Search results for: audio buying guide microphone buying guide
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by Freddy Gerngross · Posted
As the democratization of music production continues to propagate, many people have been innovating new production techniques, creating entirely new genres of music, and recording literal chart-topping hits—all from the comfort of their bedrooms. But if you’re just getting started, you might soon realize that the vocal recordings you capture in your bedroom are … less than ideal.
Getting a tight and professional sound from a small bedroom is possible—but it takes planning, preparation, constant rearrangements, and maybe a few bucks here and
by Freddy Gerngross · Posted
Whether you’re a musician who’s building a studio or rehearsal space, setting up an audio system at a venue or house of worship, an aspiring streamer/podcaster, or a production house, the audio mixer may be the most important (and expensive) purchase you make—but with multitudes of options, you’ll want to know exactly what you need before pulling the trigger.
This guide will help you sort through the factors to consider when searching for the perfect mixer for the job. If you’ve got a case of choice paralysis when it comes to mixers, or if
by Freddy Gerngross · Posted
Recording drums is an esoteric practice; even with consistent techniques, it can be difficult to get consistent results, and with so many microphones on the market, it's tough to know what gear will bring out the most life from your performance. Luckily, you don't need expensive mics to achieve a brilliant recording (but it doesn't hurt)—if you're someone who wants to know more about recording drums and which mics are best suited for the job, this article is for you!
How Do I Record a Drum Kit? Basics Before Micing
While this article is a
by Freddy Gerngross · Posted
The 500 series form factor, first innovated by API in the 1960s, has established itself as one of the most popular and convenient form factors for outboard gear—get yourself an API Lunchbox or an equivalent and you can mix and match modules, swap gear in and out, and customize the chain of your outboard gear in whichever way you please, all in a portable form factor that you can carry from studio to
by Freddy Gerngross · Posted
Whether you're a hobbyist making beats for fun or a seasoned professional producing music for your adoring fans, you'll want to have a MIDI keyboard to control your software synthesizers, drum machines, and maybe your whole DAW. In this shopping guide, we'll go over some of the best and most popular MIDI keyboard controllers we have in stock at B&H, their important features, and what kind of musicians they're best suited for.
If you need to know more about MIDI controllers and their affinity with DAWs, synths, and other hardware, check out
by Freddy Gerngross · Posted
Among the many tools audio engineers use to sculpt and shape raw audio into a final work, most would say that compressors are in the top two most ubiquitous and useful. In concept, compressors are simple tools: they make the loud parts of sound quieter and the quiet parts louder, reducing dynamic range so that everything can be heard more clearly. They were first developed out of necessity, designed to solve critical technical problems in the early days of AM radio broadcasts—loud signals would distort, and quiet signals would be lost behind
by Steven Esposito · Posted
Fathers—you can’t get them anything because they keep on buying things for themselves. But what if you can find the one thing he didn’t know he needed? Well, that’s why I’m here. Today, I am going to tell you about some of the best tech-related gifts you can get dad this year all depending on the type of dad he is. Does he love sitting back and watching his favorite shows? Is he a business professional? Maybe he spends hours upon hours playing video games. No matter what he does, we have something in mind for him.
The Casual Dad
Casual dads
Posted
Kevin breaks down various setups you can use when recording vocals at home, from entry-level to high-end. The first step: understanding basic room acoustics. You'll also learn how microphones work, how to gain stage properly, and much more. Thank you to @mattrelevo for joining us!
0:00 - What We're Covering
0:44 - Treating The Room
1:36 - Audio Interface
2:54 - Dynamic vs Condenser Mic
4:01 - Basic, Bare-Bones Setup
12:30 - Home Studio Setup
17:10 - High-End, Professional Setup
by Freddy Gerngross · Posted
Tube microphones (also known as “valve mics” to those who refer to the subway as “the tube”) are something of a venerated patrician class of microphone technology known for their euphonic sound characteristics and historical pedigree, along with exorbitant prices that induce nightmares for recording studio accountants—discontinued models like the Telefunken ELA M 250E command upward of $30,000, making a brand-new Sony C-800G
by Freddy Gerngross · Posted
With their history and pedigree, tube microphones have built a reputation for being the delicate, rare, and expensive stuff only the wealthy or most prestigious of recording studios can afford to have in their arsenal. While that was true in the past (and still is for some tube mics), many audio equipment manufacturers are cloning vintage microphone architecture or producing their own designs that are affordable enough to be
by Gabby Bloch · Posted
If you’re thinking about building a home recording studio or upgrading your existing setup with better gear, there are a plethora of options at B&H that can take your production to the next level (maybe at the cost of fueling your gear-acquisition syndrome). Here are some of our favorite pieces of music technology we have on offer, covering everything you’d need to start working on your own music and recording projects, or bring your productions to the next level.
MIDI Controllers
Novation Launchkey MK4 Series—A Workhorse Controller
The
by Freddy Gerngross · Posted
Wireless microphones are an incredibly popular and convenient solution to many of the problems that come with traditional wired setups: they require far less cabling, and that means fewer issues with shorted wiring, lowered chances of cable-related tripping, and a higher number on the “Days Since Last Incident” sign. While they can be a bit more difficult to onboard, once the system is up and running, audio engineers and A/V technicians appreciate the fast setup time and decreased storage space that wireless mics afford. So, with all the
by Freddy Gerngross · Posted
Now that we’ve discussed the basic gear you need to put on a live show, lets look at the specific kind of gear and knowledge you’d need to set up a professional event at a large venue, stadium, or arena. Whether you want to gain more knowledge in pro live sound or you’re just curious, you’re in the right place!
If you’re a beginner or want more context for this article, go ahead and check out the
by Freddy Gerngross · Posted
The PA system is the linchpin of any venue or event space, whether it’s the hottest new night club, this weekend’s big house party, or the screening of the next indie film sensation. It’s integral to the experience of social activity—and because music and sound deserve to be clear, coherent, and exhilarating, the PA system needs to serve up the goods by being powerful, reliable, and properly scaled for the event.
In our
by Freddy Gerngross · Posted
When it comes to putting on a live show, knowing the specific gear to get and how to use it can be a daunting prospect. There are tons of different microphones, speaker systems, monitoring setups, and mixer environments, all of which are suited for different types of performance settings. And that's not even including power distribution, cabling, and other miscellaneous equipment you'll need to put on a proper event. But fear not reader. In this guide, we'll go over all the gear you'll want to consider and why, whether you're putting on