Talking Shop: No Space Like Home
With so many of us cooped up due to self-quarantine and stay-in-place orders, we’re gaining a new appreciation for the great indoors. Musicians, producers and the like are turning to their home studios for refuge, whether starting new projects or just tidying up a bit. In this edition of Talking Shop, we’re showcasing some zZounds […]
A Journey to MIDI Guitar Land: Part III
Do you know when I had the most fun using a MIDI guitar controller? When I forgot I had a guitar in my hand. It feels liberating to say this but: using the guitar merely as this vessel to do other far more interesting things with it was beyond revelatory. In this post, I’ll share […]
COVID-19 Relief Options for Music Industry Workers
If you’re a musician, music educator, sound engineer, live event staff, or anyone who owns a small business or earns income as a self-employed worker, the economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) has been particularly painful. We at zZounds wanted to help share information about the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Stimulus (CARES) […]
Exclusive Video: Martin SC-13E
With the recently released SC-13E, Martin proves that they can push technological boundaries while maintaining a rich legacy. Constructed with a solid Sitka spruce top and attractive koa back and sides, the SC-13E fuses the genuine Martin acoustic sound with modern playability and features — expanding what you thought you could do on a traditional […]
EarthQuaker Devices Casts Afterneath into the Third Age
Cast forth directly from the palms of powerful tone sorcerer Jamie Stillman comes the third age of Afterneath! The EarthQuaker Devices Afterneath was a darling of NAMM 2020 with a third pedal version being announced, along with a potent Eurorack module. Stillman recounts crafting the rack module and stumbling upon a rather interesting feature, “Drag.” […]
Talking Shop: Show Us Your Boards
A guitarist’s pedalboard layout and signal chain says a lot about them. Do they prefer a small board with just the essentials, or go for a massive one capable of producing any sound known to man? To complement our Pedal Board Buying Guide at zZounds, we thought to ask zZounds staffers to share pictures of […]
Chameleon Labs 7721 Stereo VCA Compressor Demo
In our demo video, we review the features of the Chameleon Labs 7721 VCA compressor, then put it through its paces on drum submixes and stereo mixes. Grab your headphones (or turn up your studio monitor speakers) and hear how the 7721 adds punch, loudness, and acoustic “glue” — resulting in tracks that sound tighter, […]
All-Star Electric Guitars in Action
To complement our All-Star Electric Guitars guide on zZounds, we’re showcasing these top-rated guitars in action! Scroll down to see happy owners flex their chops on Instagram, and get an idea of what makes these guitars so popular! Shop the All-Star Gear Guide >> Gibson SG Standard ’61 Let’s see…@ampturco plays a Gibson SG, plugged […]
Gibson Exclusive Firebird I Demo
In the early 1960s, a well-known car designer by the name of Ray Dietrich retired to Kalamazoo, Michigan. He had done some styling work in the auto industry for manufacturers like Packard and Lincoln as well as designing some custom luxury vehicles. Soon after he had moved to Kalamazoo, Ted McCarty, then president of Gibson, […]
