Category Archives for "Hardware"
- in Gear , Hardware , Software by Bobby Owsinski
My Latest Top 10 Compressors
About 3 years ago I posted about my top 10 compressors, but things have changed a lot since then, so I thought it was time to post an updated list. Many of the entries haven’t changed, but a few have (especially on the software side). This list is a combination of hardware and software, since most […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Hardware , Media , Vinyl by Bobby Owsinski
This New Robot May Change Vinyl Record Pressing Forever
We’ve been hearing about vinyl record manufacturing coming into the future for some time, and here’s another example. Some Canadian design engineers who usually put their R&D talents into things like MRI machines went to work on the vinyl record press. They made some huge improvements and came up with the Warm Tone vinyl record […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Hardware , Microphones , New Music Gear Monday by Bobby Owsinski
New Music Gear Monday: Aston Starlight Laser Targeting Microphone
From the beginning of recording time we’ve been aiming microphones at the source by eye when first setting up. For the most part they’re pretty forgiving if we don’t point them exactly perfectly, and a quick listen will tell us if we need to adjust. But wouldn’t it be cool if there was a more […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Hardware , Music by Bobby Owsinski
10 Cool Christmas Gifts For Musicians And Engineers 2016
We could all use a little bit of shopping help when it comes to buying Christmas gifts for the people around us in the music and recording business. If you’re in a quandary about what to buy, you’re in luck as I have a list of recommendations that covers a wide variety of items and price […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Hardware by Bobby Owsinski
The 27 Foot Long Loudspeaker
Audiophiles can be quite obsessive, and when you’re an engineer it can make that obsession even worse. In the 1930s engineer Roderick Denman built a huge loudspeaker into the roof of his house that faced straight downward into an octagonal listening area that he used for the flare of his giant horn, which extended some […]
Continue reading- in Engineering , Gear , Hardware , Software by Bobby Owsinski
Look Out Security – Headphones Turned Into Secret Microphones
If you’ve studied audio technology at all then you know that loudspeakers/headphones and microphones are both principally the same in how they operate, they just work backwards from one other. Where the diaphragm of a microphone responds to moving air molecules to turn sound into an electronic signal, the loudspeaker turns an electronic signal into moving air molecules thanks […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Hardware , Music by Bobby Owsinski
Cool Cyber Monday Recording Accessories
We all love a deal and Cyber Monday is the day for it, so I decided to put together my own list of cool gear especially for musicians and engineers. Here are some accessory items that make great gifts for any musician or engineer (even yourself). EarPeace Hearing Protectors – They reduce the volume but don’t […]
Continue reading- in Computer , Gear , Hardware , New Music Gear Monday , Production by Bobby Owsinski
New Music Gear Monday: Slate Control Monitor Controller
One of the most important components of a home or desktop studio is the monitor controller, and while there are more and more such devices on the market these days, not all are a good fit for many studios. For instance, the needs of someone working with a laptop mixing on headphones are completely different from […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Hardware , Media , Vinyl by Bobby Owsinski
Can A New Process Improve Record Pressing?
Making a vinyl record is a messy, time consuming business. It involves toxic chemical baths, huge mechanical presses, stampers that wear out easily, and maybe worst of all, the final product is made from a petroleum product. Record pressing has shown small improvements over the years, but for the most part, it’s still done the […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Hardware , Music by Bobby Owsinski
The Story Behind Bruce Springsteen’s Iconic Hybrid Telecaster
There are some guitars that are forever linked to certain musicians. Eric Clapton’s “Blackie” and “Brownie” Strats, Brian May’s home-built one-off, Neil Young’s “Old Black” Les Paul, and B.B. King’s “Lucille” ES355 are just a few that come to mind. But there is another that fits nicely into this category and deserves equal attention because of […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Engineering , Gear , Hardware , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
Direct Box Basics
Direct boxes are something that we use every day in recording, yet take for granted because of their simplicity. Here’s an excerpt from my Recording Engineer’s Handbook that looks at the ins and outs of this useful recording tool. “Direct Injection (DI or “going direct”) of a signal means that a microphone is bypassed, and […]
Continue reading- in Consoles , Gear , Hardware , New Music Gear Monday by Bobby Owsinski
New Music Gear Monday: A-Designs Mix Factory Summing Amp
Mixers either swear by outboard analog summing amps or don’t see the need for them at all, but the ones that do are very passionate about them. We’re now into the second generation of summing amps, and the latest ones are incorporating a lot of features that the the first gen didn’t have. That’s one […]
Continue reading- in Book Excerpt , Engineering , Gear , Hardware , Microphones , Recording by Bobby Owsinski
Choosing the Right Microphone For The Job
While it’s safe to say that most engineers rely on experience when choosing which microphone to use in a given situation, these are some things to consciously consider when selecting a microphone. Here’s a list of items to think about from the latest edition of my Recording Engineer’s Handbook. There’s no one mic that works well on everything. […]
Continue reading- in Gear , Hardware , New Music Gear Monday by Bobby Owsinski
New Music Gear Monday: Drawmer MC3.1 Monitor Controller
One almost essential accessory for any computer-based DAW is the monitor controller, and there are a lot of them to choose from these days in just about all price ranges. Most of them in the sub-$1,000 range, while quite capable, are usually without some feature or features that you wish it would have. That’s what […]
Continue reading- in Engineering , Gear , Hardware , Microphones , Microphones , New Music Gear Monday by Bobby Owsinski
New Music Gear Monday: Audio-Technica ATM350a Instrument Microphone
We all have our favorite mics for recording specific instruments in the studio, but when it comes to miking them live, everything is out the window. Mostly that’s because mounting many mics can be a pain. While you can afford to spend time getting the placement just right in the studio, when it’s live everything is […]
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