Mixing / Production

Creating music and sound effects for sophisticated video games such as Mass Effect 3 requires skills not found in film or television — and a lot of hard work.

This month, as well as sorting out a few sonic gremlins, with edits, EQ and other tricks, we aim to draw out more of the ‘moments’ in a track.

Audio files to accompany the article.

The SOS team visit a well‑appointed home studio to try to cure a strange noise problem and help out with some acoustic guitar recording.

• Sak Noel 'Loca People' • Labrinth 'Earthquake' • Drake 'Make Me Proud' • Florence & The Machine 'Shake It Out'

Delay forms the basis for a wide range of effects that can transform your tracks from dull and pedestrian to polished and professional.

Audio files to accompany the article.

Expectations were high for the first Van Halen album in 14 years — and with eight mics on the bass alone, engineer Ross Hogarth was taking no chances!

The long-awaited collaboration between singer Kenny Anderson and producer Jon Hopkins has yielded a hypnotic album where not everything is as it seems...

A leading tour musical director explains how his experience as a producer helps him to prepare hit records for live performance.

Half a century into his career, Paul McCartney has paid tribute to the songs that shaped his musical education with his first-ever album of standards.

This month, as well as revealing a few unusual tricks, our mix engineer demonstrates how to achieve power and clarity by focusing on the contrast between the sounds of different instruments.

Audio files to accompany the article.

I've put a lot of effort into creating and editing a recording of solo mandolin — played quite slowly — and although I like...

Does sending multiple instruments to the same effects track (reverb/delay) have a different effect on the overall mix from...

The SOS team visit a London studio in a building directly under a busy road — and with another studio in the room next door!

• Pixie Lott 'All About Tonight' • Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds 'Death Of You And Me' • Laura Marling 'Sophia'

Tommy Forrest is discovering mainstream success — without compromising the hardcore sample-mangling that has made Akira Kiteshi an underground hit.

Lana Del Rey has topped charts worldwide with her signature retro sound — and it all started with a demo that became a viral hit.

Can you hear the difference between an MP3 and a WAV file? We explain how lossy audio data compression works, and how to spot the tell-tale signs it leaves behind.

This month, our mix engineer develops a reader's track and shows that the difference between an average mix and a good one is less about the quality of the gear than about what you do with it!