The 5 Most Important Synths of Welcome to the Pleasuredome

Welcome to the Pleasuredome was the audacious debut album by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. But what was used to make this epic slice of 80s pop?

Recording a Live Podcast: 5 Steps to a Stress-Free Performance

Last week, I co-presented a live podcast to a live audience. Here's what went down, how we did it, and what we'd do to improve next time.

Monitor Mixing and Stage Monitoring for IEMs and Wedges

On stage, accurate monitor mixing can elevate the performance, giving musicians freedom and confidence in their expression in any venue.

Cherry Audio Emulations in Reverse and Another Monster Synth from France! – Synth Journal

Software versions of hardware synths are commonplace these days, but it is rare to see it happen in reverse. Check out the two Cherry Audio synths that have been reverted back to hardware!

The Best ADAT Preamps for your Home Studio

We look at some of the best ADAT preamps for multitrack recording, analogue mixing, or incorporating hardware into your DAW workflow.

Beyond the Electric Piano with Lounge Lizard and Osmose – Sounds and Presets

If you've just bought the brand new Osmose 61 by Expressive E, you may well want to invest in their Lounge Lizard Expressive Suite!

24 Years of Apple iPod: Still Cooler Than Many Streaming Apps?

The Apple iPod is celebrating its 24th anniversary, showing how a simple music player changed the world of music forever.

Fairchild 670: The Rolling Stones’ Compressor

The Fairchild 670 helped define the classic rock n' roll sound of bands like The Rolling Stones, but how can it be used in a modern context?

YouTube Advice: Can You Really Learn Music Production from YouTube?

In this article, we discuss the plausibility of learning music production based on YouTube advice and how to navigate the growing sea of channels.

Jimmy Page’s Gear – The Greatest Guitarists of All Time

Jimmy Page's gear: As one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Page continues to influence us today. Let's take a look at his equipment!

Gain Staging for PA Systems: Building a Clean Chain from Preamp to Loudspeaker

We take a look at gain staging for PA systems, a crucial aspect of front-of-house mixing that can make the difference in any size venue.

Sounds and Presets – FM Depths and Space Explorations

We've got some delights for you this week for FM synths, both new and old, plus a big pack for the wavestate and more!

The Best Studio Gear 2025 for Recording and Mixing

We look at the most exciting preamps, processors, DAW controllers, and converters released this year. Here's the Best Studio Gear of 2025.

Tube-Tech CL 1B Alternatives: The Famous Danish Opto Compressor

To get a clean, rounded vocal sound, we're looking at Tube-Tech CL 1B alternatives that can be added to the input chain in your studio.

Elton John’s Mellotron Up for Auction, CITADEL, Novachord: Synth Journal

The Bastl Instruments Kastle series goes Eurorack, a handy web app makes sure you’ll never forget a patch again, and Elton John’s Mellotron goes up for auction.

Secrets Of The Motown Sound: Hitsville USA

We explore some of the key recording and music production aspects that made the Motown sound such a distinctive part of modern music.

Halloween and Horns – Sounds and Presets

It's Halloween this Friday, so we've got some appropriate sound banks for this time of year, plus some amazing horns and sounds for Omnisphere and Behringer's UB-Xa.

The Best Headphones of 2025: Open, Closed, and Wireless Designs

In this roundup, we're looking at some best headphones released this year, with exciting open, closed, and wireless designs.

ADE 2025: Records, Rain, No Sleep – Unforgettable Days and Nights at the Amsterdam Dance Event

ADE 2025 broke visitor records, defied storms, and demonstrated why Amsterdam remains the heart of electronic music.

Chasing Tone: Guitarists Never Ending Quest

Chasing Tone, it's what we guitarists do and the tone quest never ends! So, is it in the fingers?

Dave Ball Passes, plus Move Over, TONTO, GIORGIO III is Here! – Synth Journal

Synth Journal, where we round up the tidbits of synth news that may have missed your attention, but we know you'll love. We've got the mighty GIORGIO III, but first, some sad news...

Beautiful Odes and Ambient Tones – Sounds and Presets

There's a definite ambient and atmospheric vibe this week, with Odes for Kontakt and Surfaces for the Ambient Ø, plus a unique electric piano library and evocative guitar tones.

Understanding and Reducing Noise Floor for Recording and Live Sound

Noise is a problem in all walks of audio life, from studios to line arrays. We're looking at noise floor and ways to keep it under control.

The Best Audio Interfaces of 2025: A Great Year for Multichannel Interfaces

It's that time of the year when we look back at the most exciting releases. Here are some of the best audio interfaces introduced in 2025.