Music Production
The State of Plug-Ins: From Emulations to the Unknown
Having so many plug-in choices can be overwhelming—what is an engineer to do? Three top pros share their insights—and favorite plugs.
Product Reviews
Product Reviews
Real-World Review: IK Multimedia iLoud MTM Monitors
When placed in less desirable or acoustically compromised sonic locations, iLoud Micro Monitors truly shine.
Product Reviews
Real-World Review: Gamechanger Audio Plasma Rack
Producer/engineer Russ Long dives into the Plasma Rack and discovers “the most unique distortion I’ve heard in 25 years.”
Product Reviews
Real-World Review: Stealth Sonics C9 In-Ear Monitors
Singapore-based Stealth Sonics is one of the more recent IEM companies to garner attention, and after living with the company’s C9 IEMs, it’s easy to see why.
Product Reviews
Real-World Review: Eventide Instant Phaser and Instant Flanger MkII
Recordist Mike Dwyer puts Eventide’s Instant Phaser and Instant Flanger MkII emulation plug-ins to the test.
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: Roland SE-02 Analog Synthesizer
By Bruce MacPherson. Doubling as a tactile surface controller for Omnisphere 2.6, Roland’s SE-02 came in handy in a remote island paradise.
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: McDSP 6060 Ultimate Module Collection
By Mike Dwyer. Recordist Mike Dwyer takes a look around McDSP’s collection of more than 30 modules, including 12 EQs, 10 compressors, gates, distortion, tape emulation and more.
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 3rd Gen Interface
By Frank Verderosa. Veteran audio post production / recording / podcast engineer Frank Verderosa takes Focusrite’s latest Scarlett interface for a spin and likes what he sees in this Real-World Review.
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: Røde RødeCaster Pro Podcast Studio
By Frank Verderosa. Professional podcast engineer Frank Verderosa puts Røde’s much-discussed RødeCaster Pro podcasting production studio through the paces, and the verdict is….
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: KRK Audio Tools App
By Rob Tavaglione. Producer/engineer Rob Tavaglione tries out KRK’s new smartphone app for setting up any studio monitors, including the company’s new G4 ROKITs.
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: sE Electronics V Pack Arena Drum Mic Kit
By Rob Tavaglione. Producer/engineer Rob Tavaglione recently put sE Electronics' V Pack Arena Drum Mic Kit to the test during sessions in his studio, Catalyst Recording. Here's what he found out in this Real-World Review....
Gear and Technology
Real World Review: Vanguard Audio Labs V1S+LOLLI Mic System
By Rob Tavaglione. Producer/engineer Rob Tavaglione put Vanguard Audio Labs’ flexible V1S+LOLLI Mic System through the paces in an extensive rundown of different applications. How did it fare? Find out….
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: KRK ROKIT8 G4 Monitors
What do you do for an encore if you’ve already got the best-selling line of monitors in the world? Producer/engineer Rob Tavaglione puts KRK's answer to that question through the paces in this Real-World Review.
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: Zoom GCE-3 Guitar Lab Circuit Emulator
By Rich Tozzoli. The ZOOM GCE-3 is a compact USB audio interface that puts ZOOM Guitar Lab’s endless collection of guitar effects, amps and cabinets at your fingertips whenever and wherever inspiration strikes.
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: SoundToys Little AlterBoy Plug-In
By Rich Tozzoli. PSN reviewer/TV composer Rich Tozzoli puts SoundToys' Little AlterBoy to the test...
Gear and Technology
Real-World Reviews: Eventide UltraTap Delay Plug-In
By Rich Tozzoli. PSN reviewer/TV composer Rich Tozzoli puts Eventide's UltraTap to the test...
Gear and Technology
Real-World Reviews: Universal Audio UAD 175B & 176 Tube Compressor Plug-In Collection
By Rich Tozzoli. PSN reviewer/TV composer Rich Tozzoli puts the plug-ins to the test and loves the glowing results.
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: Aston Stealth Microphone
By Rob Tavaglione. Producer/engineer Rob Tavaglione puts Aston Microphones' latest model through the paces and finds the Stealth is ready to make its presence known.
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: Focal Trio11 Be Monitors
By Rob Tavaglione. Never a fan of Focal’s SM9 studio monitors, longtime PSN reviewer producer/engineer Rob Tavaglione puts the company’s new Trio11 Be monitors to the test and comes away impressed.
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: Zylia Recording System
By Russ Long. With immersive audio about to enter the mainstream, my guess is that Zylia will be one of the primary players in the field.
