Latest articles by Andy Jones
Best audio interface 2024: For home recording, podcasting, and streaming - tested by experts
Our tried and tested pick of USB and Thunderbolt interfaces for Mac and PC across every budget, plus full reviews, in-depth testing, and buying advice
“Baby Audio’s take on vocal processing is a stunning, simple and effective one”: Baby Audio Humanoid review
Humanoid brings the ‘extreme’ and ‘radical’ to the world of vocals, but is also one of the easiest plugins to use and abuse
How Kraftwerk introduced the world to electronic music - and showed us that we could make it too
We explore the resounding influence of the German innovators credited with popularizing electronic music-making and launching a thousand genres
“Huge sounds, overwhelming options, great value and easy modulation, all in a crazily priced package”: The Synth Factory Horizen review
A synth/sampler that packs in a lot of power at an almost silly price – despite its low profile. We gaze at Horizen…
Never cleaned your synths? Here's how – and why – to do it properly
Follow these top tips to keep your 'boards clean, in tune and ready to play, whatever the day
“Breaks down the complex task of mastering but we’d love different options on how to pay for it”: Softube Flow Mastering Suite review
Mastering your music just got as easy – or as complex – as you want. But is it worth yet another monthly subscription?
Best iPad for musicians and producers 2024: My pick of Apple tablets for all levels of music maker
Apple's iPads can now comfortably handle every music production task, but which is most suited to your needs? I put the whole range under the microscope
"There are few producers who haven’t employed – or lusted after – it at some point or another, such is its legendary status": Why does everyone love the UREI/UA 1176 compressor?
Here’s why the 1176 has made such an impact in the recording world, and how you can rack one up for peanuts and use it on your music
“It’s rare that we’ve heard such flexible results made so quickly and easily”: Tracktion Dawesome Myth review
Peter V is fast becoming the most ground-breaking plugin developer around. His latest is a synth of mythical proportions
“An easy and big multi-effect with a lot of appeal”: SSL Module8 review
Multi-effects are getting more powerful at the expense of ease of use, but Module8 manages both and is therefore pretty gr8
Best drum machines 2024: for every style and budget
From drum synths to samplers - expert advice on the best beat makers from Roland, Elektron, Teenage Engineering and more
How misusing vintage outboard gear changed the world of recorded music - and how software effects will do the same for its future
We survey some of the best examples of when vintage studio outboard gear was pushed beyond its intended use, with the resulting recordings going on to make a huge impact
9 easy sound-tweaking tips for any synth
From the basics to the different synth styles, here’s how to master your synths and then your sounds
6 of the most creative effects for sound design
The most ground-breaking, recent effect plugin releases to fulfil your sound design desires…
"This really is the ultimate sound design tool": 6 of the most creative synths for sound design
Everything from plants that grow sonic tentacles to synths that create sounds in both time and space
How to use effects to take your sound design to the next level
Branch out into the world of effects and expand your sound design aspirations beyond the basics
How to master modulation and make your synth sounds move
Create sounds with movement, layering and drama that you won’t quite believe
14 sound design tips that will make your tracks stand out
In these days of ‘ultimate sample banks’ and ‘preset-packed’ synths and effects, it’s easy to think that sound design is a dying art. But, if anything, we think it should be your go-to creative process
“A very clever performance and sound design synth created for a small footprint and low price”: Oberheim TEO-5 review
Taking a leaf from Sequential’s book, Oberheim debuts a cost-effective version of one of its poly synths. But it doesn’t merely imitate
6 of the best free plugins for sound design
Need some extra sound design firepower but lack the funds? Here are six to download (actually more!)
“An almost overwhelming synth in terms of its scope”: Tone2 Icarus 3 review
This under-the-radar synth has just received its biggest update ever, and if that doesn’t make it ‘over the radar’, what will?
“Great value, great features and a very slick workflow”: Tracktion Waveform Pro 13 review
After a series of big updates, Waveform hits v13 and it might be lucky for some. This could be the DAW you’re waiting for
How to sound like The Prodigy: "The organ style intro stab of No Good (Start the Dance) is a ’90s classic, and can be emulated with a detuned saw"
Rave stabs, detuned saws, a frantic pace and gnarly bass. Let’s toast the 30th anniversary of one of The Prodigy's best tunes
