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…
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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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Overdrive vs Distortion: What’s The Difference?
Two of the most common effects guitarists use are overdrive and distortion. No matter how long you’ve been playing, though, it can’t hurt to have a better understanding of overdrive vs distortion, how they’re similar, and how they’re different. And…
What Is RMS and How Does It Differ from True Peak?
What is RMS? What’s true peak? What the heck is LUFS? All of these are totally reasonable questions in the weird world of audio! There are lots of different ways we measure loudness, and it can be tough to pin…
Gifts for Music Producers | Practical Ideas
We’re out of the holiday season for now, but that doesn’t meant the next one isn’t right around the corner. These gifts for music producers are sure to satisfy the hard-to-buy-for creators in your life. Useful Gifts for Music Producers…
Fletcher-Munson Curve Explained: Using Equal-Loudness Contour to Mix
Human hearing is a weird and wonderful thing. The branch of psychophysics concerned with sound perception is psychoacoustics, and it explains a lot about why we hear the way we do. As mix engineers we need to become familiar with…
What Is a DSP and What Does It Do for Music?
DSP is a concept that gets thrown around a lot in audio, so it’s important to understand just how integral it is to the modern music production process. What Is a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) Firstly, DSP can stand for…
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…
Overloud Voice Review: The Ultimate One-Stop Vocal Production Plugin?
Ever wondered how the world’s top engineers craft award-winning vocals? Everyone has their own approach and techniques, but many of the same kinds of effects go into vocal chains on each and every mix, across genres and from mixer to…
ASCAP vs. BMI vs. SESAC: All About PROs
If you’re a performing artist you know the value of royalties. Regardless of the size of the check, they show up every quarter like clockwork. But they don’t just appear out of nowhere; those royalty payments are the work of…
Spotify Playlist Placement | Have Your Music Heard
Digital streaming is the #1 way people consume music. Streams equated to almost 85% of US album sales in 2019, which means pushing physical copies is a thing of the past for most artists. Beyond just uploading to the platform,…
Acoustic Loop1 Looper Pedal Review: Easy to Use and Made to Play
A good looper pedal serves a variety of purposes for guitar players. They can be excellent practice and writing tools, letting you improvise over chord progressions or explore song arrangements without having to set up to record. Some solo musicians…
Mix Heavy Rock Drums like a Pro: Techniques and Secrets from Marc Daniel Nelson
Are you a fan of heavy rock music and looking to improve your mixing skills? Look no further! Today, we're going to take a deep dive into mixing heavy rock drums with Marc Daniel Nelson, a professional mixer and producer.…
McDSP HD vs. Native Plugins: Everything You Need to Know
The McDSP plugin collection includes two versions of each effect. We’ll shed light on McDSP HD vs Native plugins so you know what’s right for your system. What Is a DSP Plugin? DSP stands for digital signal processing, or digital…
Recording and Mixing Hip Hop Vocals – Anthony Cruz (Meek Mill’s Audio Engineer)
We love giving you all content from multiple genres of music production and today we have a video on Recording and Mixing Hip Hop Vocals with Anthony Cruz, a renowned producer who has worked with Meek Mill, Ricky Martin, Ne-Yo,…
Understanding the Shepard Tone Effect and How It Creates Tension
Some of the effects we employ in sound design, mixing, and even songwriting take advantage of our perception of sound—a branch of science known as psychoacoustics. The Shepard tone is a prominent example of how our ears can trick us!…
Mixing Multiple Vocals to Sit Properly in the Mix – Joe Carrell
Are you tired of struggling to achieve the perfect balance and clarity in your multi-vocal recordings? Look no further, because Produce Like A Pro is excited to introduce our newest mentor, Joe Carrell. With over 20 years of experience in…
What Is Metadata and Why Does It Matter?
Metadata is an important element of music distribution. You’ve probably heard the term tossed about before, though the meaning of it isn’t always clear. What Is Metadata? At first glance, metadata seems like an overly technical term. It’s basically data…
Soundtoys Little AlterBoy Review: The Best Pitch Shifter VST?
Little AlterBoy by Soundtoys is a “monophonic voice manipulator” for vocal pitch/formant shifting, hard-tune effects, and more. Like the rest of the Soundtoys plugin library, it offers a distinct and intuitive layout that’s as powerful as it is easy to…
EVE Audio SC305 vs SC307: Three-Way Active Monitor Showdown
Unsure which EVE midfield monitor is right for you? We’re looking at the EVE Audio SC305 vs SC307 and comparing their similarities and differences. EVE Audio Is a Relative Newcomer Making a Big Name for Themselves Berlin-based EVE Audio was…
Here Are the Best Ways to Make Money in Music in 2023
The music industry’s landscape has changed pretty dramatically over the last 15 years. Whether you’re in a band or a solo artist, or working behind the scenes in music production or the music business, the industry has evolved and continues…
Recording & Mixing Jazz Fusion From Start To Finish – Hybrid Setup
Today I am so excited to be sharing this beautiful Jazz Fusion recording! With Michael Humphries on Guitar, Jesus Molina on the Keys, Joe Cleveland playing Bass, and Payge Cooper on Drums, they created a Jazz masterpiece! What is Jazz Fusion? A…
Happy New Year! – Download Over 50 Sets Of Multitracks For FREE
Happy New Year everyone! We want to thank you all so much for being such an incredible community! Thank you for all the support you've shown each other and for making this community such a wonderful thing to be a…
Akai Professional MPK249 Review: The Best Mid-Range MIDI Keyboard?
