Any audio professional worth hiring is always going to try and do their best on a project, but how far is it possible to go from hired-help to collaborator? We explore this question.
Whether it’s for managing recording disasters or supercharging existing sounds, replacing or layering up drum sounds is yet another DAW technique that keeps on giving. Here we round up reasons to fly in new sounds and some ways to do it.
Julian shares his thoughts on the speed of microphones and how that affects transient response as well as the related and more familiar frequency response.
This week’s free plugin is Band Saturator from Bansaw Crown. It’s a saturator with some interesting filtering controls which sets it apart from the crowd.
In this article we collate some recommendations from the team for tracks mixed in Dolby Atmos which we feel represent the potential of Dolby Atmos for music. If you are one of the many out there who are yet to be convinced by the format, check these out. If you are already enjoying music mixed in Atmos, why not share your recommended tracks?
In this article Steve DeMott shares some advice he gives to almost every mix he consults on. Do you recognise any of these from your mixes?
The audio production market is flooded with software tools promising to revolutionise the creative process. The choices are vast, but so are the claims. The integrity of these marketing claims is more important than ever. We call out some of the more dubious claims and say why they matter.
Now in its second decade, Harrison’s Mixbus sets out to bring the American console manufacturer’s sound and workflow into the box. Here we give an overview of Mixbus 10 and its new features, get some user opinion, and some background from the people behind it.
Earlier this year, we considered how AI is changing audio post production, however the industry has actually been on a course of change for some time already, most notably in the job roles which many of us have to take on day to day. In this article, Paul Maunder explores the other factors which have driven this change.
In this article and video Julian demonstrates some time saving techniques in Pro Tools which use the arrow keys to control the creation and display of selections in Pro Tools, including a killer keystroke combination for displaying your playhead.
In this article we address five common audio myths. What are they and why don’t they stand up to closer examination?
Softube has announced the release of Bad Speaker, a unique lo-fi distortion plugin which is available to buy individually or as part of the new The Dirty, The Bad and The Wasted Collection. We have the details…
In this article Julian highlights some frequently considered things in audio production we perhaps ought to think about rather less. Maybe if we did we’d finally make some progress on those unfinished projects…
Following on from various team members sharing their list of must-have plugins, in this article, Mike Thornton shares his top 7 plugins from his lifetime of working in broadcast audio and post production.
Following the previews at NAMM earlier this year, Harrison has released the latest version of their DAW featuring immersive music production tools integrated SSL EQ, new ‘Plus’ and ‘Pro’ tiers and more. We have the details…
With layered acoustic and electronic sounds a great way to supercharge any drum part, up until recently getting those could be clunky. We show you how to get fast, streamlined results in just a few moves.
My first home studio sounds like something made by Fisher Price, now there’s a thought for a good kids gift. However, in this article, Expert’s founder Russ Hughes tells us what his first home studio consisted of. Read it and weep!
With acoustic guitar underpinning a number mixes, getting it right with a virtual one could be a tall order. Luckily UJAM hope to have a solution with their latest nylon-strung flavour for digital troubadours across the board. See and hear it for yourself as we check it out…
After the fader, EQ is the bedrock on which successful mixes are based. There is a lot of choice out there when it comes to equalisers but do choices lead to better mixes? Julian looks at the options.
This week’s free plugin is ATONE from Analog Obsession, a vintage style channel strip plugin with lots of old school charm, a simple but powerful EQ and a great compressor.
With a new generation of tools using either advanced algorithms or AI to do what they do, engineers can achieve more than ever in the mix. Whether it’s a fresh take on an old favourite, or the latest restorative fix, here we take a look at what can be achieved with these magic modern helpers.
Loudspeaker correction for studio monitoring is nothing new, but affordable hardware to bend speakers’ sounds into shape certainly is. ARC Studio promises the ‘magic box’ experience but does it deliver? We take a listen.
This article explores the provocative comparison between generative AI and pornography, examining their implications for human expression, connection, and the erosion of creativity's essence.
Acoustica is great for audio editing, post production, mastering and restoration with a set of tools that can also be used in your DAW because they also come as AAX, VST and AU plugins. Here, Paul Maunder takes a look at the ones he uses most often for his post production work.
