How-To Guides 5
The Art of Cast Cymbal Making
The modern cymbal brings life, complexity or even darkness to a composition like nothing else. From the fast and fiery splash cymbal, to booming and ominous oversized ride cymbals, each has unique characteristics and sound. But some of the best and most prestigious-sounding cymbals from brands like Zildjian and Sabian are built the same way […]
Three DJ Transitions to Try Between Songs
For DJs, a solid transition between songs is just as important as song selection and set programing. Transitions add cohesion to a set that you can’t achieve by just letting songs fade into each other. They can add a finesse to the night and can be used to build tension and excitement on the dance […]
Dave Elitch on Sabian HHX Complex Cymbals
The Sabian HHX family gains a few new members with the historic launch of the Complex Series. The zZounds crew flew out to meet Sabian artist and certified ripper-behind-the-kit Dave Elitch to talk about HHX Complex cymbals. Elitch is playing a mixture of HHX Complex medium cymbals and HHX thin cymbals. Elitch has worked with […]
Steve Ferrone on Sabian HHX Complex Cymbals
In celebration of the Sabian HHX Complex launch, the zZounds crew had the privilege of experiencing Steve Ferrone behind the kit playing the Sabian HHX Complex thin series cymbals. Ferrone is a legend in the music scene, touring and recording with the likes of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Eric Clapton, Rick James, Chaka Khan, […]
Creating Guitar Harmonies
Whether it’s the soaring solos of Iron Maiden, the classical prowess of Brian May, or smooth licks from The Allman Brothers Band, harmonized guitar riffs have shaped rock music for the last five decades. Today I’ll be diving into some of the basics of harmonized guitar parts and using pedals to get that same sound. […]
How the 1950s and ’60s Shaped the Modern Drum Set
The 1950s and ’60s were legendary for music, and the beating heart of all the early rock ‘n’ roll, folk and pop songs from that era was the drums. Drum kits and hardware had evolved heavily before the 1950s with changes coming every few years to how artists played their sets. Still, it wasn’t until […]
Compressor Controls Explained
One of the most important and powerful tools in any recording studio arsenal is – without a doubt – the compressor. I recently wrote about studio compressors and which specific units were good for specific applications. However, I’ve been hearing a lot of budding engineers say that they don’t understand what all the different settings do […]
How Does Drum Size Affect Tone?
Drummers, like all musicians, have certain preferences on what they play. Some drummers like bigger drums, some like smaller drums. Do you prefer deep or shallow shells? Maybe you don’t care at all, and that’s okay too. Below you’ll find the unbiased disclosure on how drum size might factor into your overall sonic signature. Diameter […]
Beat Tools: Generative Music Software for iOS
Where were we before? First, I covered what “generative music” is, and its origins. Then, I wrote of taking generative music out of the sphere of pen-and-staff-paper and into the world of software — and pointed you toward the desktop-computer-based software that can help you add computer-generated compositions into your creative space. Today, we go […]
