How-To Guides 5
From Pianos to Power Toms: The History of Yamaha Drums
When you think Yamaha, you might picture a grand piano in a concert hall, a revving motorcycle, or their classic logo on a student’s first keyboard. But Yamaha’s presence behind the drum kit is equally as storied, and it shares a connection to their expertise in piano craftsmanship. From their melodic instrument legacy to their […]
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 […]
The Not-So-Hidden History Behind Modal ARGON8M’s Lush Digital Soundscapes
One of the best and worst things about revisiting history is rediscovering where things went so wrong. Around a year ago, while reviewing Roland’s JD-08, I made this off-hand comment: “I hate that too many of the electronic instruments out there cater to more atonal or textural Eurorack-inspired musicians.” Before I open up your hate […]
A Beginner’s Guide to Fingerpicking
Looking to spice up your guitar playing with a new skill? No matter what style of guitar you play, fingerpicking is a great tool to add to your arsenal. In this blog post, we’ll help get you going on your fingerpicking journey by walking you through the fundamental techniques, including a layout of the PIMA […]
Bring the Studio to the Stage — Acoustic Pedalboard
Anyone who has played acoustic out knows the struggle — a 10-year-old DI box brings your guitar signal to a front-of-house tech and you just pray they do you right. A pedalboard for your acoustic can help to alleviate some of the classic acoustic player woes by providing a quality, treated signal to your audio […]
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 […]
