This month, Sound On Sound celebrates an amazing 40 years of continuous publication. Happy birthday to the world’s best music technology magazine!
To mark this momentous occasion, and to thank you, our readers, for your invaluable support, we’ve teamed up with some of our favourite brands to offer you the chance to win the prize of a lifetime: a complete music production and recording studio, containing some of the world’s greatest gear, worth over £20,000$25,000!
The Hardware
At the heart of this studio will be the brand-new Volt 876 interface from Universal Audio. This 1U rackmounting interface provides a generous 24 inputs and 28 outputs via USB, including eight analogue inputs boasting UA’s premium preamp and analogue 1176-style compression. The preamps can be set to Vintage mode, offering the sound of UA’s classic 610 preamp, while the monitor section includes provision for two pairs of monitors, plus hands-on control over level, mute, dim and talkback. There’s digital I/O via ADAT (and word clock for sync), plus full‑size MIDI ports, and two headphone outs for monitoring and foldback. Two of the preamp inputs are conveniently located on the front panel for ease of access when the Volt 876 is rackmounted.
Universal Audio Volt 876.
UA will also be providing two of their acclaimed guitar pedals, plus a selection of microphones. The UAFX Anti and UAFX Knuckles are based on classic ’90s guitar amps, offering iconic rock and metal tones in a stompbox format; the former is based on the Dual Rectifier and the latter on Peavey’s revered 5150. Both also boast a TS-style distortion stage plus a noise gate.
Universal Audio UAFX Knuckles & Anti pedals.
On the mic front is a complete UA drum recording setup, comprising an SD-5 kick mic, an SD-7 snare mic, two SD-3 triple mic packs (six in total) for toms and hi-hats, and a pair of SP-1 pencil mics for overheads. A further SD-1 dynamic mic is ideal for capturing bass or guitar, while the large-diaphragm capacitor SC-1 will take any vocal in its stride. All these mics are compatible with UA’s pioneering Hemisphere modelling platform, offering a huge array of meticulously modelled microphones.
Clockwise from left: Universal Audio SC-1, SD-1, SD-5, SD-7, SD-3 triple pack, pair of SP-1 pencil microphones.
We’ve also partnered with electronic instrument legends Roland, to include their brand-new V-Drum kit, the TD516. This next-gen kit offers premium sound and flexibility, enhanced playability, and complete digital integration with its five electronic shells (kick, snare and three toms). Two crashes and a ride are also included, as is a digital hi-hat with precise open/closed behaviour and touch muting. Whether you’re tracking detailed performances in the studio or demanding more nuance from your live setup, the TD516 provides ultra-dynamic control, deep connectivity, and the realism players expect from top-tier V-Drums.
Clockwise from left: DPA 4099 Core+ & Clamp Mount, DPA 4099 Core+ & Universal Mount, Roland TD516, CAD Audio GXL800, CAD Audio E100SX.
Danish microphone legends DPA will be offering up not one but two of their new 4099 Core+ instrument mics. Based on their established 4000-series capsule technology, the new Core+ version promise best-in-class noise performance, alongside unbeatable sonic transparency. DPA will also provide two different mounting options, the Universal Mount and the Clamp Mount, allowing you to fit the mics to almost any instrument imaginable.
CAD Audio will also be providing two microphones: the E100SX large-diaphragm hypercardioid mic from their acclaimed Equitek range, and a GXL800 small‑diaphragm cardioid model, which between them will handle almost any audio source.
Digital modelling experts Slate Digital are giving away their ML‑1A: a quality mic in its own right, but when paired with Slate Digital’s Virtual Microphone System software it offers accurate emulations of dozens of classic modern and vintage mics.
As well as marking our 40th birthday, 2025 also marks a quarter of a century for microphone giants sE Electronics. For this prize, sE will be providing a limited-edition 25th anniversary edition of their acclaimed Reflexion Filter Pro, to help you get the best from your new microphones.
Clockwise from top left: sE Electronics Reflexion Filter Pro, Slate Digital ML-1A, Warm Audio WA-44, Warm Audio WA-MPX, Harrison 32Classic Mix Strip.
