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…
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…
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…
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…
Sonnox Oxford Limiter Review
The Oxford Limiter often pops up in conversations regarding the best limiting plugins. It has a few unique features that set it apart from others, but it’s the promised “night and day” difference that intrigues most users. With seemingly endless…
Squarp Pyramid Review: 64-Track Sequencer
The Squarp Pyramid Mk3 sequencer is considered ‘the perfect brain for your musical setup, from studio to stage.’ It combines a powerful 64-track sequencer, a looper, a rhythm generator, a real-time effects processor, a MIDI controller, and an I/O interface.…
5 Quick Automation Mixing Tricks
Automation is the secret to a truly great mix! Simple volume automation of instruments can save the heartache of trying to replicate dynamics with complex compression techniques. Automating plug ins can give them multiple purposes adding both subtle ear candy…
Mixing Hip Hop/R&B From Start To Finish with Marc Daniel Nelson
Marc Daniel Nelson mixes the track “Ryder” by the artist Carter Thomas, describing it as a stripped-down hip-hop/pop track with various instruments such as vocals, drums, bass, guitars, synths, and background vocals. He shows his session layout with drums in…
Warren Huart’s book TELLS ALL | BMT Podcast Ep. 09
If you're a music producer or enthusiast, you've likely heard of Warren Huart. He's a long-time mix engineer and producer who has worked with top artists like Aerosmith, The Fray, and Ace Frehley. But, Warren is also known for his…
Types of Music Royalties: How to Make Money as an Artist
Music royalties are a complicated legal game. What happens behind the scenes for artists, songwriters, publishers, or other copyright holders to get paid is best left to lawyers who know what they’re doing. But’s important for artists to at least…
Bias FX 2 Review by Positive Grid: The Best Virtual Guitar Rig?
Bias FX 2 by Positive Grid transforms your computer into a virtual rig. Premium amp models, effects, and even guitar emulations make it one of the most comprehensive amp sims out there. We’ll have a closer look at all Positive…
Cthulhu VST Review
Cthulhu by Xfer Records is a chord memorizer and generator. Poised to be the perfect companion for songwriting and production, is Cthulhu VST the beast it appears to be? What is Cthulhu VST? Cthulhu is firstly a chord generator. What…
Neural DSP Archetype Plini Review
The Neural DSP Archetype Plini is a state-of-the-art amp sim and effects plugin. Built to Plini‘s exacting specs, the plugin covers the wide range of tones the modern prog guitarist is known for. Following the breakthrough of Neural’s Fortin Nameless…
Producing & Mixing Pop Ballads with Steve Maggiora Mars Cover + FREE Multitracks
If you're a fan of pop ballads, you'll love this behind-the-scenes look at how musician Steve Maggiora produced and mixed his cover of "Mars" by YUNGBLUD. Not only will you get to hear the final product, but you'll also learn…
Zoom H6 Review: 6-Channel Handy Recorder
When the Zoom H6 handy recorder debuted in 2013, it immediately became one of the most versatile portable recorders available. Everyone from location recorders to podcasters found the H6 to be a highly capable unit with features beyond its price…
Slate Trigger: Industry Standard Drum Replacement
Drums are difficult to mix. Just the sheer number of mics creates unique challenges we don’t encounter with other instruments. This is probably why there are so many plugins dedicated to drum mixing; and Slate Trigger tops the list as…
SSL Fusion: The Vintage Drive You Need?
