Do you have a budding podcaster in your life? Do you have no idea what to get them this holiday season? Read on!
USB Microphone
The USB microphone is a perfect gift for anyone curious about getting into podcasting. It collapses several pieces of equipment into one affordable package. We're recommending the RØDE NT-USB Mini, a condenser mic that offers a warm, clear sound. This wallet-friendly mic naturally rejects room tone, which is great
The year 2020 intensely changed the landscape for office employees, sending masses of people home to handle conferencing, collaboration, meetings, interviews, and even high-profile presentations from their personal spaces, be they makeshift offices in miniscule apartments or dedicated rooms in sprawling vacation homes. To make a great impression and command attention in such situations, your voice should sound as clear, present, and intelligible as it would in person; for that you need a high-quality microphone that won’t bog you down with a
At one point in the not-so-distant past, you either needed a decked-out analog studio or a painfully expensive digital audio workstation to attain the type of sound deemed to be at the professional level. Much to the collective rejoicing of songwriters, producers, musicians, audio engineers, and content creators literally everywhere, that can be filed away as a memory of the olden times. Thanks to clever tech and manufacturing by brands such as Universal Audio, Antelope, Apogee, and more, there are powerful audio interfaces that contain high-
Studio monitors come in all shapes and sizes. From quad 15" behemoths to the tiniest 3" pico-size, there are many factors that come into play when selecting monitors. Price is the obvious choice, but perhaps you have space constraints or fussy neighbors. Or maybe you are looking for a nice pair of “B” monitors to complement your mains. In this article, we’ll be looking at some pint-size powerhouse micro-monitors for a variety of applications. With so many compact monitors (5" and above) on the market, I decided to showcase only the true “micro
With clubs, venues, and events starting to come back to life, things have been getting better this year; but let’s face it, your favorite DJ could still use all the love and support you have to give. With that in mind, here are a few gift ideas for the special spinner in your life.
Samsung 256GB USB 3.1 Gen 1 BAR Plus Flash Drive
From the earliest lo-fi rock platters of the Flintstones era, to compact discs in the 1980s and ’90s, to today’s portable drives, DJ media has certainly evolved over the years. The days of lugging vinyl around have
It’s that time of the year again. The “holidaze” are upon us and with them comes the stress of finding the perfect gift for that special someone. I’m a terrible procrastinator, especially when holiday shopping, so I’ve compiled a roundup of the best portable Bluetooth speakers.
Bluetooth speakers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Portability is subjective, so we’ll be looking at a broad variety of offerings. From beach karaoke and whitewater rafting to spreading holiday cheer with ambient background music or rocking out while preparing
Although the season might look a bit different this year, due to the pandemic, students are returning to classrooms, nonetheless. The beginning of the school year is a time when many students are in the market for a new laptop, and if you’re interested in using your new computer to compose, produce, record, or mix music, there are some things you should keep in mind while shopping. Ten years ago, only the highest-end laptops were powerful enough to take on the task of real-time audio processing, and even still, they paled in comparison to the
With more and more companies offering CD-quality streams, hi-res tiers, and lossless audio options, the temptation to reserve a bit more of the paycheck for pleasurable listening is greater than ever. Apple, Amazon, Tidal, Quboz, Deezer, and others have concluded that giving music lovers extra fidelity is a worthwhile endeavor, a move that is generally applauded by industry professionals and “normal people” alike. However, before you shell out various monies on high-quality streaming services, make sure your hardware (physical devices) can
If you are a singer/songwriter/musician who has been itching to get back out in public to perform in the warm weather, the most flexible solution for busking in public spaces is a battery-powered guitar amplifier that will provide hours of dependable play time and can handle the kind of punishment the street can dish out. Bringing your words and music to your town’s culture-craving citizens could be just the ticket, not only for expanding your songwriting and performing
Summer is here, so why not start a vlog indoors, comfortably shielded from the sun and all its unpleasant warmth? Obviously, you’ll need something to capture video, be it a camcorder, camera, smartphone, or tablet. What about the sound, though? Often overlooked by newcomers, the vlog’s audio quality really does matter and it makes a difference to your audience, even if they don’t know why some content sounds better than others. Thankfully, you need not attend an expensive masterclass to get clean, quality audio for your productions, because
Recording a guitar amplifier is easy, but recording one well can be quite tricky. In addition to the guitar and the amp, the acoustics of your recording space play a big role, as do mic placement and the microphone itself. This article is intended to be a quick primer to point you in the right direction when buying a microphone to record your guitar amp. It is not intended to be an all-encompassing guide for amp recording technique, and believe you me, there is a lot to know on that subject. However, learning about the kinds of microphones
During the holidaze, it's easy to get overwhelmed, and sometimes we forget to get a gift for that someone special. If that someone is a musician, then we've got a list of great gift ideas that won't break the bank and will guarantee to put a smile on their face.
Digital Metronome
For hundreds of years, musicians have used a mechanical musical chronometer, or a metronome, to keep tempo during practice and performances. Any musician will find a metronome invaluable.
The
Despite the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, synthesizer manufacturers have been churning out some magnificent instruments with a wide pallet of sonic inspirations. This buying guide features 2020’s best offerings. From the top of the line to the basic budget, you will find something for everyone.
Arturia
Arturia turned some heads years ago with its release of the classic MatrixBrute. This year, the company upped the ante with
If you’re a musician who is thinking about taking your show on the road, a sound mixer may be on your wish list. If you don’t know where to start, I have some good news—you’re in the right place.
What’s a Mixer Anyway?
In simple terms, a mixer allows you to blend or “mix” multiple audio signals together from different sources, such as microphones, guitars, and keyboards, and you can polish each sound independently with tools such as equalizers, and effects like reverb and echo. You can then send that audio to external devices, such as powered
So, you want to try your hand at playing the piano? Maybe you’re spending every waking and unconscious moment indoors (thanks, 2020) and you need a new hobby, perhaps you find yourself drawn to writing and performing your own songs, or it could be that you know a little one who has expressed interest in becoming the next Mozart and could use a strong start. Whichever the case, an aspiring player won’t get far without a keyboard of their own. So, whether it’s a small and portable keyboard that would be best or only a full-size model that feels