Sounds and Presets: Getting the Yamaha SY77/99 Sound in 2024

After redefining the sound of the 1980s with the DX7, Yamaha upped their game to take on the competition that had fought back. The Yamaha SY77 and SY99 were their response, but how do we get that sound today?

Yamaha CS-80 Alternatives: 5 Replicants of the Polyphonic Giant

With Yamaha CS-80 Alternatives, we're exploring some different ways to recreate its sound in plug-in, keyboard, and desktop module format.

Rehearsal Room Essentials: 5 Tips to Improve your Band Practices

With Rehearsal Room Essentials, you can outfit your practice space with some useful tools to make rehearsals the highlight of your week.

The Mix Engineer Starter Pack: 5 Essential Tools

Want to start mixing music professionally, or even mixing your friends' bands? Here's the Mix Engineer Starter Pack with some tips.

The History Of Sequential: Celebrating 50 Years of Sequential

This year, Dave Smith’s Sequential Circuits celebrates its 50th Anniversary! We dive into the company's story in this History of Sequential.

Which is the Best DAW System for your Style of Music?

The DAW debate has arrived! With so many choices available, we're helping you choose the best DAW for your music production workflow.

Sounds and Presets: Vangelis with No CS-80 Required!

Mention the maestro Vangelis and the Yamaha CS-80 will surely be referenced sooner rather than later. This week we check out a library that manages to evade that connection.

The Best Live Vocal Mics for Stage Performance

Getting a great live vocal sound is an essential part of your production, we check out some of the best live vocal mics for use on stage.

Casio CZ-101, FM Synthesis, 4ms MetaModule: Synth Journal

The Casio CZ-101 displays unexpected talents in classical music, Dr John Chowning revisits the origins of FM and 4ms ships a revolutionary hybrid module.

The Best Pocket Synths: 5 Ways to Get Creative on the Go

Ever get a creative itch for synths in situations where a mobile app simply won't do? Let's check out some of the best pocket synths!

Sample Layering for Beginners: 5 Tips for Producers

In this article, we explore some of the fundamentals of sample layering and cover some tips for beginners in a music production context.

The Best Budget 500 Series modules for Home Recording

Tired of analogue modeling software plug-ins? We check out some of the best budget 500 series modules for producing music at home.

Fairchild Alternatives: 5 ways to get that Legendary Sound

The Fairchild 670 carries an air of mystique as if it were the recording engineer's "Pick of Destiny". We explore Fairchild alternatives.

Morton Subotnick’s Buchla, Geological Soundscapes, Expert Sleepers: Synth Journal

Synth Journal: Discover how Morton Subotnick’s Buchla 100 modular synth was brought back to life at the US Library of Congress!

The Best Grooveboxes for Beat Creation and Live Performance

Looking to stay creative while traveling, or simply to step outside your DAW? We check out the best grooveboxes for crafting beats.

The History Of Neumann: A Legacy of Recording Ingenuity

We explore the multifaceted history of Neumann, a manufacturer that has continually shaped the music recording process over the years.

How John Mayer brought the Blues back

John Mayer is one of the most influential guitarists of today. Not only is his playing instantly recognizable, he also brought the Blues back. How did he do that?

The Best 1176 Alternatives for your Home Studio

Are you in need of that classic FET compressor sound? We're looking at some of the best 1176 alternatives for your recording setup.

The Best Vocal Chain for Rock: 5 Core Elements

What does it take to build the best vocal chain for rock recording? We find out which elements can help you produce the perfect rock vocal.

Sounds and Presets: 50 Great Patches for Waldorf Quantum/Iridium, opsix and More.

Sounds and Presets covers new sounds from Jamie Morden at GEOSynths with his Flux Vol. 1 for the Waldorf Quantum and Iridium. There are also new sounds for KORG's opsix!

The Best Hardware Sequencers for Electronic Music Production

We're looking at some of the best hardware sequencers to switch up your workflow, whether you're creating music or performing live.

Take me to Funkytown: 5 of the Best Vocoder Plugins

Vocoders provide a unique sound that can give your productions a retro edge. We explore some of the best vocoder plugins for your DAW.

Tron: Ares, SNL and Controllers for Vintage Synths: Synth Journal

Who will follow in the footsteps of Daft Punk and compose the soundtrack for Tron: Ares? Find out in this week's Synth Journal!

5 of the Best Stereo EQ processors for Mixdown and Mastering

Hardware EQs are powerful tools for shaping your master bus during mixdown and mastering. We check out some of the best stereo EQ units.