The Akai MPK series is hands-down the number one choice for countless musicians and producers. Akai is a name that ensures a combination of useable features, balanced pricing, and rugged reliability. If you’ve graduated from the ever-popular MPK Mini, then…
Open Back Headphones: What You Need to Know
Studio headphones come in different styles, with the two most common designs being closed back and open back. Many engineers prefer open back headphones for critical listening applications like mixing and mastering. Let’s find out why! What are open back…
Marshall Code 50 Review: How Does It Stack Up?
Marshall is among the most recognized names in amplification. While best known and most favored for their iconic tube amplifiers, the company has never shied away from keeping current. Enter the Code series of digital modeling amps offering a variety…
Tips for Mixing Top 40 Hits with Grammy-Winner Bob Horn
Bob Horn is a multi-platinum, Grammy-winning mix engineer who has worked with artists in a variety of genres, including R&B, Pop, Hip Hop, Rock, Adult Contemporary, and Jazz. He has also collaborated with musicians from all over the world, including…
Analog Hardware Gear For Any Budget – Building A Home Studio
Today we got the chance to chat with Mike Arango from Sweetwater! Mike has been a Sweetwater Sales Engineer since 2006. He has worked as an engineer at various studios in Los Angeles and draws from this experience to recommend…
Win Studio Gear In Our $70,000 DEATH METAL Remix Contest – Malamor – Dead To The World
We are back with another Mix/Remix Competition! This is a REMIX competition so you are free to take the multitracks and do whatever you like – it is about coming up with something completely unique. The song you will be…
How To Record and Mix Modern Heavy Vocals | Ultimate Vocal Tone with Adam Steel
Today, we have the wonderful Adam Steel on the Channel. We've had Adam on the channel before sharing with us his ultimate bass tone, and guitar tone, and in today's video, he shares his ultimate vocal tone! He goes through…
Lil Tube – Make Every Track Sound Big!
Lil Tube is a tube saturation unit with a custom-modeled analog sound in the company of fabled tube preamps. It adds rich tube fatness to any track you throw it on and creates buttery sonic textures that you’ll be able…
Feedback Black Friday: Reviewing YOUR Mixes LIVE!
Today, I'll be reviewing YOUR mixes on our Youtube livestream at 12:00 PT!We'll pick 10 mixes from the community, have a listen together, and I'll share actionable advice on what sounds amazing and what can be improved. It's gonna be…
Covering “It’s Too Late” by Carole King with The JZ Amethyst Mic!
What better way to test out The Amethyst Mic from JZ Microphones than by recording an amazing cover of Carole King's "It's Too Late." To create this fantastic cover, we had Steve Maggiora on vocals, Blair Sinta on drums, Michael…
Mix Contest Announcement of Winners
In September, we announced an exciting new Mix and Remix Competition with amazing guitarist Gilad Hekselman. Thank you to everyone who participated and took the time to submit a mix or remix; it was such a tough decision choosing the…
The Best DAW Software For A Home Studio?
It seems that the last time we reviewed a couple of awesome DAW's, there were a lot of requests to include tons more that PLAPers from around the wrold love and use.So we decided to make a PART TWO with…
Blending Jazz, Fusion & Hip Hop – The Swindle Interview
About Swindle For the South-London raised composer Swindle, 2020’s global COVID-19 response managed to drive the impetus for his latest LP THE NEW WORLD, which unapologetically ushers introspection, community and liberation into the ether. Initially numbed by the early pandemic…
How To Record and Mix Modern Heavy Guitar | Ultimate Guitar Tone with Adam Steel
Today, we have the wonderful Adam Steel on the Channel. We've had Adam on the channel before sharing with us his ultimate bass tone, and in today's video, he shares his ultimate guitar tone! He shares how important it is…
5 VST Plugins You Need For Mixing Drums By Mike Pepe
When mixing drums, there are so many different plugin options that take your beats to the next level. It can be overwhelming to figure out what the best ones are for your mixes, so we’ve got you covered with drum…
The Most Flexible Interface? – LEWITT’s Connect 6 Audio Interface
Last week, LEWITT made a huge announcement that they're releasing their first Audio Interface - The Connect 6. Academy mentor, Steve Maggiora recently returned from his huge tour with TOTO so we tracked the piano to Carole King's timeless classic,…
FINALLY reviewing The God Particle By Cradle. Is It Worth It? + Giveaway!
If you haven’t already heard of the God Particle plugin created by 15X Grammy Award Winner Jaycen Joshua, we’ve got just the review for you! We’re also giving away 1 of 3 God Particle plugins so make sure to enter…
Working Audio Tools Podcast – The Mix Review
Working Audio Tools podcast returns! For this week's episode, Ed Thorne and Paul Third review each other's mixes with the multitracks from exclusive to the Produce Like A Pro Academy. GET 30% OF DISTROKID: http://distrokid.com/vip/plap Check out Ed: https://linktr.ee/EdThorne Check…