Before people started working in-the-box, VU meters measured the average level of a signal. You’d see them on consoles and outboard gear for measuring input or output level as well as gain reduction on compressors. The default digital meter is…
Neumann TLM 102 vs Neumann TLM 103: Comparison
Neumann is synonymous with exceptional recording quality. Founded by Georg Neumann in Berlin, Germany in 1928, the company has been making the world’s preeminent microphones for decades. It all started with the CMV 3, or the ‘Neumann Bottle,’ which was…
The 13 Best DAWs for Windows [2023 Complete Guide]
Most of today’s DAWs are cross-platform, making it easy to choose if you’re running PC. Some titles are Mac-only, like Apple’s own Logic Pro, but for the most part options won’t be limited if you’ve chosen Windows as your primary…
Best Vocoder Plugins 2023: Fun Vocal Effects
A vocoder is an effect we’ve heard in music from the ’70s to the present day. It’s frequently described as the ‘robot voice’ heard in songs like “Intergalactic” by Beastie Boys. Like everything else, vocoders have gone software in the…
Oeksound Soothe 2 Plugin Review
Oeksound Soothe is touted by the Finnish plugin developer as a ‘dynamic resonance suppressor.’ It’s designed to tame the harshness we sometimes associate with digital recordings, or even just poorly recorded material. Though it wasn’t the first plugin to try…
![The 10 Best Travel Guitar Options in 2022 [Acoustic & Electric]](https://producelikeapro.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/The-10-Best-Travel-Guitar-Options-in-2022-Acoustic-Electric-758x606.jpg)
The 10 Best Travel Guitar Options in 2023 [Acoustic & Electric]
The best travel guitar makes a perfect companion for busy, on-the-go guitarists searching for playability that’s built to move. There are electric options, acoustic options, and even hybrid electro-acoustic travel guitars. Whether it’s for practice and warming up, or full-blown…
The 5 Best Oscilloscope Plugins in 2023
Do you need an oscilloscope in your collection of plugins? It can be a majorly helpful tool for viewing waveforms in great detail. First, we’ll talk about what an oscilloscope is, and then we’ll list our top five favorite plugins.…
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…
![The Best Pitch Shifter VSTs in 2021 [Free & Paid]](https://producelikeapro.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/The-Best-Pitch-Shifter-VSTs-in-2021-Free-Paid-909x606.jpg)
The Best Pitch Shifter VSTs in 2023 [Free & Paid]
A pitch shifter is a versatile tool for both fine pitch correction as well as heavy-handed effects. Auto-Tune is one of the most well known pitch shifters in history; it’s also a perfect example of how correction can be subtle…
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…
What Is the Best 1176 Plugin? (Our Top 6 Favorite Compressors)
The best 1176 plugin will become a go-to on just about every mix. There’s good reason why it’s one of the most famous compressors of all time, and in plugin format, you can use it everywhere. What Is an 1176…
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…
![The Best Reverb Pedal Options for Your Rig [2022 Guide]](https://producelikeapro.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/The-Best-Reverb-Pedal-Options-for-Your-Rig-2022-Guide-909x606.jpg)
The Best Reverb Pedal Options for Your Rig [2023 Guide]
Building a killer guitar rig is one of the funnest aspects of playing the instrument. And little is more satisfying than adding space, dimension, and even deep ambience to your tone with an awesome reverb pedal. Stompboxes aren’t just for…
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…
The 8 Best Multi-Effects Pedals for Live & Studio Guitar Sounds
Multi-effects pedals are one of the best ways to gain access to dozens of common guitar processors in a single unit. They certainly take convenience to the next level, and today’s digital processors have never sounded better. It’s common for…
The 16 Best Piano VST Plugins in 2023 [Free & Paid]
Looking to add some indelible magic to your productions that nothing but a piano can provide? Well, we compiled a “best piano VST” shortlist that’s still ten entries strong. Take your pick of the best free and paid piano VST…
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…
Is Waves Vocal Rider the Solution to Levels?
Vocal levels are one of the most important things to get right. Even with all the compressors in the world, nothing compares to putting in the work and riding the fader — automating the levels in each part of the…
How to Add Drum Kits to FL Studio: Tutorial
Image-Line started off as a video game company in 1992. Eventually, one of the lead developers was drawn into music production applications. In 1998, FruityLoops debuted as a MIDI-only step sequencer inspired by early Propellerhead software. Four years later, FruityLoops became…
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…
6 Best Practice Amps in 2023
Every guitarist could use a great practice amp, whether they’re a beginner or have been playing for years. The ideal choice should first and foremost provide great tone and flexibility, perhaps come with some onboard effects, and be small and…
How to Use Youlean Loudness Meter (Tutorial)
One of the ways mixers and mastering engineers optimize their levels is by referencing detailed loudness meters. Whether you’re mixing for film, TV, or digital streaming services, there are different standards you can aim for to make sure your mix…
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…
The 8 Best Headphone Amplifiers for Any Budget [2023 Guide]
If you want to get the best sound quality out of a pair of high-end headphones, you may need an external amplifier to drive them. Headphone amplifiers deliver power to the drivers, just as an amplifier does with a pair…
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.…
FabFilter vs. iZotope Plugins for Music Production
When it comes to mixing and mastering, we have access to hundreds of amazing plugins from many companies. We collect our favorites from a variety of developers since there’s no be-all-end-all plugin maker. However, an interesting debate we’ve occasionally seen…
Flanger vs. Phaser: What’s the Difference?
Two of the most common modulation effects are flanger vs. phaser. We’ve heard both all over various recordings, and they do have a similar sound. This lends itself to some confusion, but if you know the subtle differences between each,…