SOS @ 40 - give us your Comments!

[Forum Admin]

Hi Forum Members and Guests.

As you may be aware, SOUND ON SOUND celebrates its 40th Anniversary PRINT edition with the coming November cover month (on sale 23rd October 2025).

I'm keen to gather some Quotations from anyone who cares to offer them up in this topic, which we can potentially use in our marketing, or in house adverts, and in our revamped Media Pack to attract Advertisers to spend more money with us and support what we do.

So, if you have had any interaction -- stick to the good stuff please, no negativity -- with SOS over the years, then speak up please.

If you won a Competition prize and it changed your world... if you got sage advice from a Forum member, etc... Feel free to say how long you've been reading the print mag or the website, and if you value its independent content in this increasingly paid-for influencer world...

I'm sure you get the picture and your help is much appreciated. Without you, SOS would never have become the world's no.1 music recording technology publication.

Many thanks in advance.

IAN G.

[Arpangel]

I've been up to my neck in technical issues many times, but SOS and it’s crew have always rescued me from the depths of despair, my studio about to go down with all hands, hums buzzes pilot errors, equipment dilemmas, I always get an answer, and as always, the un-swervable un-phasable Hugh is the captain on the bridge.
Not forgetting the wealth of knowledge from forum members, some I have met, their knowledge and generosity shown to me in times of trouble will not be forgotten and will always be appreciated.
The bottom line is that SOS is a beacon, an unrivalled knowledge base, amazing people who would help anyone, and professional standards and principals that set the mark in music tech publishing.
You want positive? you got it, it may sound a bit cheesy, but that's honestly how I feel.

[Telemaxis]

I picked up my first copy of SOS around 20 years ago. I played guitar but had no knowledge of synths/keyboards, nor DAWs, plugins, etc.
Reading that magazine kick-started a wonderful journey of discovery and fun! Technical articles have increased my knowledge and understanding, reviews have helped me make some excellent purchases and the forum has provided good advice - as well as being highly entertaining!
A cracking magazine - long may it continue,

[Drew Stephenson]

Where to start? A high quality monthly magazine that caters to professionals and amateurs alike, but also a beacon of sense and science in a sea of online snake-oil and hearsay.

The enlightened practice of making all articles available for free online after five months genuinely helps contribute to the whole audio-engineering community, I can't think of any other publication that makes such valuable content so easy to access.

And then there's the forum...
That so many experienced professionals and experts are willing to offer up their time and knowledge freely to help out we struggling amateurs is, genuinely, priceless. From quick questions to full song critiques to deep analysis of microphone shoot-outs, I have never posted a query and not had a set of answers that have moved me forward as a recorder, mixer or song-writer.

SOS has become an institution; long may she continue!

[Rich Hanson]

Many years ago when the magazine used to carry reviews of readers' music I sent in a tape of something I worked on with a friend of mine (got a reasonable review and some constructive feedback from one Mr Paul White).

My friend had done the artwork for it. What I didn't know at the time I sent it in was that he'd taken and edited a published photo (I think it was from New Scientist but it was a long time ago). This wouldn't have been an issue, however Sound On Sound had then used "our" artwork around the readers' tapes section - I noticed in the following issue's readers' tapes was a statement saying that it was assumed that the sender would be the owner of the rights to any artwork sent in. Can't help feeling that was down to us. Oops! Apologies SOS!

[amanise]

I guess it must have been around 1991 or 92 that I first ran into the print mag completely by accident in a newsagent in my far flung home town of Bishops Castle in Shropshire. I'd been playing in pub and club blues/rock bands for about a decade, had only seen the inside of a studio on a handful of occasions - so to pick up this mag that gave an industry insiders eye view on it all was like being let into a secret garden or something. After that I was astonished to see it in most newsagents I ended up in, so kept buying it with my petrol etc., eventually becoming so hooked I subscribed. So now I had two annual subscriptions to keep up - National Geographic, and SOS.

