Sound on Sound
Encyclopedia
Sound on Sound is an independently-owned monthly music technology
magazine published by SOS Publications Group, based in Cambridge
, UK. The magazine includes product tests of electronic musical performance and recording devices, and interviews with industry professionals. Due to its technical focus, it is predominantly aimed at the professional recording studio market as well as artist project studios and home recording enthusiasts. Since January 1994, all news and articles printed in the magazine have also been published online via its website, often including rich media content such as video and audio files that correspond to the content of individual articles.
television programme, The Tube
, championing the convergence of MIDI, computer technology and recording equipment. At the time of its launch, text for the magazine was edited on BBC Model B computers and pages were physically pasted together with wax. The modern magazine is full-colour throughout and led the way in using colour as much as possible through its pages when other magazines used colour only for the front cover and special features.
In 1996, SOS Publications opened a website parallel to the magazine, digitising all of the print articles since January 1994 and providing additional, supplementary, content including audio and video files. The website grew to include a discussion forum, a subscribers area, a directory of professionals and companies in the music recording and technology sector, and a shop through which browsers could purchase back issues of the magazine alongside merchandise, PDF articles and new subscriptions to the print edition.
In January 2008, the website expanded to include podcasts and videos featuring interviews, product demonstrations, featured articles and news stories. The magazine is a regular attendee of worldwide music technology conferences and events such as AES
, NAMM, NAB
, IBC
and Musikmesse
, and regularly publishes articles, videos and podcasts reporting from these events.
A sister magazine, Performing Musician which covered all aspects of live performance, was launched in early 2008, but closed at the end of 2009.
Each issue includes several feature articles with specific foci:
In addition, the magazine features several 'regular' elements that provide further information and insight into music recording and technology. These include:
In 2010, Sound On Sound will be celebrating its 25th birthday, and there is a special anniversary edition of the magazine tipped for November 2010.
Music technology
Music technology is a term that refers to all forms of technology involved with the musical arts, particularly the use of electronic devices and computer software to facilitate playback, recording, composition, storage and performance. This subject is taught at many different educational levels,...
magazine published by SOS Publications Group, based in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, UK. The magazine includes product tests of electronic musical performance and recording devices, and interviews with industry professionals. Due to its technical focus, it is predominantly aimed at the professional recording studio market as well as artist project studios and home recording enthusiasts. Since January 1994, all news and articles printed in the magazine have also been published online via its website, often including rich media content such as video and audio files that correspond to the content of individual articles.
History
The magazine was founded by brothers Ian and Paul Gilby in 1985, and was originally launched in 1985 on the UK Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
television programme, The Tube
The Tube (TV series)
The Tube was an innovative United Kingdom pop/rock music television programme, which ran for five seasons, from 5 November 1982 until 1987...
, championing the convergence of MIDI, computer technology and recording equipment. At the time of its launch, text for the magazine was edited on BBC Model B computers and pages were physically pasted together with wax. The modern magazine is full-colour throughout and led the way in using colour as much as possible through its pages when other magazines used colour only for the front cover and special features.
In 1996, SOS Publications opened a website parallel to the magazine, digitising all of the print articles since January 1994 and providing additional, supplementary, content including audio and video files. The website grew to include a discussion forum, a subscribers area, a directory of professionals and companies in the music recording and technology sector, and a shop through which browsers could purchase back issues of the magazine alongside merchandise, PDF articles and new subscriptions to the print edition.
In January 2008, the website expanded to include podcasts and videos featuring interviews, product demonstrations, featured articles and news stories. The magazine is a regular attendee of worldwide music technology conferences and events such as AES
Audio Engineering Society
Established in 1948, the Audio Engineering Society draws its membership from amongst engineers, scientists, other individuals with an interest or involvement in the professional audio industry. The membership largely comprises engineers developing devices or products for audio, and persons working...
, NAMM, NAB
National Association of Broadcasters
The National Association of Broadcasters is a trade association, workers union, and lobby group representing the interests of for-profit, over-the-air radio and television broadcasters in the United States...
, IBC
International Broadcasting Convention
The International Broadcasting Convention, more commonly known by its acronym IBC, is an annual trade show for broadcasters, content creators/providers, equipment manufacturers, professional and technical associations, and other participants in the Broadcasting industry...
and Musikmesse
Musikmesse
Musikmesse Frankfurt is a music fair held at the Frankfurt Trade Fair in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It is the world's largest music fair and it has been held annually for over 25 years.The Frankfurter Musikpreis award is also handed out during the fair....
, and regularly publishes articles, videos and podcasts reporting from these events.
A sister magazine, Performing Musician which covered all aspects of live performance, was launched in early 2008, but closed at the end of 2009.
Features
Alongside monthly news and product tests, the magazine features two columns: "PC Notes" and "Apple Notes" which focus on hardware and software for use with Microsoft and Apple computers respectively. There is also a monthly collection of "Techniques" articles which provide how-to advice on specific audio equipment and software.Each issue includes several feature articles with specific foci:
- "Playback": reviews of tracks made and sent in by the magazine's readers
- "Classic Tracks": history and discussion of a popular 'classic' track or band often featuring interviews with the artists and collaborators
- "Inside Track": interviews and discussion in a 'making of' style with the artists behind selected tracks
- "Studio SOS": charting the members of the SOS team assisting in the makeover of an existing reader's studio, complete with the reader reaction
- "Mix Rescue": a reader's multitrack mix is reworked by the SOS team to improve the results
- "The Mix Review": analysis and discussion of current commercial releases from a production perspective
In addition, the magazine features several 'regular' elements that provide further information and insight into music recording and technology. These include:
- "Q & A": a selection of readers' questions researched and answered by the editorial team
- "Sounding Off": a 'guest' column written by music professionals discussing issues in the music recording industry
- "Classifieds": adverts placed by local businesses and readers
Reviews
Sound On Sound does not provide ratings for the products it reviews, however it does provide several boxes of information accompanying each product review in order to help readers make up their own minds about specific products. These include:- Sound On Sound verdict box including a balance of pros and cons with a summary statement
- Alternatives which suggest products similar to the one being reviewed but highlighting their difference in price, features, quality etc.
- Key information about the product including cost, manufacturer's contact details and further information for purchase enquiries
Special issues
In 2005, Sound On Sound celebrated its 20th birthday by providing a series of 3 cover mounted DVD-roms with the magazine, one released in March, August and November. The DVD-roms featured extra content not available on the website or in the magazine including several featured articles, a selection of reader demo tracks, tutorials on various aspects of music recording, samples for readers to use in their own compositions, and additional resources.In 2010, Sound On Sound will be celebrating its 25th birthday, and there is a special anniversary edition of the magazine tipped for November 2010.
Foreign editions
- Brazilian The Brazilian edition was launched in Brazil in 2010. It includes articles translated from the UK magazine.
- North America In 2001 a North American edition was added and includes all of the articles from the UK edition as well as local distributor contact details and dollar prices, and US advertising.
SOS Awards
In September 2010, Sound On Sound set up an annual awards competition enabling subscribers of the magazine to vote for a range of products, the winners of each category to be announced in the next Winter NAMM show (usually held in January). Voting entered subscribers into a prize draw.External links
- Sound On Sound website - includes an extensive searchable archive of articles.
- Official Sound On Sound Twitter feed
- Official Sound On Sound Facebook page