I’m nearing the end of a search for a new monitoring setup in my small home studio (aka spare bedroom). I fell in love with the ADAM Audio A7Vs [Tape Op#153] and a matching subwoofer Sub10 MK2 [#156]. I learned the hard way that my nearfield monitors did not stand a chance in my less-than-optimal...
half light is Mitchell Schneider and David Riddle. Taped Spaces is their first full plug-in (they’ve also made some Kontakt instruments), but they’ve been playing music together for over a decade since they met in Nashville in 2012. Let’s start with their music. In the tradition of Eno (Brian and...
Here's another new plug-in that comes included with McDSP's APB ("analog processing box") units (APB-8, APB-16 [Tape Op#134]). In case you don't know what APB processors are, they're 8 and 16-channel outboard units that connect to a computer and allow plug-in control...
Pulsar Modular never seems to disappoint when it comes to unique and colorful designs. I’ve always kept it pretty simple when it comes to EQs. I have one main software plug-in that is surgical and flexible, and a handful of other options that can do one or two tasks well that I’ll sprinkle on for...
I’ve been a longtime user of Applied Research and Technology (ART) hardware, as have most of my engineer friends with home, project, and professional studios. I remember many of my early-2000s era recordings being tracked and mixed through my old Dual Levelar compressor, mastering projects going...
I recently discovered that my mixes sounded a bit thinner than I wanted because of a buildup in presence frequencies (4 to 6 kHz). Looking for a cure, I turned to Baby Audio’s Smooth Operator “intelligent signal balancer” plug-in. The GUI looks like a dynamic EQ or a multiband compressor, running...
Touted as “a new kind of psycho-acoustic compressor,” PSP Flare can apply a huge amount of compression to a stereo or mono source, and do so without immediately veering into nasty artifacts or dulling the source. Post-production engineer Paolo Pasquariello provided the “project inspiration and base...
There are so many choices when it comes to studio monitors these days that I often forget that one of the original names in that space is JBL. For years, JBL was the monitor found in many of the best studios. As the smaller choice in JBL’s 7 Series line, The JBL 705P dual-amplified powered monitor...
"Wow, I don't feel like I'm listening to headphones. They sound so open" were the universal reactions from mastering engineers at Infrasonic Sound and students at The Blackbird Academy that I witnessed when they tried the first production prototype of the HEDDphone TWO last...
ARC Studio is an easy-to-use acoustic room correction tool, and one of my favorite recent studio upgrades. Set up is relatively simple; while it does require a computer for the calibration, once calibrated it runs computer-free. It’s easy to forget it’s even there until I hit the bypass button and...
If you’re of a certain age (mid-40s/50s), you probably remember sifting through and being raised on the records of your parents and/or siblings. Such listening sessions probably included the likes of ABBA, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, and Queen – these are still all bands I love to listen to regularly –...
I’ve loved everything Soyuz has made so far and own many of their mics, but ambisonics seemed like an odd direction for them. When Soyuz announced the 013A Ambisonic Mic, I began doing more research on the topic. From the little I knew of ambisonics, it was a bit of a complicated process with a lot...
Before delving into this review we should first clarify what is an EQ and what is a filter. EQ refers to tonal equalization with cuts or boosts of amplitude across the frequency spectrum. The most flexible form is parametric EQ, which provides frequency, bandwidth, and cut/boost controls. On the...
Universal Audio recently released a saturation and coloration UAD Native plug-in named Verve Analog Machines. Verve is a bit of a departure and something new for UA, as none of these machines are modeled after any specific piece of hardware, old or new, and they all feature minimal controls. Verve...
Gone are the days when a handful of record company executives controlled the means of mass distribution to the general public. Recording tools are now offered at entry-level prices, and there is more than enough information (some excellent, and some terrible!) available on the internet to get you...
I always have a need for good headphones, and I am fortunate enough to own several different types from various manufacturers. Like reference monitors, they each have a different sonic profile, and provide a unique perspective on program material. I have some high-end models from Audeze that I use...
It can be particularly challenging to capture the full nuance and resonance of the cello in recordings. For someone who plays an instrument designed for un-mic'd classical music, I spend a lot of time doing the exact opposite. My music relies on treating my cello as if it is a guitar – lots of...
We need to talk about the elephant in the room: the room itself. Many of us work in acoustically compromised spaces. From the card table in the corner for a remote session to the spare bedroom project studio, we can all relate. Even if you operate out of a professional facility, a voice in your...