AEA: RPQ mic preamp
reviewed by Thom Monahan
Using a ribbon microphone can be a tricky bit of business. Unlike dynamics that can take anything thrown at them or condensers that can provide whisper quiet operation, ribbons take a bit more care...
Gear Reviews
The means contribute to the end. Usually.
Mellowmuse: ATA delay compensation plug-in for Pro Tools LE & M-P
reviewed by Larry Crane
I've owned enough Pro Tools non-HD rigs (002, Mbox, Mbox 2 Pro, Micro, Transit) to know that one of my biggest complaints about the LE line is the lack of automatic delay compensation when using...
SPL: 2Control stereo monitor controller
reviewed by Scott McChane
I've got problems. Since building my project studio last fall, I haven't been able to nail down a monitoring setup that "feels" right, and my mixes are not referencing as well as I'd like. I was sure...
Sarno Music Solutions: FreeLoader guitar pickup load controller
reviewed by Pete Weiss
This is a great, handy device that tames the resonant peak of your guitar pickup. Electronically and ergonomically designed specifically for pedal steel players -there's a handy clip for attaching it...
3 Zigma Audio: Master 4 x 10 Tool-Kit
reviewed by Mike Jasper
A few months ago, Blue Rock studios in Wimberley, Texas hosted a shootout of several microphones geared toward lead vocals. The high-dollar microphones were judged by such local luminaries as David...
Chandler Limited: Little Devil Compressor & Equalizer 500-series modules
reviewed by Mike Caffrey
The Little Devils are designer Wade Chandler's new modules for the 500-series rack system. The Compressor has all the controls to which you've become accustomed in a Chandler compressor, and the...
Summit Audio: ECS-410 Everest Channel Strip
reviewed by John Baccigaluppi
Over the years, I've bought and sold (after upgrading) a fair amount of audio gear, but I've kept every piece of gear I have from Summit -an MPC-100A mic preamp/compressor (Tape Op #21), an EQP-200B...
BAE: 1023 mic preamp & EQ
reviewed by Allen Farmelo
Brent Averill Enterprises, simply known as BAE these days, is perhaps the best-known builder of Neve-style preamps, and for good reason as their designs indeed capture the behavior, tone, and...
Peterson: iStrobosoft tuner for iPhone
reviewed by John Baccigaluppi
At $9.99, this is the most expensive app on my iPhone, but it's worth every penny. In fact, having now used it for a few months, I'd pay twice this and still feel like it's a great value. I've been...
Audio Ease: Speakerphone
reviewed by John Baccigaluppi
Although I am a huge fan of Audio Ease's Altiverb convolution reverb plug-in, I have to confess that I initially dismissed this plug-in as something a bit gimmicky and easily replicated with a good...
Lynx Studio Technology: Aurora 16-VT A/D/A converter and LT-HD card for Pro Tools
reviewed by Garrett Haines
Lynx has added variable trim to their acclaimed Aurora 16 converter. Now with the help of a pot tweaker tool (or appropriately-small screwdriver), users can manually adjust the analog input...
Shure: SM27 & SM137 condenser mics
reviewed by Mike Jasper
Shure's new SM27 replaces the KSM27 (the "Dixie Chicks mic"), but it isn't just a clone with a new color and new name. Nope, this charcoal grey microphone has a much better self-noise figure than the...