LR Baggs Anthem Pickup Review (Why We Love These Pickups)

This review covers the LR Baggs Anthem pickup and microphone system for acoustic guitar — a natural sounding alternative to many of the other options out there. What Makes for Good Sound in an Acoustic Guitar Mic? Being an acoustic…

Behringer X32 Rack Review: Is This Digital Mixer Worth the Price?

The Behringer X32 is a well known digital mixer available in different formats. Today’s review looks at the Behringer X32 rack: a fader-less version of the popular board designed for convenient storage and portability, whether it’s a permanent installation or…

Unboxing the Holy Grail Of SPACE with Marc Daniel Nelson
In this episode of MakeMineMusic, Marc Daniel Nelson unboxes a very special vintage piece of gear. The HOLYGRAIL of Space. Follow along as Marc tests this beauty out in the studio. The Lexicon 480L is a digital reverb processor that…
Ramones: Artists Who Changed Music
Written by Thomas Hanslowe The Ramones were one of the most influential bands to emerge from New York City in the 1970s. Hailing from the Forest Hills neighborhood of Queens, the Ramones helped to define the sound, style, and attitude…
Waves Announce Reinstatement Of Perpetual Licences And WUP
In a turbulent few days in the industry, as first reported by Production Expert, Waves have made an announcement concerning their move towards a subscription-only model and addressed concerns by the community and users. Letter from Meir Shashoua, Waves CTO…
Yamaha N12 Review: Powerful Digital Sound You Can Rely On

The Yamaha N12 isn’t new to review, but it’s a cool piece of kit that performed well in its prime and still holds up today. The digital mixer and audio interface provided seamless Cubase integration and hands-on control for an…

The 5 Best DJ Software Options in 2023 (Which One Is Right for Me?)

The modern DJ requires software to help them manage a vast digital music library as well as mimic the classic two-turntable setup for mixing songs. While many of the same elements of “analog” DJing are still present (i.e., controllers and…

Exploring Studio A at Sweetwater Studios: Epic Studio Tour
Sweetwater Studio A is a state-of-the-art recording studio located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. With a reputation as one of the best recording studios in the Midwest, Sweetwater Studio A has become a top choice for artists looking to create high-quality…
The 6 Best Shure Microphones for Your Home Studio

Shure microphones have a wonderful reputation in the recording industry as some of the best, most reliable, and most affordable mics around. Shure started as a one-man radio company back in 1925, and by the early 1930s were one of…

How the ‘Loudness Wars’ Made Music Sound Worse (And What We Should Learn from It)

Science tells us that people prefer their music loud. As sounds get louder and louder, their overall frequency curve begin to flatten out, so you can more easily hear the whole “picture.” The “louder is better” philosophy usually begins with artists…

The 6 Best Neumann Mics for Vocals in 2023 (Live & Studio Sound)

Neumann has been synonymous with exceptional sound quality throughout the history of recorded music. Many, if not all, of these microphones are likely familiar to some degree both in part to Neumann’s longstanding reputation and the universality of many of…

LUFS vs dB: What’s the Difference and Why Does It Matter?

With so many ways to measure loudness, you’re definitely not alone in wondering what the deal with LUFS vs dB is. What Are LUFS? LUFS stands for Loudness Units Full Scale. It provides a standardized means of measuring loudness. There…

Sweetwater’s GIANT Guitar Gallery: Behind The Scenes Tour
Following on from our first video in the series, Sweetwater's Guitar Gallery is a mecca for guitar lovers. Located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Guitar Gallery is a 44,000-square-foot facility that showcases the latest and greatest in guitars, amps, and…
Warren Huart to be featured keynote presenter at Capital University Creative Arts Workshop
Los Angeles, CA, March 23, 2023 — Following closely on the heels of the launch of his landmark comprehensive and reference text, Home Studio Recording, The Complete Guide, renowned producer, engineer and musician Warren Huart has been chosen as the…
The 8 Best 500 Series Racks for Your Home Studio in 2023

A 500 series rack is one of the best ways to add a bunch of outboard firepower to your studio in a compact form factor. It’s possible to keep a variety of processors like preamps, compressors, EQs, and more all…

