Great preamps cost a ton of money. At least that's what manufacturers of expensive microphone preamps want you to believe. And there is some truth to it. As usual: you get what you pay for. If you spring for a professional level model like the Avalon VT-737SP, you get professional level sound quality and complete control over that sound. But you can pay a lot less … [Read more...] about DBX 286S Review (Affordable Mic Preamp That Does Everything You Need)
Singing
Songs To Sing To Your Girlfriend (Romantic Tunes To Dedicate To Your Crush)
Few things express love better than music. Singing to your girlfriend or to a crush will let her know how you feel in a way that is far more special than merely saying the words. But you can't sing just any song. Ideally, you want to serenade your girlfriend with a song she loves, but the message is perhaps even more important. That's why you can sing a style of … [Read more...] about Songs To Sing To Your Girlfriend (Romantic Tunes To Dedicate To Your Crush)
Avalon VT-737SP Review (Is This Channel Strip With Preamp Worth The Cost?)
A great microphone is not enough. Neither is a quality guitar or other instrument. Without a great preamplifier, or a channel strip that contains a great preamp, spending money on a good mic or instrument is a waste. And if you want to get the best possible sound, you need the best possible preamp. And that conversation inevitably turns to the Avalon VT-737SP. It is … [Read more...] about Avalon VT-737SP Review (Is This Channel Strip With Preamp Worth The Cost?)
Shure SM7B Review (Can A Dynamic Mic Really Excel For Studio Vocals?)
A dynamic mic for recording vocals in a studio? I know we generally think of studio recording as a job for condenser mics, but dynamic ones aren't as rare in the studio as you might think. Of course, you don't want to use just any old microphone. You want a dynamic microphone like the Shure SM7B. What makes this mic so good for recording vocals? And is it a better … [Read more...] about Shure SM7B Review (Can A Dynamic Mic Really Excel For Studio Vocals?)
Audio-Technica AT2035 Review (Does This Budget Microphone Deliver?)
The Audio-Technica AT2035 occupies an important position in the market. It is one of the few good microphones to bridge that gap between cheap and expensive. For studio or home recording, you generally want a condenser microphone. But deciding which one to get is far from easy. After doing a bit of research, it starts to seem like you have to choose between incredibly … [Read more...] about Audio-Technica AT2035 Review (Does This Budget Microphone Deliver?)
Rode NT1-A Review (Great Budget Microphone For Home Recording)
The Rode NT1-A is extremely popular. A large reason for that is the low price. It is rare to find a condenser microphone selling in this price range. Naturally, this microphone can't compete with much more expensive professional level models. But where exactly does it fall behind? What do you lose by saving money on this mic instead of spending more on a higher-quality … [Read more...] about Rode NT1-A Review (Great Budget Microphone For Home Recording)
10 Simple Vocal Warm-Ups You Need To Do To Avoid Damaging Your Voice
We all know you need to warm up before playing a sport. You can feel it. If you don't warm up first, your muscles feel tight. Only after warming up do you feel loose and ready to hit the gym, court, field, etc. Things aren't quite so obvious when it comes to singing. We can't see the muscles involved and they don't feel noticeable tight either. But trust me when … [Read more...] about 10 Simple Vocal Warm-Ups You Need To Do To Avoid Damaging Your Voice
AKG C414 XLII Review (Great All-Around Microphone)
Some mics are perfect for vocals. But they don't do a good job with instruments. Others are great for a specific type of instruments. But they don't capture other instruments well. And let's not even talk about their ability to capture vocals. If you're in a band that performs a lot, this is not much of a problem. You're going to need a bunch of mics regardless, so … [Read more...] about AKG C414 XLII Review (Great All-Around Microphone)
Sennheiser e945 Review (Is This Dynamic Microphone Worth The Cost?)
If you've seen a lot of live shows, chances are you've seen the Sennheiser e945 microphone in action plenty of times. It is a favorite among professional musicians and has developed a reputation as being tough and durable; as a mic that can withstand even the roughest touring schedule and that can survive the drops and bumps that come with a live performance. Is that … [Read more...] about Sennheiser e945 Review (Is This Dynamic Microphone Worth The Cost?)
How To Sing With A Cold (Or A More Serious Illness) And Avoid Making It Worse
To sing or not to sing. That is the question. And it's a hard one to answer when you're sick. You certainly don't feel like singing when you have a cold or a sore throat or some other ailment that leaves you feeling run down and fatigued. But sometimes you have a performance or audition you just can't miss. So you force yourself to sing despite your illness. But … [Read more...] about How To Sing With A Cold (Or A More Serious Illness) And Avoid Making It Worse
