Category Archives for "Gear"

The Long Lost Secret To The AC/DC Guitar Sound

shaffer-vega wireless system

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 the epitome of hard rock guitar sounds. While on the surface you’d look at Angus Young’s fingers on a Gibson SG into a JMP 100 Marshall amp and think that was the sound (and […]

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Choosing the Right Microphone For The Job

Choosing the right microphone

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. […]

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New Music Gear Monday: Drawmer MC3.1 Monitor Controller

Drawmer MC3.1

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 […]

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New Music Gear Monday: Audio-Technica ATM350a Instrument Microphone

audio-technica atm350a

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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Tips For Choosing A Set Of Monitors

choosing monitors

It’s surprising that so many monitors (speakers that is) are purchased just from a review or word of mouth, since they’re such a personal item. Here’s an excerpt from my Studio Builder’s Handbook (written with Dennis Moody) that covers some things to think about before you purchase your next set of speakers. “1) Don’t choose a monitor because […]

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New Gear Overview From AES 2016

aes

The AES Conference was in Los Angeles at the end of last week, and there was new gear everywhere. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much that you’d call “revolutionary” (which is the norm at gear shows these days), but there were a few things that caught my eyes and ears that I thought I’d share. The Show This […]

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New Music Gear Monday: Empirical Labs Arousor Plugin

empirical-labs-arousor

It’s rare when a modern compressor becomes a standard, but after 20 years, the Empirical Labs Distressor can be found in every major studio, as well as many smaller and home studios, and is as widely used as any of the “classics.” The Distressor has a sound that’s different from everything else, and is one of the few […]

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New Music Gear Monday: Antelope Audio Zen Tour Audio Interface

antelope-zen-tour

Buying an audio interface can often be a confusing process. There are now so many choices that it often comes down to features rather than sound. Antelope Audio’s new Zen Tour interface is one that doesn’t skimp on either, providing far more features than most interfaces while providing the renowned Antelope Audio sound. The Zen […]

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New Music Gear Monday: Exponential Audio NIMBUS Reverb Plugin

nimbus-reverb-plugin

I really love Exponential Audio plugins because you get high performance effects that don’t require a ton of CPU power at a reasonable price. While the company’s existing plugins are very cool indeed, Exponential founder (and ex-Lexicon engineer) Michael Carnes has outdone himself this time with his new NIMBUS reverb, a true next-generation plugin. NIMBUS takes the […]

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