Mixing / Production

This month’s challenge was to turn a heap of boxes into a fully working studio!

Why would a rock band play live at talking volume, and in a separate room? To give their audience the unique immersive effect that only binaural sound can provide...

• Maroon 5 'Moves Like Jagger' • James Morrison 'I Won't Let You Go' • Coldplay 'Paradise'

Just how do you achieve that extra bit of professional polish for your vocal parts? Find out with our in-depth guide...

The mastering engineer's role is changing as artists explore new formats. And as Björk and Mandy Parnell discovered, what works for the iPad might not work on CD...

Ed Sheeran’s phenomenal success depended on hard work, a few lucky breaks, and the talents of long‑term co‑writer and producer Jake Gosling.

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The multitracks for Evanescence’s third album were so big that they required two maxed-out Pro Tools rigs to play back!

We aim for more punch, depth and clarity in a quirky urban track.

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If hisses, clicks, thumps or hums wreck a great take, don’t panic: do something about it!

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Optimising vocal recordings and tackling some troublesome mixes are on the agenda this month, as the SOS team travel to Paul Shepherd’s studio in Nottingham.

• Rizzle Kicks 'Down With The Trumpets' • Foo Fighters 'Rope' • Christina Perri 'Jar Of Hearts' • Nicki Minaj 'Super Bass'

Many musicians spend their lives trying to cram hundreds of tracks into just two speakers — but performing with an NSML system presents exactly the opposite challenge!

Ambition and talent can take you a long way, as Alex Da Kid has discovered on his journey from the football pitch to the recording studio.

The Chemical Brothers bring more gear on stage than most of us have in our studios. Matt Cox is the man who has to make sure it all works come showtime!

Fabian Marasciullo’s mixes for the latest Lil Wayne album were so valuable he had to guard them at gunpoint.

This month, we figure out how to pack some much-needed punch into an interesting instrumental track.

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Sampling a record may be child’s play, but using such samples effectively in your own compositions requires plenty of skill and finesse.