For my last review on this site I decided to cover a magazine that I regularly read – but haven’t posted a review on here for. So something a bit different – and a magazine that everyone of a technical mind in radio should read is Sound On Sound (the USA edition) – it’s been around since 1985, and I think I may actually have issue one somewhere in a box.
This issue has some really good reviews for some amazing bits of kit.
From testing out some incredible looking and sounding microphones (I especially was interested in the review for the Voyage Audio Spatial Mic Dante (an Ambisonic Microphone) and the Tierra Audio New Twenties (a old timey looking Cardioid Capacitor Microphone).
Then there’s the review on the very reasonably priced Tascam Porta Capture X6, a very Portable Multitrack Recorder that will be an eager purchase of mine very shortly.
There is also the usual reviews of monitors, sample libraries, headphones, and other USB and plug in interfaces – all of which are as usual, covered brilliantly by people who know way more that I do about their specialist subjects.
The couple of really stand out articles that I was eager to dive into (after the reviews) was:
1. The Feature on running a Commercial Studio as a Business.
2. Staying Healthy in the Studio (this is part 3 – but parts 1&2 were just as good)
3. Mastering Spatial Audio by Michael Romanowski
4. The Pro Tools Workshop (I am an old Adobe Audition fan, but still use Pro Tools on a daily basis)
I don’t think that there are many jocks, producers or musicians in radio who haven’t (at one stage) dreamt of setting up a recording studio. But where do you start? Fortunately this article by Neil Rogers is a comprehensive and insightful read into the pros, cons, highs and lows and journey that it can take you on. It’s a seriously good read.
Next the Healthy Studio… It’s something we’ve all been guilty of – eating rubbish in the studio, drinking even worse, and back in the day – even smoking in the studio – no more is any of that allowed! Jack Ruston’s deep dive into Staying Healthy in the Studio is a good read – if not a bit on the scary side when he starts to show you the stats and data of obesity and diabetes. YIKES! His one bit of advice that I want to put here for you though is: “I’d like to offer this one fundamental piece of advice that saves us from an exhausting list of dos and don’ts: Eat nutrient-dense, whole foods” to find out more – grab an issue and read on.
Michael Romanowski’s Mastering Spatial Audio is another interesting, if not technical dive into immersive audio (something that I have been doing a little bit of experimenting with myself – and not achieving very well at all, and now I see why). Michael is a 4 time Grammy Winner and I can see why his work is so highly praised. Its a seriously impressive article and a brilliant read.
Finally I want to give a BIG nod to the Pro-Tools Workshop – as I said I still use Adobe Audition, Pro Tools and quite a few other programs when I am cutting ads and just mucking about – but this regular series has been a life saver over the years. When I am stuck, I dig back through the issues and find out what I have done wrong, or discover how to do it better. This issue talks about the question “Is Pro-Tools still king when it comes to editing audio” in my opinion yes, and Julian Rodgers agrees. There isn’t much it can’t do – although there may be a few more steps involved to get there.
So that’s it – Sound On Sound, June 2023 issue – a fantastic magazine issue, and a fitting one to end on for our reviews on this site.
So until next time – stay plugged in and listen for those pops and hisses!
