How Film Sound Design Worked in the Analog Era

Nathan Fields
March 13, 2026

The Rareform Rundown #104

Hello Friends,

Nathan here. It’s been a pretty packed week on my end, but I hope things have been going smooth for you. I’ve got a bunch to share in this week’s newsletter. First up, we’re looking at Apple’s latest MacBook launches and a question a lot of music producers are asking. How does the high-end M5 Pro MacBook Pro compare to Apple’s new entry-level MacBook Neo when it comes to real-world music production in Logic Pro? We’re also taking a look at legendary sound designer Gary Rydstrom and his reflections on working in the analog era of film sound, and how those early workflows still connect to the way creators think and work today.

Let’s get into it!

New projects + music we are looking for

PROJECTS

Excited to announce that my track Out For Revenge made it into this Toyota Motorsports spot. Always fun hearing your music paired with visuals like this!

Hyped to share another spot for The Secret Agent, this time featuring 4 Corners by Rory Cairnduff from our BSM032 Unspoken album. Big thanks to our friends at LIVEBAD for bringing us in on this one!

We had the privilege of providing a bunch of sound design for the Fuze campaign!

Apple just refreshed its MacBook lineup with the latest MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models powered by the new M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max chips. These machines are clearly built for higher performance workflows and professional use cases.

At the same time, Apple also introduced something on the opposite end of the spectrum. The new MacBook Neo starts at just £599, making it the most affordable MacBook the company has released. Instead of Apple’s M-series chips, it runs on the A18 chip found in the iPhone 16.

Seeing these two releases side by side raises an interesting question for music producers. One laptop is positioned as a budget entry point, while the other pushes performance even further for demanding sessions.

We took a closer look at what both of these machines could mean for producers working in Logic Pro and other DAWs. If you're curious how the MacBook Neo stacks up against the new MacBook Pro models for music production, read the full blog below.

MacBook Neo and MacBook Pro: What Apple’s New Laptops Mean for Music Producers

Apple’s MacBook Neo and MacBook Pro M5 models offer two very different paths for music producers. From a budget-friendly entry point with the A18 chip to higher performance Logic Pro workflows powered by M5 Pro, here’s what producers should know about Apple’s latest laptops.

www.rareformaudio.com/blog/macbook-neo-macbook-pro-music-production

Legendary sound designer Gary Rydstrom recently reflected on what it was like creating film sound during the analog era. At the time, much of the work relied on physical editing, tape, and hands-on experimentation, a very different process from the digital tools used across the industry today.

His perspective highlights how much the technology behind sound production has changed over the years. At the same time, it shows that the core creative instincts behind the craft have remained fairly consistent.

For people working in music, sound design, or sync today, it’s an interesting reminder that while the tools continue to evolve, the mindset behind the work often stays the same.

Read our blog for more on Rydstrom’s reflections and how the analog era helped shape modern sound design.

Analog Sound Design: What Gary Rydstrom’s Early Days Reveal About Creative Instinct

Gary Rydstrom reflects on the analog era of sound design, when editors like Ken Fischer, Terry Eckton, and Richard Hymns had to imagine entire soundscapes before the mix stage. This insight explores how early film sound workflows shaped creative instincts that still influence modern sound design, film scoring, and sync production today.

www.rareformaudio.com/blog/analog-sound-design-gary-rydstrom-insight