← BACK TO SHOP
← BACK TO SHOP
, ,

Industrial Musicals: The Golden Age of corporate showtunes

, ,
Industrial Musicals: The Golden Age of corporate showtunes

For more than three decades, it was common for American companies to put on  “industrial musicals” for their employees. These elaborate productions could rival Broadway shows, and featured original songs about the company and its products. And while this music was never intended for the general public, once you hear it for yourself, you might just get hooked. This is a story about bathroom remodeling, corporate art, and one man’s obsession with a forgotten corner of pop culture. Featuring comedy writer and collector Steve Young.

, ,

Into the Huluverse: The sonic evolution of Hulu

, ,
Into the Huluverse: The sonic evolution of Hulu

Today, virtually every streaming platform has a sonic logo, from HBO’s classic “Static Angel” to the iconic Netflix “Tudum.” For Hulu, standing out in such a crowded marketplace has been a process of experimentation and revision. In this episode, we chart the evolution of Hulu’s sonic branding across 5 unique sonic logos. Along the way, the creative team shares unused alternate versions for the first time, and breaks down how they used AI to test their latest sound. Featuring Dan Capstick of DixonBaxi, Matthew Wilcock of Zelig Sound, and Reid Thompson of Hulu.

, , , , ,

Tournament of Champions: Guess That Sound! w/ past winners

, , , , ,
Tournament of Champions: Guess That Sound! w/ past winners

For our fourth annual Mystery Sound Game Show, we pitted the winners from the past three years against each other. The result? Chaos and hilarity. So unclog your ears, put on your listening cap, and get ready to play along. Featuring Travis McElroy, John Lagomarsino and Emily Jankowski.

, , ,

Tune Tech: Distortion, sequencers, Auto-Tune, and more

, , ,
Tune Tech: Distortion, sequencers, Auto-Tune, and more

From electric guitars to samplers to drum machines and beyond, the music we love is only possible thanks to the technology that’s used to create it. In many ways, the history of popular music is really a history of technological innovation. In this episode, we partnered with BandLab to unpack four inventions that changed music forever. Featuring author and journalist Greg Milner.

,

Headphone Handbook: How to pick your perfect pair

,
Headphone Handbook: How to pick your perfect pair

The world of headphones is a deep rabbit hole. With thousands of options and endless technical jargon, it’s hard to know which factors really matter, and which ones are just marketing gimmicks. In this episode, we cut through all of the gobbledygook, and break down the ins and outs of headphones to help you find your perfect pair. Featuring Wirecutter’s resident headphone expert Lauren Dragan.

, ,

Sounds That Sell: How companies entice us with sonic candy

, ,
Sounds That Sell: How companies entice us with sonic candy

Since the earliest days of commercial radio, companies have been using sound to worm their way into our brains. And over the decades, they’ve come up with all kinds of sonic tactics to make us want, crave and remember their products. In this episode, we take a whirlwind tour through the sounds of persuasion. This story was adapted from Under the Influence with Terry O’Reilly.

, ,

Auto-Tone: What will cars sound like in the future?

, ,
Auto-Tone: What will cars sound like in the future?

The sound of a roaring combustion engine is a fixture of modern life. But as electric vehicles become more and more common, these mechanical sounds will gradually be replaced with artificial tones that have been designed from scratch. And once self-driving cars start to take over, there will be an even bigger need for creative and intuitive sound design. In this episode, we explore the future of car sounds with Audio UX Co-Founder Dexter Garcia and Creative Consultant/Futurist John LePore.

, ,

Wilhelm Screamix: The sound effect that never dies

, ,
Wilhelm Screamix: The sound effect that never dies

For more than seventy years now, filmmakers have been using and reusing a particular scream. Without a doubt, this is Hollywood’s most famous sound effect. Many people even know it by name. But despite how widely-known this sound is, lots of people still don’t know its surprising origin story. To set the record straight, we’ve remixed one of our classic, early episodes. Featuring Steve Lee, sound designer, film historian, and creator of the Hollywood Sound Museum.

Contact Us

Cart (0)