In the vast world of software EQ, is there still a place for hardware titans Solid State Logic? Let’s decide in this SSL Native X-EQ 2 review. SSL Native X-EQ 2 Review SSL calls the Native X-EQ 2 a mastering…
The 5 Best LEWITT Microphones for Your Studio
Founded by Roman Perschon in 2009, the Vienna-headquartered LEWITT Microphones is one of the fastest-growing companies in the market, on track to become the industry’s not-so-best-kept secret. The design philosophy and manufacturing techniques behind all their products challenge the legacy companies…
IT’S HERE: The Ultimate Guide to Home Studio Recording
I am beyond excited to share with you the culmination of my last three years of hard work. Together with my good friend Jerry Hammack, known for his "The Beatles Recording Reference Manuals," we have created the most comprehensive book…
sE Electronics RF SPACE Review: The Best Reflection Filter Acoustic Dampener?
sE Electronics set the standard for, and popularized, reflection filters after the debut of their Reflexion Filter (RF) PRO back in 2006. Eight years later they debuted the RF SPACE, marking a substantial design improvement over the already successful original.…
Roland JD-Xi Review: A Crossover Synth Offering the Best of Both Worlds
For decades, Roland has been a frontrunner in synthesizers, sequencers, effects, amplifiers, and everything sound-making. It’s no surprise that the JD-Xi packs a hefty amount of tech into a small package. In this Roland JD-Xi review, we’ll take a look…
Tyrell N6 Review: The Best Free Synth?
The Tyrell N6 is a free software synthesizer designed by u-he founder Urs Heckmann. A “compact, sporty synth,” Nexus 6 boasts a huge array of classic analogue sounds in a streamlined, intuitive interface. How the Tyrell N6 Was Born Tyrell…
PMC Wafer Review: The Best In-Wall “Stealth” Speakers?
PMC Speakers are changing the reputation of in-wall hi-fi units through their groundbreaking work with the Wafer1 and Wafer2. Designed for the home theater or audiophile system, the Wafer lineup delivers exceptional sound quality with a completely unobtrusive footprint. Can…
Digital Audio Tools: Linear Phase EQ
Anytime you change the frequency content of a sound source with an equalizer, a tiny amount of phase ‘smear’ occurs. This is a normal result of latency being added to the signal whenever you alter the amplitude of specific frequency…
Samson SR850 Review: Best Budget Closed Back Headphones?
In this Samson SR850 review, we’ll determine whether it’s possible to get pro studio sound from sub-$50 headphones. Samson SR850 Review At the time of writing, the SR850s are on sale for $35. That makes them among the least expensive —…
Korg Opsix Review: The Ultimate FM Synthesizer?
Korg graced the synthesizer space with two new releases in 2020. One, the Wavestate, made its full debut at Winter NAMM that year, while the Opsix was yet an unmarked prototype. Despite the many ups and downs of a now…
Understanding Music Modes and Their Role in the Studio
There are seven total music modes including the major and natural minor scales. Why learn them at all? Songwriters and producers can always benefit from music theory; when you know the rules, or at least the basics, it can help…
Audio Test Kitchen Review: Test Up to 300 Mics for FREE!
Audio Test Kitchen is an incredible free resource for recording enthusiasts. One of the biggest challenges engineers face is becoming knowledgable about mics. And there’s really no way to do that without trying them on practically every instrument over the…
5 Best Overhead Drum Mics for Detail & Clarity
Overheads can be the difference between a great drum recording, or one that’s so-so. The best overhead drum mics will glue the whole kit together in a brilliant way and do more than just capture the sound of the cymbals.…
Aaron Marshall of Intervals Redefines Instrumental Guitar Music
Intervals is the brainchild of guitarist/composer Aaron Marshall. Since the project’s inception in 2011, Marshall has explored sounds within the instrumental progressive scene. His latest full-length, Circadian, is a complete realization of Marshall’s unique voice on the guitar and his personal take…
UA Console Application Explained
The UA Console application is the key to Apollo interfaces’ Realtime UAD Processing capabilities. It lets you insert and control UAD plugins, as well as route and monitor audio. UA Console: Recording Through Plugins Perhaps the main feature of UA’s…
What Is Saturation (And How Do I Use it)?
