Business
Universal Audio Acquires Townsend Labs Inc.
Universal Audio has acquired the assets of modeling microphone manufacturer Townsend Labs
Universal Audio
Music Production
From Purge to Perfection: Illangelo on Producing The Weeknd’s ‘After Hours’
After selling off his studio gear in order to leave the music business, Grammy-winning producer Illangelo returned to the fold, spending a year working on The Weeknd’s hit album 'After Hours.'
Blogs
Peek Inside Hunter Hayes’ Home Studio with this Video Tour
Country star/producer Hunter Hayes has built a well-appointed home studio for himself in the hills above Los Angeles. Let's go gear-spotting as he gives a cool video tour of his creative recording space.
Music Production
Ghost-Engineering Meek Mill’s ‘Quarantine Pack’ EP
Platinum-selling rapper Meek Mill thrives recording in an in-person setting, but the pandemic made that impossible. His longtime engineer Anthony Cruz shares how they overcame the challenge, kept the energy up remotely and tracked the recent Quarantine Pack EP....
Post and Broadcast
After 500 Episodes, ‘Grumpy Old Geeks’ Has a Slick Audio Workflow
As its gear and best practices have evolved, the long-running 'Grumpy Old Geeks' podcast has gotten production down to a science.
Post and Broadcast
Six Voices, One Podcaster, No Problem: Inside Kelcey Ayer’s One-Man Show
Moving from radio to podcast format changed how Kelcey Ayer approaches his multi-character, improv-informed comedy show.
Blogs
Peek Inside the Home Studio of One Direction’s Liam Payne
Former One Direction singer Liam Payne sold his Calabasas, CA mansion for $10.16 million; for that kind of money, maybe he threw in his well-appointed home studio.
Music Production
Grammy-Nominated Engineer Louis Bell Breaks Out
When Post Malone's "Circles" landed a GRAMMY nomination for Record of the Year, it was yet another recognition of Louis Bell's work. Now the go-to producer, engineer and co-writer reveals his streamlined workflow, talks about working out of Electric...
Music Production
Recording Roddy Ricch for Round Two
Throughout the pandemic, engineer Chris Dennis has been recording the follow-up to the platinum-selling debut album by Roddy Ricch
Gear and Technology
UA Teletronix LA-3A Plug-In – A Real-World Review
Producer/composer Rich Tozzoli checks out the UA Teletronix LA-3A Plug-In and thinks it's "most effective two-knob piece of gear available."
Post and Broadcast
Radiolab Tells the Truth with Sound Design
Since 2002, Radiolab has provided listeners with deep-dive journalism, requiring exciting—but truthful—sound design. ‘Sound is an editorial statement,’ says producer Dylan Keefe.
Post and Broadcast
Podcast Audio Compression—How and Why with ‘Eric Krasno Plus One’
‘Eric Krasno Plus One’ producer Matt Dwyer dishes on his tight audio game—“It's a lot different than producing music….”
Recording
Enviyon Grows from the Garage to the Future
Over the course of 10 years, Romel Williams has grown Enviyon Entertainment from a part-time gig in his garage to a fully staffed, multi-studio facility.
Post and Broadcast
Building the Epic Audio Narrative of ‘Wind of Change’
Clandestine meetings with the CIA? Rocking out in Russia? Recording secret agents? It was all in a day's work while producing the hit 'Wind of Change' podcast.
Gear and Technology
Universal Audio LUNA – A Real-World Review
Inspired by the fast real-time workflow of analog recording, the LUNA recording system offers music recording, editing and mixing with analog immediacy.
Music Production
Live on KEXP Podcast Blurs the Lines Between Live and Studio Recording
When engineer Kevin Suggs records a live session for Seattle’s KEXP, that becomes the raw materials for podcasts, radio broadcasts, streaming and other formats.
Music Production
How Pros Are Livestreaming During the Pandemic
Take a deep dive into the technology and techniques that artists are using while livestreaming during the pandemic.
Gear and Technology
Universal Audio Apollo x4 Interface – A Real-World Review
TV composer/PSN reviewer recently put Universal Audio’s Apollo x4 Interface to the test while in the Virgin Islands; here's how it went.
Music Production
College Senior Produces Viral Virtual Musical Collaboration
In an effort to bring her community together during the coronavirus crisis, Shelbie Rassler had the idea of recording the Bacharach/Hal David song “What the World Needs Now Is Love” with her friends. The clips that make up the...
Post and Broadcast
Resonate Recordings Powered by Podcast Services
Resonate Recordings has carved a niche for itself in the podcast industry since launching in 2014 by providing post-production services to all comers, from Fortune 100 companies to anyone with a microphone and a story to tell.