Rounding off the microphone collection is the Warm Audio WA-44 — a ribbon microphone based on a classic American design. They’ll be pairing that with their acclaimed WA-MPX valve microphone preamp, which pays tribute to the legendary Ampex 351.
Console legends Harrison, meanwhile, will be weighing in with the 32Classic Mix Strip, a complete channel strip comprising a premium transformer-coupled mic pre, a four-band parametric EQ, high‑ and low‑pass filters, and flexible routing options — essentially the classic sound of Harrison in a 1U rack.
Monitoring options are well catered for, with both ADAM Audio and KRK contributing to this massive prize bundle. The ADAM D3V is a compact powerhouse, boasting the refined ribbon-tweeter sound we associate with ADAM but in a super-compact and portable format. For when serious low end is required, KRK’s Rokit 8 G5 boasts LF extension down to 32Hz (-10dB) courtesy of KRK’s trademark yellow Kevlar cone, and a high end that reaches up to 40kHz. An integral DSP engine lets you tailor their response with three distinct Voicing Modes.
Clockwise from top left: ADAM Audio D3V, KRK Rokit 8 G5, Fostex T50RPMK4, AIAIAI TMA-2 Studio Wireless.
The winner will also receive not one but two headphone monitoring options. AIAIAI are offering their TMA-2 Studio Wireless, a premium closed-back moving‑coil design with the unique ability to operate wirelessly, at low latency and with near-lossless audio quality. Fostex, meanwhile, are including their T50RPMK4, a planar magnetic set of headphones that boast exceptional transient performance, high sensitivity and ultra-low distortion — ideal for critical listening tasks such as mixing and mastering.
Also celebrating an amazing 40 years in business this year are Focusrite, whose best‑selling Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen USB interface will also come as part of this prize bundle. The 2i2 4th Gen offers a compact, portable yet high‑quality means of capturing audio to a computer. It boasts two of Focusrite’s most detailed and quiet preamps ever, plus Auto Gain and Clip Safe modes, meaning you may never lose a recording to clipping ever again.
British console legends Allen & Heath, meanwhile, are bundling in their ZEDi10 compact console, which combines premium analogue mixing of up to four mono and two stereo sources, plus musical ‘British’ EQ on the first five channels, both monitor and effects aux busses, flexible monitoring options and even a built‑in 4-in/4‑out USB audio interface.
Clockwise from top left: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen, Allen & Heath ZEDi10, SSL E Series Dynamics Module, SSL E Series EQ Module, Cranborne Audio Brick Lane.
Users of the popular 500-series module format will be well catered for, with three premium modules. SSL will be giving away their E-Series EQ Module and E-Series Dynamics Module, essentially packing the sound of an E-Series console channel strip into two 500-series slots. Meanwhile, Cranborne Audio are giving away a Brick Lane compressor — a unique design that uses PWM compression to offer the sonic flavour of almost any type of compressor ever conceived.
IK Multimedia are donating their Tonex Pedal, an advanced amp and effects modeller that not only comes with a plethora of virtual guitar rigs, but even allows you to capture your own for use on stage and in the studio.
Finally on the hardware front are two software controllers. The Novation Launch Control XL 3 offers hands‑on control over every major DAW, as well as third-party soft synths, effects plug‑ins and MIDI hardware. It boasts no fewer than 24 endless rotary encoders, eight faders, 16 assignable buttons and both USB and 5-pin MIDI connectivity.
Novation Launch Control XL3, IK Multimedia Tonex Pedal, BlackBT SusEx Pedal.
The Black BT SusEx Pedal, meanwhile, is an innovative pedal‑based foot‑operated unit that combines wah‑wah‑like control with instantaneous switching, courtesy of an auto-sensing system that can tell where you foot is placed on the pedal and modify its behaviour accordingly. It can transmit data via a traditional expression pedal jack, or using wireless MIDI via Bluetooth LE.
The Software
Every modern studio needs a DAW, and with this prize bundle you get a choice of two: Bitwig are offering up their flagship Bitwig Studio, a multi-platform suite of production tools with a modern, intuitive UI that makes working with audio a breeze. Its powerful modulation options make it a sound designer’s dream, while naturally it can also perform all the usual audio and MIDI production tricks, as well as offering compatibility with a huge range of third-party plug-ins and hardware controllers.
