Automation Basics - What is Automation?
LearningMany of the features in our DAWs come from the analog world, and automation is no exception. In order to understand what it is all about, let's go back to the time when the only digital gear in a rec…
Reverb Parameters - How to Set a Reverb Processor
LearningUnless you're living in a tent in the middle of the desert, you are exposed to numerous natural reverberations every day. Our ears perceive reverberations that our brain interprets automatically to i…
Sidechain - How Does a Sidechain Work?
LearningBack in the analog area, audio effects with a sidechain circuit were rare and usually among the most expensive. So sidechain was used only in big productions to fine tune the processing of certain re…
MIDI for Dummies - Difference and Relations between MIDI and Audio
LearningIt's not easy for beginners to understand the differences between audio and MIDI since both seem to be useful to make music. But understanding this crucial difference is precisely what distinguishes …
The Top Virtual Pianos - The Best Virtual Acoustic Pianos
LearningSo, you have an 80 square foot room but you feel Glenn's Gould spirit burning inside you? Don't worry! Long gone are the days when you had to depend on 800-lb Steinways to play a chord. Thanks to VST…
12 plug-ins to Sound Original - The Most Original Audio Plug-ins
LearningMost plug-in developers are obsessed with emulating vintage gear, but there are always those who focus on originality. Here is a short overview of some effect plug-ins that could open new horizons fo…
Our favorite sequencers for music production - What are the best DAWs?
LearningThe DAW is the heart of modern home studios. A sequencer isn't something you should buy carelessly because it impacts the way you work – the whole process, from the idea to its realization. Here is a…
How to Set an EQ - Understanding EQ Parameters
LearningAn EQ changes the level of frequencies in an audio signal. It allows you to define one or more frequency bands to amplify or attenuate them. In order to achieve this, the EQ uses different filters.
The Best Virtual Drums - The Top Commercial Virtual Drums
LearningYou want to record your newest song but you have no drummer or your drummer is sick? Virtual drums were conceived to solve this problem. Here is our selection of the best of them...
The Top Free Software Compressors - The 10 Best Freeware Compressor Plug-ins
LearningNot satisfied with the standard compressor included in your sequencer? Here you have 10 must-have plug-ins for Mac or PC that should make you happy at zero cost...
Native Instruments Battery 4 review - Battery 4
Written testWith version 4 of its “drum sampler” included in both editions of Komplete 9 and available separately, what does Native Instruments propose to do ? Answers below.
Steinberg UR22 review - UR so small
Written testSteinberg introduced the UR series a little over a year ago with the UR28M and the UR824. They’re back with an entry level unit priced at under $200 with two D-pre preamps included. Verdict?
Steinberg Cubasis iPad App Review - iCubasis Lite
Written testEven at its relatively young age, the iPad has already placed itself at the head of an extensive audio software library, running sequencers that are far more than simple toys. The latest arrival in …
Native Instruments Monark Pro Review - The King Talks
Written testBest Product awardIn the domain of analogue synthesizer emulation, the race for fidelity continues. The biggest breakthroughs have not necessarily originated from the top editors. One of them, Monark, is reacting with…
Making Music on the iPad - The iPad for Musicians: Present State
Written testConsidered a bulky iPhone by its detractors when it was first presented, the iPad has been revolutionizing the market of mobile computing ever since — and our DAWs as a consequence. A good enough rea…
Apogee Quartet Audio Interface Review - 2 Duet = 1 Quartet?
Written testA little more than one year ago, we reviewed the Duet 2, the second generation of Apogee's mobile USB audio interface with two mic inputs. With the Quartet, the Californian engineers have produced th…
Are Amp Sims for You? Before Deciding, Check Out These … - Amp Simulators: Tips You Need to Know
LearningGuitar amp simulators are controversial. Some say they don’t sound or feel like real tube amps. Others say sims deliver sounds you can’t get any other way. Guess what? They’re both right.
AudioFanzine met Studio One's technical director - Interview with the father of Studio One
LearningCoinciding with the launch of Studio One v2.5, AudioFanzine met up with Matthias Juwan, technical director at PreSonus in Hamburg, Germany, to talk about his career, the future of the Studio One sequ…
Focusrite Forte Review - Be Forte!
Written testOne year ago, Apogee introduced the Duet 2, a digital audio interface with remarkable sound and finish, but only available for Mac computers. Focusrite realized that it was an opportunity and present…
Sony Sound Forge Pro Mac 1.0 Review - Forging with the Mac
Written testSony's ineradicable audio editor for PC (bought from Sonic Foundry in 2003 when its creators gave up against giants like Avid, Adobe and Apple) has just been ported to the Mac — 15 years later.
Motu Track16 Review - Sweet Little Sixteen
Written testTrack16 is the latest addition to Motu's range of audio interfaces. The numerous features announced by the manufacturer are very appealing. Let's see how they translate in the real world!
How to Build a Computer for Music Making - Optimize Your DAW Computer for Your Home Studio
LearningThis is how you can easily build and maintain a professionally equipped music computer to power the digital audio workstation for your home recording studio.
Audiofile Engineering Quiztones Review - Ear Training for Dummies
Written testAs engineers, we all have particular strengths and weaknesses. Some are musically gifted and play multiple instruments, while others naturally take to composition. However, what about the most basic …
iZotope Iris Review - At Your Beck and Call
Written testInnovation awardiZotope is famous for its effects, audio processing and restoration tools. Now, the manufacturer enters the world of virtual instruments with the launch of Iris, its first synth. Knowing iZotope, we …
Apogee Mic Review - iMic
Written testThe invasion of smartphones and tablets has had a big impact on many different industries and the home-studio world is no exception. Many software and hardware products for iPhone and Android phones …
