Mixing / Production

It’s amazing how far studio software has come on in the last decade, as this month’s Studio SOS candidate found out when he upgraded his ageing Logic‑based PC system...

Even once you’ve got to grips with your camera and today’s easy‑to‑use software editors, there’s still the small matter of creating an edit that truly fits the song...

Mercury Prize winners the xx were a band whose mimimalism tempted producers to do too much. By remaining faithful to the band’s own sound, Rodaidh McDonald succeeded where others had failed.

These audio files accompany the Producing Professional Voiceovers At Home feature that appeared in SOS June 2012.

To achieve success as a self‑producing voiceover artist, you need to be much more than a good recording engineer... 

With a little help from producer/engineer Tucker Martine, the Decemberists' latest album went from barn to barnstormer...

Oscar-winning drama The King's Speech tells the poignant story of King George VI's struggle to talk in public. What better way to record the soundtrack than with a microphone built for George VI himself?

Tightening timing, sustaining snares and silencing sibilance are among the tasks tackled in this month's remix...

Audio files to accompany the article.

Whether you're buying or building, deciding what should go inside an audio PC isn't easy, so we asked some leading experts for their advice...

One of the most influential British artists of the last two decades, Tom Jenkinson has pushed electronic music to its limits. In a rare interview, he pinpoints key moments in his career, and explains why musicianship still matters.

DSLRs and other interchangeable-lens still cameras offer film-like footage at entry-level prices. Our introductory guide to cinematography will help you to get the best from your camera.

We get the best from an ageing Mac and tame the worst acoustics problems in a small studio.

Adele 'Someone Like You', Black Eyed Peas 'The Time (Dirty Bit)', The Ting Tings 'Hands', Rihanna 'What's My Name'

How do you create a hit album that stands with the synthpop greats, yet at the same time sounds thoroughly modern? In Hurts' case, with a great deal of time and effort...

Through his work with David Guetta, Rihanna and now Katy Perry, Sandy Vee has taken the French house sound to the top of the US charts. He tells us how it's done.

You might be surprised at just how much you can discover about the mix of a hit record if you use a structured approach to listening, learn to interpret your meters, and try a few technical tricks...

We discover that if you need to cure problems with bass instruments in your mix, you might well have to aim a bit higher...

Audio files to accompany the article.

• Matt Cardle 'When We Collide' • Bruno Mars 'Grenade' • Ellie Goulding 'Your Song'

Your camera's on-board mic might be OK for home movies, but using a separate mic and audio recorder will yield much better results.