When it became apparent that some of this gear was becoming within reach of the home recordist, that was like a complete watershed for me and I was amazed at what became possible. With the help of the SOS writers I too now had a feeling I was part of it all. That fact that I had no clue what I was doing seemed to mean nothing, and then came the Forum. What an awe inspiringly supportive and non-judgmental environment, right from the start. Now, some thirty something years later, I'm still at it. Things have developed, but the pastime still always has something new and engaging to offer, gently chaperoned still, by SOS.

Long may it continue, and may the next generation of crazily obsessed Muzos continue to find a grounding soul base in the SOS Community, as I did.

[wavetable]

I have a hazy memory of going on a Yamaha press launch junket to Germany in the early part of 1985. On the bus to/from the airport there was...either Paul/Ian or both Gilbys who were talking about the new magazine that they were planning to launch.

i have to thank them for the years when I got a complimentary copy in the post every month which continued for some years after I left Yamaha-Kemble until someone wisely revisited their distribution list. I kept every copy for many years and in the days before the internet they turned into a kind of Encylopedia Technologica which I would refer to when I wanted to know about some piece of gear. It was a great resource.

It was a great resource.

It still is! - Forum Admin

[IAA]

Sound on Sound has been my go to reference since 1986 when I first started home recording!

I think it’s fair to say you’ve taught me most of what I know about the mechanics of audio and ably assisted me in spending a shed load of cash on excellent products over the intervening years!

Synth Secrets and Gordon’s sometimes sardonic reviews remain a standout for me as well as the online community, which captures what Tim Berners-Lee envisioned when he invented the Interweb.

Congratulations!

Ian

[wavetable]

.. I kept every copy for many years and in the days before the internet they turned into a kind of Encylopedia Technologica which I would refer to when I wanted to know about some piece of gear. It was a great resource.

It still is! - Forum Admin

No, it all went into the recycling bin.

[Forum Admin]

.. I kept every copy for many years and in the days before the internet they turned into a kind of Encylopedia Technologica which I would refer to when I wanted to know about some piece of gear. It was a great resource.

It still is! - Forum Admin

No, it all went into the recycling bin.

Sorry for confusing - I meant SOUND ON SOUND still *is* a great resource. It is coming up for its 40th anniversary Print issue (no other magazines in our sector exist with such a pedigree) and its entire content appears simultaneously online, in Apps and in the form of a REPLICA page-flip magazine every month. Here's an example of the new page-flip we will be introducing:

https://issuu.com/soundonsoundmag/docs/ ... ember_2025

The App issue contains more audio examples as too do our web article versions at www.soundonsound.com/magazine. We lock many articles for 5 months, then unlock everything,

[Forum Admin]

I have a hazy memory of going on a Yamaha press launch junket to Germany in the early part of 1985. On the bus to/from the airport there was...either Paul/Ian or both Gilbys who were talking about the new magazine that they were planning to launch.

i have to thank them for the years when I got a complimentary copy in the post every month which continued for some years after I left Yamaha-Kemble until someone wisely revisited their distribution list.

We are notoriously bad at culling our controlled industry list, so company reps/staff who move out of the industry, can often accidentally get to keep their monthly freebie.

Glad you enjoyed it and made use of its editorial contents.

[Folderol]

My first sight of SOS was when a friend gave me a couple of copies, which I found very interesting. That was late 1990s or early 2000s (I don't think there was the website at that time).
Since discovering and joining the forum I've learned a great deal (finding how much I didn't know), and also been able to share my knowledge occasionally.

Long may it continue

[alexis]

SOS mag, especially including its amazing forum, is like MIT or Harvard - at a negligible price that essentially feels tuition-free!

[OneWorld]

I can only offer a few words of support and thanks and say........

"In the world of music making tech, SOS has no equal"

Going to the newsagent each month for my copy was the highlight of my month, it is an invaluable resource and not just that, a really good read, the contributors are the Shakespeares of music making magazines, they'd even make an article on fuses sound compelling

[Forum Admin]

My first sight of SOS was when a friend gave me a couple of copies, which I found very interesting. That was late 1990s or early 2000s (I don't think there was the website at that time).

Actually, the first website was created by me in Netscape Gold in 1998. Then my brother's web design company CoActiv developed a bespoke site for us and it grew from there.

We added the Forum (using Infopop, I think, software a few years later, then found phpBB and stuck with that so far).