Saturation is an engineer favorite. It’s one of those tools that, used effectively, can take an instrument or mix to the next level. If you’re asking yourself “what is saturation?”, they you’ve come to the right place! What Is Saturation…
McDSP FutzBox Review: The Ultimate All-in-One Distortion Designer
Messing up audio signals can be a lot more fun than making them sound pretty. Not only is it a good time, but it’s often a stylistic necessity, especially in the realm of post-production. The FutzBox by McDSP is a…
5 Piano EQ Tips to Improve Your Mix & Achieve Awesome Tone
Piano is a beautiful instrument, but when you put anything under a microscope, you’re bound to find some flaws. Such is the case with piano EQ. Never a one-size-fits-all technique, learning how to squeeze a piano in a mix is…
Four Producers Reviewing The NEW Magma Tube Channel Strip
Are you tired of flat and lifeless digital mixes? Feeling confused on which plugins can take your mixes to that epic level? Well, we might just be reviewing the plugin for you. Waves has introduced the Magma Channel Strip, a…
ART P16 Patchbay Review: The Ultimate 16-Channel XLR Patchbay
Applied Research and Technology (ART) are well known producers of affordable recording equipment, including everything from power conditioners to microphones and outboard gear. In this review, we’ll be considering the ART P16 patchbay and how it can simplify connections in…
Kilohearts Phase Plant VST Review
Phase Plant is an award-winning, semi-modular software synthesizer. Its unique workflow and functionality make it a go-to virtual instrument for many music producers and sound designers. With virtually limitless combinations of generators, modulators, and effects, you can spend hours creating…
The Different Kinds of Microphones and Their Applications
The more you get into the recording craft, the more you’ll start to recognize different kinds of microphones. There’s a huge world of mics out there, but knowing the major types will help you decide what to use. When you’re…
How Sam Cooke Reimagined the Protest Song and Created a Civil Rights Anthem: “A Change is Gonna Come”
Written by Caitlin Vaughn Carlos In the late fifties and early sixties, Sam Cooke had charted a new path in Black-pop music with Sweet Soul, a genre of crooner ballads and softer pop singles, infused with the influence of gospel,…
EP vs LP: What’s the Difference & When Would You Release One?
Many artists want to better understand the difference between an EP vs LP, especially in terms of what it means for releasing their own music. There’s the simple distinction that one is shorter than the other, namely due what was…
JamKazam Review: Collaborate Remotely
We’ve come to understand the importance of remote video conferencing more than ever before over the past year. For musicians, though, software like Zoom doesn’t quite cut it. In order to jam or rehearse remotely, you need low latency, high-quality…
Ableton 11: Updates, New Features, & More
Ableton is already one of the industry’s top DAWs for music production. It’s unique features and workflow set it apart as the top pick for EDM/pop/hip-hop production. 2021 marks the debut of Ableton 11, full of impressive updates, brand new…
Flux BitterSweet v3 | Free Transient Designer Plugin
The first transient designer came out in the late ’90s. It was a whole new concept that left lots of people wondering whether it was a compressor, or a noise gate, or something else entirely. The real answer is the…
Arturia KeyStep Review | MIDI Controller
The Arturia KeyStep is a riff on the portable MIDI controller, combining classic keyboard functionality with polyphonic step sequencing. It can control both digital and analogue gear thanks to a variety of I/O, and the 32-key layout offers a bit…
Vocal Compression for Beginners
Learning to mix an up-front, in-your-face vocal takes practice. Understandably the most important aspect of a song across numerous genres, a great sounding, competitive vocal has the power to stand out from the pack. But how do we even get…
Inspired Acoustics Inspirata Reverb Review
Inspired Acoustics isn’t necessarily one of the better known plugin developers out there. The reason being, they’re responsible for an impressive collection of virtual pipe organs which is a pretty niche offering. No matter, the level of detail the Inspired Acoustics…
A step-by-step guide to mixing Modern Metal
Finally... A Step-By-Step System To Achieving That Massive, Modern Metal Sound! If you are a modern Metal producer or mixer, your standards are VERY high. Not only do you want to create that brutal and RAW energy Metal is known for.…
Getting More Clients as a Producer with Willie Green (Wiz Khalifa, Schoolboy Q)
The music industry is always evolving, with new artists and new technologies appearing every day. In this landscape, it can be tough to know how to get work as a producer, engineer, or musician. In this interview, Paul Willie Green…
McDSP APB-8 vs. APB-16: Which One Is Better for Me?
