairy tales...

After nearly 30 years working with computers in the fields of recording and broadcasting, Roger Jackson has realised he is suffering from a problem a lot of SOS readers will sympathise with; his love affair with computers is coming to an end. But breaking up, as someone once remarked, is hard to do...

The latest digital recording systems offer smart facilities in spades, but if you're a newcomer to recording technology it can be hard to find out what's really best for your often simple requirements. Dave Gale wonders who you gonna call...

Your cosy home studio can be more like a death-trap, as Christopher Holder warns...