Category Archives for "Gear"
- in Book Excerpt , Gear , Speakers by Bobby Owsinski
Choose The Best Studio Monitors For You With These 3 Tips
“How do I choose a set of studio monitors?” This question comes up a lot, and although I’ve addressed it before, it’s never a bad time to do it again. When it comes to monitor speakers, there are certainly plenty of choices, and currently there’s no single favorite that dominates the industry. A Standard? It […]
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Production Legends And Their Unusual Microphone Choices
You’d think that all the engineer and producer greats would use the same vintage microphones that have become just as famous as they are, but that’s not the case. U47’s, C-12’s, U67’s – they all have a place in the hall of fame for good reason. That said, it’s interesting that some of the greats […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Hardware , Music by Bobby Owsinski
10 Christmas Gifts For Musicians And Engineers 2023 Edition
If you’re like me, you need a little bit of help when it comes to choosing Christmas gifts for the people in the music and recording business. If you have no idea what to buy, here’s a list of recommendations that you might find fit perfectly for that musician or producer that you want to […]
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10 Musical Christmas Gifts That You Might Even Want For Yourself
Sometimes we need a little bit of help when it comes to choosing Christmas gifts for the people around us in the music and recording business. If you have no idea what to buy, here’s a list of recommendations that covers a wide variety of items and reasonable price ranges. All of these following products […]
Continue reading- in Gear by Bobby Owsinski
You Won’t Believe How Complex An Oboe Is
If you thought that crafting an electric guitar was rather complex, you haven’t seen anything yet. When it comes to musical instruments, nothing beats an oboe for complexity. Not only that, they’re made from only one species of endangered African hardwood and can take up to 5 years to make. No wonder they cost so […]
Continue reading- in Gear by Bobby Owsinski
Would You Pay 1 Million Dollars For An Effects Pedal?
Guitar players can never get enough pedals. It’s the perfect wave – the Holy Grail – you’re always searching for THE ONE that will give you that sound that seems just out of reach. Despite boutique pedal manufacturing going through somewhat of a shakeout, there’s always another new gear maker creating a hot new overdrive. […]
Continue reading- in Computer , Gear by Bobby Owsinski
Get Your Computer Connectors Ready Because Here Comes USB4
I can hear you now after you’ve read the title. “Oh, no! Not another connector!!” It’s not as bad as it sounds. Yes, USB4 is coming, but thankfully it’s going to use the same USB-C-style connector that most new computers and connected devices are using. Although we all have plenty of peripherals that still use […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Microphones by Bobby Owsinski
Neumann Badge Colors And Their Meaning
I bet you were never aware that Neumann microphones have different color badges, and if you were, you probably thought they were for decoration. Think again, because there’s a specific reason behind the Neumann badge colors. Knowing them will allow you to identify the type of microphone it is. Neumann mic badges come in 5 […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Inner Circle Podcast , Microphones by Bobby Owsinski
Mic Developer Eric Heiserman, High-Quality Bluetooth Audio, And The End Of Music Genres On My Latest Podcast
On my latest podcast episode: Mic developer Eric Heiserman of Heiserman Audio, perhaps the closest to a vintage mic sound you’ll ever get. The end of music genres may be near in favor of some more practical for today’s consumers. The latest Bluetooth LE standard – finally CD quality 44.1Hz/16 bit wireless audio. Listen to […]
Continue reading- in Gear by Bobby Owsinski
How To Protect Your Gear From A Power Surge
We’ve all been in a position where we needed more power outlets and purchased either a power strip or rack mounted unit that advertised it was a “surge protector” as well. That may or not have been true, and Radial has a great post about what exactly qualifies as a power surge and how to […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Production , Software by Bobby Owsinski
My Top 10 Go-To Plugins – 2022 Edition
I often get asked what plugins I regularly use, so a few years ago I decided to share my plugin thoughts with a personal Top 10 list. Here’s my latest edition for 2022, which isn’t all that different from previous years except that it has fewer compressors, since I’ve found myself using less and less […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Guitars by Bobby Owsinski
Take A Look At The Recently Discovered 1967 Gibson Factory Tour Video
Recently some employees at Gibson Guitars were looking through the company’s archives and stumbled upon a canister of film. Much to their surprise it was a tour of the Gibson factory dating back to 1967 that’s been unseen until now. Watching the film I was struck by how much has remained the same in the […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Engineering , Gear , Hardware , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
What To Look For When Buying Your Next Direct Box
Direct boxes are something that we use every day in recording, yet take for granted because of their simplicity. If you’re not familiar with what they do, then you might be tempted to purchase the cheapest one you find, but there’s a real difference in the sound between brands and models. This excerpt from my […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Guitars , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
Want That Back In Black Guitar Sound? This Is The Secret
I’ve posted this one 4 or 5 years ago but since I’m getting questions about the AC/DC Back In Black guitar sounds again, I thought it was appropriate to repost it again. When we listen back to those great early AC/DC albums like Back In Black and Highway To Hell we think of what may be […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Guitar , Hardware , MI/Audio Business by Bobby Owsinski
The Story Behind How Guitar Distortion Was Born
If you’re a guitar player, chances are you’re in love with the distorted sound that’s so easy to create these days, thanks to a variety of amps, pedals and plugins. In fact, it’s hard to imagine a time when guitar distortion didn’t exist, but believe it, there was a time when there was no such thing. […]
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