Mixing / Production

Can plug‑ins ever match the sound of outboard and an analogue console? Our unique comparison recreates a 48‑channel hardware mix using software alone.

Over the years, David Kosten has helped create many weird and wonderful sounds, and selects ‘Seal Jubilee’ by Bat For Lashes as a favourite.

When the opportunity came to work with his childhood heroes Judas Priest, Andy Sneap didn’t just engineer and produce — he also mixed, mastered, and became the band’s touring guitarist.

Casisdead’s Famous Last Words may be one of the best British rap albums ever made — but actually making it was an epic challenge!

These audio files available accompany the Mix Rescue article in SOS May 2024 featuring the song ‘The Winds Of Gypsy Moor’ by the Ferryboat Men.

Sam Boydell talks us through selecting an orchestral sound library, creating a simple string motif and incorporating more realism into the finished piece.

Alan Moulder, 2024 recipient of the Icon Of The Year Award from the Music Producers Guild, talks to Kevin Paul about his early years at Trident Studios and finding his specialist areas.

If there’s one thing that engineers and producers need above all, it’s a good mentor and role model — and they don’t come much better than MPG Icon Alan Moulder.

Famed English producer and engineer John Leckie gives details about one of his most influential works, the mini‑album 25 O’Clock, a pastiche of ’60s psychedelia.

This cross‑platform pattern‑based music production environment puts the fun back into music making.

Hard work and a love of sampling have made FNZ the hottest production duo around.

The foundation of a good, engaging mix is a strong arrangement. But how far can you go to improve things at the mixing stage?

David Bottrill’s vast credit list includes Peter Gabriel, Smashing Pumpkins and Tool to Muse, Silverchair, Rush and many others. When asked to pick a favourite sound from that catalogue, he chose the drone that underpins ‘Passion’ by Peter Gabriel.

How do I make my ears more sensitive to inconsistencies in the vocal frequency spectrum?

Producer and Engineer Tim Bran talks us through his early career at Island Records, being invited to tour as a session musician, recording London Grammar and setting up his own collaborative tech and studio projects.

For the Dune movies, Hans Zimmer and his team of extraordinary musicians didn’t just create a score. They created an entire world.

Guts has cemented Olivia Rodrigo’s status as a major star. Her chief songwriting and production partner is Daniel Nigro.

Japanese artist and producer Taigen Kawabe is best known as the frontman and bass guitarist of boundary‑destroying psych‑rock band Bo Ningen, whose repertoire ranges from experimental soundscapes to guitar‑driven chaos and screaming.

American music producer, songwriter and multi‑instrumentalist Doug Showalter breaks down how he crafted the guitar sound on Harry Styles’ mega‑hit ‘As It Was’ in his Nashville studio.