Guitar & Innovation – The Markus Reuter Interview
Markus Reuter is a German musician who is recognized for his outstanding contribution to the field of progressive and experimental music. With his unique approach to playing the guitar, he has redefined the boundaries of the instrument and created a…
DISNEYLAND For Musicians – A Mind-blowing Tour of Sweetwater’s Headquarters
Sweetwater Headquarters is a hub for all things music, located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. As one of the largest retailers of music instruments and equipment in the United States, Sweetwater is a destination for musicians and music enthusiasts alike. The…
The Dirtiest Reverb Ever? – Reviewing Rotten Pool Reverb by AuroraDSP
The Rotten Pool Reverb by Aurora DSP is a new and unique reverb plugin that has taken the audio industry by storm. Co-created by Kristian Kohle of the Kohle Audio Kult and available FREE as part of the membership, it…
The 9 Best Drum Mics for Live Sound & Recording (2023 Guide)

We talk about the best microphones for vocals and various instruments all the time, but what about the best mics for drums? As with any quality microphone, there’s always some overlap. You probably already own at least one transducer that…

ASM Hydrasynth Review: Powerful Synth Sounds Catered to Your Needs

Ashun Sound Machines consists of a small and dedicated team of diverse talent and background. Their primary goal is to bring high-quality creative tools to musicians that seamlessly blend iconic sounds we’ve come to know and love with all of…

Lauten Audio LA-120 Review: The Ultimate Small-Diaphragm Condenser Mic Pair?

Lauten Audio is a family-owned and operated company introducing innovative designs into the world of traditional microphones. Their inspiring lineup of mics marries classic sonics with modern utility, resulting in versatile, multi-purpose tools for any project. Today, we’re breaking down…

Audio-Technica AT2020 vs AT2035: Which Mic Is Better?

Audio-Technica has a long standing history as one of the most trusted sources for consumer and professional audio equipment. From turntables and cartridges to headphones and microphones, A-T’s product range is as diverse as it is high-quality. For those looking…

Bill Medley of Righteous Brothers: The Life and Legacy of a Music Legend
Bill Medley is a legendary musician who has left an indelible mark on the world of music. Best known as one half of the duo The Righteous Brothers, Medley's distinctive baritone voice and songwriting talents have earned him a place…
How To Remix a Song (8 Essential Tips in 2023)

Remixing is hugely popular in the electronic music world. And yet, like most artistic aspects of making music, there isn’t a clear-cut path to pulling it off well. If you’re wondering how to remix a song, here are eight of…

On Tour With Alice Cooper – Manager Reveals Insider Stories
David Libert is a legendary tour manager in the music industry who has worked with some of the biggest names in rock and roll history. He is also the author of the book "Rock and Roll Warrior," which chronicles his…
Lynx Hilo Review: A World-Class Digital Converter & Monitor

Lynx has been known for industry-leading conversion since the company’s inception in 1998. For decades, Lynx has provided the link between professional audio equipment and computers for digital recording, mixing, and mastering. We’ll be looking at the Lynx Hilo in…

Recording & Mixing Metal Drums with David Gnozzi
Have you ever been torn between buying the latest and greatest plugins or investing in a course to take your recording and mixing skills to the next level? If so, I've got great news for you.Welcome to Audio Heaven: David Gnozzi…
ORTF Mic Technique | Stereo Recording

ORTF is a common stereo mic technique. Stereo recording uses two microphones to capture a single sound source; each mic then gets panned to either side of the stereo field. Over the years, engineers have developed tried and true methods…

Types of Audio Compressors and Their Uses

There are 5 primary types of audio compressors from the analogue world that software emulates. Different hardware makes use of certain internal components and designs for various styles of compression. If you’ve only ever used plugins, you’d be totally forgiven…

Sennheiser e965 Handheld Microphone Review

In today’s review, we’ll cover the Sennheiser e965 handheld microphone — a tough and dependable mic designed to bring the clarity of condensers to live performance. The Sennheiser Evolution 900 Series Was Built to Dominate Live Sound Sennheiser has consistently…

Polyphia: Making Metal ‘Hip-Hop’

Polyphia formed in 2010 as an instrumental progressive metal group. Over the years they’ve honed their sound into something truly unique, arriving at a point where they employ hooky lead guitar lines and modern electronic production. Polyphia: In a World…

Using the Camelot Wheel to Mix in Key (What Is It & Why Do I Need It?)

