Ben Burtt uncovers the surprising origins of Hollywood’s iconic silencer sound, tracing it from 1930s studio ricochets to the cinematic “quiet” gunshots audiences recognize today.

A strong mix isn’t just about levels and effects—it’s about clarity, space, and balance. When every element has room to breathe, the track holds up across any system. Small adjustments can make a big difference, and sometimes, less is more. The key is knowing what to enhance, what to pull back, and how to create a mix that translates everywhere.

Album art has always shaped the way we experience music. From bold vinyl sleeves to digital thumbnails, visuals continue to influence discovery and connection in the streaming era. Here’s why strong design still matters—and how it supports music discovery today.

Blending organic and synthetic sounds is one of the most powerful ways to build tension and emotion in music. From film scores to trailers like Tales of the Underworld, the contrast between warmth and unease creates soundscapes that feel both grounded and otherworldly.

Horror trailer music has moved beyond simple jump scares. Today’s scores use infrasound, dissonance, silence, and experimental textures to build anticipation and unsettle the imagination. Here’s a closer look at the trends shaping the sound of fear—and how modern tools are helping creatives find the perfect track faster.

The word “drop” gets used a lot in the trailer world, often confused with stopdowns or just mistaken for a big hit. In reality, the drop is the full-energy moment after a buildup, when the music slams in and momentum takes off. Here’s a clear look at what a drop really is, how it works, and why it matters in trailer scoring.

Landing more syncs isn’t just about writing great music. It’s about making tracks versatile, easy to adapt, and ready for supervisors to use. From alternate mixes and stems to mood-driven writing and catalog management, here’s how artists can prepare their music for more placements.

Recent studies are showing how music and multisensory therapy can support children with cerebral palsy. From personalized soundscapes in the Euterpe Method to dolphin-assisted therapy, these approaches highlight how sound can improve sleep, mood, and motor skills while strengthening family connections.

Remix culture has become one of music’s most powerful tools for reinvention. From club floors to film trailers, remixes reshape original tracks into fresh experiences, extending their reach and impact across genres and audiences.

AI music tools are making it harder to tell whether a song is human-made or machine-generated. From background checks and platform tags to new detection tools, here’s how listeners and creators can spot the difference, with Velvet Sundown as a recent example.

Harmonic ambiguity is one of the most powerful tools in trailer music. By blurring the tonal center and delaying resolution, composers keep audiences on edge and build anticipation. This tension and release not only drives emotion but also shapes the storytelling arc of modern cinematic campaigns.

What does climate change sound like? From a Japanese scientist transforming 30 years of polar data into a string quartet to London’s Climate Symphony turning raw climate records into powerful scores, artists and researchers are proving that music can make environmental change both audible and deeply felt.

What does a willow tree sound like? With bio-sonification, researchers are translating a tree’s hidden electrical signals into ambient soundscapes. The willow produces flowing, ethereal tones that shift in real time, offering a new way to experience the music already alive in nature.

Art is different from discovery — it only exists if you make it. Neil deGrasse Tyson reminds us that every act of creation is one of a kind, never to be duplicated. For musicians and creators alike, this perspective is a powerful reminder: what you don’t create, the world will never have.

Music has a remarkable ability to reach people with Alzheimer’s in ways words cannot. From reviving old memories to helping form new ones, researchers are uncovering how melodies can awaken the mind and offer moments of clarity and connection.

Sound has always been part of nature’s healing language. From ancient musical tunings to the hum of bees, certain frequencies resonate with the human body in ways science is only beginning to understand.

A small tweak in underwater recording—like routing hydrophone audio through reverb—can completely transform the feel of a mix. Here's how one Reel sparked a deeper look into shaping cinematic underwater sound.

A rare field recording of a traditional song from the Mamuna Tribe of South Papua reveals a form of music rooted in ancestry, environment, and presence—unfiltered and deeply resonant. This isn’t performance, it’s memory carried through voice.

Audio plays a crucial role in shaping the atmosphere, immersion, and player feedback in indie games. While budget constraints can make sound design challenging, the right tools and strategies can help developers create high-quality audio.

Selecting the right music cue for a film scene is more than just adding a soundtrack—it’s about enhancing storytelling in a way that feels natural and immersive. From understanding emotional intent to balancing pacing and dynamics, the right music can transform a scene. Here’s how filmmakers can make the best choices for their projects.