A Case for the Home Studio Mixer
It’s easier than ever to create a great-sounding record in the comfort of your own home, and that’s an incredible thing. More producers are creating hits at younger and younger ages due to the wide accessibility of studio gear, which should make any seasoned musician excited for what’s to come. But one thing that technology […]
Brian and Scott Ball on the 2018 StingRay Bass
Music Man’s 2018 incarnation of the venerable StingRay Bass incorporates the best of the instrument’s legacy and adds stunning new features, like a powerful 18-volt active preamp for ultra-high clean headroom and some extra beef in the low end. The humbucking pickups have also been upgraded with neodymium magnets for increased output. And thanks to the […]
Summer NAMM 2018
There was a ton to see at this year’s Summer NAMM, and if pictures are worth a thousand words, videos have to be worth what, a million? Check out our videos showcasing the best of what we saw from Fender, Boss, Vox, Taylor, D’Angelico, Guild and Cordoba! Plus, scroll down or click here to see […]
The Wireless MIDI Keyboard Rig
Playing keyboards is my jam, but schlepping a lot of gear around is definitely not. My main gigging board is a Roland AX-Synth Shoulder Synthesizer — or a keytar, as it’s affectionately known. Besides the keytar’s distinctive look, the appeal of this board is its eminent portability. But there comes a time when you need […]
Bringing Your Guitar Back From the Dead (of Winter)
Whether it’s cars colliding with cavernous potholes, or football opponents colliding with “Bear weather,” Chicago is a city known for its winters. It is also true that instruments are not safe from the grasp of Old Man Winter, which can expose the mortality of even the “elite.” While winter has proven capable its ability to […]
A Guide to Distorted Bass Guitar
In the dark, mysterious world of heavy music, the guitar reigns supreme, sitting atop a craggy mountain on a throne of crushed skulls. If you want to riff hard, usually you grab a guitar, drop the tuning down, plug into your favorite fuzz and start chugging. If you follow conventional wisdom though, the bass guitar, sitting […]
Beat Techniques: Dub Production
Welcome to Beat Connection, a series dedicated to promoting modern and vintage dance styles the only way we know how…by providing you a musical starting point to help you create that beat. In the main bulk of our posts, we’ve been taking you on a journey to what I’d dub “foundational beats.” These foundational beats […]
A Guide to Finding Your Perfect Snare Drum
The centerpiece of your drum kit, the most addictive thing to collect in all of drumming — the punchy, fat or attacking snare drum. It’s no secret that the snare drum is one of the sexiest pieces of modern drum kits, and with so many different materials, colors and sizes, it’s easy to get lost […]
Keyboardist Bonnie McIntosh: Roland Artist (and Role Model)
Where in the world is Bonnie McIntosh? As the live keyboardist for such pop phenoms as Selena Gomez, Madilyn Bailey, and Malia Civetz, the talented Ms. McIntosh spends a lot of time globetrotting (just peep her Instagram for photo evidence.) When she’s not on the road playing tour dates and TV gigs, you’ll find this […]
