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…
Gear Review
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The Best Microphone for Recording Drums? – Lauten Audio LS-208
Today, we are testing out the Lauten Audio LS-208 microphone! To test this mic out, we will be recording Get It On by T-Rex. On this track, I will be on guitar and bass, we have the amazing Blair Sinta…
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…
Synchro Arts VocAlign Ultra Review
Synchro Arts are the makers of the Emmy-winning VocAlign software for post-production and music. They’re proud to announce the newest addition to their audio alignment lineup: VocAlign Ultra. VocAlign Ultra: Industry Leading Audio Alignment VocAlign has been the go-to tool…
McDSP Royal Mu & Q Plugins Review
McDSP announces two brand new APB plugins today, designed for use with their Analog Processing Box hardware — the Royal Mu and the Royal Q! Many of us are already familiar with McDSP, as they’ve been an award-winning audio tech…
Neural DSP Archetype: Gojira Review
Over the past few years, Neural DSP have established themselves as a premiere amp sim developer. Their popular Archetype series features signature plugins by renowned modern guitarists, including Plini, Tosin Abasi, Adam ‘Nolly’ Getgood, and Cory Wong. Today, the series…
Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro: The Wireless Earbuds Used by Grammy-Winning Artists!
Today, we are trying out the Soundcore Liberty Air 2 Pro earbuds! These earbuds are wireless, noise-cancelling, and very affordable. They are also recommended by tons of people, including Grammy-winning artists like Ne-Yo, Colbie Caillat, Halestorm, Daya, and more! We…
IK Multimedia UNO Synth Review
UNO Synth Pro and UNO Synth Pro Desktop are two brand new offerings from IK Multimedia. Developed in conjunction with Italian boutique synth-maker Soundmachines, both of these new analog synthesizers take the UNO monophonic synth and expand it in practically…
Audio-Technica AT2035 Review
The Audio-Technica AT2035 is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone. This budget-friendly offering displays all of the hallmarks of a great multi-purpose condenser, including detailed frequency response and low self-noise. Its competitive pricing makes it one of the top choices for home…
The Ultimate Studio Starter Pack? – EVO Start Recording Bundle
Audient has released a brand new product today: the EVO Start Recording Bundle! This bundle includes the EVO 4 interface, SR2000 Headphones, and an SR1 Condenser Microphone with a shock mount. This bundle is designed for beginners, to help you…
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.…
A New Industry Standard Podcast Mic? – Earthworks Icon Pro
Today, we are going to do something we have never done before: review a podcast mic! We will be testing out the Earthworks Pro XLR Streaming Microphone in today's video, and comparing it to the Shure SM7, which we typically…
Studio Monitors Under $500: Fluid Audio FX80 Review
Today we’re going to be trying out the FX80 Monitors by Fluid Audio! I met the guys at Fluid Audio back in January at NAMM, and we’ve finally got a pair to try out! They have been kind enough to…
Recording Genesis with ONE MIC! – Austrian Audio OC18
This is another video in our "One Mic" Series, and today we will be using the Austrian Audio OC18 to record a cover of "Turn It On Again" by Genesis! As usual, this will be recorded through our Audient ID44,…
Blue Cat Audio Freeware Plugin Pack II Review
Blue Cat Audio is a privately held company based in Paris. It was founded by Guillaume Jeulin: musician, software engineer, and audio fanatic. Blue Cat focuses on providing flexible and powerful audio tools for musicians and audio professionals. They believe…
One-Stop Solution for Delay & Reverb? – BABY Audio Spaced Out
BABY Audio has put out a bunch of plugins, and we have reviewed every single one of them, so we are back to do the same with their latest release! The newest BABY Audio plugin is Spaced Out, and combines…
TAL J-8 Virtual Instrument Review
TAL Software GmbH is a small Swiss company founded in 2000. They create high-quality, affordable instruments and effects with a user friendly interface. TAL’s commercial vintage synth emulations are known to be incredibly accurate and authentic to the real thing. If you’re…
Arturia V Collection 8 Review
We go way back with Arturia – starting with Analog Factory, then upgrading to Analog Lab, and even venturing into the plugin world with the ‘3 Compressors You’ll Actually Use’ bundle. No doubt, the V Collection is the one-stop-shop for…
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5 Review
IK Multimedia’s leading amp and effects modeling software took a massive leap forward with the release of AmpliTube 5 today. Accurately capturing the sound, feel and vibe of the world’s most sought-after guitar and bass gear, the new AmpliTube 5 offers…
The Key to Modern Radio-Ready Vocals? Antares Auto-Tune Unlimited
There is nothing more of a dividing line than talking about one of two things: drum samples, and vocal tuning. Some people may be against vocal tuning, and feel like it is cheating, but if you look back, we really…
Small Speaker with Massive Low End? – EVE Audio SC3070
We have had tons of people asking us about EVE Audio's new speakers, and today we have the opportunity to try them out! The EVE SC3070's are ultra-compact 3-way monitors that are optimized for precise midrange and powerful bass response.…
Slate FG-2A: Recreating A Legendary Compressor
The FG-2A from Slate Digital is an emulation of the legendary LA-2A compressor! They spent over a year modelling every peak, curve, and sonic nuance in order to create the most accurate emulation. This compressor is very famous, and has…
Waves Abbey Road RS124 Compressor Review
I’m very excited today! We get to try out the BRAND NEW (we got an advance copy!) Waves Abbey Road RS124 Compressor! I’m sure many of you know what this is… it’s a very famous compressor! First designed in 1960…
Does Your Mix Sound Accurate?
Today, we will be using Sonarworks' incredible Reference 4 technology and talking about speaker and headphone correction. This software works to flatten out the speaker responses in your room, which allows you to hear as accurately as possible in your…
The Rupert Neve Designs MBC: A Deep Dive
Written by Chris Frasco In an audio landscape where things are continually moving further inside the box, many of us are craving some tactile interaction with our mixes – not to mention some analog flavor. To help us along, Rupert…
Best Desktop Interface? | Antelope Audio Zen Tour Synergy Core
Today we are reviewing the Zen Tour Synergy Core interface from Antelope Audio. This is the first time we have reviewed a product from Antelope Audio, and we are very excited! I have been hearing a lot about this from…
Find Your Signature Sound with the JZ Microphones BB29!
Today we will be reviewing the brand new BB29 Signature Series mic from JZ Microphones! This microphone is based on the classic Blueberry mic from Blue Microphones, and we are very excited to see how it sounds! We are also…
The Best Plate Reverb?
Today, we have the opportunity to try out the Perfect Plate from Denise Audio! The goal of the Perfect Plate reverb is to easily manipulate your tracks in supernatural ways with supernatural sound quality. We are very excited to try…
Rupert Neve Designs Master Bus Converter
We are very excited get an exclusive first look at a brand new product from Rupert Neve Designs today! The Rupert Neve Designs Master Bus Converter Dual-path A/D Converter & Limiter is a 2-bus converter with a fully functioning limiter…