Essential Guides

Wanna record like a pro? Here are 15 handy tips for better recording sessions.

It all starts with an idea, but taking that further and building a track takes skill and patience. Here’s some guidance...

It's possible to replace or replicate almost every item in your recording studio with devices that will work on the bus, train or in a hotel room. With them, you need never be shackled to your home studio ever again!

New to the world of recording with microphones? Then there are some basic – and not so basic – rules and tips you should be aware of, plus one tip to rule them all.

Often the best method of really understanding the mastering process is to speak to a seasoned mastering engineer, and the following individuals more than fit that bill. Let’s turn over to them and get some insight into their approaches and perspectives on the intricacies of mastering.

With mental-health awareness thankfully a talking point, it’s time to make sure your production pastime or professional studio career is as non-stressful as you thought it would be when you started out. Sit back, relax and make music.

Despite the flexibility of modern DAWs, there are some tools out there that make home mastering a much more straightforward – and professional sounding – endeavour. Steinberg’s WaveLab is perhaps the king of these mastering-in-the-box solutions. Here’s why...

As we near the end of the decade, the once ‘dark art’ of mastering has now become a widely understood and documented process. In this feature, we’ll explore some of the newer innovations in this most vital of processes, including a guide to getting hands-on with stem mastering.

Having trouble getting your computer to run your DAW efficiently? Think you need a new one? Before you splash out, try our tips for optimising your setup and save money and time.

Continuing our look at the concurrent development of the synth and the capabilities of instrument modelling, we focus now on recreations of the physical characteristics of analogue circuitry…