How-To Guides 5
Learn 7 Blues Leads in 15 Minutes!
Continue your journey to blues mastery with this second lesson on the blues! In our first lesson, we covered the 12-Bar Blues progression (plus several variations) in 12 minutes. This time, watch as Justin demonstrates seven easy-to-learn blues lead licks that’ll add tons of flavor to your playing. Even if you don’t play blues, these […]
Achieve Streaming-Ready Sound in iZotope Ozone With These Three Tips
Mastering is that one essential job that every track needs and no one wants to do. The essential backbone of every professional mix that offers little flair. Vastly misunderstood and socially awkward, mastering is basically the “bass player” of your mix. What is Ozone 11? iZotope tries to take the mystery out of the process […]
Master the 12-Bar Blues in 12 Minutes
Join zZounds for a detailed lesson on the 12-bar blues! Watch as Justin leads you through essential chord progressions and turnarounds that’ll have you sounding like a pro in no time. Learning the 12-bar blues offers players the opportunity to lay down a strong musical foundation upon which they can build new and interesting skills. […]
Mix Sounding Flat? Here’s How to Keep Your Drums Punchy!
Drums drive the rhythm and energy of a track, but getting them to cut through a dense mix without overpowering other elements can be a challenge. Whether you’re mixing a hard-hitting rock track or a tight, modern pop beat, keeping your drums punchy and present requires a balance of EQ, compression, transient shaping, and strategic […]
Vinyl Turntable Setup: Build Your Perfect Home Record System
Don’t call it a comeback! Vinyl records are now a hit with all listeners. And whether you’re just starting out or upgrading your gear, there’s a turntable perfect for you at zZounds. In this video and blog post, we’ll cover three top options: the classic standard turntable, a modern wireless Bluetooth model, and a USB-enabled […]
Add Excitement to Your Mixes With the UAD Hitsville Reverb Plug-In
Ever notice the lively ambience of vocal, drum, and instrument tracks on ’60s Motown classics? That distinctive sound is due in large part to the unique house-turned-studio purchased by Motown founder Berry Gordy, the attic of which was converted into a reverb chamber that became one of the most characterful reverb sounds ever recorded. In […]
Using Delay to Create Spring Reverb: What Is the Belton Brick?
Classic, glassy, spring reverb. It’s a snapshot into the past of guitar tone. Mental images of Telecasters through a spring reverb-equipped amplifier in the hands of Dick Dale or George Harrison dance through your mind any time you hear it. But for most players, classic spring reverb tanks just aren’t practical in the modern age. […]
The Source Audio Artifakt Makes Lo-Fi Sounds Easy to Achieve!
The humble beginnings of “lo-fi” music started in musicians’ homes in the 1950s when the spirit of DIY recording was a necessity, not a style. Moving forward into the 1990s, artists began to adapt the low-fidelity sound of DIY recording techniques into the sound of their music overall. This brought the lo-fi sound into the […]
Mixing With the UAD Capitol Chambers Reverb Plug-in
It’s not easy to find a software reverb that replicates the complex-yet-musical sound of a real, physical reverb chamber. However, Universal Audio seems to have done this quite well with their Capitol Chambers reverb plug-in. Let’s get inside UAD’s Capitol Chambers and hear it in action! A Classic Verb If you’re going to emulate the […]
