Fender Releases American Ultra Series Guitars & Basses
Fender has just announced their newest line of Corona-made instruments, the American Ultra Series! A full family consisting of the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazzmaster and Precision and Jazz basses is represented, all sporting brand-new features and finishes. American Ultra series instruments offer features such as tapered neck heels for easy access to the upper frets, compound […]
Talking Shop: Halloween Party Playlist Picks
No Halloween party is complete without great music. You already know the staple hits, so we’re highlighting some less obvious gems that add eerie ambience, campy fun, and downright funky grooves that just won’t die. Check out our Halloween picks below, and add yours in the comments! Michele Musser – Too Much I’m going out […]
Analog Filtering Tracks With the Korg Volca Mix
With all the great plug-ins available these days, is there really any advantage to using analog outboard processing? In this post we’ll take a listen to some sound samples that have been processed by analog filtering so you can hear for yourself. For our purposes we’ll use the Korg Volca Mix, a very affordable portable […]
Coaxial Studio Monitors in the Real World
Kali Audio’s “Project Independence” IN-8 and IN-5 studio monitor speakers are notable for their three-way architecture, with the midrange driver and tweeter nested together in a coaxial, or coincident, design. We’re taking a close look at coaxial studio monitors — and how they can help solve the real-world problems of phase cancellation and off-axis lobing […]
Beat Techniques: Ambisonic Music Production
Ambisonics is a phrase used to describe a way of listening to sound beyond the mono and stereo world we’re normally exposed to through headphones and speakers. Ambisonics is immersive audio coming to you from all angles — left, right, north, and south. If you’ve caught any of the previous Beat Connection posts, you’re probably […]
Unpacking The Envelope Filter
The envelope filter, also known as “auto-wah,” has been a staple of funk, disco, and other types of music since the ’70s. Let’s take a look into the basics of this effect using the EarthQuaker Devices Spatial Delivery pedal. What is an Envelope Filter? An envelope filter works very similarly to a wah pedal, but […]
All-Star Gear in Action: Beat-Making Gear
We’re highlighting our All-Star Beat Making gear over at zZounds and thought — why not give folks a chance to hear what this amazing gear can do? Check out our roundup of some of the coolest beats made on every piece of gear in our list, from artists on Instagram. Novation Circuit This incredible Circuit-fueled […]
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 […]