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: Eventide H9000 Multi-Effects Processor
By Russ Long. The H9000 Harmonizer is a significant leap forward from 2006’s eight-channel H8000FW.
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: Royer Labs R-DB20 dBooster In-Line Signal Booster
By Russ Long. Ribbon mic manufacturer gets into the mic signal booster/impedance buffer game.
Gear and Technology
Rich Tozzoli’s Sixth Annual St. John Recording Retreat
By Rich Tozzoli. Setting up a temporary studio for two weeks each year in St. John to record reality TV music is a tough job, but multitasker Rich Tozzoli was not only up for the challenge this year, but...
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: Røde PodMic Podcasting Microphone
By Frank Verderosa. This new mic designed for podcasters holds its own against competitors with heftier price tags.
Gear and Technology
Review: KEF LSX Monitors
By Rob Tavaglione. New LSX monitors from KEF aim squarely at the intersection between pro and consumer and satisfies both camps with app-driven operation, professional performance and an emphasis on convenience for all parties.
Gear and Technology
Review: Wilkinson Audio DeBleeder
By Rob Tavaglione. This plug-in intelligently suppresses drum bleed and leakage from close mics while retaining the drum's natural decay. It requires a bit of tuning and some effort, but yes, DeBleeder really works.
Gear and Technology
Review: Revive Audio Vintage Audio MSL-Mk2 Compressor
By Rob Tavaglione. The MSL really is very good at mix compression, where it does punchy, clean and powerful work without any muss or fuss.
Gear and Technology
Review: RME Babyface Pro Interface
Rob Tavaglione takes a look at the pro-level performance of RME's 24-channel, 192 kHz bus-powered USB audio interface.
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: Mackie FreePlay Series
By Clive Young. Mackie’s idea to offer an expanded line of largely specialized units—FreePlay LIVE, FreePlay HOME and FreePlay GO—allows the company to provide quality sound at a variety of price points that scale up with the user’s goals,...
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: Blue Ember Microphone
By Russ Long. Ember’s low profile and sleek, smart look make it an ideal option for video, yet its sonic performance makes it a strong mic option for a project studio or a great mic locker addition for a...
Gear and Technology
Review: Sound Devices MixPre-6M
By Russ Long. This interface/recorder is exceptional in that it can operate as either a USB audio interface or as an entirely self-contained, studio-quality DAW—and it performs both functions quite well.
Gear and Technology
Real-World Review: Universal Audio UAD-2 Live Rack
Russ Long put the Universal Audio UAD-2 Live Rack to the test during a string of Amy Grant/Vince Gill shows at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, and came away with a distinct opinion….
Gear and Technology
Review: OWC USB-C Travel Dock
By Clive Young. A basic connectivity solution for pros on the go, the dock gets it done.
Gear and Technology
Review: Goodhertz Vulf Compressor Plug-In
Rich Tozzoli says this plug-in is a beast.
Gear and Technology
Review: Goodhertz Megaverb Plug-In
Rich Tozzoli finds the Megaverb plug-in to be an incredibly useful tool to achieve unique reverb effects.
Gear and Technology
Review: AudioSourceRE’s DeMIX Pro
By Rob Tavaglione. AudioSourceRE is up to some seriously revolutionary stuff, especially considering that this is nascent technology.
Gear and Technology
Review: UK Sound 1173 Mic Pre Compressor
By Rob Tavaglione. The 1173 brings the best of both worlds into a single unit, offering a Neve-style 1073 preamp and Universal Audio 1176 FET compressor.
Gear and Technology
Review: Roswell Pro Audio Colares Condenser Mic
By Rob Tavaglione. The Colares can be exceptionally colorful and “character driven,” and that’s what makes it special—but with its unique pad, it can be an entirely different, neutral and “invisible” mic, which makes it really valuable.
Gear and Technology
Review: McDSP EC-300 Echo Collection Plug-In
By Rich Tozzoli. This is a tone-shaping, sonically modulating dream delay that I use on virtually every session.
Gear and Technology
Review: Keeley Eddie Heinzelman VoT Verb o Trem Pedals
By Rich Tozzoli. The Verb o Trem is the simpler of the two; the Workstation brings more flexibility for those who need it. Each is a worthy pedal with a rich sonic vibe that’s equally at home in the...
Gear and Technology
Review: Fryette Power Load
By Rich Tozzoli. Power Load lets you achieve real amp tones without having to mic up a cabinet.
Gear and Technology
Review: Eventide H9 HotSawz Synth Algorithm
By Rich Tozzoli. HotSawz allows users to bring a little synth action to the table. It’s a very cool addition to the H9 arsenal.