Studio
60 seconds with sound engineer Fiona Cruickshank
Cruickshank has worked with the likes of Jacob Collier to Mary Poppins Returns
Recording
Inside the Secret Recording Studio of ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’
The 8G Band, house musicians for NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, writes and plays eight new songs every night. A key element of those live performances is the band’s backstage recording setup, which is managed by associate music...
Gear and Technology
New Gear at NAMM 2020 – Editor’s Choice
New pro audio gear that caught our attention at January’s NAMM Show in Anaheim.
Post and Broadcast
Butter Music and Sound Jams to Make Bread
The hard-working staff at Butter Music and Sound’s West Coast facility, situated only a block from Venice Beach, does everything from original music and music licensing from its own catalog to music supervision and sound design.
Music Production
Finneas on Producing Billie Eilish’s Hit Album in his Bedroom
Finneas O’Connell—Billie Eilish's co-writer, producer, older brother and an artist in his own right—discusses recording her sonically adventurous debut at their family home.
Blogs
Eye To The Past, Ear To The Future: How FAME Recording Studios Reinvented Studio B
"There was glory in this room that needed to be resurrected, but we also knew that every bit of the renovation process had to be done with the greatest care, in order to preserve the rich sound that makes...
Business
Seen on the Scene: NAMM Show 2020, Day Three
The 2020 NAMM Show has drawn together the latest and greatest gear from all corners of the pro-audio world. What's new that you need to know about? You'll find it here!
Gear and Technology
Universal Audio Sonnox Oxford SuprEsser DS – A Real-World Review
While it's a great linear-phase de-esser, reviewer Rich Tozzoli uses the Oxford SuprEsser DS plug-in as a bass enhancement tool.
Gear and Technology
Universal Audio Avalon 737 Tube Channel Strip – A Real-World Review
Audio engineer Peter Moshay and Rich Tozzoli agree that the UAD Avalon VT-737 is "stunning."
Gear and Technology
Universal Audio OX Amp Top Box v1.2 – A Real-World Review
Rich Tozzoli takes a look at the update to Universal Audio's reactive load box and guitar recording system.
Recording
No Doubt, Sublime Pros Team for Moxy Brothers
Adrian Young, drummer of No Doubt, and Todd Forman, former sax player of Sublime, have partnered to launch record production team Moxy Brothers, offering everything from songwriting and performance to engineering, mixing and mastering.
Gear and Technology
The State of Plug-Ins: From Emulations to the Unknown
Having so many plug-in choices can be overwhelming—what is an engineer to do? Three top pros share their insights—and favorite plugs.
Studio
Universal Audio launches two new audio interfaces
Both feature Unison-enabled mic preamps and UAD analogue emulation plugins
Gear and Technology
Universal Audio UAD 175B & 176 Tube Compressor Plug-In Collection – A Real-World Review
By Rich Tozzoli. PSN reviewer/TV composer Rich Tozzoli puts the plug-ins to the test and loves the glowing results.
Gear and Technology
Tools for the Personal Studio
By Steve Harvey. These days, a “personal studio” can be anything from a proper recording facility to a smartphone. What tools will make your private recording space sound even better? An assortment of recording pros from across the industry...
Recording
Sum 41’s Whibley Gets His Album in ‘Order’
By Steve Harvey. You might imagine that, as frontman, principal songwriter and sole original member of Sum 41, Deryck Whibley would have better things to do than get into the weeds regarding the creation of the band’s latest album....
Gear and Technology
Rich Tozzoli’s Sixth Annual St. John Recording Retreat
By Rich Tozzoli. Setting up a temporary studio for two weeks each year in St. John to record reality TV music is a tough job, but multitasker Rich Tozzoli was not only up for the challenge this year, but...
Post and Broadcast
Welcome to the Jungle
By Steve Harvey. Ensconced in a Los Angeles neighborhood known as the Jungle, beachside Shindig Music + Sound recently marked its second anniversary by expanding its space and services, unveiling a new 5.1 mix suite and production/green room.
Recording
Leesta Vall’s Fast-Paced Lathe
By Steve Harvey. Brooklyn’s Leesta Vall Sound Recordings has cut more than 700 sessions live to vinyl using a mix of modern and vintage gear, including an ancient Presto K8 portable vinyl record lathe.
Gear and Technology
Universal Audio UAD-2 Live Rack – A Real-World Review
Russ Long put the Universal Audio UAD-2 Live Rack to the test during a string of Amy Grant/Vince Gill shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, and came away with a distinct opinion….
Business
People: Hires and Promotions in the Audio Industry for March 2019
Industry moves this month include promotions and hires at Harman Professional Solutions, Nugen Audio, Clear-Com, Universal Audio, Sound Image, Avid, Listen Technologies, Yamaha Corp. of America, Solotech, Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW), L-Acoustics and DPA Microphones.