In addition to maintaining energy levels and tempo between songs, mixing in key as a DJ is one of the most critical skills to have. The Camelot Wheel by Mixed in Key makes it easier than ever to keep the…

Arturia MicroFreak Review | Hybrid Synthesizer

The Arturia MicroFreak Hybrid Synthesizer is an exceptional piece of gear, whether you’re looking for your first affordable hardware synth, or you just want to add some unique sounds to your collection. It blends wavetable and digital oscillators with analogue…

Sausage Fattener | All-In-One Saturation/Dynamics Plugin

Production duo Dada Life teamed up with Tailored Noise to release Sausage Fattener 10 years ago. Over time it’s become a cult classic in the plugin world, known both for its performance as well as its humorous name and interface. Don’t…

Cockos Reaper DAW Review – The Best Value DAW in 2023?

Reaper DAW, developed by a small company called Cockos, originally came out in 2006. The software immediately gained traction from its professional feature set and affordable price, and shows no signs of slowing down in 2022. Could Reaper be the…

The 7 Best Chorus Pedals for Your Pedalboard [2023 Guide]

Our top selections of the best chorus pedals will help you narrow down just the right effect for your pedalboard. What Is a Chorus Pedal & What Do They Sound Like? Chorus is a type of effect that falls into…

The Danny Saber Interview – From Rolling Stones to David Bowie
Danny Saber is a prolific musician, producer, and songwriter who has made a significant impact in the music industry. He has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry and has contributed to many iconic songs over the…
Soundtoys Decapitator | Grade-A Saturation

Soundtoys Decapitator is one of the most popular saturation plugins on the market. It gives mixers plenty of variety and control in an easy-to-use package. It can do everything from giving an instrument a bit of analogue character to ‘punishing’…

Dolby Atmos Beginners Masterclass – With Ali AMAC McGuire & Dylan Ely
Back in February 2023, we head out to Portia Street Studios where Ali AMAC McGuire and studio owner and producer, Dylan Ely gave a beginner's masterclass to young producers on Dolby Atmos and Immersive Audio Mixing What is Dolby Atmos?…
The 8 Best Electric Guitar Strings (For Any Skill Level)

Which electric guitar strings are best for you? Consider firstly the gauge, as well as the make, model, and occasionally a few other variables, to determine what sounds and feels right for your playing. Your Strings Help Shape Your Sound…

Softube Saturation Knob | Free Plugins

Softube Saturation Knob has been around for a long time, but that doesn’t make it any less great than it was when it first came out. This plugin from Softube is easy to use, sounds great, and best of all,…

The Chuck Ainlay Interview: Inside The Mind On Creating Exceptional Music
Chuck Ainlay is a renowned music producer, recording engineer, and mixer who has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry. He has won numerous awards for his work, including multiple Grammy Awards, and has been credited…
Akai Professional MPC One Review

Akai Professional’s long-running MPC series is one of the most recognized sampling workstations ever made. Originally named MIDI Production Center (now Music Production Center), Akai introduced the first model, the MPC60, in 1988. Roger Linn, who developed the popular LM-1…

Bass Trap Placement: Acoustic Treatment 101

Acoustic treatment is essential if you plan to make the most out of your home or project studio. The goal for treatment is to create a listening environment that you can trust; ideally, the room should have an even frequency…

Vital Synth Review: The Best Free Synth VST in 2022?

Freeware developer Matt Tytel, known for the lauded open-source synthesizer Helm, has a new project out. Vital Synth is a highly anticipated spectral warping wavetable synthesizer, and you can get it for free. Vital Synth Has a Free Edition New…

Talkbox vs. Vocoder: What’s the Difference?

Talking effects have had prominent places in music, especially throughout the ’70s and beyond. What is, then, the difference between a talkbox vs vocoder? Talkbox vs. Vocoder: Are They the Same Thing? If you’ve never used one before, you’re probably…

How to Use a Compressor (Easy Beginner’s Guide)

Learning how to use a compressor is one of the most important mixing skills you can acquire. Compression is quite literally all over mixes, even becoming the sound we associate with loud, modern pop mixing. If there’s anything you want to…

MXL 990 Review | Best Budget Condenser?

MXL produces a range of cost-effective microphones. The MXL 990 is one of their most innovative creations, pairing high-quality sound with an unbeatable price. About MXL MXL Microphones is the pro audio sector of Marshall Electronics (not to be confused…

Arturia MiniLab Mk2 Review

The Arturia MiniLab MK2 is a portable USB MIDI controller for end-to-end music creation. While its predecessor emphasized a huge bundle of included software, Mk2 pares that down and instead focuses on the quality of the hardware. Arturia MiniLab Mk2…

How Diminished Chords Work

Diminished chords are native to both major and minor keys. You’ll find them as the seventh chord of the major scale, and the second chord of the natural minor scale. They get a bad rap for being dissonant, but they…