Bitwig Studio.
SoundBridge, meanwhile, are also providing a lifetime licence for their brand-new self-contained production ecosystem. SoundBridge: DAW is a musician-oriented platform with a streamlined UI that’s aimed at fostering creativity and avoiding overwhelm, whether you’re sketching ideas or mastering finished tracks. It includes a range of bundled instruments and processors, plus powerful audio and MIDI recording editing facilities. SoundBridge are also including their RitMix virtual drum machine, based around an MPC-style pad grid and 16-step sequencer, plus their reChord arpeggiator and melody generator.
SoundBridge DAW, SoundBridge RitMix & SoundBridge ReChord.
No computer-based studio would be complete without some sample-based instruments, and they don’t come more complete than Native Instruments’ flagship collection, Komplete 15 Ultimate. This gargantuan collection brings together some of the world’s most popular virtual instruments and effects, so that you’ll never be wanting for a sound ever again — whether you’re crafting a dancefloor filler or an orchestral movie score.
Native Instruments Komplete 15 Ultimate.
Sampling legends EastWest will also be offering a full year’s access to their flagship ComposerCloud+ subscription, offering access to some of the world’s finest sampled instruments, including the complete Hollywood, Fantasy and Symphonic Orchestra series, their extensive rock, pop and world instrument collections, vocal instruments, synth and keyboard collections, and much more.
EastWest Composer Cloud.
From Swedish sample maestros Toontrack comes the benchmark‑setting Superior Drummer 3, a comprehensive virtual drum instrument that offers meticulously sampled drum kits and other percussion elements, plus a huge collection of MIDI grooves.
Beloved effects coders Soundtoys will be providing their comprehensive Soundtoys 5 collection, comprising their complete catalogue of plug‑ins — from the Little AlterBoy pitch- and formant-shifter to their Decapitator saturation processor and EchoBoy delay, plus many more.
Toontrack Superior Drummer 3 & Soundtoys 5.
Finally, we at SOS will be delighted to offer the winner a year’s free access to our complete music production ecosystem, SOS For Artists. Comprising full access to premium software and plug‑ins, an AI-powered mastering service, a huge searchable sample database, and even the tools you need to publish and release your music, SOS For Artists will help you on every step of your musical journey. And as one last cherry on top of this enormous cake, the SOS team will offer the winner a free one‑hour remote consultation on how to get their new gear up and running as quickly as possible.
SOS For Artists.
How To Enter
To be in with a chance of winning this enormous prize bundle, simply head to the competition page and submit your answers to the questions there by Monday 26 January 2026. Thank you for your support over the last 40 years, and good luck!
www.soundonsound.com/competition/win-sos-40th-anniversary-complete-studio-bundle
We’ve teamed up with some of our favourite brands to offer you the chance to win the prize of a lifetime...
Competition Rules
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Only one entry per person is permitted.
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In entering this competition, you confirm that you are aged 18 years or older.
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Please ensure that you give your DAYTIME telephone number on your entry form.
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By submitting your entry, you agree to supply Sound On Sound and the Prize Donor with a photograph of you and the prize(s) plus some words about what it means to you to win the great prizes. You give your permission for this to be used on each company's website, in email newsletter announcements and/or on their social media channels. Your name will be abbreviated to first name, last initial plus your town/city/country, eg. WINNER: Louis A, New Orleans, USA.
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In submitting your entry, if you win you agree NOT TO RESELL the Prize(s) within 12 months.
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Please DO NOT ENTER if you do not agree to these terms.
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Employees of SOS Publications Group, the contributing manufacturers and their immediate families are not permitted to take part.
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No cash alternative is available in lieu of the stated prize(s).
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The competition organisers reserve the right to change the specification of the prize(s) on offer; or offer you an alternative prize of similar value.
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The SOS judges' decision is final and legally binding, and no correspondence will be entered into.
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No other correspondence is to be included with competition entries.
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Prize winners must be prepared to make themselves available in the event that the Prize Donor wishes to make a personal presentation [this rarely happens].
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The winning entrant(s) name and country will be made available upon request.