In this article Julian highlights a video in which Bob Clearmountain shared his methods and approach when remixing recordings of The Band from 1968. The simple approach belies the cutting edge technology used to separate the material on the multitrack.
LiquidSonics make a number of audio plugin reverbs for realistic rooms. We take a look at using their modern take on classic reverb hardware for drums, and why two of its controls especially could make it a secret weapon for drum ambiences to inspire.
This decade has seen some big changes in how the industry gets things done remotely. With a number of competing platforms letting audio pros do their thing wherever they are, here we round up some of those out there and what they offer.
The Cargo Cult’s new Subquake is a powerful tool, for shaping the bass in the content you create. In this article Damian Kearns explains what it is and how this plugin can sculpt your bottom end and get your speakers bouncing.
Safari Pedals has announced the release of its latest innovation, Rabbit Tape - Wild Tape Distortion. This new product offers musicians and producers an expansive range of effects, from the subtle nuances of tape saturation to the intense dynamics of wild distortion and tape compression.
In this article we thought it would be interesting to categorise what we see as the hierarchy of ways to record. They are all valid and they all meet the needs of the people using them. Which is right for you depends on what you’re trying to achieve.
As part of their Sonic Drop initiative Avid have released the latest of their Sonic Drops of new content for Pro Tools - PlayCell Yesterday's Relic.
Following their announcement last month, Zynaptiq have now released Morph 3 which sees a massive update to the popular sound design tool and a new Pro version. We have the details…
IK Multimedia has announced TONEX ONE, an addition to its line-up that incorporates IK’s pioneering AI Machine Modelling technology into a format ideal for any pedalboard size.
Softube has announced the release of Bad Speaker, a unique lo-fi distortion plugin which is available to buy individually or as part of the new The Dirty, The Bad and The Wasted Collection. We have the details…
Following the previews at NAMM earlier this year, Harrison has released the latest version of their DAW featuring immersive music production tools integrated SSL EQ, new ‘Plus’ and ‘Pro’ tiers and more. We have the details…
Denise Audio has released Motion Filter, a reimagining of their cult plugin The Sweeper that adds animation to static sounds with a flexible and powerful filter. We have the details…
Safari Pedals has announced the release of its latest innovation, Rabbit Tape - Wild Tape Distortion. This new product offers musicians and producers an expansive range of effects, from the subtle nuances of tape saturation to the intense dynamics of wild distortion and tape compression.
Just 5 months ago, Apple released the first 3rd generation Apple silicon equipped computers, and we now learn that it is accelerating the release timetable for the M4 chips to try and turn around falling sales for Mac computers. It also may mean they won’t release M3 versions of some products. We have the details.
At NAB 2024 Avid are showing some previously unseen Pro Tools features. Given the nature of the show there is a particular focus on the improved interoperability features between Pro Tools and Media Composer. Three new Media Composer related Pro Tools features are being previewed.
Blackmagic Design has announced DaVinci Resolve 19 with over 100 new features, including some impressive tools for audio in the Fairlight section. We have the details.
As part of their Sonic Drop initiative Avid have released the latest of their Sonic Drops of new content for Pro Tools - GrooveCell Spectral Particles.
Today Avid released Pro Tools 2024.3.1. As a bug fix release there are no new features. We have full details of the bug fixes.
UJAM has launched their Spring sale with 50% off all plugins to help your projects bloom!
FabFilter released their first plugin in 2004 – FabFilter One – and to celebrate their 20 year anniversary there’s 30% off all plugins and bundles until 1st May!
Nugen Audio have released a new bundle! Halo Suite contains industry standard tools for surround and immersive audio production and saves $498 compared to individual plugin purchases.
Our friends at SoundFlow are offering Production Expert readers 15% off their first year of SoundFlow Cloud Pro for a limited time!
Klevgrand, makers of creative audio plugins and instruments that dare to be different recently announced the release of their OneShot drum sampler and percussive workstation and for a limited time there’s an introductory 33% off!
Focusrite, a leading audio interface manufacturer, announces a limited-time offer on their FAST plugin range. These plugins utilise AI to adjust settings based on the audio and instruments used, aiming to simplify achieving quality sound results. Users can access detailed controls for precise adjustments.
Save a huge 50% off VIRTUOSO - a binaural audio renderer that uses binaural technology for virtualising stereo or immersive loudspeaker setups and listening rooms for headphone monitoring.