Category Archives for "Gear"
- 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 […]
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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. […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Hardware , Music by Bobby Owsinski
10 Musical Christmas Gifts That You Might 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 Book Excerpt , Gear , Speakers by Bobby Owsinski
3 Big Tips To Help You Choose New Studio Monitors
“How do I choose a set of studio monitors?” This question comes up a lot, and although I’ve addressed it before, it’s time to do it again. When it comes to monitor speakers, there are certainly plenty of choices, and currently there’s no single favorite. A Standard? It would be great if there was a […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Guitars by Bobby Owsinski
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The Making Of A Hofner Beatle Bass
One of the most iconic and identifiable instruments in the world is the Hofner 500/1 violin bass, sometimes called the “Beatle Bass.” That’s because Paul McCartney used it on all his early tours and recordings and during most of his Beatle’s career. He still uses on when he tours. One of the reasons Macca was […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Production by Bobby Owsinski
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New Version Of Audacity Has Users Worried About Their Personal Data
You kind of expect your data to be collected and shared from any number of websites, social networks, and ecommerce sites these days, but when those practices are adopted by your DAW, does that finally cross the line? When the free DAW Audacity changed its terms of service agreement on July 2nd for its upcoming […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Production , Software by Bobby Owsinski
My Top 10 Channel Plugins For 2021
I get asked often what plugins I usually use. Just like everyone else, I change the plugins in my standard template that I use more often than I realize. That’s because mixing tastes change, new plugins are introduced, and different combinations seem to work best with one another. That said, here are the Top 10 […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Guitars by Bobby Owsinski
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Yes, Counterfeit Guitars Are Still A Thing, Unfortunately
I think just about everyone would agree that when you make a gear purchase you want to feel like you’ve gotten what you paid for. Regardless of the price, if it’s the real deal we feel justified for laying out the big bucks. The problem is when you buy something that turns out to be […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Microphones by Bobby Owsinski
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Here’s How To Build A Great Microphone Locker For Around $1,000
When it comes to recording, the variety of microphones at your disposal is vital to capturing the sound as you hear it. It’s all about mixing and matching the mic to the source, and you can’t do that with just one really good mic. Fortunately, it doesn’t take a fortune to create the variety you […]
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Boutique Amps Distribution Warehouse Severely Damaged By Fire
Boutique amplifiers have been the go-to secret for the modern guitar player for a long time now. Most are made to make it easier to dial in the exact tone that a player is looking for than with a stock mainstream manufacturer’s amp. What many don’t know is that quite of number of the leading […]
Continue reading- in Computer , Gear , New Music Gear Monday by Bobby Owsinski
New Music Gear Monday: SSL UC1 Channel Strip Controller
Most of us that grew up on real recording consoles have gotten used to using plugin processing, but still long for the tactile touch of knobs and faders. There are a lot of controllers now available to scratch that itch, but sometimes a dedicated one can make the job seem more familiar. If that describes […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Speakers by Bobby Owsinski
Is The Cell Alpha The Loudspeaker Breakthrough We’ve Been Waiting For?
While technology has faithfully marched on and changed almost everything we do when it comes to capturing and manipulating an audio signal, two things haven’t changed much at all – loudspeakers and microphones. Yep, it’s the same old technology that’s been used for more than a hundred years. It’s true that’s its better in many […]
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