Recording

Before plates and springs, the great studios of the ’50s and ’60s created magical ambiences through a mix of science and inspired guesswork.

Experienced American producer Bill Schnee picks the 1978 track 'Never Even Thought' from Colin Blunstone as the sound he's most proud of creating in the studio.

When opting for a more minimal approach to drum miking, a compressed omni mic beneath the snare can pay dividends...

This third article of our stereo mini‑series explores how to manipulate the perspective obtained from coincident mic pairs.

These audio files accompany my article titled The Drum Squash Mic Trick, published in SOS September 2025, and demonstrate the potential benefits of adding a fifth ‘squash’ mic to a basic four-mic setup on acoustic drum kits.

Power co‑produced some of Robbie Williams’ biggest‑selling albums and, asked to select a favourite sound, Power recalls how he got the layered drum sound on Williams’ 1998 single ‘No Regrets’.

Swedish hard rock band Ghost have topped charts worldwide — with an album that was mixed twice!

We look at what you need to know to program and play to a Click track.

In the first part of a new short series about stereo recording techniques, we start by exploring the most important tools of all: your brain and your ears!

Paul White explores the creative potential of using 'found' sounds, demonstrating how items found within your surroundings can be sampled, manipulated and transformed.

Grammy‑nominated producer and musician Hunter Lea currently produces and engineers out of Uptone Recorders in Tacoma, whose vintage equipment was used to produce his nominated favourite sound: the swelling oceanic tones on the 2024 track ‘Real Shoring’.

Having proved his worth on Tate McRae’s second album, producer and songwriter Grant Boutin played a pivotal role in the third.

Led by vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist Jürgen Engler, Die Krupps’ blending of electronica with heavy guitars went on to influence numerous other bands, including Depeche Mode and Rammstein.

Metalcore presents unique production challenges — and few are better placed to meet them than genre veteran Jordan Fish.

David Mellor continues his exploration of microphone polar patterns by discussing techniques for capturing stereo recordings.

Stefan Boman is the house mix engineer at Atlantis Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. Asked to choose a favourite sound from a session he’s worked on, he nominates ‘No Song Unheard’ by the Hellacopters.

FKA Twigs has worked with many big‑name producers, but it was experimental electronic artist Koreless who guided the making of her new hit album Eusexua.

The new album by Noah Lennox, aka Panda Bear, features familiar collaborators pulling in a very different musical direction.

Well known as guitarist with glam art‑rock pioneers Roxy Music, Phil Manzanera has also etched out parallel careers as solo artist, session musician and producer.

Working with Kacey Musgraves catapulted Ian Fitchuk from respected producer to one of Nashville’s busiest songwriters.

Virtuoso pianist Rogét Chahayed has found a unique niche as a classically trained hip‑hop producer.