Feature articles and reviews on audio and music (31/55)

1,373 results found

DIY Sound Effects - Create Cool Sound Effects With Special Techniques
Learning
If you produce podcasts or videos, adding sound effects can provide a whole new dimension to your production. While sound libraries and online EFX sites are convenient for finding effects, consider c…
06/23/14
Soldering Basics for Guitar Players - Part 1 - Soldering Equipment for Beginners
Learning
The use of a soldering iron is indispensable if you need to change the pickups, a jack or any other component of your guitar. While changing a string is no secret for most of us, it's a whole differe…
06/22/14
Mastering at Home - Part 14 - Best ways to Use Dithering When Mastering Music
Learning
In this 14th episode, we will deal with a mysterious stage in the mastering chain: Dithering
06/20/14
Carmen Rizzo on the Post-Apocalyptic Music Business, Fi… - L.A. Renaissance Man
Learning
Talk about multi-talented: L.A.-based Carmen Rizzo is a two-time Grammy-nominated producer/artist/electronic musician and composer whose credits include Seal, Coldplay, Paul Oakenfold and Ryuichi Sak…
06/19/14
Review of the Boss OD-1X OverDrive - An Overdrive Pedal with a New Look and Feel
Written test
The Boss OD-1X OverDrive was one of two new stompboxes the company announced at NAMM 2014 (the DS-1X Distortion was the other). It features the company’s recently developed Multi-Dimensional Processi…
06/17/14
Mastering at Home - Part 13 - Key Tips on Using a Limiter While Mastering Music
Learning
This week we will tackle a landmark in the mastering chain — the limiter.
06/16/14
Cheap Synth Apps with Rich Sound - Five Cool iOS Synthesizers for Under $10
Learning
The quality and variety of synthesizers available for your iOS device just keeps getting better and better. Although many of the top, name-brand synths will cost you in the range of $20 or even more,…
06/14/14
Quantizing Basics - Fix the Timing in your MIDI Tracks for a Natural Sound
Learning
The 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…
06/12/14
Solutions to Keep Your Guitar Safe - How to Choose the Right Guitar Stand
Learning
The 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…
06/11/14
Review of Mojave Audio MA-300 - It Takes Tubes to Tango
Written test
Mojave 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,…
06/10/14
Review of Alesis iO Dock II - What's Up, Dock?
Written test
The 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…
06/08/14
Mastering at Home - Part 12 - EQ Automation When Mastering Music
Learning
Before 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.
06/07/14
Choose the Right Pots for Your Electric Guitar - Help Picking the Right Pots for Your Electric Guitar
Learning
Most 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…
06/05/14
Understanding the Specifics of a Guitar Neck - What Type of Guitar Neck to Choose
Learning
Guitar 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…
06/04/14
Studio in a Backpack - Part 2 - Advice on Interfaces, Microphones and Monitors for a Portable Studio
Learning
In 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…
06/02/14
Mastering at Home — Part 11 - Guide to Mid-Side Processing When Mastering
Learning
In this new installment of our article series dedicated to mastering at home, we will delve into the world of mid-side processing.
06/02/14
Studio in a Backpack — Part 1 - Interfaces to Help Build an Ultra-Portable, Battery-Powered iPad-based Music Studio
Learning
Did 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…
05/31/14
An Interview With Legendary John Lennon and Aerosmith P… - Get Your Wings
Interview / Podcast
Jack Douglas’s list of credits reads like a who’s who in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and includes John Lennon, Aerosmith, Patti Smith, Alice Cooper, Cheap Trick, and many, many more. Not only is …
05/28/14
Electro-Harmonix EHX Tortion Review - Tubey or not Tubey, that is the question.
Written test
Since 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…
05/28/14
Key Concepts for Instrument Miking - How to Get the Best Results When Recording Acoustic Instruments
Learning
If 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…
05/27/14
Mastering at Home - Part 10 - How to Use Reverb When Mastering
Learning
In this tenth episode, we will tackle an effect that is seldom used by people starting out in mastering, namely, reverb.
05/26/14
Noises Off - How to Use Broadband Noise Reduction Software to Clean Up Music Recordings
Learning
Much 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…
05/22/14
Producing a Vocal Session - Part 2 - Help With Producing a Singer in the Studio
Learning
In part 1, we looked at mic choices, setup, and creating a monitor mix that’s comfortable for the singer. Here, we’ll delve into some producing techniques that will help you coax the best performance…
05/21/14
Tech 21 Hot-Rod Plexi Review - Stack Attack
Written test
Although 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…
05/20/14
Mastering at Home — Part 9 - The Use of Stereo Enhancers While Mastering Music
Learning
Today, our journey across the mastering world takes us into the slippery terrain of stereo enhancers.
05/19/14

Feature articles and reviews on audio and music

DIY Sound Effects - Create Cool Sound Effects With Special Techniques

Soldering Basics for Guitar Players - Part 1 - Soldering Equipment for Beginners

Mastering at Home - Part 14 - Best ways to Use Dithering When Mastering Music

Carmen Rizzo on the Post-Apocalyptic Music Business, Fi… - L.A. Renaissance Man

Review of the Boss OD-1X OverDrive - An Overdrive Pedal with a New Look and Feel

Mastering at Home - Part 13 - Key Tips on Using a Limiter While Mastering Music

Cheap Synth Apps with Rich Sound - Five Cool iOS Synthesizers for Under $10

Quantizing Basics - Fix the Timing in your MIDI Tracks for a Natural Sound

Solutions to Keep Your Guitar Safe - How to Choose the Right Guitar Stand

Review of Mojave Audio MA-300 - It Takes Tubes to Tango

Review of Alesis iO Dock II - What's Up, Dock?

Mastering at Home - Part 12 - EQ Automation When Mastering Music

Choose the Right Pots for Your Electric Guitar - Help Picking the Right Pots for Your Electric Guitar

Understanding the Specifics of a Guitar Neck - What Type of Guitar Neck to Choose

Studio in a Backpack - Part 2 - Advice on Interfaces, Microphones and Monitors for a Portable Studio

Mastering at Home — Part 11 - Guide to Mid-Side Processing When Mastering

Studio in a Backpack — Part 1 - Interfaces to Help Build an Ultra-Portable, Battery-Powered iPad-based Music Studio

An Interview With Legendary John Lennon and Aerosmith P… - Get Your Wings

Electro-Harmonix EHX Tortion Review - Tubey or not Tubey, that is the question.

Key Concepts for Instrument Miking - How to Get the Best Results When Recording Acoustic Instruments

Mastering at Home - Part 10 - How to Use Reverb When Mastering

Noises Off - How to Use Broadband Noise Reduction Software to Clean Up Music Recordings

Producing a Vocal Session - Part 2 - Help With Producing a Singer in the Studio

Tech 21 Hot-Rod Plexi Review - Stack Attack

Mastering at Home — Part 9 - The Use of Stereo Enhancers While Mastering Music