McDSP’s APB-8 and APB-16 are truly unprecedented pieces of outboard equipment offering the sonic richness of analog with the unparalleled convenience of digital control. These one-of-a-kind processors may very well usher in a new era of hybrid analog-digital technology for…
SurferEQ by Sound Radix | Adaptive Pitch-Tracking EQ
SurferEQ 2 by Sound Radix is a genuinely innovative equalizer plugin. It’s been around for a while now, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less impressive today than it was at release. Sound Radix incorporated real-time pitch-tracking technology to completely…
Touring Emmy-award winning Blake Neely’s Cow on the Wall Studio
Today we are taking a tour of the Cow on the Wall studio in North Hollywood, California owned by American Composer Blake Neely. We visits the studio and meets the head engineer and studio manager, Thor Feinberg. The studio is…
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro Review
Beyerdynamic’s classic DT lineup, featuring the 770, 880, and 990s, is a trusted range of studio reference headphones. Each pair offers a unique monitoring experience for music production or hi-fi listening. The Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro headphones are an open-back…
Does Speaker Wire Gauge for Your Monitors Really Matter?
Audiophiles and hi-fi enthusiasts love a good debate over speaker wire gauge. We’ll break down the fundamentals of speaker wire gauge in a practical, non-technical way, so you can be more informed when picking what’s best for your set-up! Understanding…
Black Box HG-2 Review | High-End Tube Saturation
The Black Box HG-2 is a hardware unit designed to add saturation, harmonics, natural compression, and increased RMS for mixing and mastering. In one tool, it accomplishes what would normally require multiple stages of processing. HG-2 exists as a highly detailed plugin…
Summer Of ’69 by Bryan Adams – Songs That Changed Music
Teenage Nostalgia and the Power of Rock in the “Summer of ‘69” Written by Kieran Vaughn and Caitlin Vaughn Carlos Prior to the writing and recording process for “Summer of ‘69,” Bryan Adams found himself in the wake…
Audio Signal Flow: The Ins and Outs
Understanding signal flow is one of the most fundamental skills an engineer can have. Knowing your stuff can help you save a ton of headache troubleshooting when you could be recording and mixing! What is signal flow? Very simply, signal…
SE2200T Review: An Affordable & Capable Studio Condenser Mic
It isn’t often that we cover discontinued products, but occasionally exceptions should be made. The secondhand market for coveted music gear is alive and well, so with that in mind, let’s review the SE2200T by sE Electronics. Can a Cheap…
Rossum SP-1200 Drum Machine Reissue Review
The Rossum SP-1200 is a modern reissue of the game-changing E-mu drum machine from the ’80s that revolutionized hip hop and electronic production. The Rossum SP-1200 Drum Machine Reissue Is an Updated Take on a Legendary Machine E-mu Systems released…
8 Best Orchestral VST For Any Budget (2023)
You might be surprised how often software instruments make it into final productions. Plenty of TV shows and small-budget films infrequently use live orchestras for their scores anymore, simply because the cost and time demand is too great. The same…
KEF LS50 Review: 60 Years of Legendary Sound
KEF has been an innovative force in speaker development for six decades. The company’s renowned hi-fi creations continually ‘wow’ audiophiles with their meticulous design and superb sound quality. In this KEF LS50 review, we’ll be looking at the 2012 50th…
Audio-Technica AT2020 Review: Big Sound, Small Price Tag
Audio-Technica is very popular in the project studio. Its superb line of affordable 20 series microphones includes large and small diaphragm condensers, handheld dynamics, and even an X/Y stereo microphone. Amongst them, the priciest offering weighs in at just $250.…