How-To Guides 5
Shoegaze-in-a-Box: Catalinbread Soft Focus FX40
Some say shoegaze is making a comeback. The moody, reverb-rich, guitar-based genre plays on feelings of nostalgia, melancholy, and a lust for Jazzmasters. The folks at Catalinbread believe shoegaze never left, and we’re inclined to believe them after experiencing the Soft Focus FX40 Shoegaze reverb pedal. Pitched as an instant shoegaze button, the FX40 is […]
2025 Headphones Buying Guide
2025 Headphones Buying Guide Whether you’re a DJ, producer, performer, audiophile, or you just love having a soundtrack for your runs, commute or homework, our 2025 Headphones Buying Guide can help you find the perfect pair for your needs. Check out our guides below, watch our videos, learn the lingo, and get some handpicked recommendations […]
Building Ambient Pads in Phase Plant
Let’s get back to the basics! Building an ambient pad is an ideal application of software synthesis and what better platform to explore this medium than Phase Plant? This top-of-the-line software synth from Kilohearts does just about anything you can imagine and more. Whether you are looking for traditional subtractive synths, a robust wavetable engine, […]
Songwriting Series: Blog Collection
Songwriting Techniques and Tips Do you dream of writing your first song, or just need some tips to enhance your own works? You’ve come to the right place. Find our collection of posts offering songwriting tips that will guide you from the first verse to the very end of your next song! A Guide to […]
Touch That Dial: Three Overdrive Pedal Tricks for the Studio!
Nearly every pedal company offers an overdrive effect. It’s a decently simple circuit to create, and there are a ton of variations available on the market today. From the first overdrives that were built to emulate tube amp breakup, to the modern active EQ-equipped studio darling ODs, overdrive pedals can serve a higher purpose on […]
Want a Big Drum Room Sound? These Three Tricks Will Save Your Mix!
Not everyone has access to a perfect live room with 20-foot ceilings and sound treatment fit for an orchestra. But you don’t necessarily need unlimited space or money to achieve a huge, wide drum sound! Considering you’ve got your close microphones covered, there are a few simple tricks that can elevate your recorded drum sound […]
The Post-Bridge: Finishing Your Song Strong
If you’ve been following our songwriting series to this point, you’ve gotten tips on how to write an intro, pre-chorus, chorus, and bridge. We’ve reached the end, and to close the series out, we will cover how to write various post-bridge sections! This area of your song builds on your bridge with a final chorus, […]
Ducking Vocals With Sidechain Compression During Live Broadcasts
When there’s a blaring guitar amp right next to a vocal mic, there’s no denying that you’re going to hear some guitar bleed and pick noises coming through. In a live broadcast, especially when you’re trying to highlight the sound of a specific piece of gear, audio bleed can be annoying and distracting. In order […]
Your Drums Will Thank You for Choosing the Right Overhead Microphones
Let’s face it, we can’t all have microphone lockers filled to the brim with every modern and vintage mic option available. Most of us find a pair of decent overhead mics and stick with them forever, or at least until that sweet, sweet upgrade comes around. Today in studio we’ll be looking at three distinctly […]