Keep the great comments coming - finding them really interesting.

[Hugh Robjohns]

...they'd even make an article on fuses sound compelling

Pretty sure I've written one...

[zenguitar]

Takes me back to London in 1985. All those now long lost shops around Denmark Street and Charing Cross Road. The Boxing Day sales at Soho Soundhouse. The walk up Tottenham Court Road to check out Turnkey when it was located on Percy Street. The days of the Great British Spring reverb, and perspex case keeping our grubby fingers away from the ex Abbey Road 4-track that recorded The Beatles.

International Musician & Recording World was rapidly devoured so it was a breath of fresh air to see Sound On Sound appear on the newsagents shelves. Bought the very first issue, I think I bought every issue at the newsagents although I can't be certain, until I got a subscription later in the '90s.

I remember in Autumn 2007 working in India for 6 weeks and using the hotel wifi to visit the SOS fora and moderate.

Andy

[Forum Admin]

My brother and I grew up devouring IM&RW every month, and the consumer version of Studio Sound (that we didn't know existed, being a trade B2B mag not sold in newsagents) which was edited by the great Richard Elen and called Sound International.

Then we found a copy of Electronics & Music Maker in WH Smith's Sunderland shop and I loved that mag. Month or so later, I answered an advert in it for Assistant Editor (Recording), got a week's trial in Southend after chatting on the phone with Editor Mike Beecher, stayed there 6 months without any pay (too scared to ask!!!) and eventually got hired...

My concept for a print mag dedicated to home recording was launched with the October 1983 cover, called Home Studio Recording. First issue featured the engineer from Sky band.

When we resigned from Music Maker Publications in March 1985, Paul and I knew not how to pay the rent. Our Dad suggested we start our own magazine, and a lightbulb went on and he motivated us. We worked our asses off to get costs from a printer called Warners (who have printed every single monthly copy since November 1985 front cover issue, featuring Midge Ure) and we learned how mag distribution worked, editing the articles we commissioned, designing pages with our first graphic design team Vincent Graphics in Cambridge...

Anyway, I digress.

One day I should write a book all about starting and running SOS - it's been a rocky road (still is!!) but an utter blast.

[Drew Stephenson]

When we resigned from Music Maker Publications in March 2025

Shome mishtake shurely?

[Folderol]

When we resigned from Music Maker Publications in March 2025

Shome mishtake shurely?

Shhh! Nobody noticed they were still on the pay roll

[John Egan]

I have been reading since the first issue, which I found at WH Smith. It was unlike anything else I had read and I was impressed !

Eventually, I became a subscriber. There are only two magazines to which I subscribe, Guitarist being the other.

Congratulations on your 40th. Long may you continue.

Regards, John

[Forum Admin]

When we resigned from Music Maker Publications in March 2025

Shome mishtake shurely?

Oops! Thanks Drew - I have edited the original post to say "1985".

[The Elf]

As a writer for and a reader of I've been a devotee from Day One. I kinda miss writing for you...

It's all about integrity, and SOS has it in spades. That's why it can always be trusted.

[Bob Bickerton]

I guess I first came across SOS 30 years ago and became an avid reader. At that stage I was starting to dabble more seriously into recording and live sound having toyed with both over the preceding 25 years. Living in a fairly isolated part of the planet meant there were few people locally to bounce ideas off, so SOS became my main inspiration and resource to improve my knowledge and practice.

I often wonder what 30 years of reading SOS would be equivalent to in the academic world? Whatever, largely thanks to SOS and in particular Hugh Robjohns, I’ve had a fairly successful career in live sound and recording.

In the live sound arena, I’ve worked with a who’s who of New Zealand artists in various festivals, including having undertaken tours, and with recording have had material released internationally and have been engaged to record concerts for RNZ Concert (Equivalent of BBC3). I honestly don’t think this would have happened without SOS.

I very much appreciate the SOS forums where there’s very much a sense of community.

Gear reviews in SOS have integrity, are detailed, informative and can be trusted, thus keeping the likes of me poor!

Bob

[resistorman]

Sound On Sound is an island of rationality in a sea of clickbait. Thank you!