Free Plug-ins This Week: Yamaha synth emulation and a two-band overdrive

The Krakli Arminator is a beast of a synth that will let you coax authentic 80s soundtrack tones with ease, while saschArt has cooked up a brutal, two-headed distortion unit. Check them out!

Delay pedal shoot-out video on YouTube: 25 guitar effects head-to-head

Looking for a new delay pedal for your guitar rig? The guys at Gear Gods have compiled a 25-way shoot-out of delay FX pedals, a great place to start your research.

Why the iPad is an amazing – and awful – tool for making music

The iPad is the future of music making happening right now. It's a beautiful machine with limitless musical possibilities! Great. Now, let me tell you why it sucks...

Fender Custom Shop Founders Design 30th anniversary documentary

The Fender Custom Shop probably saved the company and created some memorable guitars along the way; this documentary is a must-see for all Fender fans.

MIDI sucks, so why do we put up with it?

Is it about time that we found something beyond the constraints of MIDI that takes us into the future? Robin seems to think so.

Is Logic Pro X 10.3 proof that creatives are still on Apple’s radar?

With the Logic Pro X 10.3 update making use of the new MacBook Pro Touch Bar last month, perhaps we should count our blessings in the creative industry....

Music is Win explains “Why NAMM Show Sucks”

All those cool new toys to play, celebrities signing stuff and booth babes, but somehow it still sucks...

Jef’s Picks 2016: Epiphone, Hudson, Friedman

My top three bits of gear released in 2016. Some of them were so great I even went out and bought them myself!

Simon’s Picks 2016: Cakewalk, PreSonus, Townsend and more…

A year of new pro audio toys has nearly passed and so has the first year of Gearnews. Here's my top 5 products that have stood out for me this year.

Robin’s Picks 2016: Behringer, Screenforge, Make Noise

Here's the top 3 products from this years releases that really got under my skin in a deliciously musical way.

Happy Christmas from the gearnews.com team!

2016 is almost over, and what a great year it's been! For music gear, at least...

The 5 Best Microphones 2016: Shure, Lewitt, Chandler, Ocean Way, Townsend

This year has seen some significant advancements in microphone technology. Here's our run down of the Top 5 microphones, each with something to shout about.

Top 5 new guitar ranges of 2016

Here are five new guitar ranges launched in 2016 that should be on your radar!

Christmas Gift Ideas For Guitarists!

Christmas is almost upon us, and many of us are still looking for some last minute ideas for gifts. Here are some ideas for guitar-related stocking-fillers!

‘Brexit-busting’ budget guitar recording Pt. 1: Software

Want to record some of your great guitar tones? Crashing pound left you without the cash for a recording studio? Here are some great tips for recording guitars on very, very low budget...

New Guitar Amps 2016 Quiz

All year, our resident amp expert Jef Stone has been feeding you the latest news on the hottest amps, from 50s-style reissue Blues combos to 200-Watt Hair Metal monsters. Have you been paying attention?

How to sound like J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr

Coming out of the post-punk hardcore scene of the United States, J Mascis transformed from a drummer into guitar legend, his unique style was complemented by his love of classic rock and melded with his ...

Top 5 Signature Guitars and Basses 2016

Artist associations have come a long way over the years and this year we feel these are the best so far. What do you think?

Top 5 free mixing plug-ins in 2016

With so many free plug-ins available, we take a look at some of the hottest free mixing plug-ins released this year... so far!

Android – Why is it still so crap for making music?

If you are a musician and an Android smartphone user I guarantee that at some point you've looked at what's on offer and thought - 'If only I had an iPhone'.

Weird guitar pedals – Top 5

Our Top 5 Weird and Wonderful effects pedals of 2016 so far. Join us down the rabbit hole and seek inspiration on the road less travelled with these odd little stomp boxes of joy.

Top 5 modular synths for beginners

Intrigued by modular but don't know where to start? Here's our guide to the best gateway products for getting into Modular Synthesis.

Top 5 Audio Interfaces for 2016

Choosing the best audio interface can be a really difficult decision. Here's our selection of the Top 5 Audio Interfaces out this year, that we recommend.

Top 5 Fuzz Pedals: The best dirt boxes of 2016

We at GearNews believe that a good dirt box is an essential part of any guitarist's rig. We've rounded up our top fuzz pedals that have been released so far this year.