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The best cheap microphone is often all we need. We don't want the bottom rung of mics but we also don't need to break the bank over recording in our home studio. There are too many other items we need our budget to cover. The reality is that "cheap" mics are only inexpensive in comparison to the high-end options. While you may frown at the […]
The best studio headphones are the best for every task from mixing and recording to tracking and critical listening. While you may be on the hunt for a set of cans for a specific purpose, you'll undoubtedly use them across the board. That's why we're going to have a quick look at some things you should consider and then we'll jump straight into the reviews […]
The best vocal microphones come in various shapes, sizes, and types. Compound that with the unbelievable amount of bad info out there and it's no wonder people aren't sure what they should be looking for. There is a truth to the matter and we're going to break it down for you simply and clearly. Then we'll offer some recommendations of both main types of mics […]
Here we go now with another silly Metallica legal scandal. File this one under 'Legal Lessons.' Before you get your pitchforks out and start to burn your Black Album (if St. Anger didn't get it first), I want to offer up some context into this sort of thing. When you get to Metallica's level, you aren't just a band anymore... you're a corporation, it's big […]
Lots of people tend to research for months about which is the best electric guitar when what they really need is to get started playing and practicing. Becoming an elite player requires time behind a solid axe picking and strumming. What a beginner needs is an electric that is generally great so they can learn over time what specific nuances they care about, and that's […]
Have you ever wondered how a famous band got its name? Stage names have a huge influence on how we perceive an artist or a band. Some names, like the Sex Pistols, perfectly capture the essence of a band. Other names, such as Cage the Elephant, seem completely random and nonsensical and leave you wondering– “Who came up with that band name?” Choosing the right […]
What’s an EP? And how is it different from an LP? This is a question that comes up all the time from aspiring musicians and fans alike, and the answer is not quite as simple as you might think! Let’s explore some of the differing qualities between EPs and LPs, the history behind these two album formats, and how they might help you if you’re […]
Performing rights organizations (PROs) exist to help musicians manage the licensing and rights to their work, so they get the royalties they are entitled to. Two of the biggest in North America are the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI). If you’re a musician and looking for a PRO to license your work, how do you know which […]
In this article, we’ll discuss everything there is to know about ethnomusicology and what kinds of jobs are available to those with a background in this area of study. We'll also cover the salaries and wages as well as everything involved in education to get you ready. What is Ethnomusicology? Ethnomusicology is the academic study of the socio-cultural aspects of music. In other words, ethnomusicologists […]
Here we’ll explore what music librarians do and what types of jobs are available. We'll also cover the average salary and how you can begin a career in this area of study in terms of education requirements. What is a Music Librarian? A music librarian is a person who has a broad understanding of both music and librarianship. The same way that a regular librarian […]
Unlike other careers in music, music therapy doesn’t involve recording soundtracks for films or perfecting the acoustics in a theater. Instead, music therapy requires you to work one-on-one or in small groups to facilitate therapy that helps people heal and recover. Ready to learn more about music therapy, including how to become a music therapist and what degree you need to make it happen? Read […]
While the job title of sound technician sounds a bit stuffy, it’s a more colorful career than you might assume with plenty of challenges, creativity, technical know-how, and opportunity for advancement. Many sound tech job duties are similar to those of the one-man recording artist, making this career path a desirable and lucrative one for many music enthusiasts. Here we’ll cover what a sound technician […]
Don’t worry; we’ve got your back. In this article, we’ll explain in detail what an audio engineers is, how much their skills net on the market, and how you could take the first steps in becoming an audio engineer as a career. What is an Audio Engineer? Audio engineers and sound engineers are the masters of audio hardware and software that is used during the […]
The problem is that some students get confused about which types of music majors or degrees to pick and which one will best prepare them for their desired career. Music majors and degree options vary from one university or college to the next. While some are quite general, others are highly specialized. You should only choose the specialized ones when you are sure of your […]
A recording artist can only do so much to create an inspiring sound, but it’s the music producer who brings it all together and makes it harmonious. And they're skills are largely gained at one of the best music production schools in the nation. Music production is one of the most exciting career fields you can enter. The creativity and thought process involved with engineering […]
Although it can be challenging to choose the best audio engineering school or college for you, given the plethora of options available to you, don’t let the options overwhelm you. Instead, let yourself be excited about the multiple choices — you’re that much closer to achieving your sound engineering or music producing dreams than you realize. Before you make a decision, make sure you have […]
You can ask 100 professionals which is the best DAW and get at least 10 different answers. That's not because there's a ton of equally good choices out there, but because each is created with certain industries and genres of music in mind. In the past some of these costed an arm and a leg and required a dongle proving you paid for their giant […]
Free audio editing software made me into the man I am today. Of course, I jest, but the truth is that if they weren't available to me when I first got started then I'd have never gotten started. There were two main reasons. First, I wasn't going to shell out big bucks for a professional-grade audio editor when I was simply curious about the process. […]
The de-esser isn't a modern tool at all. Even before it existed in its current form they were being created by using several other signal processing units in combination. They exist for a single purpose, though their use has been expanded a bit over time. When humans speak or sing, we have a tendency to create harsh bursts of high frequency sounds when pronouncing certain […]
The most basic explanation of a limiter would be that it's a device that stops all audio (whether digital or an electrical signal) from exceeding a certain volume. Though it can operate at any volume level, it's mainly used at the maximum allowed amplitude to avoid the phenomenon of peaking. Before we dive in much further, let me lay out the game plan here. We're […]