What Is Recording Magazine and Who Is It For?

Updated

Recording Magazine (recordingmag.com) is a publication and online resource for recording musicians—people who record music themselves, whether in a home studio or a professional facility. Its stated purpose is to help readers "make better recordings," and it does this through how-to articles, gear reviews, industry news, and a podcast. It is aimed at musicians, recording engineers, and producers rather than at general music fans or consumers shopping for audio equipment.

What the Site Covers

The site organizes its instructional content into topic areas that map directly onto the recording workflow:

Section Topics listed
Immersive Audio First steps in Dolby Atmos
Acoustics and Monitoring Room acoustics, monitoring, home studios
On Mics and Miking Acoustic/electric guitar, bands, drums, percussion, bass, vocals
On Mixing Drum mixes, mix studio, multiband dynamics, tracking
For Songwriters Microphones, music business, production techniques, recording demos
For Your Studio Maintenance, studio infrastructure

Beyond tutorials, the site carries feature articles and reviews. The October 2026 issue, for example, includes a feature on multiband dynamics—compressors, limiters, expanders, and gates—framed around how these tools can be misused, plus a retrospective package marking the magazine's 40th anniversary and the 60th anniversary of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention's debut album.

Reviews and the Podcast

Gear reviews are a core part of the offering. The featured review in the current issue covers the Chandler Limited REDD Mixing System, a modular recording and mixing system built in partnership with Abbey Road Studios and EMI that offers three classic EMI console designs. The site says it expands on its magazine reviews by showing how gear was tested and letting readers see and hear it in action.

The Recording Podcast extends the same editorial approach to audio: interviews with engineers, artists, and producers, conversations with inventors and innovators, and Q&A sessions answering readers' gear questions.

Who It Is For

The content assumes you are actively recording or want to be. Typical readers include:

  • Home studio musicians who want practical guidance on miking guitars, drums, or vocals, and on treating a room.
  • Engineers and producers looking for deeper technique pieces, such as multiband dynamics or immersive audio workflows.
  • Songwriters who record their own demos and want production and music-business context alongside technical advice.

If you are choosing between this and a general music magazine, the distinction is practical instruction and gear evaluation versus artist coverage. If you are a beginner, the topic sections give you a structured starting point; if you are experienced, the feature articles and reviews are the more relevant draw.

Access and Subscription

The site offers a "Subscribe Today!" link under its magazine section, and notes a separate login for digital subscribers. The available information does not state subscription prices or whether any content is free versus restricted, so check the subscribe page directly before assuming access terms.