Gear Review
Testing The Slate Digital VMS ML-1
SSL Native X-EQ 2 Review (Still the Best?)
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…
Kali Audio Announces “Atmos Brunch” Event in Los Angeles, June 5
Boss Katana Air Wireless Guitar Amplifier Review
The Katana amp series by Boss has a fantastic price-to-features ratio, making it one of the go-to choices for beginners as well as experienced players in need of a solid practice amp. The lineup is extensive, and today we’ll be…
The Complete Plugin Pack – Eventide’s Anthology XII Bundle Review
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Review: The Headphones Studio Professionals Swear By
In this Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro review, we’ll take a look at one the industry’s enduring pairs of iconic headphones. The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Headphones Are a Studio Workhorse Beyerdysweenamic has a been a manufacturer of professional audio equipment…
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…
The Perfect Reverb? – BABY Audio Crystalline
Celemony Melodyne 5 Review
For over 20 years, Melodyne has been the not-so-secret weapon behind pristine vocal and instrumental performances. Celemony’s founder, Peter Neubäcker, started developing the Melodyne concept in 1997. Three years later he began the company, and in 2001, industry-changing software was…
How to Be in Phase Every Time
From FAME Studio to FAME Studio Reverb – IK Multimedia
Cockos Reaper DAW Review – The Best Value DAW in 2022?
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…
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…
Akai MPK Mini Mk3 MIDI Controller Review
The Akai MPK Mini Mk3 is one of the most popular choices for a quality, travel-size MIDI controller. There’s an abundance of options available in the 25-key category, but Akai remains a standout. Akai Continues to Build on Its Legacy…
Ableton Push 2 Review: An All-in-One MIDI Controller
Ableton launched the Push controller in collaboration with AKAI back in 2013. Designed to function inside Ableton Live software, it was an innovative device meant to be treated like an instrument rather than an average MIDI controller. The company soon…
Plugin Boutique Scaler 2 Review
Scaler 2 is one of many compositional aids and chord generating plugins currently available. It makes sense; software helps with everything else related to recording music—why not give us a push at the actual songwriting stage? We’ll see how Plugin…
Moog Mother 32 Review: The Last Modular Synth You’ll Ever Need
The Moog Mother 32 is a semi-modular desktop synthesizer. It’s a great introductory synth for anyone looking to get into modular territory, though it performs just as well as a unique standalone instrument for beginners or veterans alike. The Moog…
Bluebird SL Condenser Mic Review
The Bluebird SL by BLUE Microphones is a low-cost, all-around condenser that’s suitable for a range of applications. We’ll take a look at whether you should add one to your mic locker! The Bluebird SL cardioid condenser microphone is a…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Apogee Duet 3 Review: Ultimate Portable Interface?
Fourteen years ago, Apogee revolutionized audio interfaces. The original Duet combined professional quality with portability in a never-before-seen way which changed the digital recording landscape. Over the years, they’ve consistently improved the original design, and in 2021, the Apogee Duet…
Neve Summing Review | Inside UA’s LUNA
Neve summing is an optional extension that integrates seamlessly into Universal Audio’s proprietary recording system/DAW, LUNA. The emulation intends to provide the width and dimension of analog summing for individual channels or whole mixes; currently, it’s the only authentic emulation…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Output Exhale Review | Vocal VST
Output Exhale has been out for some time now, but it’s no less relevant than it was at release. Catering to today’s modern producers who want heavily stylized vocals in their productions, Exhale is a virtual instrument full of rich…
Motu M4 Review | ‘Premium’ Entry-Level Interface?
The M4 by Motu is an impressive interface at a super affordable price. In this Motu M4 review and spec breakdown, we’ll take a look at what sets this audio interface apart! Motu M4 Audio Interface The affordable desktop interface…
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…
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…
AKG C214 Review | Condensers Under $500
The C214 is a fixed-cardioid large-diaphragm condenser microphone. It shares many of the same qualities that have made the C414 a studio staple for decades. In this AKG C214 review, we’ll highlight its specs, compare it to popular competition, and…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Strymon Iridium Review | Portable Tone On the Go
Strymon has been making top-quality pedals in California since 2009. Many guitarists know them by their acclaimed reverb and delay units—the Big Sky and Time Line, respectively—which effectively raised the bar for time-based effect pedals. Last year, Strymon entered the…
Spectrasonics Keyscape Review
Spectrasonics Keyscape is a virtual instrument featuring an extensive set of ‘collector keyboards.’ Everything from iconic pianos to more obscure instruments were sampled to create this expansive collection. Spectrasonics Keyscape: A Studio Must-Have? Keyscape was ten years in the making.…
Audient Nero Desktop Monitor Controller Demo & Giveaway
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…
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…
Jamulus Review: The ‘Zoom’ for Musicians
Jamulus isn’t the first of its kind, but it’s definitely gotten more traction the past several months. As the need for remote collaboration skyrocketed this last year, we’ve seen dormant technology like Jamulus emerge stronger than ever. We’ll strive to…
Are these the Best Value Small Diaphragm Mics? (Only $149!)
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…
Shure SM7B Review | Makers of Legendary Mics
Shure microphones are ubiquitous. Think of any of the most dependable, affordable, and awesome sounding mics, and Shure is definitely on that list. Consider the SM57, for example, which continues to be one of the most widely used microphones of…