Hallo, Sonic Odyssey readers. It is I, Gianni Oberhausen, Intern Third Class (acting). Today marks my one-year anniversary at Sonic Odyssey. That’s right: twelve whole months of fetching cables, making strong coffee, mislabeling patch bays, and discovering that Herr Randall actually owns two Les Paul Supremes (this is apparently normal in America?).
When I first arrived from Stuttgart, I thought "internship" meant I would learn glamorous things, like how to mix Metallica or how to tame the elusive kick drum of doom. Instead, I have learned:
- Never touch Herr Randall’s Jose amp. (Even looking at it too long is dangerous.)
- Americans eat peanut butter straight out of the jar, with spoons, at 3 a.m. This is apparently legal. (Herr Randall uses a soup spoon, which I am told is "normal".)
- A “static mix” is not a mix that shocks you when you touch it. (I learned this the hard way.)
- There are approximately 147 plugins named after tape machines, and Herr Randall owns all of them.
Was it worth it? Absolutely. I now have strong opinions about ribbon microphones (they are romantic), know which cat is allowed in the control room (not Onyx), and can say with confidence: if you put a German abroad in Appalachia, he will eventually start calling his boss a "tone wizard."
Here is this week’s roundup of reviews, news, and trends—because somehow, despite all of this, I am still technically employed.
Don’t forget to check our regularly updated Plugin Deals Page for the latest discounts from Plugin Boutique. We keep it fresh every Monday — so you can grab the good stuff before Gianni “accidentally” spends the studio budget on tape emulations.
Getting Started With Your Studio
Guides to help you set up and make music right away
Zachary Darrel Randall
Choosing your first DAW doesn’t have to be overwhelming — here’s the breakdown.
Zachary Darrel Randall
Affordable monitors that still give you an honest picture of your mix.
Zachary Darrel Randall
Everything you need to get recording without wasting money on the wrong gear.
Reviews & Roundups
Sony MDR-M1 Review — MusicRadar
Sony’s newest studio headphones impress with clarity and balance. (Great for interns who need to block out Herr Randall yelling “PHASE” across the room.)
Sampleson Tronic Review — Sound On Sound
A retro-inspired synth perucssion plugin with modern twists. (It sounds like the ‘80s, but shinier.)
Moog Messenger Review — Sound On Sound
Moog’s latest nanlogue creation delivers character and chaos. (Imagine if a synth could glare at you.)
Tracktion Waveform Free Studio — Gearnews
An impressive free DAW that makes you wonder why you paid for the expensive one.
Suonobuono Polyvera Synth Hands-On Review — Synthtopia
A modern homage to the iconic wavetable synths and samplers of the early 80s.(Gianni’s note: I pushed one button and it made a noise that scared Melissa the cat.)
News
Josh Homme’s To-Do List Before Sheffield Show — MusicRadar
Spoiler: it’s not “buying interns sandwiches.”
Queen’s Rock Anthem Origins — MusicRadar
How Freddie and Queen harnessed audience power into history.
Amphion Announce One18X & Two18X — Sound On Sound
Upgraded studio monitors, still Scandinavian levels of clean. Still too expensive for any of us.
Arturia Explorations Vol. 4 — Sound On Sound
Another wave of inspiring sounds for Pigments users.
Rossum SP-1200 Limited Edition Synth — Gearnews
Old-school sampler magic, reborn.
Teile K1 DJ Headphones — Gearnews
New headphones for DJs who don’t want to look bored while cueing.
IK Multimedia Brown Sound 80–81 Signature Collection — Rekkerd
ToneX pack inspired by the brown sound era. (Herr Randall is already loading this onto his pedalboard, I think.)
Electric Nashville Benefit Concert — Synthtopia
A star-studded event supporting the Bob Moog Foundation.
Trends
YouTube Music Updates Benefit Musicians — Hypebot
For once, the algorithm might actually be your friend.
State AGs vs. Scalpers & Bots? — Hypebot
Lawyers with RICO charges, now aimed at ticket bots. (Metal as hell.)
Protecting Music From Leaks & Hackers — Hypebot
A modern guide to keeping your demos safe from nosy interns.
Spotify Expands Publishing Licensing — Music Business Worldwide
Spotify takes another swing at the publishing world.
Until next time: keep your cables phase-aligned, your plugins updated, and if your intern lasts an entire year, buy him a peanut butter spoon.
Deep Dives & Next Steps
Level up your productions with these essential reads
Zachary Darrel Randall
From EQs to limiters, these are the tools pros trust to finish a mix.
Zachary Darrel Randall
Shape depth and space in your mixes with our favorite time-based effects.
Zachary Darrel Randall
Understand the differences before you pick your next studio mic.
