How many times have you experienced when nothing good comes out of your system after you created a mix? You check your monitors, your headphones, your ears and yet it still sounds terrible. So here’s a list of ways to overcome that moment.
First and foremost, make sure your gear isn’t faulty. Power issues could also affect the sonic quality of your rig. Next, make sure nothing has changed in the physical space. The size and contents of the room have a huge effect on what you hear coming out of the speakers. Thus, if things sound off, it’s possible something in the room is significantly out of place.
Read more about this here: https://www.izotope.com/content/izotope/en/learn/why-do-my-mixes-sound-bad-8-tips-to-douse-the-flames.html
Audio Recording
What is Sidechain Compression? (+ 5 Ways to Use It)
Sidechaining is when a signal processor is controlled by a signal that’s different than the one it’s effecting. An example would be the compressor on a bass reacting to the kick drum. This is done in order to create a tone curve that would cause the compressor to act very specifically.
A compressor has two circuits that work in conjunction. One is the signal path itself which is the signal from input to attenuation to output. While the other is the detector circuit which controls the attenuator. Another name for the detector circuit is the “sidechain” because it’s a chain of components that happens on the side of the primary signal chain.
Read more about this here: https://theproaudiofiles.com/sidechain-compression/
Review: Korg Gadget For Mac 2.5
Korg’s Gadget is a suite of synths and drum machines with a user-friendly interface. It is so easy to put them all together into incredible-sounding tunes. The good thing about it is it really gets to the heart of music-making: the fun of it. And best of all, it gives you great results.
There are four windows in the UI: one for your mixer (which shows each Gadget loaded per track), one piano-roll editor, the Gadget up close, and the song/arrangement. What Korg did was to take the most important parts of music-making, streamlined them and made them uncomplicated, so you can create tunes quickly.
Read more about this here: https://www.musictech.net/reviews/digital-audio-workstations/korg-gadget-for-mac-2-5/
Microphone Shootout: Small Diaphragm Condensers under $200
After trying a wide variety of microphones over the years, we will show you some of the best. The first one that we will talk about is the small-diaphragm condenser microphones at the low-budget end of the spectrum. This comparison would help you in purchasing the right microphone for your needs.
The Neumann KM 84i which is considered the greatest small-diaphragm condenser mic of all time will be our point of reference in comparing the five contenders. To test them, the 6 microphones were set up in close proximity to each other and record a single instrumental pass.
Read more about this here: https://www.musictech.net/guides/essential-guide/microphone-shootout-small-diaphragm-condensers/
The best MIDI keyboard controller for beginners
For people looking for an easy and cost-effective way of creating electronic music with computers, the Arturia MiniLab MkII is probably the best all-around 25-key MIDI keyboard controller. Its controller is compact enough to be carried around in a bag. It has a solid build quality and sleek design that both beginners and experienced musicians would admire.
The Arturia’s uncluttered layout, with well-spaced rotary knobs and pads with only minimum extra controls, also makes it an approachable option for electronic-music newbies, as well as a good choice for advanced musicians seeking a streamlined controller for live performance.
Read more about this here: https://www.engadget.com/2019/09/08/the-best-midi-keyboard-controller-for-beginners/