Founded in 1969, Solid State Logic is renowned as one of the finest manufacturers of high-end consoles and recording equipment in the world. In the ’80s, their famed 4000 E series console set the benchmark for recorded music, becoming a…
Mixing Independent Artists with 10X Grammy Winner Darrell Thorp
Darrell Thorp is a name that every music enthusiast should know. With 10 Grammy Awards and 3 TEC Awards under his belt, he has established himself as one of the most talented and sought-after producers, mixers, and engineers in the…
Gullfoss EQ Plugin Review | Smart Software at Its Best
The Gullfoss EQ plugin by Soundtheory promises to be a better-maker. The adaptive EQ, which does not rely on AI but rather a new form of technology altogether, serves to balance your mixes in the most pleasing way possible. If…
My Life’s Work: Interviewed by Marc Daniel Nelson
If you're interested in recording music, whether as a hobby or professionally, you might want to check out Warren Huart and Jerry Hammack's new book, "Home Studio Recordings: The Complete Guide." In this interview with Marc Daniel Nelson, Warren Huart…
Mono vs Stereo: Which Is Best for Mixing?
The difference between mono vs stereo sound is simply the number of channels used for recording and playback. If you’re new to mixing, you may or may not be familiar with the concept of checking your mix in mono. It…
Aphex Aural Exciter | Breathing Life into Recordings
The Aphex Aural Exciter is one of the most recognized exciter effects. Its main job is to add a bit of top-end sheen to a signal while imparting some subtle harmonic distortion as well. Lots of engineers like it on…
Testing the Audient iD24 With a Cover of Kill Bill by SZA
The song "Kill Bill" by SZA has captivated audiences with its catchy sound and shocking lyrics. So we decided to do a cover of this song! The cover features a talented group of musicians including Clark Sims on bass, Bianca…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
Positive Grid Spark Amp Review | Is It Worth It?
Feature-packed practice amps are all the rage. Though not a new concept, these portable desktop devices—or, ‘coffee table-top,’ ‘sofa-top,’ you name it—started to incorporate tech beyond what we’ve seen in standard practice amps of yesteryear (like in the long-running Line…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Lancaster Audio Impulse Responses Review
In recent years, software giant Waves called Lancaster Audio impulse responses the “world’s best.” Today, we’re taking a closer look at these critically acclaimed IRs. What is an impulse response (IR)? Speaker emulation is one of the most crucial, and…
JBL 305P MkII Review | Entry-Level Monitors
Entry-level monitors like the JBL 305P MkII combine affordability and sound quality. 5″ speakers like these are the most popular size for home studios—they have more than enough volume and plenty of low-end extension. We’ll run down the specs in…
5 Quick Saturation Mixing Tricks
https://youtu.be/97e-0TxuOKIVideo can't be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: 5 Quick Saturation Mixing Tricks - Warren Huart: Produce Like A Pro (https://youtu.be/97e-0TxuOKI) Hello Lovely people! We have had such a wonderful response to the 5 Quick mixing tips series! Thank you…
Arturia Pigments 3 Review: Is It Worth It?
For over two decades, Arturia has been at the forefront of virtual instruments. Best known for their software recreations of classic hardware synthesizers, Pigments is Arturia’s first original soft synth. It debuted as recently as 2018, and has seen two…
Top 10 Recording Tips
You will find many articles on the internet with tips and tricks for mixing and making a song sound it's best. The best way to make sure the mix, and ultimately the final product sounds the best it can is…
How to Write a Catchy Chorus | Essential Ingredients
There’s a lot of pressure on songwriters when it comes to creating the grand hook. Understanding how to write a chorus that listeners can sing along and identify with is a huge undertaking. The chorus is the most important part…
Recording to Mixing – ‘Come Together’ by The Beatles
We recently saw the Tascam Model 24 in action with a recording performed by Unsung, a talented group of musicians with fantastic energy! In this recording session, the band decided to take on the classic Beatles tune “Come Together,” and…
Satire or Reality?: The Beastie Boy’s “Fight For Your Right”
Written by Kieran Vaughn Satirical, Controversial and a live show favorite, the Beastie Boys “You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Party” took 1986 by storm, bridging the color line of the hip-hop and rock communities and confusing fans and…
Alesis 3630 Review
The Alesis 3630 compressor is a polarizing piece of equipment. On one hand, it has achieved almost mythic status for its use in the house scene, popularized by groups like Daft Punk. And on the other, it’s just a beginner’s…