Helmuts Bems, Co-Founder and CEO of Sonarworks, joins Sam Inglis to discuss the findings of their recent AI survey. The conversation explores differing industry perspectives on generative versus assistive AI and provides insight into the extent to which professional musicians are already adopting these emerging technologies.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction

00:33 - A Data-Driven Audio Company

04:56 - Assistive Vs Generative AI

07:36 - New Categories Of Tools

08:27 - Early Adoption Of AI Tools

12:50 - Negative Or Neutral Tensions

18:37 - Tackling Ethical Issues

21:25 - Where Music Production Is Heading

26:33 - The Impact Across Industries And Musical Genres

33:05 - Changes In Music Consumption

37:08 - How Technology Has Shaped Music

42:41 - AI As A Huge Industry Disruption

For more insights and data read the related article: www.soundonsound.com/music-business/ai-music-tech-2026

Full Report (PDF): https://blog-uploads.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/2026/01/ai-music-production-skills-report-2026-sonarworks.pdf

Sonarworks Blog (Short Version): www.sonarworks.com/blog/research/future-music-production-human-producer-survey-2026

Sonarworks Biog
Sonarworks is an award-winning audio technology company specialising in sound calibration and audio personalisation. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Riga, Latvia, the company develops patented calibration and AI-driven technologies that enable consistent, reference-grade audio across a wide range of listening environments and professional workflows. Sonarworks’ solutions are trusted by more than 300,000 studios worldwide and are widely used by audio engineers, producers and content creators.

In addition to its professional studio tools, Sonarworks has expanded into consumer audio through its SoundID personalisation technology, which adapts sound to individual hearing profiles and preferences. The company licenses its technology to global audio and consumer electronics partners and continues to be recognised internationally for its innovation in precision audio and sound optimisation.

https://www.sonarworks.com/blog/research

Helmuts Bems (Co-founder, CEO) Biog

Helmuts Bems is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sonarworks, a leading audio technology company based in Riga, Latvia. He co-founded the company in 2012 and has overseen its strategic growth into a global innovator in sound calibration and personalised audio solutions, securing multiple financing rounds and international partnerships to expand its technologies across professional and consumer markets. Bems holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga. Under his leadership, Sonarworks has been recognised for advancing precision audio technologies used by engineers and studios worldwide and has achieved notable industry accolades and commercial milestones. Driven by complex challenges, Bems combines strategic planning and team leadership with a commitment to advancing deep-tech innovation, and maintains personal interests in endurance sports and outdoor pursuits.

Sam Inglis Biog
Editor In Chief Sam Inglis has been with Sound On Sound for more than 20 years. He is a recording engineer, producer, songwriter and folk musician who studies the traditional songs of England and Scotland, and the author of Neil Young's Harvest (Bloomsbury, 2003) and Teach Yourself Songwriting (Hodder, 2006).

https://www.soundonsound.com

Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

Paul White and Hugh Robjohns pick their software and hardware highlights from the gear they've reviewed in the last 12 months.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:14 - Cranborne Audio Brick Lane Compressor
03:56 - Soundtoys SpaceBlender
05:40 - Braingasm Ocula
08:18 - Sub51 And Soundtrax Drop Pad
09:16 - Red Panda Radius Ring Modulator
10:40 - Source Audio Encounter Delay+Reverb
11:45 - Electro-Harmonix Oceans Abyss
13:05 - Sound Devices Astral ARX16 Receiver
15:23 - Sound Devices Astral HH Transmitter
16:31 - Sound Devices Astral TX Transmitter
17:17 - RME ADI-2/4 Pro Converter
18:34 - Newfangled Audio Articulate Audio ADSR
19:54 - Overloud THU v2 Guitar Amp Simulator
20:37 - Grace Design m701 Audio Interface

Gear4Music (affiliate link UK/EU only)
Red Panda Radius
EHX Oceans Abyss

Sweetwater (affiliate link North America only)
Cranborne Brick Lane 500
Red Panda Radius
Source Audio Encounter
EHX Oceans Abyss
Sound Devices Astral ARX16
Sound Devices Astral HH
Sound Devices Astral TX
RME ADI-2-4 Pro SE
Grace Design m701

#cranborneaudio #soundtoys #braingasm #sub51 #soundtrax #redpanda #sourceaudio #electroharmonix #sounddevices #rme #newfangledaudio #overloud #gracedesign

Paul White Biog
Paul White initially trained in electronics at The Royal Radar Establishment in Malvern then went on to work with Malvern Instruments, a company specialising in laser analysis equipment, before moving into technical writing.

He joined the Sound On Sound team in 1991 where he became Editor In Chief, a position he held for many years before recently becoming Executive Editor. Paul has written more than 20 recording and music technology textbooks, the latest being The Producer’s Manual.

Having established his own multitrack home studio in the 1980s he’s worked with many notable names including Bert Jansch and Gordon Giltrap. He’s played in various bands over the years and currently collaborates with Malvern musician Mark Soden, under the name of Cydonia Collective. Paul still performs live claiming that as he has suffered for his music he doesn’t see why everyone else shouldn’t too!

http://www.cydoniacollective.co.uk/

Hugh Robjohns Biog
Hugh Robjohns has been Sound On Sound´s Technical Editor since 1997. Prior to that he worked in a variety of (mostly) sound-related roles in BBC Television, ending up as a Sound Operations Lecturer at the BBC´s technical training centre. He continues to provide audio consultancy and bespoke broadcast audio training services all over the world, lectures at professional and public conventions, and occasionally records and masters acoustic and classical music too!

Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts

In this episode, Paul White and Hugh Robjohns address some of the most frequently-asked questions about home studio recording and production. They share practical, experience-based advice to help you get the best results from your setup, whatever your budget or space.

Chapters
00:00 - Introduction
00:14 - Improving Your Room Acoustics
02:29 - Working On Headphones
04:13 - Dampening With A Duvet
05:50 - Choosing The Right Speakers
06:50 - Mics And Preamps
09:02 - Cables And Connectors
11:28 - Hardware Vs Plug-ins
14:09 - When To Add A Patchbay
16:18 - Preparing Music For Streaming
18:59 - Bass Drivers And Room Size

#IsoAcoustics #AKGC414 #NeumannU87 #AudioTechnica2020 #ShureSM57 #ShureSM58 #Neutrik #Cannon

Paul White Biog
Paul White initially trained in electronics at The Royal Radar Establishment in Malvern then went on to work with Malvern Instruments, a company specialising in laser analysis equipment, before moving into technical writing.

He joined the Sound On Sound team in 1991 where he became Editor In Chief, a position he held for many years before recently becoming Executive Editor. Paul has written more than 20 recording and music technology textbooks, the latest being The Producer’s Manual.

Having established his own multitrack home studio in the 1980s he’s worked with many notable names including Bert Jansch and Gordon Giltrap. He’s played in various bands over the years and currently collaborates with Malvern musician Mark Soden, under the name of Cydonia Collective. Paul still performs live claiming that as he has suffered for his music he doesn’t see why everyone else shouldn’t too!

http://www.cydoniacollective.co.uk/

Hugh Robjohns Biog
Hugh Robjohns has been Sound On Sound´s Technical Editor since 1997. Prior to that he worked in a variety of (mostly) sound-related roles in BBC Television, ending up as a Sound Operations Lecturer at the BBC´s technical training centre. He continues to provide audio consultancy and bespoke broadcast audio training services all over the world, lectures at professional and public conventions, and occasionally records and masters acoustic and classical music too!

Catch more shows on our other podcast channels: https://www.soundonsound.com/sos-podcasts