I’m a sound engineer, songwriter, and the editor-in-chief of zZounds.com. When I’m not geeking out about recording gear and enforcing proper punctuation, I’m singing and playing keyboards for the Dayna Clay Project.
Megan Slankard and DJ KennyM: Amplified by Bose Portable PA Systems
Megan Slankard is a California native, while Kenny Martins hails from New Jersey. She’s a guitar-toting singer-songwriter and indie rocker, while he’s “DJ KennyM” — a producer and DJ who gets crowds dancing with two turntables and a Maschine. But although they come from opposite coasts and different musical traditions, Megan and Kenny both rely […]
How Do Headphones Produce Bass Frequencies?
To reproduce low frequencies accurately, loudspeakers need to be big. It’s why dedicated subwoofer speakers often use large drivers, commonly around 18″ wide for live sound reinforcement, and at least 8″ or 10″ wide in the recording studio. Yet headphones use comparatively tiny drivers — usually no larger than 50 millimeters, and much smaller for in-ear […]
What’s a “Class A” Amplifier?
“Class A” refers to a specific amplifier output design. Without diving too deep into electrical engineering, suffice it to say that Class A is the simplest, most basic circuit topology for an amplifier, and the easiest to design with less inherent distortion. Theoretically, you might say it’s a “perfect,” linear amplifier circuit: the output is […]
Ribbon Microphones 101
Attention, home studio musicians: If you’ve already invested in a large-diaphragm condenser mic or two, perhaps it’s time to add a ribbon microphone to your bag of studio tricks! Here’s a beginner’s guide to ribbon microphones and how you can use them to get that smooth, “vintage-style” sound you’re going for. Ribbon Microphones, Yesterday and […]
QSC at NAMM 2017: New K Cardioid Sub & E Series Speakers
Fans of QSC loudspeakers had plenty to see and hear at the QSC NAMM 2017 booth, with the debut of the QSC K Cardioid powered subwoofer, plus the new E218SW sub and E215 full-range cabinet in QSC’s E Series of passive speakers. In our video from the NAMM show floor, QSC’s Chris Brouelette gives an […]
Interview: Kenny Carkeet, Keyboardist for AWOLNATION
Kenny Carkeet has been making music with AWOLNATION — the electronic alt-rock band masterminded by frontman Aaron Bruno — since the project’s inception in 2009. “I’ve been playing with AWOL since the very beginning,” recalls Carkeet. “I met Aaron when he was still kind of creating the AWOLNATION thing…even before this was a band.” The […]
Artist Impressions: Minimoog Model D
Moog’s Minimoog Model D — back in production for the first time since 1981 — has been making waves among analog synthesizer fans. Among those fans are Greg Spero, touring keyboardist for Halsey, and AWOLNATION’s Kenny Carkeet. Both musicians took a brand-new Model D for a spin at the zZounds HQ. In addition to his […]
Roland’s 909 Day: Redefining the Product Launch Event
At their The Future Redefined event, nicknamed “909 Day,” Roland is rolling out a slew of new gear — and they’re also introducing a new way to launch products, breaking the mold of the traditional tradeshow approach. Backstage at Studio Six01 in Burbank, California, just before the Los Angeles leg of 909 Day kicked off, […]
Singer-Songwriter Jamie Kent: On the Road with the Bose® L1® System
Nashville singer-songwriter Jamie Kent has played countless small and mid-sized venues — and he’s no stranger to those rooms’ hit-or-miss sound quality. So this seasoned “road warrior” takes sonic matters into his own hands by bringing a portable PA: the Bose® L1® Model II system. In between stops on the Bose Troubadour Tour, and on his […]
