Quantizing Basics - Fix the Timing in your MIDI Tracks for a Natural Sound
LearningThe quantize function in your DAW lets you to clean up sloppy timing in MIDI recordings, and in many DAW’s, in audio tracks, too. It’s very powerful, but also very easy to overuse. Here, we’ll look a…
Solutions to Keep Your Guitar Safe - How to Choose the Right Guitar Stand
LearningThe guitar hasn't quite followed the evolution of its creator ─ the homo sapien ─ and still cannot stand up straight on its own. So, after having to break that news to you, let's look at the differen…
Review of Mojave Audio MA-300 - It Takes Tubes to Tango
Written testMojave Audio, the company started by renowned microphone designer David Royer (also of Royer Labs), has built a reputation for making high-quality, reasonably priced mics. Here, we review the MA-300,…
Review of Alesis iO Dock II - What's Up, Dock?
Written testThe iO Dock II is the latest version of the Alesis all-in-one audio and MIDI interface for iPad, and includes mic preamps, monitoring facilities and more, making music production super easy. Let’s s…
Mastering at Home - Part 12 - EQ Automation When Mastering Music
LearningBefore moving on to the next processor in the mastering chain — the limiter/maximizer — it's appropriate to talk about a topic often overlooked by many people learning to master: Automation.
Choose the Right Pots for Your Electric Guitar - Help Picking the Right Pots for Your Electric Guitar
LearningMost guitarists don't think too much about the pots (potentiometers) inside their guitars, unless they start going bad and making noise. But did you know there are different types of pots with differ…
Understanding the Specifics of a Guitar Neck - What Type of Guitar Neck to Choose
LearningGuitar necks come in different shapes, sizes and finishes. So, how can you pick the right one for you? In this article we'll explore the different neck options available, in order to understand their…
Studio in a Backpack - Part 2 - Advice on Interfaces, Microphones and Monitors for a Portable Studio
LearningIn part 1, we looked at choosing a bus-powered audio interface to use for connecting microphones, instruments and MIDI controllers to your iPad. In this second installment, we'll look at an alternati…
Mastering at Home — Part 11 - Guide to Mid-Side Processing When Mastering
LearningIn this new installment of our article series dedicated to mastering at home, we will delve into the world of mid-side processing.
Studio in a Backpack — Part 1 - Interfaces to Help Build an Ultra-Portable, Battery-Powered iPad-based Music Studio
LearningDid you ever dream of a totally mobile studio, a compact setup that can fit in a backpack? A rig that you can carry with you virtually anywhere, and record and produce music, even where there's no AC…
Electro-Harmonix EHX Tortion Review - Tubey or not Tubey, that is the question.
Written testSince the days of the original Big Muff Pi, Electro-Harmonix has been building distortion pedals, and one of its latest entries is the EHX Tortion ($179). Way more than just a distortion effect, it a…
Key Concepts for Instrument Miking - How to Get the Best Results When Recording Acoustic Instruments
LearningIf you’ve ever recorded an acoustic instrument, you already know that there’s more involved than just sticking a mic in front of it. Factors that influence how the recording will come out — besides t…
Mastering at Home - Part 10 - How to Use Reverb When Mastering
LearningIn this tenth episode, we will tackle an effect that is seldom used by people starting out in mastering, namely, reverb.
Noises Off - How to Use Broadband Noise Reduction Software to Clean Up Music Recordings
LearningMuch as we try to avoid it, there are occasions when noise gets onto our recordings. It could be a live recording where the source was too quiet and background hiss was picked up, or a passage on ele…
Tech 21 Hot-Rod Plexi Review - Stack Attack
Written testAlthough most amp modeling is digital, Tech 21 has always created its amp emulations using analog circuitry. The Hot-Rod Plexi pedal ($179) is the latest example. It’s an effects processor that’s des…
Mastering at Home — Part 9 - The Use of Stereo Enhancers While Mastering Music
LearningToday, our journey across the mastering world takes us into the slippery terrain of stereo enhancers.
Producing a Vocal Session - Part 1 - How to Get the Best Results When Recording a Singer in Your Studio
LearningProducing a singer for a vocal overdub session sounds like a pretty straightforward task, but to get good results, you not only need good engineering chops, but the ability to coax the best performan…
The Top Digital Reverb Pedals - A Look at the Best Digital Reverb Guitar Pedals
LearningIndispensable on the pedalboard of any guitarist — right next to the overdrive/distortion — the reverb pedal allows you to add some ambient or to modify the position of a sound in a mix. Naturally, i…
The Top Guitar Pickup Brands - A Look at the Best Electric Guitar Pickup Makers
LearningElectromagnetic transducers play a crucial role in the sound of a guitar player and many of us like to change the original pickups on our guitars. Here are the results of a survey we ran some time ag…
Mastering at Home — Part 8 - A Guide to Using Harmonic Exciters and Enhancers in Mastering
LearningThis eighth episode of our home mastering series will deal with harmonic exciters, harmonic enhancers and company.
How to Get Ready for Your First Gig - Part 1 - Getting ready for your first gig as a guitar player
LearningThe time has come, your band is ready for the big jump: Your first live gig as a guitar player is imminent. However, your stress is rising at a rate that would shock any cardiologist. Stay cool — her…
Capo 3 for Mac Review - Shorten the Learning Curve
Written testCapo 3 software for Mac ($29.99 via the App Store), from the awesomely named software developer, SuperMegaUltraGroovy, is marketed with the slogan “Reverse Engineering Rock and Roll,” and, indeed, it…
How much power does your amp need for rehearsals and gi… - Choosing the Right Wattage for Your Guitar Amp
LearningThanks to "Doc" Emmett Brown, everybody knows that you need 1.21 gigawatts for a DeLorean to go back to the future when its flux capacitor runs out of plutonium.
Mastering at Home - Part 7 - A Guide to Multi-Band Compression in Mastering
LearningIn the previous article, we addressed compression within the context of home mastering with a classic compressor. It's time now to tackle multi-band compression.
Which Type of Tuning Machines Are Best for You? - How to Choose Tuners for Electric Guitar
LearningBroken, worn-out or simply ugly-looking tuners are often the cause of complaints by guitarists. If changing them is unavoidable, here is some info that will help you understand the subject better.
