As Content Manager, Maya writes about gear for zZounds — especially recording and live sound gear. She started plunking on a piano in 1992, and began audio engineering work in 2000. Over the years, she’s fronted bands, trained commercial voiceover actors, assisted on hundreds of recording sessions, and once co-wrote an alt-rock musical. Currently, Maya’s music gig is singing lullabies to her two young children.
What Does the “Music Ducking” Button on My PA Speaker Do?
If you’ve got a portable PA speaker or all-in-one PA system with a mic input and a music playback channel, you may have a button or switch on the back labeled something like Ducking, Music Ducking, Mic Priority, Voice Priority, Talkover, or Voiceover. So, what does that button do? The automatic music ducking/mic priority feature […]
PreSonus Metro, Capture, and More: How to Use Your StudioLive Mixer’s Most Powerful Tools
PreSonus StudioLive digital mixers are a fixture in countless venues and houses of worship — known for their Fat Channel effects processing and ease of use. But the real power of these mixers becomes apparent when you connect them to a computer or smart device. StudioLive mixers have always had tight integration with PreSonus software, […]
DI Box vs. Line Isolator: Which One Do You Need in Your Rig?
With the rise of “amp-in-a-box” modeling processors that include line-level outputs, line isolators have become increasingly popular with guitarists — with boxes like the Walrus Audio Canvas and Radial Highline series replacing the old standby DI box in some rigs. So, what’s the difference between a DI vs. line isolator? The DI box — also […]
Ultra-Low-Latency Wireless Headphones Arrive
If you’ve ever tried to DJ or play an instrument while monitoring your performance on Bluetooth wireless headphones, you’ve likely run into latency issues. That’s why wired headphones have long been the standard for DJing or any monitoring application that requires precise timing. But now that ultra-low-latency wireless headphones like the AIAIAI TMA-2 DJ Wireless, […]
TASCAM Model 24 vs. Model 2400
Since its 2018 release, TASCAM’s Model 24 mixer/interface/recorder has proved to be an easy-to-use and pro-sounding solution for multitrack recording. Now, the venerable recording gear maker has followed up their hit with the TASCAM Model 2400. Though it looks similar at first glance to the predecessor, the TASCAM Model 2400 is a beast under the […]
How to Pronounce Fuchs, Cioks, and More Music Gear Brand Names You Should Know How to Say
Ever wondered how to pronounce some of the more unusual music gear brand names out there? Here at zZounds, we’ve heard every mispronunciation out there. Here are 12 commonly mispronounced music gear brand names, and our guide to saying them correctly — so you can avoid embarrassing mistakes next time you’re talking gear. This post […]
Subscription vs. Perpetual License: Smart Buys for DAW Software
Should you buy a subscription or a perpetual license for your DAW software? Some DAW makers give you a choice of either model. Let’s consider the reasons it may be smarter to subscribe, rather than buy your music production software outright. With this information — plus a look at the release history of your DAW […]
32-Bit Float Recording: What It Is and How to Use It
As any recording engineer will tell you, setting proper gain levels has always been key to capturing audio accurately — but 32-bit floating-point recording, commonly known as 32-bit float, is here to make setting levels a thing of the past. 32-bit float as an audio capture format — now widely accessible via affordable gear like […]
Bose S1 Pro Plus vs. Bose S1 Pro
The original Bose S1 Pro has long been a top choice of performers and presenters in need of a compact, battery-powered personal PA system. An easy-to-carry unit with two mic/instrument inputs, a Bluetooth receiver, and a smart tilt-back design, the S1 Pro became a hit with artists, spawning numerous competitors since its launch at the […]
